Major Love

Balls in Play #2

by Kate Stewart

"I met her at an all-time low . . . the worst night of my life—a time I never wanted to remember."

"It was a night I could never forget."

"When it came to women, I swore I was done with wishful thinking. Ball and my coaching career were all that mattered."

"I reminded him it wasn't."

"She was everything I was afraid of."

"He was everything I'd ever wanted."

"She was fire—an irresistible piece of southern heaven that I couldn't stay away from.

"He was smoke that clouded me in every imaginable way."

"And the sex . . ."

"Dear God, the sex . . ."

"I fell hard, and she gave me hell at every turn."

"I made a promise I was hell bent on keeping."

"And you kept it."

"Hell yes I did."

"Fuckin' A."

This is a SPORTS ROMANCE and can be read as a stand alone.

Genres: Sports, Romance, Sports Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Baseball, Humor

357 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 14, 2016

About the author

New York Times, USA Today, Amazon Charts, and Internationally bestselling author Kate Stewart, a Texas native, lives in North Carolina with her husband, Nick. Nestled within the Blue Ridge Mountains, Kate pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance, as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense.

The Ravenhood Trilogy, consisting of Flock, Exodus, and The Finish Line, as well as the spinoff series, Ravenhood Legacy, have become NYT, USA Today, and International bestsellers as well as TikTok sensations. The Ravenhood was recently acquired for film adaptation with Kate set to co-write the script, as well as executive produce, which will kickstart her lifelong dream of becoming a filmmaker.

Amongst Kate’s other bestselling works, The Bittersweet Symphony Duet, specifically Drive, was a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist for best contemporary romance of 2017. Stewart’s works have been featured in USA Today, BuzzFeed, The New York Daily News, Huffington Post, Glamour Magazine, and translated into over twenty languages.



More info: https://geni.us/katestewartbooks

Reviews

[✦❋Arianna✦❋ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Loved it hard from beginning until the end. This second book in 'Balls in Play' series was definitely my favorite book by this author and I truly believe she outdid herself with this one. 'Major Love' was gripping, truly gripping with two most endearing main characters I’ve read in a while. Kate did a fantastic job blending the sweetness and sexiness together and delivered a delightful read that really entertained me for a couple of hours.

“I wanted to climb into his chest and live there because I was sure for the first time in my life, I’d met a one-of-a-kind man.”

Andy is a retired baseball player who owns a successful bar and loves to brew his own beer. His heart was shattered just recently into pieces when the woman he considered to be the woman of his dreams rejected him and decided to leave town. Needless to say, Andy is broken and he’s definitely not looking for a new woman in his life. At his best friend, Rafe, engagement party Andy meets April, the maid of honor. After a little too many drinks, Andy starts over sharing some things about him being open and honest about his past and feelings, which April finds to be very sweet and refreshing. April broke up with her boyfriend of 15 years just several months ago. She hopes to find love someday like her friend Alice, but she’s decided in the future not to waste any more of her time on a man who is not as interested in her as she is.

Andy and April start to spend some time together when they have to help with their best friends’ wedding preparations. Soon, sparks start to fly, their connection growing with each and every single one of their encounters and what starts as something sexy and passionate, slowly becomes more for both of them.

“Real love, the good stuff, the kind you can’t live without, comes with more than just a decision to love. It comes with the prices of patience and understanding.”

As I said, I really loved this one. Every single aspect of this story was done to perfection in my opinion. The plot was well developed, the story line very enjoyable, the romance swoon-worthy and the two main characters very endearing. In other words, 'Major Love' had everything I love in a good romance.

April was a heroine I loved very much. She was definitely my kind of heroine. This lady was strong, yet vulnerable and didn’t take any crap from anyone, especially our hero, Andy, which I totally loved. She was fantastically portrayed from start to finish and I absolutely loved her sassiness. She was a very endearing character I related to immediately. She had fears and some insecurities, but like I said, she was strong lady. I loved how sweet, thoughtful and understanding she was with Andy and the fact that she was such a good, loyal friend to Alice.

“Beautiful, if you aren’t fighting once in a while with the one you’re fucking, you aren’t fucking the right one.”

Andy was an awesome hero. Really awesome I could say! At some point into the story I was afraid he will transform in that annoying douchebag hero we came across in almost every romantic comedy. But he didn’t and I was happy and also surprised by this fact. Andy was so very sweet, caring and kind and he won me over completely. Like April, I fell in love hard and fast for him. I loved his portrayal as much as I loved April’s.

I think my favorite aspect of this story was the romantic aspect, the two main characters as a couple. Everything about them was perfectly done – their banter, their sexy interactions, the sexual innuendos, everything really was simply fantastic. As for the chemistry between them -WOW – really loved it! These two were scorching hot between the sheets. They were sexy, they were passionate, they were naughty, they were perfect together in every way and I felt this from the very beginning.

“I’d made thousands upon thousands of calls in my life, but the one I was most proud of, the one that I knew would be my most remembered, was that I gave up the majors for love.” - Andy

All in all, 'Major Love' was a delightful read – funny, sweet, sexy with a lovely story line and with a lovelier romance that will keep you entertained from the beginning if you like a good, well developed sports romantic comedy.



Find me on:

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!



When I read Anything But Minor earlier this year, I was blown away. It was a fantastically hilarious sports romance. I was dying for the next one to release. You see, AbM was amazing, and my girl Alice stole the show, but there was this other character. He was Rafe’s best friend and his name is Andy. Because as much as I liked Rafe, I kind of liked Andy more, and I couldn’t wait for his story. Kate didn’t let me down. Andy and April’s story was just as good as Alice and Rafe’s. Another 5 star read in this wonderful series!

Andy and April meet through Alice and Rafe. As Alice and Rafe plan their wedding while Rafe is traveling with the pros, they need the help of their best man and maid of honor. Andy used to play ball with Rafe, but now he focuses his time on his bar. His passion is brewing beer and I loved watching him do what he loves. April is a 911 call operator. She’s bound to get some fun/funny calls, but her job is actually very serious and she’s good at it. She has the right heart for the difficult job.

Andy and April don’t start off as anything serious. Andy isn’t looking for that and April just got out of a long relationship, but the more time they spend together, the more serious it seems to become.



I loved watching the relationship develop between Andy and April. These two truly are a match made. They have that spark from the very start, you can really feel the chemistry between these two. Even the times they try to fight it. They were truly a great pair.



April is not the same kind of heroine as Alice, but I loved her just as much (and that’s saying something!) She’s funny, kind, fierce and a wonderful person. Andy deserved a special girl and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of him than April. Andy is sweet, sexy and truly has a heart of gold. I couldn’t ask for more in a hero, or a couple for that matter.



Major Love was highly entertaining, funny, sweet, sexy and truly warmed my heart. There wasn’t anything I didn’t love about this book or about these characters. They weren't perfect, but their imperfections made them that much more wonderful. 



Kate Stewart has proven over and over again that she can write anything. Romance, romantic comedies, sports romance, emotional reads, erotica, you name it and Kate can do it. She is my very own Shero <3 Andy and April’s story will hold a special place in my heart. It’s the perfect mix of all my favorite things- funny (without being OTT), emotional, and sexy. I can’t recommend these books enough. They are truly special reads to me! Major Love is another one that knocks it out of the ball park and gets a full 5 stars from me!!!

“Real love, the good stuff, the kind you can’t live without, comes with more than just a decision to love. It comes with the prices of patience and understanding.”

[Patty ~ Wrapped Up In Reading Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

*****FIVE STARS*****
{BETA & ARC Generously Provided by Author}


”I looked into that man’s eyes and I saw him, and he was beautiful, so beautiful I fell in love on the spot. I just knew that he was something special, that he was…”


“That night, he made me promise to give my heart to a man who deserved it. He told me to make him earn it, and before I promised him that, I swore I wouldn’t waste any more time with a man who didn’t love me the same.”






This is the sixth Kate Stewart book I’ve read, and that’s not including the seven I’ve read written under her other pen name, Angelica Chase. What I’ve come to learn about this woman is that she puts her blood, sweat, and tears into every novel she writes. She never does anything half-assed. This woman went through hell while writing MAJOR LOVE and it’s apparent that the end product is nothing short of a masterpiece because of her efforts. I have no doubt Kate can write a story from any genre she attempts to tackle. Unlike its predecessor, Major Love is packed with incredible angst and a beautiful but broken Hero who will steal your heart the moment he bares his soul to you early on in the story.





Andy Pracht is Rafe’s best friend that we met in ANYTHING BUT MINOR. He’s a great guy whose only mistake in life was giving his heart to the wrong woman. Kristin was a waitress who worked in Andy’s bar and the two had formed a very close relationship but all the while Kristin was pining for Rafe, who never gave her any indication that he reciprocated her feelings. Now some may think she wasn’t a bad person but I do believe she gave Andy little snippets of hope and for that, she’ll always be the bad guy to me. The story takes off very early on when at Rafe and Alice’s engagement party, Andy has drunk himself into a stupor. When he first meets April, he is standoffish because his heart is still pretty shattered and his trust in women is nonexistent. April however, finds herself instantly attracted to Andy and even a little intrigued too.



April Turner is Alice’s next door neighbor. She works as a 911 operator and has unselfishly put her life on hold while she helps her sister, whose husband was a police officer who was killed while on duty. April moved in with her sister to help take care of her two nephews. This didn’t sit well with April’s boyfriend of almost fifteen years and ultimately led to their breakup. April is also a little gun-shy when it comes to relationships with the opposite sex, just as Andy is. But what we come to learn early on is that these two couldn’t be more perfect for each other. They are each other’s true other half.






On the night of Alice and Rafe’s engagement party, Andy splits himself wide open for April and lets her in on the soul-shattering loss he carries silently in his heart. They have one of the most intense conversations two people could ever share. It leaves a lasting impact on April and even results in her falling for Andy. The only problem is that Andy ends up having no recollection of their night together when he wakes up the next morning. He was so beyond wasted that he blacked out most of what happened the night before. Since April and Andy are the maid of honor and best man, they end up having to spend quite a bit of time together and ultimately they are unable to fight the building attraction between them. I would rate the steam between these two - TEN PANTY MELTING STARS!!






But everything is not all hearts and flowers for our couple. April tries to protect her heart because she believes that Andy is still in love with Kristin and that she’ll never win his love. Andy has vowed that he will never be with a woman who doesn’t put him first in her heart and for some reason, he questions whether April can be that person. So the two spend a lot of time being clueless and even ridiculous but oh how it makes for some serious angst!!



Will Andy and April eventually get their act together??!! Well, you’re going to have to read this one to find out!



If you love a good Sports Romance that is laugh-out-loud hilarious, panty melting inducing and will leave you swooning like a love sick fool, then you really need to one-click this little gem!!



MAJOR LOVE is currently available!!


Amazon: http://bit.ly/majorlovekindle
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2fub8or
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2gcwNlu
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2fXs2JM

[Maria✦❋Steamy Reads Blog❋✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have a giveaway running for a signed and personalized paperback of this book! Check it out right on our blog www.steamyreads.net

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I'm not going to review this, cuz on vacation and super behind on my reviews.
You can find Arianna's 5 star review HERE

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had Major mushy gushy feelings.

Kate Stewart tells real stories. Yes, some of the characters may be outside of the norm (baseball minor and major league players) but the emotions involved are very real. Why is it that we put athletes and actors in the unrealistic category when they are just as capable as the average Joe to have feelings? I think it has a little bit to do with believing they can have whoever they want. I agree, they can have whoever they want, but that doesn’t mean the perfect match is easier to find. Famous people have hearts, feel vulnerable and can have their hearts broken too. Even baseball players can struggle to find their perfect match.

April thought she had found her perfect match until she realised she’d wasted 14 years on the wrong man. The heartbreak was devastating and it took awhile to get over him. Things were made a little harder as her best buddy and her ex, are good friends. It's hard to move on when your past keeps popping up in front of you. April finally realises that she doesn’t have to settle for second best. It’s time to put her needs first and make sure that the person she gives her heart to is willing to put his heart on the line as well.

On a night she least expects it, April meets a man who tells her his story of heartbreak, devastation and losing his way. This meeting rocks her world. Maybe THIS is the man she’s been looking for…or maybe she just imagined it.

Andrew loved to play ball. He was the catcher to his best mate Rafe’s pitching. Now that Rafe is playing in the Major League, Andrew lost his desire to play. But, he loves the game. When the opportunity to coach instead of play comes at a good time. He needs the distraction. The woman he fell in love and planned to spend the rest of his life with doesn’t feel the same way about him.

At Rafe’s engagement party, all his emotions hit him and he hits the bottle HARD. Andy knows he needs to move on and get his head straight. He’s not ready for a relationship but the maid of honour makes him forget that. She’s gorgeous, funny and has a Southern accent that puts a smile on his face. Maybe she might help him forget his heartache…

Major Love tells the story of two people who want desperately to find a perfect love but are a wee bit too scared to risk the heartbreak.

Both April and Andy have jobs that, while completely different, take a lot of mental preparation to do. April works in an Emergency Call Centre and deals with some of the darker sides of life. Andy, as a coach, must always have his battle plan ready for the game. While they’re dealing with the feelings and mind games of a new relationship, they must also deal with the pressures of their work. This does not make things easier for either of them. When Andy has to travel with his team they end up spending a lot of time apart.

What becomes more important? Working on your budding relationship or giving your job the full dedication it needs?

I really enjoyed Major Love. Again Kate Stewart has introduced us to lovable characters who you can relate to. Yes, they might be a sports star but they're real too. Andy is not an arrogant jerk but a hard working and dedicated man. April is a down-to-earth woman who always helps out the people she loves.

It does take him a little while to work out his feelings for April, but when he does he is IN. April, hesitant to make the same mistakes twice, holds back on sharing her feelings but when she does she goes in the whole hog.

Major Love is funny, sweet, swoony and HOT!! The connection between the characters was easy to see. Their intimate scenes had a little naughtiness mixed in with shenanigans in very inappropriate places. I was just waiting for them to get busted.

My favourite part of every romance story is the AHHA moment and Major Love does not disappoint. There’s this little shake and shimmy around my heart when the characters realise that their feelings are…stronger than friendship…more than lust…and deeper than caring. That four letter word that starts with L puts a smile on my face every time it’s mentioned by the right people. It’s like my heart recognises when the right person says it. The douchewaffle ex mentions love, and I scoff. The horn bag hussie screams her love, and I snigger at the foolishness. I know and want real love in all my stories…and I won’t settle for less.

I hope this is not the end of the Balls in Play series because I would really like to see Michelle find happiness, Rowdy settle on one and maybe even Makavoy catches a love match.

To buy Major Love from Amazon - http://amzn.to/2gunf70





I’m an Aussie chick who loves to read and review romance, drink coffee, be a Style Setter and stalk David Gandy. To see more of my reviews, fashion, food and pervathons -

[Alba and Her Secrets..♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 'Trust in Me' Stars!
ARC provided by the author via The Hype PR in exchange for an honest review.


Kate Stewart, you amazing woman, you did it! AGAIN! Holy hell guys, this was definitely worth the wait! I fell in love with this woman's writing when I read Anything but Minor back in July (which is, for sure, one of my favorite books this year) and I was extremely excited to read Andy's story. It. Was. Beautiful.

Major Love is the second installment of the Balls in Play series and, as I said, it tells the story of Andrew 'Andy' Pracht (Rafe's best friend, a man currently destroyed by the departure of who believed to be the woman of his dreams and that is why he is pretty drunk when he meets his actual soul mate) and April Turner (a sassy woman who has been hurt by men and the consequences of her job but everything changes when she falls in love, almost instantly, with Rafe's brokenhearted best man).

“You have a big heart, beautiful?”
“I hope so.”
“You want to give it to me?” […] “It’s never that easy, is it?”
“I’m pretty sure I don’t know right now.”

So I have to say, to me Rafe is the epitome of the best book boyfriend ever and I kind of was expecting not to feel the same about Andy. Well, as I said, Kate is a genius because she made me fall in love with Andy too! I FLOVED Anything but Minor (still is my favorite) but Major Love was totally amazing. It had the perfect plot, the perfect couple and the perfect moments. It was funny, sexy-as-hell and intensely emotional, that’s why I loved every word of it.

“I don’t have shit to offer you right now. Both my head and heart are toast. But I can give you friendship and the longest, hardest fuck of your life. So if that’s an invitation I think I see in your eyes, I will gladly fucking accept.”

I loved the development of the love story, how it started (so sweet, even though I kinda hated that Andy did not remember it!) and how it progressed to another fantastic relationship. Andy and April together are hilarious, sugary sweet and hot AF. And by that I mean, HOT HOT HOT. Damn, this woman knows how to write the sexy times! And the emotional ones too… Major Love gave me ALL THE FEELS!

Baseball was home. It was heaven, no matter how much I resented it at times from taking me away from my other home, which resided in the arms and eyes of April Turner.

And what is even better than a good story with a couple that has crazy chemistry? Well, a fabulous group of secondary characters, of course! I loved seeing more of Rafe (Yum! Can’t get over this man!) and Alice, more of other characters we meet in the first book and also meet new characters such as April’s family or the player’s in Andy’s team. It left me wondering.. will we get more books on this series? Because I am totally ready for them! Kate, pretty please, write more sports romance with these great characters that you have created!

He was there, all of him, and had been all along, and I was the woman who had won him by keeping his promise…and mine.

Therefore, my rating for Major Love is 5 STARS simply because Kate is a freaking genius and made me fall in love with her characters and love stories all over again. Who complains about a story that gives you all the feels possible? Not me, ladies! I can’t wait for more (I do hope we get more! lol). So, if you still haven’t read this book or this series, GO. READ. NOW! You will not regret it, I can assure you that!

CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

“I don’t have shit to offer you right now. Both my head and heart are toast. But I can give you friendship and the longest, hardest fuck of your life. So if that’s an invitation I think I see in your eyes, I will gladly fucking accept.”

Hold out for more, girlfriend!

I went into this book knowing the odds were on my side. I've loved everything I've read from Kate Stewart, including numero uno in this series, Rafe and Alice's story. As much as I enjoyed that one, Major Love was even better.

When I read a romance, my focus is normally on the hunk of man involved. Is he smart? Sexy? A total douchebag? Is a highly evolved alphahole too much to ask for?

It was absolutely a welcome change of pace to have April, the wonderful and witty heroine, steal my heart. I love her and want to be her when I grow up. After giving her all to those around her for most of her life, April's finally at a point where she doesn't want to settle. You know what? She shouldn't have to and this story was so much more enjoyable because she didn't. Sure, she was still an insecure mess sometimes but she owned it.

Oh, Andy and the sweet, sweet lovin' rocked too.

[Sher❤ The Fabulous BookLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

:::5 Major Stars!:::



"I wanted to climb into his chest and live there,
because I was sure for the first time in my life,
I'd met a one-of-a-kind man."

Ok, first off I just want to say I never usually lay claim to book heroes but Andy Pracht is MINE! Gosh I LOVED THIS BOOK! This may be my fave Kate Stewart to date. I devoured this book and to be honest I didn't want it to end. I had so many feels. I laughed my ass off, literally had the hiccups around 33% and I fell in love with these characters! All of them, even the secondary characters. The storyline was never boring and there wasn't dull moment, not one. But the best thing is, it chronicled the realism of a new relationship. The plot was authentic and I think that made me love this book even more. This was one of those reads that just did it for me and it came just when I needed it.

Andy Pracht is a former minor league baseball player who own his own local brewery. April is a 911 operator and Alice's good friend. With their best friends, Alice and Rafe, getting married it brings Andy and April together and sparks fly between these two. This was not an insta-love (thank you God), so I enjoyed seeing both April and Andy grow in their love for each other, while dealing with past issues and baggage that's sometimes brought into new relationships.

Major Love is a beautiful sports romance story and it's book two in the Balls in Play series, but it can most definitely be a standalone. It's laugh out loud, hot and steamy and alluring. There's hysterical moments, there's thought-provoking moments and there's well-developed characters that you will undoubtedly fall in love with. I can't say enough about this one and it has made my 2016 favorites list. I recommend this for just about everyone who loves a good romance with a few belly laughs, hot sex and unforgettable characters.

[Angela (Reading Frenzy Book Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when I think Kate Stewart can’t do any better, she manages to prove me wrong. I was a massive fan of her previous book, Anything but Minor, so this one had fairly large shoes to fill. Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit if I didn’t enjoy Major Love just as much, if not more.

Andy is a former minor league baseball player turned pro ball coach/bar owner/craft beer brewer. April is a spunky 911 operator. Both of them are nursing broken hearts when they meet one night. Although Andy is at his absolute worst, their meeting has a profound impact on April and they quickly form a friendship.

I fell majorly in love with this couple. April is outrageously funny and multi-faceted—she’s feisty yet sensitive; spontaneous but dependable; a sexy southern tomboy that loves rap music. She keeps it real and takes no crap, but her huge heart makes her incredibly giving toward her family and friends. Quick witted, caring, and devastatingly charming, Andy is the perfect catch for a certain firecracker who is holding out for Mr. Right. He’s a real romantic with a very dirty mind.



There’s an abundance of consistently clever humor and seriously steamy sexy times. We’re talking get-out-your-fan-and-have-a-spare-pair-of panties-on-hand hot.



More importantly, this is a well crafted heartwarming story. I laughed and cheered April and Andy all the way to very last page.

Major Love is easily one of my favorite romantic comedies of the year. If you’re looking for a hilariously entertaining and sizzling sports romance, do yourself a favor and grab this book. Major Love is the second book in the Balls in Play series, and it can be read as a standalone.

Recommended for fans of:
Baseball
Romantic comedies
Southern accents
Moon Pies

**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved both main characters in this book, which is very rare for me. April was a kick ass chick with an attitude and Andy was such a sweet guy. Their banter and silly jokes made me smile, and it was obvious from the beginning that not only did they belong together, they needed each other to mend their broken and damaged hearts.

The only major problem I had with this book was the underlying story of the book which could have been resolved with a little communication. When April and Andy first meet, she ends up driving him home because his is drunk, and he bares his soul about his feelings towards another woman who is no longer in the picture, plus April makes him a promise. Now, April takes every word to heart, but he is DRUNK and we all know the possibility of doing or saying something stupid when we are drunk (Apparently, I like to do the “wave” by myself when I have 1 too many). For being such a cool chick, that irked the hell out of me. A little chat could have saved a lot of heartache!!!

I will absolutely continue with this series because I do enjoy Kate Stewarts writing style, and I am very curious who the next couple will be.

[NMmomof4 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Overall Opinion: This was an enjoyable read for me. I really enjoyed that we get a good bit of time with them together and developing feelings for each other! The scenes with them sick and at Disney World were super fun, and had me laughing out loud a few times. I was expecting a little more angst though. The conflict felt a little lackluster tbh. While it was believable, I think we could've done with some more umph (I hope I make sense 😜) before building up to the HEA. I did appreciate the H's grovel though. It was a little too tooth achingly sweet for my tastes, but since it wasn't a huge part of the story I didn't get bugged by it. I can see many other readers really enjoying this sweet, funny, low-angst read.

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is April and Andy's story. They meet through mutual friends and spend a special night together that drunken Andy doesn't remember the next day. The are thrown together more and more, and eventually give in to their strong attraction and start a relationship. Andy has just accepted a job as a coach for a major league team, so needless to say they are attempting to make a long distance relationship work once the season has started. There is some insecurities and hesitancies that they have to work through...but they do get a HEA ending.

POV: This alternated between April and Andy's POV.

Overall Pace of Story: Ok. It did feel a little sluggish here and there, and I skimmed (but not much) in those times.

Instalove: Not really, but for the h?...maybe.

H rating: 3 stars. Andy. He was ok. His hot/cold routine where he quickly jumped to conclusions started to really bug me though.

h rating: 3.5 stars. April. I liked her. My biggest complaint is that I wanted her to communicate better at times.

Sadness level: Low/moderate. I teared up a few times, but never needed tissues.

Push/Pull: Yes They both push away as well as pursue the relationship at times.

Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.

Descriptive sex: Yes

Safe sex: Yes They use condoms and birth control until they are more committed to the relationship. I don't remember any mention of std statuses or previous practices.

OW/OM drama: Yes The H had been burned by OW at the very beginning of the book (off page). She comes around and causes a little bit of drama for the couple, but not in the typical OW way.

Sex scene with OW or OM: No

Cheating: No

Separation: Yes They are separated shortly (days? A few weeks at most?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time.

Possible Triggers: Mild Loss of a friend/brother-in-law that was killed in the line of duty as a cop (off page - through mentions).

Closure: This had pretty good closure with what I would call a HEA ending. I'm a greedy greedy reader and I wanted more though. A farther jump into their HEA would've been greatly appreciated! I'm guessing we might see more of them in the next book, The Brave Line, that is already released.

How I got it: It was part of my kindle unlimited subscription.

Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers

- Does Not have cheating
- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
- Does have both the h and H pushing away
- Does have a short separation between the h and H
- Does Not have abuse
- Does Not have OTT sad parts
- Does have a HEA ending

[Dee Montoya · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ++++ ~My Carolina Girl~ Stars*****

( ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review)
(BR with Mel & Patty)

I had a blast reading this book! Major Love was nothing but romance and fun, and I can see myself re-reading this book a million times more. Simply AMAZING!!!




Andy is Rafe's best friend, we met him is the first book of this series. He is a retired baseball player, who loves to brew amazing beer, runs a very successful bar in Charleston and is in love with his best friend Kristina. The problem is, that Kristina is in love with Rafe and since he can't reciprocate the love, and to avoid hurting Andy's feelings, she decides to leave the city and move to Atlanta with her son, leaving Andy devastated.

Rafe and Alice are getting married and as their best friends, April is the maid of Honor and Andy is serving as the best man. On the night of the engagement party April and Andy meet, they are instantly attracted to each other, but both of them have been burned by love before, so their first meeting turns out to be both passionate and disastrous.

Andy can hardly contain himself around April. Shes funny, beautiful, voluptuous and her southern accent is so sexy to him, he feels like she's dangerous to his health. April too, is super attracted to Andy's athletic good look and ginger hair, he is also super sweet, and she just melts every time she's around him.

These two start hanging out a lot in order to help Alice plan the weeding, and by the time the big event rolls around, Andy and April are done controlling themselves and just give into the passion that's been brewing between them for months. The problem is, that Andy is moving away since he accepted the position of coach and April has promised not to settle for a guy again; she has a lot going on with her life and family, and can't afford to loose her heart again.

Can Andy and April do the long distance thing, and keep the relationship casual? Or will they fall helplessly in love and once again sacrifice everything in the name of love?



Author Kate Stewart is a genius when it comes to writing rom-com. Her humor is so bright and sassy, causing big belly laughs as you read this book. Also the woman can write sexy, and I mean hot, sizzling, passionate scenes, so you see, perfect combination in a story.

When a book can make you giggly happy and melt your heart and every other part of your body, that's a winner to me, and Major Love was that, a total hit!!!!

A book so wonderful I wish I could gift a copy to every single person in this planet, so they too, can feel the happiness I felt when I read this book.

Don't wait any longer and pick up this amazing series today. Both books in this series are sports theme romances to perfection.

My Major Love music playlist:
*I was made For Loving You by Kina Grannis
*Wings by Birdy
*Save Room by John Legend
*At Last by Etta James
*Love On The Weekend by John Mayer

[Jayme · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars! Expectation, expectation... After the first excellent book, I expected a lot after Major Love. It doesn't hit all my buttons but in some ways I fell in love with Andy and April at the end.



About the plot: April Turner is a 911 call operator. Recently she broke of her fifteen years relationship and is trying to deal also with another loss. Andy Pracht is a retired baseball player and bar owner. Despite the fact that he got a chance to be a bullpen coach in the professional league, he also isn't in the best moment of his life. A woman who was supposed to be the one, never loved him and broke his heart.

Andy and April met at the engagement party of their common friends, Rafe and Alice (from a previous book). They both will be the best man and maid of honor at their wedding. But Andy is more interested in a bottle of Johnny Walker than knowing April. He got drunk and had a very funny and surprisingly honest interaction with her. And although after this night he didn't remember anything, for her, it was something more. She saw a glimpse of a wonderful man and was smitten by him.

My thoughts: At the beginning I wasn't blown away, but when it developed was getting better and better. They have this kind of rollercoaster relationship, when not everything is directly said and they often push each other away. But when they are together it's pure magic.

“Beautiful, if you aren’t fighting once in a while with the one you’re fucking, you aren’t fucking the right one.”

April is as Andy cool said "...sassy-mouthed, southern piece of heaven.". She has a very responsible job, that introduced a number of interesting topics. And she is a great character for which I actually read to the end. She is my Shero! I love her family and I would be happy to read a spin off about her friend Rowdy.

“You really shouldn’t be allowed to be this beautiful. It makes smart men do stupid things.”

The book has lot of funny moments, but it is also emotional. They have a great chemistry together and are very passionate for each other. The dirty talk is great and Andy, for sure knows some moves. Over the duration of the book I mostly liked their shared moments and it was getting better and better. To the extent that I loved both of them at the end.

“The man was a beast and had the sexual appetite of a caveman on crack. And I loved every second of it.”

Maybe for me it was just a little too long, but certainly I'm waiting for the next book in this series. Maybe Makavoy? It would be really exciting. The author fantastically writes, has fresh ideas and can write one of the funniest dialogue I have ever read. So just try it yourself!

***
ARC kindly provided for an honest review. Thank you!

[Maria... · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 "You're my dream" stars

What an enjoyable reading!

...I wanted to climb into his chest and live there because I was sure for the first time in my life, I'd met one-of-a-kind man.

Loved the cover...

Loved the blurb...

Loved Andy and April!!!

I wanted to read Andy's story since I finished "Anything but Minor" which I LOVED too damn much!

This book was great, funny, sexy, with an adorable couple, who were trying to find themselves and love after picking up the pieces of their hearts that were all over the place...(Because of the wrong people in their life...but that ok, they learned their lesson)

Having a taste of her had brought a small piece of the man I'd thought I'd lost back to me. In fact, it was hands down the hottest sex I'd ever had.

They were such a realistic couple and the author portrait them so well and believable for the reader in a way that you can relate to them if you had a similar experience like them.

I liked how their story began first friends and then when they were more confident lovers...

"...But I can give you friendship and the longest, hardest fuck of your life. So if that's an invitation I think I see in your eyes, I will gladly fucking accept."

I think the best part for me in the book, except of course from their hot and steamy and dirty and did I mention HOT sex scenes, was when they were sick! They were so damn sweet and adorable and funny at the same time, I just couldn't get enough... I wanted them to be sick in the entire book... (Just kidding...)

The man was a beast and had the sexual appetite of a caveman on crack.

I loved how possessive and jealous Andy could get when someone approached April even if it was a friend! How I love my possessive and jealous men...They are my favorite!!!!

"I'm so fucking in love with you and I have been for months. I want you and only you. I can't see ever leaving your side."

Now I had a small issue with this book and that would be how warm and cold they would act, especially Andy every time that something happened and his insecurities got in the way...I would have been ok if it happened once or twice but it kept happening during the book and I didn't like it, even more when they learned each other and had a good relationship. That's the only thing that bothered me....

"You are the only woman I was meant to love, April. I'm so fucking sorry you doubted for one second that my heart wasn't yours. But it is, beautiful. It's filled with only you. You are the one."

Enjoy! xxx

[S.M. West · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 shero STARS

This was all that I'd hoped it would be and more. We met Andy in Anything but Minor as Rafe's best friend and fellow ball player. Going into this, Andy's heart is broken. He's recovering from falling for the wrong woman and not ready for any woman, especially a sassy southern beauty like April Turner.



Andy and April have a raw, deep and memorable encounter at Rafe and Alice's wedding that makes a lasting impression on her. So much so, she can't forget him. April and Andy develop a friendship with an undeniable attraction that grows into something more. This is definitely a slow burn with some out and out pee-your-pants moments, angst (hey, it's Kate) and sweet, tender moments.



I loved April instantly. My kinda woman. She's strong, sweet, funny and kind. And she not only gave Andy a what-for when he deserved it, but she also stood up to any man who needed to be put in his place.



As for Andy...where should I start? Dare I say, I think I love Andy more than Rafe. And I FLOVED Rafe! He's got a heart of gold and even though he does some stupid things in the name of protecting his heart, I totally understood why and felt for him even more. The simplest way I can put it, he has heart. Andy...



This was a great read and a wonderful second installment in this home run of a series. If you're looking for a "laugh till you cry" and "let's fall in love" read, you must read this!

**ARC generously provided by Kate Stewart in exchange for an honest review**

For more reviews and blog posts.

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

♦ Warning: this book will make u want to have SWAG!! ;)

4.5 ★'s


I really feel like a broken record saying this all the time but...I really wasn't excited to read about Andy. April, Yes!...she seemed feisty and I was curious as to what she had to say. But let me just tell you...they both blew me away.

Andy, if you remember from the first book, was on the same minor league baseball team as Rafe until he decided to retire. And April is Alice's neighbor and they become fast friends.

Andy and April finally meet when they are at Rafe and Alice's engagement party. Andy is the best man and of course, April will be the maid of honor. Andy's nursing a bit of a broken heart and decides to drown his sorrows in a bottle of Johnny Walker. April can relate since she's fresh out of a fifteen year relationship. However, Andy says some pretty sweet things in his drunken state and they make quite an impression on April.

Naturally, they are thrown together many more times after that due to various wedding preparations. And this is just the beginning of their non-communicating ways about what matters. The basics are they are very much in lust and it just gets stronger and stronger but...they've both been hurt and/or not treated the way they should be and they're holding out for, yep you guessed it, the one. Little do they know, they're looking at him/her.

Alice and Rafe's wedding happens and it's memorable in more ways than one....and there's pictures to prove it! ;) It was pretty amazing for both Andy and April and they want more.



Unfortunately, Andy takes a coaching job for Atlanta with some spring training in Orlando so they do the long distance thing. It's a little delicate because they haven't fully committed to each other.

These two were pretty great and oh so funny! Andy with his awkward jokes and April with her hilarious, southern sayings. I will never think of Moon Pies and puddin' the same way.

There is some drama...nothing too over the top but combined with the distance and time apart, it causes some issues.

I loved getting the updates on Rafe and Alice. Alice is still as refreshing and I laughed so much at Rafe and April's "exchanges".

One part I really enjoyed was that we got so much "couple" time. It was great especially the times they were sick together!

The ending was really sweet and I'm sure we will get more of them in the next book which will be Rowdy (April's best friend) and Michelle (April's friend and co-worker). I'm hoping it will be really angsty. I'm also hoping the next, next book will be about Makavoy...I really liked him but I have no clue how he will fit into Rowdy and Michelle's story unless he moves to Charleston in the off season?? *Fingers crossed*

[Allison ❤️Will Never Conquer Her TBR❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 "Majorly-loved" Stars!




My love for baseball is boundless so when I heard the queen of angst, aka Kate Stewart, was writing a series devoted to hot baseball players, I knew it'd be a homerun (I couldn't resist). Balls in Play is a series where each book is devoted to a different ball player and can be read as a standalone. My heart got so wrapped up in Rafe and Alice's love story in Anything but Minor, I didn't know if she could trump their book. So if you haven't read that story, sally forth and read it! But without further ado.....

Major Love is Andy and April's story. Andy is an ex-minor league catcher and is moving on to Atlanta to be a bullpen coach when he meets April at an engagement party amidst a drunken diarrhea of the mouth stupor. What is it about alcohol that often brings out the true person beneath the facade? Filters go flying! Andy was passionate yet sad, and April never forgot that night...

Major Love is a true slow-burn romance. A romance borne from two lonely and broken-hearted characters. It's not insta-love yet the connection between Andy and April was virtually instantaneous. Their timing was just a bit off. But time they had and it provided the gradual, tender love story to form of its own accord. Oh, and in between, lotsa sex. Smoking hot public bathroom sex, behind the bar with whiskey sex, at work phone sex- you get my drift.

“I have shit to offer you right now. Both my head and heart are toast. But I can give you friendship and the longest, hardest fuck of your life. So if that’s an invitation I think I see in your eyes, I will gladly fucking accept.”

Andy had fallen in love with a woman that couldn't love him back so his scars ran deep. Not wanting to repeat that scenario, Andy holds his cards close. April remembers that man heartbroken and drunk, pouring out his soul to her. He made her make him a promise- and it's one she's bound and determined to keep- even if it causes their boat to sink before it even sets sail...



I really loved the real nature of this love story. Both with past scars, life stresses, jobs that take precedence. It's not easy but most good things in life aren't. But when they made the time to reconnect- they RECONNECTED!





We also got to get comic relief with Rafe and his Alice which I devoured! April is a bit of a tomboy- loving to hunt and fish and Rafe used that against her in every little comedic banter he could! That was epic!

Another Grand Slam for Kate Stewart (snort snort). I look forward to more from her in the Balls in Play series.



Advanced copy received by author in exchange for my honest review.

[Ainhoa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Going in with high expectations is the worst.

I needed a good book after a slumpish mood the past few days and although this sucked me in, it disappointed too.

I felt this dragged the same thing for too long. We knew they had to build their faith in love again but I hate when a heroine needs to fight for what she wants.

Don’t come at me, I know love isn’t easy in real life, but that’s why I read romance. I want an H who is sure, who doesn’t hesitate. Because he knows she is the love of his life, no doubts about it and zero fucks given.

[MELISSA *Mel Reader* · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!
(ARC provided by author)
(BR with Dee & Patty)



April Turner is a beautiful woman from Charlston, SC who is a 911 operator. She broke things off several months ago with her boyfriend after 15 years together. Now single, she wants it all next time she puts her heart on the line. She wants passion & to be #1 to the man she gives her heart to.

April attends an engagement party for her friends Rafe & Alice. She meets the best man Andrew Pracht. Andy is gorgeous & she enjoys flirting with him. After a few drinks he over shared a bit with April. It's clear he's suffering from a broken heart, but he's raw, open & honest, and April kinda falls for him a little.



As maid of honor & best man, Andy & April help out with wedding preparations for Rafe & Alice. As they spend time together they really enjoy each other's company. Andy doesn't remember pouring his heart out to April & April longs for the sweet, open man who she connected with a few nights ago.

Andy is retired from playing minor league baseball for the Charlston Swampgators, & owns a bar where he brews his own beer. He recently fell for a woman who didn't return his affections. He wanted to find his forever woman who had the type of heart he craved, but was now a little gun shy with women. He wanted to be in a relationship, but things never seemed to work out for him.



As April & Andy work together for their friends wedding they just click. They share an intense attraction & connection. They finally give in to their desire & are explosive together. The sex is incredible & they love being together. Soon real feelings blindside them both & they have to decide what they are to one another. April has Andy's attention, but decides she wants his heart. Will Andy take the leap & put his heart out there again?



-She was the epitome of everything I wanted in a woman.

-Her jokes, I got them. Her sarcasm, I adored it. Her sassy mouth, I kissed it every chance I got. Her moans, I would never stop working for. Her heart... well, I wanted it.

-Andy is the kind of man I've wanted my whole life.

-Andy had me, heart and soul.



I adored Andy in Anything But Minor & was desperate for more. Kate definitely delivers in Major Love. She did something I didn't think was even possible & made me love him even more than my Rafe. Andy is such a beautiful soul. He's a swoony, gentle, kind, loving, hot as hell man! Gorgeous inside & out. I fell hard for Brew Master Andy and his big heart! Loved this book so much! I need a book for a Rowdy next! :))

[Bindi Boo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

LOVED it! The couple in this book have been burnt by previous relationships and although wary and emotionally exhausted, Andy and April had the BEST connection. I adored them...individually and as a couple. Only wished there was more communication between them, especially about the promise she made to 'someone', which kept confusing Andy and was only revealed very late in the book. Having said that, there wouldn't be much of a story eh? i must get to book 1, just to read about Rafe and Alice..i fell in love a little with them as well.

Highly recommended!

[aNneMarLi - Chatterbooks Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 "MAJOR LOVE = MAJOR FEELS" STARS!!!

This book should've come into a warning, something like,
PROCEED WITH FUCKING CAUTION, PRACHT with PRACHT!
Because right friggin' now???I AM SO IN LOVE BIG TIME!I'm keeping this man and I don't wanna share come hell or high water!

And not just that, this book OWNED me. I know how amazingly Kate Stewart delivers a story but I was so in awe on how this book turned out to be. Major Love is more than just a sports romance story. It's a perfect blend of everything you thought possible and then more. In my case, I am so stunned with the MAJOR FEELS I experienced with the book, I went from laughing, swooning, turned on, crying (yeah, I may have shed a tear or two), because I tell you, major feels...as in MAJOR FEELS!And then to laughing and swooning again to leaving me with a heart warming feels and leaving me so in love with the book especially with the characters. And the most important thing that made me have a massive book hangover is the fact that the emotions portrayed in the book FEELS SO ALIVE! Yes, I declare I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!

First few pages and I was so engrossed with the story. It captivated me right from the start. I buckled up my seatbelt that's for sure but still it wasn't enough and still I wasn't prepared for the journey I have with Andy and April. These two made me feel so giddy and so in love, I feel so high just even the mere mention of their names, and what more if you'll get to experience a joyride with them?Perfect! That's all I can say. From the writing that is so exemplary, to the vivid details and  flawless story telling. Her lines and words is evident on how good she is at delivering a beautiful story and that's what I love about her. She made not only fall in love with the story but to the characters as well. And this made my reading more enjoyable because her characters are so relatable. Her heroine, April is a sassy mouthed southern woman, who never takes shit. Feisty but hilariously adorable it's so hard not like/love her. I love her dedication and determination not just on her work but to her family as well. She may not be perfect, she may have her own insecurities but my God, I love this woman. Just as Andy puts it, "Only a woman coud make a man this weak".

“God, yo0u are something else,”he complimented as he chuckled.
“Shero by night, Carolina girl by day, and a fucking angel underneath me.”

An then Andy,

“I gave my mind and body to ball and my heart to beautiful women. I played my best for both.”

This man, no doubt it's his show. He STOLE it and OWNED it! When you met him in the first book, you'll definitely have an inkling with what he went through. An unrequited love to a woman he thought is the one until he met April. My God, my heart ached for Andy not because of the love not reciprocated but there's more which you need to find out yourself. It's one of the reasons why April fall in love with him. But, this is all I can say, Andy, when you met him you'll surely love him as much as I did. But then remember,already called DIBS.

And these two together?PERFECT CHEMISTRY!

In truth, I loved just watching her. We clicked easy. It was nothing like having to try fit puzzle pieces together as I had countless times before. Her jokes, I got them. Her sarcasm, I adored it. Her sassy mouth, I kissed it every chance I got. Her moans, I would never stop working for. Her heart... well, I wanted it.

In totality, the book is FLAT OUT GREAT! It's just perfectly written with just the right amount of angst, hilarious moments, emotions and of course the feels. Yes the feels! And the sex, Good lord it was so hot. Mix to that Andy's possessiveness and you'll surely be a goner.

Right now, I am the wolf, beautiful, and I want to do very bad things to you.”I swallowed hard. “I want to spread you out, lick you until you come on my tongue, and fuck you until you scream, rinse and repeat. So, again, does this idiot know the longer he waits, the closer he gets to finding breadcrumbs?”

In the end though, you'll definitely realize that with your journey with them at some point you feel so frustrated you wanna smack the hell out of the leads just to make a point. But My God, you will then realize that the push and pull and sometimes the coldness and the reluctance even the hesitations is just because really, they needed it. Their both broken and they needed to put the pieces back, but with Andy and April, what better way than to do it together? And Major Love? This book just portrayed "Do what you love and give it your very best. Whether it’s business or baseball, or the theater or any field. If you don’t love what you’re doing and you can’t give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You will be an old man before you know it."

Amazing and beautiful book. Now, if you'll gonna ask me if I will recommend it?
Fuckin' A!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Stewart has a touchdown, er... I mean, homerun on her hands! Major Love is the standalone sequel romantic comedy that follows on the heels of Anything But Minor. **Note: Although these can be read as standalones, I highly recommend reading ABM because it’s amazeballs.

In Major Love, Andy is recovering from a broken heart after the woman he loved leaves to start over, after she admits that she does love him, just not in THAT way. With Rafe off to the big leagues, Andy thought a quiet life brewing his beer, running his bar and loving a woman was going to be the way he spent his life. It’s part of the reason why he left the minor league club. But without the woman, he’s going back to what his heart craves almost as much as love.... Baseball, just not as a catcher this time – but now as a coach.

April broke free of her fifteen year relationship and never expected the best man at her friend’s wedding to work his way under her skin. Afterall, who falls for the drunk man who blows you off and falls flat on his face? But in between slurps of Johnny Walker, she saw a glimmer of a man who knew how to love a woman. Even though doing so wrecked him.

Major Love was a story of two characters that were sort of broken in their own way, piecing themselves back together again after losing a love they thought should have been the greatest of their lives. Through a steady friendship, some flirting and an eventual explosive night of passion, Andy and April finally begin their relationship, even if neither are willing to admit what they really want.

I love Kate’s writing. I loved it when she gave a high angst story and fell in love with her softer and hilarious side with this series. I wanted to shake Andy and show him what was right in front of his face and I wanted to become April’s best friend. Oh, wait. I already am ;)


I loved that between the story, the laughs and the rest of it, that I really felt this story. My heart was invested in their journey and I wasn’t just a reader reading a book but rather a cheerleader, cheering their love story along.

And although this book is light on the baseball, you get your fair share of balls with this heartfelt but hilarious romance. Jokes were well timed, nothing was overdone. Their story needed to have some emotion depth and not just a quick laugh. You felt their humor in big ways, but also in subtle moments. The story flowed effortlessly and these characters worked their way with ease, into this reader’s heart.

It would be a shame not to mention the added bonus of this story. Michelle. I will have to redact this from my Amazon review to avoid them pulling it. But, I have to say how much I love this woman. I read these parts and was like, SHE NAILED ME. LMAO And not just because oysters are gross as fuck, or for just the sake of All the Fucks. It was an honor to be placed among the pages of this story and I really hope she finally got to ride Rowdy’s dick. Because hot cop.

[Kelli C · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Raised Glasses for Southern Women Stars!

"She was everything I was afraid of."
"He was everything I'd ever wanted."
"She was fire—an irresistible piece of southern heaven that I couldn't stay away from.
"He was smoke that clouded me in every imaginable way."

I truly thought Kate Stewart hit a total home run with Anything but Minor but here, with Major Love, as cliché as it is about to sound, she cracked a grand slam in my ballpark. With the new rom-com adventures she is taking on, she is not only succeeding in making her readers laugh out loud, but also swoon and pant with her steamy romances. I don’t know what it is about her writing, but her stories have such a unique tone with heartfelt, emotional pull among quirky, realistic characters. For me, Major Love is another 5 Star caliber story from her sweet southern mind that tickles the mind all and touches the soul a bit.

April and Andy…where to start? While this is definitely one of those stories where two people fall into a good lust, it is really so much more than normal romance. Both characters are so inherently good and so deserving of a love of epic proportions. But neither can let down their walls to have a chance at the real thing. Andy fell hard for a woman who couldn’t reciprocate his heart, and April spent years accepting less than stellar emotions from an average man. It was easy to see the attraction between the two but what a breath of fresh air to read them fall into friendship...fall into more. Only time will tell if two people who can barely open themselves up in the same room can survive a relationship apart.

“Real love, the good stuff, the kind you can’t live without, comes with more than just a decision to love. It comes with the prices of patience and understanding.”

The back and forth attraction and emotionally charged intimacy is just as good at the “no-filter” sass spouting, birth control law laying shenanigans that April spouts at a dense Andy time after time. There is nothing better than a woman who can give as good as she gets. While there is a bit of miscommunication and quite a bit running, there is beauty with the strong Andy in his ability to apologize and his need to be with April. I loved the use of hilarity to offset any high angst or tension. There is nothing better than those moments of humor that only spanx, fevers with head congestion, and booty opera can provide. Who would have thought that Nyquil moments and white southern woman dropping rap lyrics could be found in a romance novel?! If that’s not enough to pique interest, well there is always the sweet alpha swagger that only a push bullpen coach could deliver…especially when the object of his “call” wants to “shake it off.”

“Beautiful, if you aren’t fighting once in a while with the one you’re fucking, you aren’t fucking the right one.”

Oh Andy!!! For those lovers of good writing and fun, sweet, sexy romance, Major Love will not disappoint. This is a slow, steady burn with humorous twists and turns. IF you have had the pleasure of experiencing Rafe and Alice, their continued love just enforces the crazy fun of April and Andy’s journey. This is one event I would buy a ticket to time after time. Major Love is a major hit and an automatic re-read for me when I need a smile!

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Major Love
Series: Balls in Play #2
Author: Kate Stewart
Release date: November 15, 2016
Cliffhanger: No
HEAYes

It was heaven. It was hell. It was Andrew Pracht, and I was addicted.

After reading and loving my first Kate Stewart book, Anything but Minor, I was thrilled that there would be a book for Rafe's friend Andy. Poor Andy had a sad case of unrequited love and I really wanted to see him end up with someone who would love and appreciate him. He's an all-around sweet guy-loving, smart, funny, and the best friend you could ask for.

He's that guy that doesn't run from commitment, he chases after it.
He isn't afraid of intimacy, he craves it.
He's a forever type of guy.

He spent years as a catcher in the Minor Leagues, so why is it he can't seem to catch a break?

Andy meets April at Rafe and Alice's engagement party. He is disillusioned, wrecked, and completely lost. He's having to let go of his dreams of being with the woman that he loved and he's not handling it well. She's still coming to terms with breaking up with the man that she was in a very long and committed relationship with. Neither is in a very happy or healthy place, but there was something about Andy's raw honesty that she was desperately drawn to.

Even in his drunken, sometimes ridiculous state, he had these moments where he completely bared his soul to her and shared his regrets, his hopes, and things that he hid inside his heart. She never stood a chance. Before the night ended, she made him a promise. One that she would hold tight to as they got to know one another in the coming weeks.

The more she got to know him, the more she realized that her first impression of him was spot-on. He was everything she thought he was and more. And for the first time, she found someone who looked out for her interests and handled her with care. She was used to being the caregiver, the strong one, it was a revelation having someone who she could lean on.

Who makes sure you’re okay?” It was a punch straight to the gut. Andy grabbed the beer from me, set it beside us, and cupped my face in his hand. “How about I take care of you today?” I nodded as he slid his thumb along my cheek. “You deserve it.”

But she just wasted too many years of her life on a man who didn't deserve it. How could she possibly lay her heart on the line for a man who wasn't yet emotionally available? She needs to make the gamble of her life for Andy and she's determined to hold out for more than friendship. She wants it all. Their push and pull was amazing, the attraction that grew and multiplied was phenomenal and had a little bit of angst due to the fact that they couldn't give in to their physical desires. In the meantime? The humor, the heat, the sweetness was on overload and I completely fell for this adorable couple.

Admittedly, I did have a hard time in the beginning of the book trying to get engrossed. Though that could easily be a case of me-no-you. Andy was the perfect book boyfriend material, and April was brave, funny, and just the woman to fulfill his wish for a woman to spend the rest of his life cherishing. If you like rom-coms, this is a definite must read.

She’d clocked in the fastest and brazened her way throughout the whole of my heart. She’d come in with her threads and pieced me back together a better man. A man more capable of taking any hit that came my way.

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[Malene · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's pretty obvious that I'm a huge Kate Stewart fan. So far she hasn't steered me wrong or disappointed me with her stories or characters. She excels in creating relatable, compassionate and human characters that I instantly gravitate towards.
Andy and April also appear in Anything But Minor. Major Love can be read as standalone but why on earth would you rob yourself of Alice and Rafe's story who also appear in Major Love. Their friendship with Andy and April is very important to both couples and their dynamics are fantastic and filled with humorous and lovely moments.

First of all let me tell how much I loved April and Andy. I was intrigued and curious about them in Anything But Minor and in Major Love they made my heart and soul sing. They both had so much personality and charisma that they immediately jumped into my heart and stayed firmly put.
April were out of this world fantastic. Her job as a 911 operator only showed how strong she was and how she made a difference to other people's lives when she was at work. Also her unconditional love and support for her sisters and their children were heartwarming and so freaking beautiful. She took care of others, put them first. She came second always. That's until she met the sexy and kindhearted former ball player Andy who was dealing with a broken heart. He was such a good and beautiful man who didn't want to hurt April yet he couldn't escape her either. Their connection and relationship were so well developed that I enjoyed every moment of them together. They had so much chemistry and their bantering was so much fun. Their relationship took its time because of Andy's insecurities and wanting to do right thing but it was so well written that it only strengthened their connection. Yes, they had hot sex and it was fantastic and also memorable. Kate Stewart knows how to make it interesting and fun. April definitely brought back Andy a much better man than what he used to be and together they were the perfect match.

Once again Kate Stewart has delivered another hit. Her prose is flawless and how she mixes romance and humor feels effortless. I laughed and swooned throughout Major Love. Brew Master Andy and Shero April have definitely captured my heart.

5 BadAssDirtyFuckin'A-Stars


Arc generously provided for an honest review

[Sophie's Reading Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 F*ckin A' stars

One night Andy got drunk and he bared his soul in April. That night she gave him a promise and she intended to keep it, even when Andy forgot everything about that night, April wasn't going to forget or give up. And so their story starts and makes it a more than great sports romance.

I really love this new trend with sport romance, but what I love the most is Kate's talent. My first book by her was Loving the White Liar, that has nothing to do with sports and it's definitely my most favorite book by her. The thing is every single book I've read by her is always a winner to me and that's definitely not random.

Baseball was home. It was heaven, no matter how much I resented it at times from taking me away from my other home, which resided in the arms and eyes of April Turner.

This book gave me lots of laughter, sweet and sexy as hell scenes and gave me some serious food for thought. April's job was something that I had never read about in a book before and considering that it's a real job with people working like that every single day, I just never thought about it and now that I do I feel so much for them and what they offer to the rest of the world.

So, either you're a baseball fan or a clueless person just like me, I think you should give this book /series a chance and fall in love with this story, because Kate's writing can definitely convince you much more than this review ever will. So give it a chance and you will never see Moon Pie or Puddin' the same way ever again! ;)

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Seam Scar Stars

Kate Stewart knows how to write. She can do funny. She can do angst. She can do sexy. She can do story telling. In Major Love she combines all four. And you know what all 4 gets you in baseball......a homerun!



When a batter gets hit by a pitched ball, they aren't supposed to rub the spot. It's a matter of pride. A "it wasn't that bad" to the pitcher. So this is your warning.....when you get hit in the feels by Major Love, don't rub it. Just let that seam scar sit there....soak in.

Warning: This is the second book in the Balls in Play series. (Love that Series title.) It can be read as a stand alone but you will want to read the first one, Anything But Minor.

Andy was a minor league catcher, bar owner, and brew master. He is retired from baseball as a job, but you can't get the game out of your system. Andy has been offered a job as the bull pen coach in with a Major League Team. Leaving Charleston for a while might give him some distance from getting his heart broken. The memories of the girl and the family he thought he wanted are everywhere there.

I'm such an idiot....I was in love with love, I think.

April is a 911 dispatcher. She has a big family. Full of lots of kids, twins no less, and lots of friends who are first responders. Her best friend, her brother in law, was recently killed in action. Now she spends most of her time on Aunt Pril duty. She's a strong woman being strong for the people in her life.

Have faith, there were brave men out there who were able to handle women like us and handle us well.

Andy and April are both in the wedding of their friends Rafe and Alice (from Book 1). Their Meet Cute involves an engagement party, lots of alcohol, and puking. Not so cute. That night ended in sweet confessions and whispered promises.

Promise me something....Give that big heart to a man who deserves it, okay? Make him earn it. Make him earn you.

Andy and April take a the long road. They are both empty. Their love meter in below E. They have scars not healed. They need the time to refuel. To build their confidence. To believe in love again. To believe in themselves again.

I felt stronger and more confident with each passing day and I knew she was part of the reason, hell a majority of it. Only a woman could make a man feel this powerful.

Ms Stewart has once again given us a story that is a Homerun of the Heart. Major Love is Major on the feels. Major deep. Major sassy. Major slow burn until it gets Major Hawt.

I saw everything there was to Andrew Pracht and what I saw was beautiful.

What I loved about this book was that Andy and April are so natural. It's not insta love. They take their time and give each other time. Time to heal and refill their soul. Time to make something lasting. Something that is schmexy and sweet and authentic. The story feels very authentic.

Suddenly I wanted all the men in my life castrated.

And the baseball....Ms Stewart nails the baseball. From the hazing to the pitch count to the bull pen, she has it right.



And you want this one right now. I can't wait for the next Balls in Play. 'Cause nobody knows Balls in Love like Kate Stewart.

[Polly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is fast becoming on of my favorites! It's so funny and steamy.

Andy just lost the woman he thought he loved. She ripped out his heart by moving away. What else can you do but get drunk off your ass and make a fool out of yourself at your best friend's engagement party? He was hilarious!!

April is trying to find herself. She's helping take care of her 100 nieces and nephews and doesn't have time for a man. She was in a long term relationship with her ex and is just fine being solo for the first time in forever.

Let's just say the first impression April had of Andy wasn't typical. She finds herself having to take care of a drunk man at her friend's party. Andy left a lasting impression on April that night and then the next day he remembers nothing. April then guards her heart. She wants a man who is all about her and it's obvious that Andy still isn't over the one that got away (except he is).

I loved these two. They were so funny and hot. Their relationship wasn't typical but it worked for them.

Highly recommend this one!

*The Review Loft*
*Arc provided for honest review*

[Juanita · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Give that big heart to a man who deserves it, okay? Make him earn it, make him earn you."

5 "Fuckin' A" stars

I'm in "Major Love"!
This one had me feeling all kinds of ways. It was sweet, funny and emotional at times.
Andy & April were great together. There interactions were hilarious!!!

They are brought together for their friend's wedding (Rafe & Alice from Anything but Minor).
The connection is there but they both are fighting past heartbreaks.
They took their time to get to know one another. The angst!!! Ugh!! but I loved it since it was thrown in with humor and some bantering.

Loved the ending!!! Beautiful LOL story!

You brought me back a better man, and I'll love you 'til my last breath for it

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 "It has to come naturally" Stars!

I really, really loved this one! I guess it was just what I wanted to read these past couple days. I absolutely loved BOTH main characters. I may have even loved April most. That is certainly rare when I maybe love the female MC even more than the male. She was sassy, and compassionate and passionate. She was also so sweet and smart with a great sense of humor. I totally got her. Everything she did seemed genuine and real to me. I think we could be good friends ;). Now, Andy was no slouch. He was a super sweetheart with a dirty mind and dirtier mouth (I do love the dirty talkers :)) and just enough alpha tendencies to make me swoon. But he had a big heart and that was what made me fall for him. He had me the night of the engagement party too. His heart had been bruised pretty badly, so like most wounded men, sometimes he lashed out a bit. But he was quick to try and right his wrongs; really, I completely got him too. I was rooting so hard for these two.

So obviously, I enjoyed this one. Told in both MCs POV, it was very funny, very sweet, super sexy, with a little bit of angst thrown in. Plus! Baseball! Those of you who know me well, know that I love baseball. So this book combined two of my favorite things (reading romance and baseball) very well. (The baseball doesn't overwhelm the story, it is just present.) I'd be happy to get another story in this series, though I don't know who it could be about. Still...here's hoping. Happy reading!

Thank you to my TURNING PAGES AT MIDNIGHT (TPAM) girls for the BR. I may have passed this one up otherwise. XO