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Clear Lake Quartet #2
Even Odds
Shaylene Turner is a professional, first and foremost. As a rising junior sports agent at Permian Sports Agency, she’s got a target on her back in the male-dominated field, but her career path glistens with bright pink promise.
To prove herself in a testosterone-filled arena, she works harder, smarter, and stays professional no matter what. Her all-work-no-play attitude was never an issue—at least not until a new client waltzes into her office. But he’s not new to Shay, and his return threatens to unravel the meticulous career she has fought to build.
Cade Owens, baseball’s golden boy rookie, has been carrying the weight of everyone’s expectations since childhood, and he does it with a dazzling smile. What was once a nickname he wore with pride is now his all-consuming identity.
After nearly two years, Cade is back in North Carolina. He needs a new agent, and the only person he’s willing to work with has every reason to despise him. Moving from Shay’s almost-everything to just another client on her roster isn’t easy, but neither is navigating their dicey past and undeniable tension. Cade knows how important her job is to her, but letting Shay slip away twice isn’t something he can stomach.
Suddenly, it’s business on the surface and everything else underneath.
To prove herself in a testosterone-filled arena, she works harder, smarter, and stays professional no matter what. Her all-work-no-play attitude was never an issue—at least not until a new client waltzes into her office. But he’s not new to Shay, and his return threatens to unravel the meticulous career she has fought to build.
Cade Owens, baseball’s golden boy rookie, has been carrying the weight of everyone’s expectations since childhood, and he does it with a dazzling smile. What was once a nickname he wore with pride is now his all-consuming identity.
After nearly two years, Cade is back in North Carolina. He needs a new agent, and the only person he’s willing to work with has every reason to despise him. Moving from Shay’s almost-everything to just another client on her roster isn’t easy, but neither is navigating their dicey past and undeniable tension. Cade knows how important her job is to her, but letting Shay slip away twice isn’t something he can stomach.
Suddenly, it’s business on the surface and everything else underneath.
371 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2025
82 people are currently reading
712 people want to read
About the author
Miah Onsha
2 books101 followersMiah Onsha is a romance author and lover of books. She is dedicated to not only crafting stories of real love, but also to filling a gap she keenly felt in her own youth. Through her writing, she endeavors to provide the representation and affirmation that she yearned for as a young reader. As a registered dietitian with a passion for nutrition education, each story she writes holds a piece of that love through the eyes of real characters and real experiences. In each book, you will find healthy relationships, found family, and a whole lot of love.
Miah is surrounded by her wonderful family, two perfect dogs, and the best friends a woman could ask for.
For inquiries, contact Miah Onsha at hello@authormiahonsha.com.
Miah is surrounded by her wonderful family, two perfect dogs, and the best friends a woman could ask for.
For inquiries, contact Miah Onsha at hello@authormiahonsha.com.
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October 26, 2025
⋆.𐙚 ̊ ᴀʀᴄ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ⋆.𐙚 ̊
ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴏᴅᴅꜱ ʙʏ @miahonsha.author
5★
ᴍʏ ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏɴ -
These two have been on my mind since book 1 and OMG their book did not disappoint I devoured this in one sitting and the tension and slow burn was so worth it
I’m literally obsessed with these two, their love for each other is just amazing, Shay and Cade is sorta ex’s from college but things went side ways after Cade leaves her after they side they were going to try
Shaylene is such an amazing FMC, she’s strong and sweet and fearless. She also works in a male dominated environment, She’s a sport agent and loves her clients and is that real deal. She’s so girl boss I love her so much
The found family in this book is just amazing, I laughed and cried during this book it was just chef kiss, I can’t wait for more of this friend group
Cade is just my boy, I love him so much and he deserves the world after what his douche bag of an ex agent did to him. Cade is amazing and so special to me. He just thinks he have to be perfect all the time but he don’t
The chemistry between these is just amazing! I was just begging them to kiss and make up, they just need each other and make perfect sense and so glad they fixed everything! (I crashed out at the end of book 1)
After that post Miah made about the next 2 books I can’t wait for the next one I just know it’s going to be amazing!
🎲⚾️ what to expect
-Sports Agent x Player
-Second Chance
-Baseball Romance
-Forbidden
-No Third Act Breakup
-Found Family
-Anxiety & PCOS rep
ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴏᴅᴅꜱ ʙʏ @miahonsha.author
5★
ᴍʏ ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏɴ -
These two have been on my mind since book 1 and OMG their book did not disappoint I devoured this in one sitting and the tension and slow burn was so worth it
I’m literally obsessed with these two, their love for each other is just amazing, Shay and Cade is sorta ex’s from college but things went side ways after Cade leaves her after they side they were going to try
Shaylene is such an amazing FMC, she’s strong and sweet and fearless. She also works in a male dominated environment, She’s a sport agent and loves her clients and is that real deal. She’s so girl boss I love her so much
The found family in this book is just amazing, I laughed and cried during this book it was just chef kiss, I can’t wait for more of this friend group
Cade is just my boy, I love him so much and he deserves the world after what his douche bag of an ex agent did to him. Cade is amazing and so special to me. He just thinks he have to be perfect all the time but he don’t
The chemistry between these is just amazing! I was just begging them to kiss and make up, they just need each other and make perfect sense and so glad they fixed everything! (I crashed out at the end of book 1)
After that post Miah made about the next 2 books I can’t wait for the next one I just know it’s going to be amazing!
🎲⚾️ what to expect
-Sports Agent x Player
-Second Chance
-Baseball Romance
-Forbidden
-No Third Act Breakup
-Found Family
-Anxiety & PCOS rep
October 19, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Let me start this off by saying that this book had some of my absolute favorite tropes, found family on so many levels and a second chance romance that had me hooked from the start.
Let’s talk about the FMC, Shay. She’s a sports agent working in a male dominated field, and she’s carving her own path with confidence and grit. People might underestimate her or fail to give her the credit she deserves, but she keeps pushing forward because she’s a total badass. I also love that she eventually reaches her breaking point and decides to face all of her demons head on.
Now for the MMC, Cade, a baseball player who struggles to express his feelings. Watching him open up to Shay was beautiful. He’s spent so much of his life trying to be what everyone else expects, and seeing him finally live his truth was one of the most rewarding parts of the book.
And the yearning… oh my gosh, the yearning. The tension between these two was so palpable that I was just waiting for the moment it would finally break, and when it did, it was everything. Their second chance romance was so worth the wait.
And of course, the found family. Between Cade’s teammates, Shay’s clients, and their close circle of friends, this story built such a warm and genuine sense of connection. They all come together to create one big, beautiful family that you can’t help but fall in love with.
This is definitely a book you don’t want to miss. Grab it as soon as it releases, it’ll be on Kindle Unlimited, and then come back and tell me your thoughts, because I just know you’re going to eat it up like I did.
Let me start this off by saying that this book had some of my absolute favorite tropes, found family on so many levels and a second chance romance that had me hooked from the start.
Let’s talk about the FMC, Shay. She’s a sports agent working in a male dominated field, and she’s carving her own path with confidence and grit. People might underestimate her or fail to give her the credit she deserves, but she keeps pushing forward because she’s a total badass. I also love that she eventually reaches her breaking point and decides to face all of her demons head on.
Now for the MMC, Cade, a baseball player who struggles to express his feelings. Watching him open up to Shay was beautiful. He’s spent so much of his life trying to be what everyone else expects, and seeing him finally live his truth was one of the most rewarding parts of the book.
And the yearning… oh my gosh, the yearning. The tension between these two was so palpable that I was just waiting for the moment it would finally break, and when it did, it was everything. Their second chance romance was so worth the wait.
And of course, the found family. Between Cade’s teammates, Shay’s clients, and their close circle of friends, this story built such a warm and genuine sense of connection. They all come together to create one big, beautiful family that you can’t help but fall in love with.
This is definitely a book you don’t want to miss. Grab it as soon as it releases, it’ll be on Kindle Unlimited, and then come back and tell me your thoughts, because I just know you’re going to eat it up like I did.
October 5, 2025
♡ Thank you Miah Onsha for the ARC ♡
What are the odds that I spent the entire third act of this book with the biggest smile on my face and happy tears running down my face?
I already knew this book was going to be everything to me and I was absolutely right. Cade and Shay are the literal sweetest humans on the planet and getting to watch them fall in love all over again, as if they ever stopped, was so beautiful.
The endless support, the unwavering trust, the constant communication, it was beautiful to see. These are two people who love each other regardless of anyone and anything and I'll never get over them. I love them both so deeply.
And to get to see them not only fall back together, but also see them find their way back to themselves. Both of them are so lost to their careers at the start of this. Neither allowing themselves to just exist without their jobs being the center of their universe, but as they get close again, they finally realize that their jobs aren't everything - that having friends, spending time with their family, and being in love are equally important as professional success.
This is just a sweet, fluffy masterpiece of cuteness. And in it is also a message to always make time for yourself. To never lose yourself and what makes you happy to the grind. Your mental health and happiness are more important than anything else.
And of course, women are badasses who can do anything a man can do 💙
What are the odds that I spent the entire third act of this book with the biggest smile on my face and happy tears running down my face?
I already knew this book was going to be everything to me and I was absolutely right. Cade and Shay are the literal sweetest humans on the planet and getting to watch them fall in love all over again, as if they ever stopped, was so beautiful.
The endless support, the unwavering trust, the constant communication, it was beautiful to see. These are two people who love each other regardless of anyone and anything and I'll never get over them. I love them both so deeply.
And to get to see them not only fall back together, but also see them find their way back to themselves. Both of them are so lost to their careers at the start of this. Neither allowing themselves to just exist without their jobs being the center of their universe, but as they get close again, they finally realize that their jobs aren't everything - that having friends, spending time with their family, and being in love are equally important as professional success.
This is just a sweet, fluffy masterpiece of cuteness. And in it is also a message to always make time for yourself. To never lose yourself and what makes you happy to the grind. Your mental health and happiness are more important than anything else.
And of course, women are badasses who can do anything a man can do 💙
October 11, 2025
I loved this a lot. I wasn't expecting it to be such a slow burn but it worked so well. It really gives them time to open up to each other and see where they went wrong the first time. They didn't work out the first time but they are going to make it this time. She is so good at her job and I loved seeing her being a bad ass sports agent.
I received an arc from the author.
I received an arc from the author.
October 14, 2025
This Week's Featured Read is: Even Odds by Miah! I am on a sports romance kick right now and Cade and Shay came into my life at the perfect time. Thank you so much to Miah for this e-ARC and letting me be a part of the ARC team! You can get your hands on Even Odds next week on 10.23.25 on Amazon!
This is such an easy, feel-good read about a sports agency who swore up and down that she was over love and just wanted to focus on her career, when a blast from the past and former lover returns to town and needs her help. Despite this book being a romance, it touches on lots of heavy topics such as misogynoir, workplace discrimination, the crushing expectations of others, leaving toxic environments and more!
Cade lowkey gives golden retriever, with some baggage and Shaylene gives fierce lioness who's ready to take on the world for her clients and her career. Both are super enjoyable, and it is easy to root for them to win.
Genre: Sports Romance - Baseball
Tropes: second chance, slow burn, Black Love, Mental Health & PCOS representation, workplace (kinda) romance, no 3rd act break up, forced proximity.
Spice Level: Just the right amount
Yes No Maybe?: YES!
This is such an easy, feel-good read about a sports agency who swore up and down that she was over love and just wanted to focus on her career, when a blast from the past and former lover returns to town and needs her help. Despite this book being a romance, it touches on lots of heavy topics such as misogynoir, workplace discrimination, the crushing expectations of others, leaving toxic environments and more!
Cade lowkey gives golden retriever, with some baggage and Shaylene gives fierce lioness who's ready to take on the world for her clients and her career. Both are super enjoyable, and it is easy to root for them to win.
Genre: Sports Romance - Baseball
Tropes: second chance, slow burn, Black Love, Mental Health & PCOS representation, workplace (kinda) romance, no 3rd act break up, forced proximity.
Spice Level: Just the right amount
Yes No Maybe?: YES!
October 8, 2025
⭐️ “This book wasn’t just a story — it was a statement.” ⭐️
All I could hear while reading this story was Beyoncé yelling, “Who run the world? GIRLS!” Because honestly, Ms. Shaylene Turner ran it. She didn’t just walk onto the page — she owned it. The pure power pouring out of these pages had me in awe. And seeing her thrive in what’s considered a “man’s world”? Absolute perfection.
Shay was sweet, so relatable, strong, independent, caring, and thoughtful — a beautiful queen through and through. She’s exactly the kind of woman I love reading about. But being able to connect with her on a deeper level, as a woman of color, made this story hit different. I was cheering for her every step of the way.
What I loved most was that she didn’t just exist in her space — she claimed it. She owned who she was and brought to light so many real, overlooked truths. Being a person of color in a demanding workplace already places a silent “mark” against you, and I felt that. The discrimination she faced — and the way she handled it — broke me, because it’s something so many of us have “dealt” with just to survive. And that’s the heartbreaking part… it’s expected. But through her story, those quiet battles were finally given a voice.
I shed tears — some out of anger (Trevor, I’m looking directly at you 😤) — but also tears of pure joy watching those who stood by her rally in her corner. The way her friend group showed up for her, that strong, loving quartet, was so special and real. It reminded me of how important it is to have people who see you, celebrate you, and fight for you when you can’t.
And then the PCOS representation? My heart. Absolutely my heart. That part of her journey felt so honest and beautifully written. It made me feel seen in ways I didn’t even realize I needed.
Now… let’s talk about that slow burn.
Babyyyyy! I was on edge the entire time. The tension, the restraint, the moments that made me want to scream at the page — all of it was done perfectly. I loved that Shay stayed true to herself. She guarded her heart, she knew her worth, and she didn’t let anyone rush her healing or her emotions. Temptation was there (and oh, was it strong 👀), but she held her ground and prioritized herself first. That level of strength? Beautiful.
Then there’s Cade Owens… whew. I’m still recovering from him.
Cade was the golden boy, the “it” guy, but what made him stand out was his heart. Seeing his vulnerability unfold — especially when he didn’t always have the words — made him feel so real. He wasn’t just a love interest; he was a man learning, growing, and fighting to be better. Watching his point of view alongside Shay’s gave this story so much depth. It showed that even those who seem to have it all together on the outside can be quietly battling their own demons inside.
The way these two loved each other… it wasn’t rushed, it wasn’t easy, but it was real. They pushed, challenged, and healed together. Watching them both blossom — individually and as a couple — felt like witnessing something genuine.
By the time I turned the last page, I was an emotional mess (in the best way). These characters felt like friends, and their growth was inspiring. Shay and Cade were destined for greatness — and they earned it.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve already hit that pre-order button faster than my heart could calm down 😇
This book was power, passion, and purpose wrapped into one unforgettable story.
⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5 stars ⭐️
All I could hear while reading this story was Beyoncé yelling, “Who run the world? GIRLS!” Because honestly, Ms. Shaylene Turner ran it. She didn’t just walk onto the page — she owned it. The pure power pouring out of these pages had me in awe. And seeing her thrive in what’s considered a “man’s world”? Absolute perfection.
Shay was sweet, so relatable, strong, independent, caring, and thoughtful — a beautiful queen through and through. She’s exactly the kind of woman I love reading about. But being able to connect with her on a deeper level, as a woman of color, made this story hit different. I was cheering for her every step of the way.
What I loved most was that she didn’t just exist in her space — she claimed it. She owned who she was and brought to light so many real, overlooked truths. Being a person of color in a demanding workplace already places a silent “mark” against you, and I felt that. The discrimination she faced — and the way she handled it — broke me, because it’s something so many of us have “dealt” with just to survive. And that’s the heartbreaking part… it’s expected. But through her story, those quiet battles were finally given a voice.
I shed tears — some out of anger (Trevor, I’m looking directly at you 😤) — but also tears of pure joy watching those who stood by her rally in her corner. The way her friend group showed up for her, that strong, loving quartet, was so special and real. It reminded me of how important it is to have people who see you, celebrate you, and fight for you when you can’t.
And then the PCOS representation? My heart. Absolutely my heart. That part of her journey felt so honest and beautifully written. It made me feel seen in ways I didn’t even realize I needed.
Now… let’s talk about that slow burn.
Babyyyyy! I was on edge the entire time. The tension, the restraint, the moments that made me want to scream at the page — all of it was done perfectly. I loved that Shay stayed true to herself. She guarded her heart, she knew her worth, and she didn’t let anyone rush her healing or her emotions. Temptation was there (and oh, was it strong 👀), but she held her ground and prioritized herself first. That level of strength? Beautiful.
Then there’s Cade Owens… whew. I’m still recovering from him.
Cade was the golden boy, the “it” guy, but what made him stand out was his heart. Seeing his vulnerability unfold — especially when he didn’t always have the words — made him feel so real. He wasn’t just a love interest; he was a man learning, growing, and fighting to be better. Watching his point of view alongside Shay’s gave this story so much depth. It showed that even those who seem to have it all together on the outside can be quietly battling their own demons inside.
The way these two loved each other… it wasn’t rushed, it wasn’t easy, but it was real. They pushed, challenged, and healed together. Watching them both blossom — individually and as a couple — felt like witnessing something genuine.
By the time I turned the last page, I was an emotional mess (in the best way). These characters felt like friends, and their growth was inspiring. Shay and Cade were destined for greatness — and they earned it.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve already hit that pre-order button faster than my heart could calm down 😇
This book was power, passion, and purpose wrapped into one unforgettable story.
⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5 stars ⭐️
October 22, 2025
guess who final found the words to write this review
ARC Review: Even Odds by Miah Onsha
If I could describe *Even Odds* in baseball terms it’s a perfect game. Every pitch, every play, every emotional swing connects flawlessly. From the moment Shay and Cade cross paths again after all those years, you can feel the spark of something bigger than them, something that was always meant to circle back.
Watching Cade find himself while falling for Shay was magic. It’s not just about love; it’s about becoming about realizing that growth doesn’t make you less, it makes you ready. Shay’s strength, her belief that her players (ex-lovers or not) are *people first*, not just athletes, hit deep. She reminded me that empathy is power.
The slow burn? Oh, it’s the slowest of slow burns, one that simmers, aches, and rewards you for every second of patience. The walls come down, the tension builds, and when it all clicks ;it’s pure, earned love. Cade’s quiet obsession with Shay, the way he *sees* her even when she can’t see herself, made my heart do that thing where it hurts and heals at the same time.
Miah didn’t just write a romance; she wrote about resilience, representation, and reality. The portrayal of PCOS and anxiety in *Even Odds* was so refreshingly honest,it wasn’t romanticized, just real and raw. And the found family? I wish everyone had friends like this crew. Every scene with Mal and Ken had me giggling and nostalgic.it felt like coming home.
As a die-hard Mal and Ken girl, I didn’t think anything could top *Fortunate Misfortunate*. But Miah proved me wrong. She outdid herself. This book feels like a full-circle moment, like stepping onto familiar ground but seeing it through softer, wiser eyes.
So here I am, trying to find the right words for my new babies, Shay and Cade. I’ve accepted that if Miah Onsha writes it, I’ll read it, fall in love, and curse her a little for crafting the perfect blend of romance and realism.
**Six stars. Always. Forever.** ⚾💛
Because Miah Onsha doesn’t just write stories—she writes *home*.
ARC Review: Even Odds by Miah Onsha
If I could describe *Even Odds* in baseball terms it’s a perfect game. Every pitch, every play, every emotional swing connects flawlessly. From the moment Shay and Cade cross paths again after all those years, you can feel the spark of something bigger than them, something that was always meant to circle back.
Watching Cade find himself while falling for Shay was magic. It’s not just about love; it’s about becoming about realizing that growth doesn’t make you less, it makes you ready. Shay’s strength, her belief that her players (ex-lovers or not) are *people first*, not just athletes, hit deep. She reminded me that empathy is power.
The slow burn? Oh, it’s the slowest of slow burns, one that simmers, aches, and rewards you for every second of patience. The walls come down, the tension builds, and when it all clicks ;it’s pure, earned love. Cade’s quiet obsession with Shay, the way he *sees* her even when she can’t see herself, made my heart do that thing where it hurts and heals at the same time.
Miah didn’t just write a romance; she wrote about resilience, representation, and reality. The portrayal of PCOS and anxiety in *Even Odds* was so refreshingly honest,it wasn’t romanticized, just real and raw. And the found family? I wish everyone had friends like this crew. Every scene with Mal and Ken had me giggling and nostalgic.it felt like coming home.
As a die-hard Mal and Ken girl, I didn’t think anything could top *Fortunate Misfortunate*. But Miah proved me wrong. She outdid herself. This book feels like a full-circle moment, like stepping onto familiar ground but seeing it through softer, wiser eyes.
So here I am, trying to find the right words for my new babies, Shay and Cade. I’ve accepted that if Miah Onsha writes it, I’ll read it, fall in love, and curse her a little for crafting the perfect blend of romance and realism.
**Six stars. Always. Forever.** ⚾💛
Because Miah Onsha doesn’t just write stories—she writes *home*.
November 8, 2025
4.5-4.75 ⭐️ ARC Review
Cade Owens in one word: Sweetheart.
Shaylene Turner in one word: Badass.
First, thank you Miah for allowing me to receive this ARC, I really enjoyed reading this! It had humor, real-world issues and slow burn love/yearning that really came together. What I loved most was Shay’s friendship with the Quartet- it really shows how important it is to show up for your friends, especially in adulthood. They would literally drop everything and call or be there for each other it was the sweetest to read (sorry Cade LOL). I also admired how resilient Shay’s character was as a sports agent who is passionate about her work- it’s the reality of being black woman in the sports world and thought Miah did a great job touching on it!
Cade…I love you sir, he was soo patient and attentive to Shay and her boundaries. I love how much he yearned for her, but also respected her and her job enough where he didn’t push her. I also appreciate Miah including his internal struggle of maintaining his “golden boy” image and how it affected his love for baseball and his identity. Black men deserve mental health care too and should have the support system to speak up.
Even though Shay and Cade’s relationship was very slow burn, it was so worth it because we got to see them subtly flirt throughout the book. Their chemistry was so adorable and the forced proximity trope really tied it together! Shay was such a lovable FMC I wanted to be her! I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to read Even Odds and seriously can wait for more of the series!
Cade Owens in one word: Sweetheart.
Shaylene Turner in one word: Badass.
First, thank you Miah for allowing me to receive this ARC, I really enjoyed reading this! It had humor, real-world issues and slow burn love/yearning that really came together. What I loved most was Shay’s friendship with the Quartet- it really shows how important it is to show up for your friends, especially in adulthood. They would literally drop everything and call or be there for each other it was the sweetest to read (sorry Cade LOL). I also admired how resilient Shay’s character was as a sports agent who is passionate about her work- it’s the reality of being black woman in the sports world and thought Miah did a great job touching on it!
Cade…I love you sir, he was soo patient and attentive to Shay and her boundaries. I love how much he yearned for her, but also respected her and her job enough where he didn’t push her. I also appreciate Miah including his internal struggle of maintaining his “golden boy” image and how it affected his love for baseball and his identity. Black men deserve mental health care too and should have the support system to speak up.
Even though Shay and Cade’s relationship was very slow burn, it was so worth it because we got to see them subtly flirt throughout the book. Their chemistry was so adorable and the forced proximity trope really tied it together! Shay was such a lovable FMC I wanted to be her! I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to read Even Odds and seriously can wait for more of the series!
October 6, 2025
Thank you to author Miah Onsha for the gifted eARC. These are my honest and personal thoughts.
Summary: Shaylene and Cade share a bestfriend and began as friends with benefits in college until career choices took them on different paths. Shay is now a sports agent and Cade is a star professional baseball player. Unable to move past how Cade handled this, Shay focuses her time and energy into her rising career. When circumstances bring them back into each other’s lives everything changes and those careers could be in jeopardy.
Thoughts: This was a heart warming, second chance romance. This is what I consider a cozy read. I think the story does good at showing Shay being a strong black female character in a male dominated field as a sports agent. I loved how she brought her own caring touch to it. The PCOS representation was done so well, it was discussed openly and not something she suffered in silence about like many women do. I was not happy with Cade and how he handled Shay in their past, but began forgiving him right along with Shay lol. The story pulls at all the heartstrings watching Cade suffer and overcome the emotional abuse and manipulation that young players like him sometimes experience when joining professional sports teams. I just loved to see his locs become apart of his brand!!! Showing Cade go to therapy as a black man was done very tastefully! Overall this was a beautiful story. Seeing Shay and Cade support, respect and motivate each other, all while finding their way back to loving each other was great!
5/5⭐️
📖
Summary: Shaylene and Cade share a bestfriend and began as friends with benefits in college until career choices took them on different paths. Shay is now a sports agent and Cade is a star professional baseball player. Unable to move past how Cade handled this, Shay focuses her time and energy into her rising career. When circumstances bring them back into each other’s lives everything changes and those careers could be in jeopardy.
Thoughts: This was a heart warming, second chance romance. This is what I consider a cozy read. I think the story does good at showing Shay being a strong black female character in a male dominated field as a sports agent. I loved how she brought her own caring touch to it. The PCOS representation was done so well, it was discussed openly and not something she suffered in silence about like many women do. I was not happy with Cade and how he handled Shay in their past, but began forgiving him right along with Shay lol. The story pulls at all the heartstrings watching Cade suffer and overcome the emotional abuse and manipulation that young players like him sometimes experience when joining professional sports teams. I just loved to see his locs become apart of his brand!!! Showing Cade go to therapy as a black man was done very tastefully! Overall this was a beautiful story. Seeing Shay and Cade support, respect and motivate each other, all while finding their way back to loving each other was great!
5/5⭐️
📖
October 15, 2025
I love anything that Miah writes!!!!!!!!
I had so much fun reading Fortunate Misfortune last year and meeting all of the characters in that book, so imagine my excitement when I found out we were getting another book in this series! I love Clear Lake so much and it's one of my fav fictional places I wish I could visit in real life. Shaylene and Cade are so sweet together and I just love a second chance romance ok!!
I loved being able to watch them come back together and communicate where they went wrong years before and watching them put in the effort. Their story was so healthy and I really loved the character growth. Found family is one of my favorite tropes in books and Miah writes it really well, and I love that side characters play such a big part in her stories and that we still see them in book two.
My favorite part of reading this was being in Miah's DMs just screaming, crying, and throwing up. Thank you so much for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest review-- all thoughts are my own.
I had so much fun reading Fortunate Misfortune last year and meeting all of the characters in that book, so imagine my excitement when I found out we were getting another book in this series! I love Clear Lake so much and it's one of my fav fictional places I wish I could visit in real life. Shaylene and Cade are so sweet together and I just love a second chance romance ok!!
I loved being able to watch them come back together and communicate where they went wrong years before and watching them put in the effort. Their story was so healthy and I really loved the character growth. Found family is one of my favorite tropes in books and Miah writes it really well, and I love that side characters play such a big part in her stories and that we still see them in book two.
My favorite part of reading this was being in Miah's DMs just screaming, crying, and throwing up. Thank you so much for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest review-- all thoughts are my own.
October 21, 2025
First off, thank you to Miah Onsha for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this book. It was my first ARC and I couldn't be happier! Ok so let's get into this book...
The story follows an ambitious sports agent named Shay Turner, who puts work first and love is not even up for discussion. In the midst of her climbing the ladder, working hard enough you would think misogyny would take a break (spoiler: it never does), she runs into and ends up representing her ex and first love, Cade. While navigating how to support the man that broke her heart's career, she finds that she may still have feelings for him despite how things ended. And those feelings... may be reciprocated.
It was sooooooo cute and so good! My favorite romance trope is enemies to lovers but this second chance at love trope was chef's kiss good! I had so much fun reading about Shay and Cade's love story. The dual POV. The pacing. The slow burn (which I didn't know was possible in a second chance romance). It just was perfection.
The author does a great job on touching on the importance of mental health (specifically for men), PCOS, complex feelings, professionalism vs misogyny in the workplace and the navigation of when dreams become a reality.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot & Predictability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall I highly recommend this book! It is 4.5 star read for me. The ending tied off well, just a little quick in some plot aspects but I also appreciate her not dragging it out either. It is a fun, light romance that makes you want to root for the home team (pun intended). If you like Kennedy Ryan, Farah Rochon, and any of those hockey romances, you will love this!
The story follows an ambitious sports agent named Shay Turner, who puts work first and love is not even up for discussion. In the midst of her climbing the ladder, working hard enough you would think misogyny would take a break (spoiler: it never does), she runs into and ends up representing her ex and first love, Cade. While navigating how to support the man that broke her heart's career, she finds that she may still have feelings for him despite how things ended. And those feelings... may be reciprocated.
It was sooooooo cute and so good! My favorite romance trope is enemies to lovers but this second chance at love trope was chef's kiss good! I had so much fun reading about Shay and Cade's love story. The dual POV. The pacing. The slow burn (which I didn't know was possible in a second chance romance). It just was perfection.
The author does a great job on touching on the importance of mental health (specifically for men), PCOS, complex feelings, professionalism vs misogyny in the workplace and the navigation of when dreams become a reality.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot & Predictability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall I highly recommend this book! It is 4.5 star read for me. The ending tied off well, just a little quick in some plot aspects but I also appreciate her not dragging it out either. It is a fun, light romance that makes you want to root for the home team (pun intended). If you like Kennedy Ryan, Farah Rochon, and any of those hockey romances, you will love this!
October 22, 2025
4.5/5
I did not expect to cry when reading this because I was expecting it to be fluffy cute romance but it’s deeper than that. This book discussed about how to never stop seeing people as a human being, not just some kind of achievement in the field. It discussed about discrimination against women in men dominated field. It discussed about trust. It also mentioned about PCOS 🙂↕️🙂↕️
Shaylene’s determination to be where she wants to be despite having to deal with the nasty boss is what makes the whole plot is fun! She is professional in her work but never forgets to treat all her clients as human beings, instead of just business. She is very appreciative of her clients’ hard-works in the game. She is so sweet!!
All those invisible burdens, the manipulation, the self-doubt Cade was having because he was treated badly by his ex-agent was super heartbreaking. He hide all of the pain, physical and emotional, just so he can live up to everyone’s expectations but not until Shaylene becomes his agent. To see his character develop throughout the story is so satisfying. He made me cry multiple times ☹️
I did not expect to cry when reading this because I was expecting it to be fluffy cute romance but it’s deeper than that. This book discussed about how to never stop seeing people as a human being, not just some kind of achievement in the field. It discussed about discrimination against women in men dominated field. It discussed about trust. It also mentioned about PCOS 🙂↕️🙂↕️
Shaylene’s determination to be where she wants to be despite having to deal with the nasty boss is what makes the whole plot is fun! She is professional in her work but never forgets to treat all her clients as human beings, instead of just business. She is very appreciative of her clients’ hard-works in the game. She is so sweet!!
All those invisible burdens, the manipulation, the self-doubt Cade was having because he was treated badly by his ex-agent was super heartbreaking. He hide all of the pain, physical and emotional, just so he can live up to everyone’s expectations but not until Shaylene becomes his agent. To see his character develop throughout the story is so satisfying. He made me cry multiple times ☹️
October 16, 2025
Book Review!
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice : 🌶️ 🌶️ ( the perfect amount tbh )
This was such an incredible read full of lots of lessons, second chances and learning to let go of what may not be beneficial to you anymore. We see our two main characters Shay and Cade, struggle through some ups and downs but find some positive outcomes along the way. I enjoyed their dynamic, their friend group and the representation of PCOS + Mental Health and BLACK LOVE! This was such a refreshing read. I highly recommend this to all of you so much! Please check it out + the first novel, Fortunate Misfortune. You won’t regret it, besties!
Pub Date : October 23rd, 2025 🤎✨
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice : 🌶️ 🌶️ ( the perfect amount tbh )
This was such an incredible read full of lots of lessons, second chances and learning to let go of what may not be beneficial to you anymore. We see our two main characters Shay and Cade, struggle through some ups and downs but find some positive outcomes along the way. I enjoyed their dynamic, their friend group and the representation of PCOS + Mental Health and BLACK LOVE! This was such a refreshing read. I highly recommend this to all of you so much! Please check it out + the first novel, Fortunate Misfortune. You won’t regret it, besties!
Pub Date : October 23rd, 2025 🤎✨
January 10, 2026
Hello Gorgeous People
Have you ever read a story where they don’t just tell you about second chances… they make you feel every awkward pause, unspoken apology, and “what if” you swore you were over. 🥴
Well have you?? If you haven't honestly I'd hope you would give this book a chance. 🎲
Promise. 🤞🏾
I had the absolute pleasure of receiving an ARC copy of Even Odds by Miah Onsha and y’all, this book owns my emotional stability now. 💀 Not that I was much stable to begin with 👀👻
It’s character driven perfection two ambitious souls, Cade (Mr. Baseball Broodiness) and Shay (Queen of Boundaries), 👸🏾 forced to work together after a messy college history. You can taste the tension, feel the growth, and find yourself whispering “JUST KISS ALREADY"😭💋
Tropes that hit harder than a home run:
⚾ Second Chance Romance
⚾ Sports Romance
⚾ Forced Proximity (aka “we’re totally over each other” yhooo the absolute lies)
⚾ Emotional Healing (The Abuse handle in this book) 👌🏾
⚾ Ex-Situationship Chaos (Insert Eye Roll, because weee) 🚑
Have you ever read a story where they don’t just tell you about second chances… they make you feel every awkward pause, unspoken apology, and “what if” you swore you were over. 🥴
Well have you?? If you haven't honestly I'd hope you would give this book a chance. 🎲
Promise. 🤞🏾
I had the absolute pleasure of receiving an ARC copy of Even Odds by Miah Onsha and y’all, this book owns my emotional stability now. 💀 Not that I was much stable to begin with 👀👻
It’s character driven perfection two ambitious souls, Cade (Mr. Baseball Broodiness) and Shay (Queen of Boundaries), 👸🏾 forced to work together after a messy college history. You can taste the tension, feel the growth, and find yourself whispering “JUST KISS ALREADY"😭💋
Tropes that hit harder than a home run:
⚾ Second Chance Romance
⚾ Sports Romance
⚾ Forced Proximity (aka “we’re totally over each other” yhooo the absolute lies)
⚾ Emotional Healing (The Abuse handle in this book) 👌🏾
⚾ Ex-Situationship Chaos (Insert Eye Roll, because weee) 🚑
October 23, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ 1 🌶️
I will admit it took me a bit to fully sink into the plot line of this book but once I started to get hooked, I was in deep! I’m not normally a second chance, low spice romance girly but the groveling, emotional turmoil and growth, the side plots were just captivating. I genuinely didn’t want to put the book down. To read the love story between the two and how they both grew throughout their time together again despite it mostly being platonic was beautiful. Every part of this story was just pure strength, growth, love, friendships, and badassery!
I will admit it took me a bit to fully sink into the plot line of this book but once I started to get hooked, I was in deep! I’m not normally a second chance, low spice romance girly but the groveling, emotional turmoil and growth, the side plots were just captivating. I genuinely didn’t want to put the book down. To read the love story between the two and how they both grew throughout their time together again despite it mostly being platonic was beautiful. Every part of this story was just pure strength, growth, love, friendships, and badassery!
October 9, 2025
4.25 🌟 second chance romance you will always be famous to me !!!
October 12, 2025
3.5
-This was a very cute fun read. I instantly fell in love with Shay and her work ethic. I loved seeing her being taken care of at the end after taking care of everyone else.
Miah Onsha will be an auto buy author for me now!
-This was a very cute fun read. I instantly fell in love with Shay and her work ethic. I loved seeing her being taken care of at the end after taking care of everyone else.
Miah Onsha will be an auto buy author for me now!
December 2, 2025
The story was good. I loved the characters an everything but it’s like at some point the book started to drag like it was too much writing, though it was needed to fully grasp and understand what the fmc & mmc were going through.
December 31, 2025
Another great read from this author! Can’t wait for the next books in the series!
Disability rep: PCOS & anxiety
Disability rep: PCOS & anxiety
October 6, 2025
Super cute read!! I love a good second chance romance and this one was sooo good! The love between Shay and Cade had me tearing up! I loved how healthy their story was! I've read a lot of second chance romances that had cheating tropes, secret babies or just any of the messy stuff and this wasn't that which was much appreciated! I also loved seeing decent amounts of the side characters throughout the story. I loved that we got a little insight into Shay's life with her friends and how they help her throughout the story. It really added depth to her character.
October 7, 2025
OH MY GOD I LOVE THEM! I knew from fortunate misfortune that I was going to love their book but whew it surpassed my expectations! I love some mutual pining even when it’s been years since they’ve even spoken. I loved the character growth and communication!! And I of course loved the women in sports representation and the way this book didn’t just highlight all the good BUT also tackled the difficult topics. AND did it so well!
October 31, 2025
You wanna talk SLOOOOW BURN?!?!
October 23, 2025
Black romance + agent/client + second chance? YES PLEASE!!!
I loved every aspect of this story!! Shay and Cade are characters with such depth, and I easily found myself relating to them and rooting for them. They are truly soulmates.
Their story is so tender and raw and heartfelt!! There’s so much yearning. There’s fun banter. And there’s moments I cried because, again, they are such relatable characters. Shay’s struggle with the misogyny in her office & career while also dealing with PCOS was written with care, and I know many who can relate with her. Cade’s struggles with anxiety and trying to please everyone around him while also guarding his heart smacked me in the chest with how much I could relate.
10/10!! Miah Onsha is a must read author for me, and I will continue to recommend this series forever!!
I loved every aspect of this story!! Shay and Cade are characters with such depth, and I easily found myself relating to them and rooting for them. They are truly soulmates.
Their story is so tender and raw and heartfelt!! There’s so much yearning. There’s fun banter. And there’s moments I cried because, again, they are such relatable characters. Shay’s struggle with the misogyny in her office & career while also dealing with PCOS was written with care, and I know many who can relate with her. Cade’s struggles with anxiety and trying to please everyone around him while also guarding his heart smacked me in the chest with how much I could relate.
10/10!! Miah Onsha is a must read author for me, and I will continue to recommend this series forever!!
October 24, 2025
Buckle up because this is gonna be a long review. I have so much to say about this book and how it made me feel. Not only is this book absolutely phenomenal! But Miah is an angel and deserves all the praise for the amazing work she has done!
Even Odds is the equivalent to a perfect game. There was not a single miss, bad call, or injury (so to speak). I truly loved everything about this book; from the characters, to the representation, the storyline, the emotions, the humor, and the overall feel.
Let me kick off this review by talking about the overall story. So while this might be a second chance, romance, it is so much more than that. It is a story of self discovery, friendship, fighting the patriarchy, representation, self-worth, and growth.
Both of our MC‘s go on their own individual journeys as well as a journey together. Individually, they each discover what they truly want from life and will make them happy; not what makes others happy. Cade and Shay fight different battles, but they support and understand each other 100%. Shay has to battle male egos within her field, working harder and longer than anyone else, but still not getting the appreciation she deserves. Cade has to fight an invisible weight on his shoulders that was placed on him at such a young age. I am so happy they each won their own battles and stood by each other the whole way. They each grew so much as individuals and as a couple. It was absolutely beautiful to see.
For the representation aspect of this book, we got to see PCOS, various levels of trauma, and the reality of a woman and a male dominated career. Shay was diagnosed with PCOS and we see her journey with this disease throughout the book. I loved how Miah added this element. I do not believe PCOS is talked about enough along with the symptoms that come with it. We see Shay work through her symptoms and live her life to the fullest. PCOS is a silent battle, that many women face and not many know about. Then I say various levels of trauma because even if it is not specifically stated, you can see it in various parts throughout this book. One example I will use is Cade’s past with his ex agent. The way his ex agent treated him altered the way he saw himself, carried himself, and dealt with life and baseball. While, at the end of the book, he was able to overcome the haunting of his ex agent, it affected him greatly. Some may not see it as trauma, but it is a form of it that many may not ever pick up on. There was also the representation of a woman and a male dominated field. That was a predominant part of the story that I believe fueled my love for this book even more. We have lived in a patriarchal society for centuries, when it’s about damn time changes start happening, and I loved seeing that in this book. Plus, seeing Shay excel and putting her male counterparts to shame was glorious.
Then, yes, of course the romance was sweetly perfect. Shay and Cade fit each other so well, they are truly a power couple. I adored how they realized they both had changed and not let their second chance go to waste.
My Shay girl is one of my new favorite FMCs. She is someone I would be friends with in a heartbeat if she were real. Her fierce drive to be the best is admirable, especially in a male dominated career. She will not let anyone underestimate her; they can say all they want but she will prove them wrong every time. Shay is also immensely compassionate, empathic, and intelligent.
When it comes to Cade, his character development and his emotional journey are what got to me the most. Men are always told to hide their feelings and “toughen up”, Cade went through life smiling even when hurting to make things “easier” for those around him. I was smiling like a fool each and every time he did something for him and not for others. He deserves his happy.
Together, they made this story incredibly captivating. Their rekindling was a fabulous rollercoaster of emotions, their personal growth journeys were amazing, and the raw emotions their story and this book made me feel were superb.
Overall, I truly just believe you should read this book. And if you do, message me! I want to share my love for this amazing story and talk about it with someone!! Miah is a superstar and I believe everything should read her books!
🌶️
Pepper percentage:
1.5% of the pages contain spicy content
4.4% of the chapters contain spicy content
Even Odds is the equivalent to a perfect game. There was not a single miss, bad call, or injury (so to speak). I truly loved everything about this book; from the characters, to the representation, the storyline, the emotions, the humor, and the overall feel.
Let me kick off this review by talking about the overall story. So while this might be a second chance, romance, it is so much more than that. It is a story of self discovery, friendship, fighting the patriarchy, representation, self-worth, and growth.
Both of our MC‘s go on their own individual journeys as well as a journey together. Individually, they each discover what they truly want from life and will make them happy; not what makes others happy. Cade and Shay fight different battles, but they support and understand each other 100%. Shay has to battle male egos within her field, working harder and longer than anyone else, but still not getting the appreciation she deserves. Cade has to fight an invisible weight on his shoulders that was placed on him at such a young age. I am so happy they each won their own battles and stood by each other the whole way. They each grew so much as individuals and as a couple. It was absolutely beautiful to see.
For the representation aspect of this book, we got to see PCOS, various levels of trauma, and the reality of a woman and a male dominated career. Shay was diagnosed with PCOS and we see her journey with this disease throughout the book. I loved how Miah added this element. I do not believe PCOS is talked about enough along with the symptoms that come with it. We see Shay work through her symptoms and live her life to the fullest. PCOS is a silent battle, that many women face and not many know about. Then I say various levels of trauma because even if it is not specifically stated, you can see it in various parts throughout this book. One example I will use is Cade’s past with his ex agent. The way his ex agent treated him altered the way he saw himself, carried himself, and dealt with life and baseball. While, at the end of the book, he was able to overcome the haunting of his ex agent, it affected him greatly. Some may not see it as trauma, but it is a form of it that many may not ever pick up on. There was also the representation of a woman and a male dominated field. That was a predominant part of the story that I believe fueled my love for this book even more. We have lived in a patriarchal society for centuries, when it’s about damn time changes start happening, and I loved seeing that in this book. Plus, seeing Shay excel and putting her male counterparts to shame was glorious.
Then, yes, of course the romance was sweetly perfect. Shay and Cade fit each other so well, they are truly a power couple. I adored how they realized they both had changed and not let their second chance go to waste.
My Shay girl is one of my new favorite FMCs. She is someone I would be friends with in a heartbeat if she were real. Her fierce drive to be the best is admirable, especially in a male dominated career. She will not let anyone underestimate her; they can say all they want but she will prove them wrong every time. Shay is also immensely compassionate, empathic, and intelligent.
When it comes to Cade, his character development and his emotional journey are what got to me the most. Men are always told to hide their feelings and “toughen up”, Cade went through life smiling even when hurting to make things “easier” for those around him. I was smiling like a fool each and every time he did something for him and not for others. He deserves his happy.
Together, they made this story incredibly captivating. Their rekindling was a fabulous rollercoaster of emotions, their personal growth journeys were amazing, and the raw emotions their story and this book made me feel were superb.
Overall, I truly just believe you should read this book. And if you do, message me! I want to share my love for this amazing story and talk about it with someone!! Miah is a superstar and I believe everything should read her books!
🌶️
Pepper percentage:
1.5% of the pages contain spicy content
4.4% of the chapters contain spicy content
October 28, 2025
5 Stars! FRTC in 24 hours as soon as I stop SOBBING.
Ok, update, I have stopped sobbing and can finally compile my thoughts. A huge thank you to Miah Onsha and her team for an advanced copy of this book. I was lucky enough to get an early copy and thank god I did because I just COULD NOT WAIT for Cade and Shay's story.
Where to begin. Miah Onsha is probably one of the most talented writers that I have discovered in the past year. She has this uncanny ability to build her characters and her world to where they are some of the most believable and down-to-earth people I have ever read. This is what builds this world that is so easy to fall into and fall in love with. I adored coming back to Clear Lake and getting to see our favorite girl gang and supportive boys, and all that they were up to after the first book. It was so heartwarming to see all the Mallory and Kenneth moments.
But moving on to the main event. I AM A SUCKER for a second-chance romance. We got to see in the first book the friends with benefits situation that Shay and Cade had going on, so to find out that once Cade left for the majors, they tried... and it didn't work. Yea stab me, that would be less painful. But it made for a lovely reunion and slow build back to where we pick up. THE YEARNING. Was chef's kiss. All the moments between these two, I LOVED that we were able to see more of these two being together, an actual relationship and I appreciate the realistic nature of them working through all of their feelings and lingering issues. It was heart-warming.
But as much as I loved watching the relationship between the two of them, it was their individual journeys that really stood out to me. Miss Shay had to deal with so many struggles in her industry that are consistent real-world issues that women in male-dominated fields battle with. I loved watching her keep her head high and do her best work regardless of the obstacles. She's a woman going above and beyond for all of her clients, but she never lets the comments she deals with or the people that she works with harden her or change the way that she works. I absolutely adored our Shay baby and the girl boss and role model she is. AND CADE. My sweet baby boy. The depiction of his anxiety and struggles with his need to be outwardly perfect and fine to everyone around him. Just broke my heart and shattered all the leftover pieces. So I absolutely adored that Shay could provide that place of safety and opportunity to be open and honest for him.
I loved this story with my entire body and soul, and you can trust that I will be reading it again whenever I need a heartwarming romance. HIGHLY recommend this read.
Ok, update, I have stopped sobbing and can finally compile my thoughts. A huge thank you to Miah Onsha and her team for an advanced copy of this book. I was lucky enough to get an early copy and thank god I did because I just COULD NOT WAIT for Cade and Shay's story.
Where to begin. Miah Onsha is probably one of the most talented writers that I have discovered in the past year. She has this uncanny ability to build her characters and her world to where they are some of the most believable and down-to-earth people I have ever read. This is what builds this world that is so easy to fall into and fall in love with. I adored coming back to Clear Lake and getting to see our favorite girl gang and supportive boys, and all that they were up to after the first book. It was so heartwarming to see all the Mallory and Kenneth moments.
But moving on to the main event. I AM A SUCKER for a second-chance romance. We got to see in the first book the friends with benefits situation that Shay and Cade had going on, so to find out that once Cade left for the majors, they tried... and it didn't work. Yea stab me, that would be less painful. But it made for a lovely reunion and slow build back to where we pick up. THE YEARNING. Was chef's kiss. All the moments between these two, I LOVED that we were able to see more of these two being together, an actual relationship and I appreciate the realistic nature of them working through all of their feelings and lingering issues. It was heart-warming.
But as much as I loved watching the relationship between the two of them, it was their individual journeys that really stood out to me. Miss Shay had to deal with so many struggles in her industry that are consistent real-world issues that women in male-dominated fields battle with. I loved watching her keep her head high and do her best work regardless of the obstacles. She's a woman going above and beyond for all of her clients, but she never lets the comments she deals with or the people that she works with harden her or change the way that she works. I absolutely adored our Shay baby and the girl boss and role model she is. AND CADE. My sweet baby boy. The depiction of his anxiety and struggles with his need to be outwardly perfect and fine to everyone around him. Just broke my heart and shattered all the leftover pieces. So I absolutely adored that Shay could provide that place of safety and opportunity to be open and honest for him.
I loved this story with my entire body and soul, and you can trust that I will be reading it again whenever I need a heartwarming romance. HIGHLY recommend this read.
October 28, 2025
✨ Initial Vibes
Sports romance with substance. This one is for the girls who grind harder than everyone else in the room and for the golden boys who finally figure out what they lost. It's smart, warm, swoony, and layered with emotional depth.
📚 What It’s About
Shaylene Turner is a rising star at Permian Sports Agency. In a field dominated by men, she’s polished, hyper-competent, and 100% focused on her career. She has to be.
Enter: Cade Owens, pro baseball’s golden boy and the ex who broke her heart. When he walks into her office needing a new agent, Shay’s professional armor starts to crack. Their past is messy, the chemistry is explosive, and the stakes for both of them have never been higher.
What follows is a slow-burning, high-tension second chance romance between two people with everything to lose and even more to prove.
💖 What I Loved
PCOS representation. Shay’s health story is handled with care and honesty, without ever reducing her to it. This is the kind of visibility we need more of.
Black love. Tender, complex, joyful. These two feel real in a way that’s rare: layered histories, emotional hesitations, and earned affection.
Professional tension. Watching Shay try to maintain boundaries in a high-stakes, male-dominated industry while navigating her history with Cade? Delicious.
Support systems. Shay’s friends and her coworkers add texture and warmth. It's a story about community and ambition.
Cade. Yes, I side-eyed him at first (second-chance romances are not always my jam), but he earned it. And the way he loves Shay? Unapologetically.
🎯 Vibe Check
💼 Ambitious, successful woman
⚾️ Sports setting with emotional depth
❤️🔥 Slow burn, high tension
🥺 Feelings, everywhere
🖤 Black love
💬 Final Thoughts
Even Odds is sharp, romantic, and emotionally satisfying. It’s a love story, and a story about what it costs to be excellent, to be the first or only, and how healing and softness can coexist with ambition.
Shay and Cade’s second chance feels earned.
Highly recommend for anyone who loves competent heroines, supportive friendships, and men who grow up.
📍Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
📣 Recommend To:
Fans of Kennedy Ryan, Alexandria House, and Kwana Jackson
Readers craving romance with emotional and professional stakes
Black romance readers looking for nuanced, tender representation
Sports romance with substance. This one is for the girls who grind harder than everyone else in the room and for the golden boys who finally figure out what they lost. It's smart, warm, swoony, and layered with emotional depth.
📚 What It’s About
Shaylene Turner is a rising star at Permian Sports Agency. In a field dominated by men, she’s polished, hyper-competent, and 100% focused on her career. She has to be.
Enter: Cade Owens, pro baseball’s golden boy and the ex who broke her heart. When he walks into her office needing a new agent, Shay’s professional armor starts to crack. Their past is messy, the chemistry is explosive, and the stakes for both of them have never been higher.
What follows is a slow-burning, high-tension second chance romance between two people with everything to lose and even more to prove.
💖 What I Loved
PCOS representation. Shay’s health story is handled with care and honesty, without ever reducing her to it. This is the kind of visibility we need more of.
Black love. Tender, complex, joyful. These two feel real in a way that’s rare: layered histories, emotional hesitations, and earned affection.
Professional tension. Watching Shay try to maintain boundaries in a high-stakes, male-dominated industry while navigating her history with Cade? Delicious.
Support systems. Shay’s friends and her coworkers add texture and warmth. It's a story about community and ambition.
Cade. Yes, I side-eyed him at first (second-chance romances are not always my jam), but he earned it. And the way he loves Shay? Unapologetically.
🎯 Vibe Check
💼 Ambitious, successful woman
⚾️ Sports setting with emotional depth
❤️🔥 Slow burn, high tension
🥺 Feelings, everywhere
🖤 Black love
💬 Final Thoughts
Even Odds is sharp, romantic, and emotionally satisfying. It’s a love story, and a story about what it costs to be excellent, to be the first or only, and how healing and softness can coexist with ambition.
Shay and Cade’s second chance feels earned.
Highly recommend for anyone who loves competent heroines, supportive friendships, and men who grow up.
📍Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
📣 Recommend To:
Fans of Kennedy Ryan, Alexandria House, and Kwana Jackson
Readers craving romance with emotional and professional stakes
Black romance readers looking for nuanced, tender representation
October 18, 2025
4.5 ☆'s
I had been waiting for this book for months, and man, it was so so worth it. This was my first book by Miah Onsha, and it will not be my last. There was humor and so much heart. This book had me laughing out loud and even tearing up at several parts.
The characters in this book are everything. Literally, every single character has so much depth to them, even the side characters. And may I take a moment and say, UGH Trevor. We have great family connections and a great found family as well. I LOVE Shay so much, and I love how much she cares for everyone around her. Also, how she and Cade care for each other. We get to watch as they grow and change together. Cade is such a great, complex character. It's incredible the amount of growth and change he goes through in our story. All while being so deeply caring and giving at his core. The quartet is the friend group I think everyone hopes to have. Those people you have known forever and still show up no matter what. I have Mallory and Kenneths story at home, and will be reading that soon. This story is still so so good even if you haven't read the book before. There is this moment with Shays dad that had me crying, it was so heartfelt and well written.
Honestly, I could write paragraphs raving about the side characters. My goodness, we even have people that feel like genuine villains eventhough they are just ordinary shitty people. They feel like actual terrible people we have all come across in our real lives. Her grasp at capturing and portraying people is by far one of my favorite parts of this book. And I am trying to not put spoilers, so I am skipping these little moments. But, they are 1000% worth mentioning and I was even texting Miah in tears reading that part with Shays dad.
If you love books with people who build community, have found family, and deep ties to their own families, this is the book for you. This was everything, and yet so much more than I expected. 10/10 recommend, and I know I will re-read this one. Thank you Miah for the ARC, I will be reading the rest of our groups stories.
Book Releases: 23 October 2025.
I had been waiting for this book for months, and man, it was so so worth it. This was my first book by Miah Onsha, and it will not be my last. There was humor and so much heart. This book had me laughing out loud and even tearing up at several parts.
The characters in this book are everything. Literally, every single character has so much depth to them, even the side characters. And may I take a moment and say, UGH Trevor. We have great family connections and a great found family as well. I LOVE Shay so much, and I love how much she cares for everyone around her. Also, how she and Cade care for each other. We get to watch as they grow and change together. Cade is such a great, complex character. It's incredible the amount of growth and change he goes through in our story. All while being so deeply caring and giving at his core. The quartet is the friend group I think everyone hopes to have. Those people you have known forever and still show up no matter what. I have Mallory and Kenneths story at home, and will be reading that soon. This story is still so so good even if you haven't read the book before. There is this moment with Shays dad that had me crying, it was so heartfelt and well written.
Honestly, I could write paragraphs raving about the side characters. My goodness, we even have people that feel like genuine villains eventhough they are just ordinary shitty people. They feel like actual terrible people we have all come across in our real lives. Her grasp at capturing and portraying people is by far one of my favorite parts of this book. And I am trying to not put spoilers, so I am skipping these little moments. But, they are 1000% worth mentioning and I was even texting Miah in tears reading that part with Shays dad.
If you love books with people who build community, have found family, and deep ties to their own families, this is the book for you. This was everything, and yet so much more than I expected. 10/10 recommend, and I know I will re-read this one. Thank you Miah for the ARC, I will be reading the rest of our groups stories.
Book Releases: 23 October 2025.
October 30, 2025
From the very first page, this book had me intrigued because how are they gonna treat Shay like that? Honestly, she was a total boss in this book and she deserves all the credit. This book was so cute. I loved her and Cade together! This was definitely a Second Chance romance. They had some issues to work out, but it was so worth it. The way that he speaks to her was everything. This book had spice, yearning, tension, heat and so much love! When they pinky promised each other. I can’t wait for the next book. 🥰✨
Fave quote? ✨ “ He kissed the way he plays baseball: intense, calculated, and full of passion. One kiss might have killed me.” ✨
✨Shaylene Turner is a professional, first and foremost. As a rising junior sports agent at Permian Sports Agency, she’s got a target on her back in the male-dominated field, but her career path glistens with bright pink promise.
To prove herself in a testosterone-filled arena, she works harder, smarter, and stays professional no matter what. Her all-work-no-play attitude was never an issue—at least not until a new client waltzes into her office. But he’s not new to Shay, and his return threatens to unravel the meticulous career she has fought to build.
Cade Owens, baseball’s golden boy rookie, has been carrying the weight of everyone’s expectations since childhood, and he does it with a dazzling smile. What was once a nickname he wore with pride is now his all-consuming identity.
After nearly two years, Cade is back in North Carolina. He needs a new agent, and the only person he’s willing to work with has every reason to despise him. Moving from Shay’s almost-everything to just another client on her roster isn’t easy, but neither is navigating their dicey past and undeniable tension. Cade knows how important her job is to her, but letting Shay slip away twice isn’t something he can stomach.
Suddenly, it’s business on the surface and everything else underneath.✨
✨Sports Agent x Player
✨Second Chance
✨Baseball Romance
✨Forbidden
✨No Third Act Breakup
✨Found Family
Thank you for letting me arc read @miahonsha.author 📖 ❤️
Fave quote? ✨ “ He kissed the way he plays baseball: intense, calculated, and full of passion. One kiss might have killed me.” ✨
✨Shaylene Turner is a professional, first and foremost. As a rising junior sports agent at Permian Sports Agency, she’s got a target on her back in the male-dominated field, but her career path glistens with bright pink promise.
To prove herself in a testosterone-filled arena, she works harder, smarter, and stays professional no matter what. Her all-work-no-play attitude was never an issue—at least not until a new client waltzes into her office. But he’s not new to Shay, and his return threatens to unravel the meticulous career she has fought to build.
Cade Owens, baseball’s golden boy rookie, has been carrying the weight of everyone’s expectations since childhood, and he does it with a dazzling smile. What was once a nickname he wore with pride is now his all-consuming identity.
After nearly two years, Cade is back in North Carolina. He needs a new agent, and the only person he’s willing to work with has every reason to despise him. Moving from Shay’s almost-everything to just another client on her roster isn’t easy, but neither is navigating their dicey past and undeniable tension. Cade knows how important her job is to her, but letting Shay slip away twice isn’t something he can stomach.
Suddenly, it’s business on the surface and everything else underneath.✨
✨Sports Agent x Player
✨Second Chance
✨Baseball Romance
✨Forbidden
✨No Third Act Breakup
✨Found Family
Thank you for letting me arc read @miahonsha.author 📖 ❤️
December 15, 2025
It's always been you + workplace romance + second chance!
Shay is a junior sports agent, battling life in a male-dominated field. Her all-work-no-play has gotten her far in her career. Until her college situationship requests her as his new agent.
Cade's returned to North Carolina after two years playing baseball in California. His long-time "golden boy" persona has become all-consuming and wrecking his mental health.
They're forced to navigate their new partnership & their past. But Cade refuses to mess up his second chance with Shay.
Read if you love...
✨therapy on page
🫶🏼dual perspective
✨found family
👏🏼cameos from previous & future MCs
✨FMC sports agent
⚾️MMC baseball player
✨agent + client // workplace romance
💬texts on page
✨second chance
🥰it's always been you
✨forbidden romance
Y'all. @miahonsha.author never misses! I binged through this book so fast and wanted one thousand more pages of Shay & Cade!
Everything about this book is utter perfection. The tropes, the rep, the plot, the third act conflict, the side characters, the best friend group, the banter... just literally all of it. Chef's kiss. Infinity/10. No notes.
Shay is an absolute badass agent who truly wants the best for her athletes. And I love that we see it repeatedly throughout the book.
Cade is a mushy ball of feelings who is figuring out his worth. And I love how many different ways this happened between his teammmates, his coaches, Shay & their best friend group, and his mom / sister.
And quite literally everything else I want to scream about is a spoiler. So please for the love of all good things, go read this book immediately!
Highly recommend you start with Fortunate Misfortunates because Shay & Cade's story really does start there, and this book will be so much better if you see them in book one! And because book one is equally phenomenal!
I cannot waaaaait for books three & four in this series! I need them in front of my eyeballs immediately!
📍North Carolina; Pennsylvania
✨Representation: Black MCs; PCOS; anxiety
‼️Content: emotional abuse and manipulation by a trusted authority figure (former agent, on page); sexism in the workplace (on page); anxiety and counseling (on page); baseball-related injuries and rehabilitation (on page)
Shay is a junior sports agent, battling life in a male-dominated field. Her all-work-no-play has gotten her far in her career. Until her college situationship requests her as his new agent.
Cade's returned to North Carolina after two years playing baseball in California. His long-time "golden boy" persona has become all-consuming and wrecking his mental health.
They're forced to navigate their new partnership & their past. But Cade refuses to mess up his second chance with Shay.
Read if you love...
✨therapy on page
🫶🏼dual perspective
✨found family
👏🏼cameos from previous & future MCs
✨FMC sports agent
⚾️MMC baseball player
✨agent + client // workplace romance
💬texts on page
✨second chance
🥰it's always been you
✨forbidden romance
Y'all. @miahonsha.author never misses! I binged through this book so fast and wanted one thousand more pages of Shay & Cade!
Everything about this book is utter perfection. The tropes, the rep, the plot, the third act conflict, the side characters, the best friend group, the banter... just literally all of it. Chef's kiss. Infinity/10. No notes.
Shay is an absolute badass agent who truly wants the best for her athletes. And I love that we see it repeatedly throughout the book.
Cade is a mushy ball of feelings who is figuring out his worth. And I love how many different ways this happened between his teammmates, his coaches, Shay & their best friend group, and his mom / sister.
And quite literally everything else I want to scream about is a spoiler. So please for the love of all good things, go read this book immediately!
Highly recommend you start with Fortunate Misfortunates because Shay & Cade's story really does start there, and this book will be so much better if you see them in book one! And because book one is equally phenomenal!
I cannot waaaaait for books three & four in this series! I need them in front of my eyeballs immediately!
📍North Carolina; Pennsylvania
✨Representation: Black MCs; PCOS; anxiety
‼️Content: emotional abuse and manipulation by a trusted authority figure (former agent, on page); sexism in the workplace (on page); anxiety and counseling (on page); baseball-related injuries and rehabilitation (on page)
October 25, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Shaylene(Shay) Turner is a sports agent, working at Permian trying to make her mark on the world. At Permian, Shay works her butt off securing clients, caring for hers and everyone else’s client, and always tries to maintain perfect professionalism. She guards herself and her heart after it was broken a couple years ago by Cade. Cade was her best friend, and the start of something more. However when he was traded to another baseball team he ghosted Shay and broke her heart. Now Cade is back, and (having recently fired his agent) wants Shay to be his sports agent. Shay agrees to be his agent as long as they stick to her rules….but of course that doesn’t happen 😉.
My thoughts: This was my first novel by this author and it was soooo good. I really loved the slow burn and not rushing to get back together. I love that it took time for the two to build trust back. Shay is an amazing character! I wish I was a professional athlete just so I could ask her to be my sports agent! She really cared about her job and making sure she was the best she could be for her clients. I loved her friendships and I really loved Shayzilla(I have been known to be competitive as well 😂). The things she went through in this book really irritated me(I’m looking at you Trevor!) and I’m so glad she made it out on the other side. I think even for the better!!
Cade is so sweet(I will fight Jon for him), I felt so awful for the things he went through too. But I loved how much he cared about his family and his career. I love that he listened to Shay and did things to help improve his life. His teammates were amazing too. I just loved the found family they both shared.
I have not read the first book in this series but now I feel like I need too!! I would highly recommend reading this book and I can’t wait to see what else the author has in store 💜
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Shaylene(Shay) Turner is a sports agent, working at Permian trying to make her mark on the world. At Permian, Shay works her butt off securing clients, caring for hers and everyone else’s client, and always tries to maintain perfect professionalism. She guards herself and her heart after it was broken a couple years ago by Cade. Cade was her best friend, and the start of something more. However when he was traded to another baseball team he ghosted Shay and broke her heart. Now Cade is back, and (having recently fired his agent) wants Shay to be his sports agent. Shay agrees to be his agent as long as they stick to her rules….but of course that doesn’t happen 😉.
My thoughts: This was my first novel by this author and it was soooo good. I really loved the slow burn and not rushing to get back together. I love that it took time for the two to build trust back. Shay is an amazing character! I wish I was a professional athlete just so I could ask her to be my sports agent! She really cared about her job and making sure she was the best she could be for her clients. I loved her friendships and I really loved Shayzilla(I have been known to be competitive as well 😂). The things she went through in this book really irritated me(I’m looking at you Trevor!) and I’m so glad she made it out on the other side. I think even for the better!!
Cade is so sweet(I will fight Jon for him), I felt so awful for the things he went through too. But I loved how much he cared about his family and his career. I love that he listened to Shay and did things to help improve his life. His teammates were amazing too. I just loved the found family they both shared.
I have not read the first book in this series but now I feel like I need too!! I would highly recommend reading this book and I can’t wait to see what else the author has in store 💜
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