Playing Fastball

Men of Spring Baseball #4

by Rachelle Ayala

Tina Lee has never known love. Her mother locked her in a closet and abandoned her to an abusive foster home.

Timmy Li has always been loved. He is the only son of a billionaire father and doting mother who’ve supported and encouraged his baseball talent.

Tina befriends a billionaire and catches the attention of his son, Timmy, a professional pitcher with a wicked fastball. When her absentee mother reappears, Tina is in danger of being dragged into her criminal schemes.

Can a woman who has never known love trust a man who has everything to treat her heart with care, or will his wealth and privilege keep Tina on her side of the tracks for good?

Genres: Contemporary, Romance

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 5, 2018

About the author

Rachelle Ayala is an award-winning USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. She writes emotionally challenging stories but believes in the power of love and hope.

Her book, Knowing Vera, won the 2015 Angie Ovation Award, and A Father for Christmas garnered a 2015 Readers' Favorite Gold Award. Christmas Stray was awarded the 2016 Readers' Favorite Gold Award and A Pet for Christmas had an Honorable Mention. In 2017, her book about a single mother with an autistic son, Playing for the Save, won the 2017 Readers' Favorite Gold Award for Realistic Fiction.

Sign up for her NEWSLETTER to get a FREE surprise book and her latest book news! https://www.rachelleayala.net/newsletter
Visit her Reader's Guide at http://rachelleayala.net/books/ or contact her at http://smarturl.it/ContactRachelle

Join her STREET TEAM https://www.facebook.com/groups/ClubR...

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/rachelleayala

FB Fan page https://www.facebook.com/rachelleayal...

Twitter http://twitter.com/AyalaRachelle

She is also a writing teacher and founder of the Romance In A Month writing community. She lives in California with her husband and has three children and two birds.

For an updated, printable booklist:
https://www.scribd.com/document/34213...

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Broken Build
Hidden Under Her Heart
Knowing Vera

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Taming Romeo
Claiming Carlos
Whole Latte Love
The Remingtons: Leap, Laugh, Love
The Remingtons: Blush of Love
Bad Boys for Hire: Ryker
Bad Boys for Hire: Ken
Bad Boys for Hire: Nick
Laguna Beach: Lucky in Laguna
Sapphire Falls: Going Haywire
Sapphire Falls: Going Toe to Mistletoe
Sapphire Falls: Going Hearts Over Heels

SPORTS ROMANCE
Played by Love
Playing the Rookie
Playing Without Rules
Roaring Hot!
Intercepted by Love
Playing Catch
Playing for the Save

SWEET ROMANCE
Christmas Stray
A Father for Christmas
A Pet for Christmas
A Wedding for Christmas
Christmas Lovebirds
Valentine Hound Dog
Spring Fling Kitty
Blue Chow Christmas
Valentine Wedding Hound

HOLIDAY ROMANCE
Christmas Flirt
Santa's Pet
Deck the Hearts
Her Christmas Chance
Sapphire Falls: Going Toe to Mistletoe
Bad Boys for Hire: Nick

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Michal's Window

NON-FICTION
Your Daily Bible Verse
Romance In A Month
366 Ways to Know Your Character
Love Stories: Writing a Romance Novella

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing fastball is a no holds barred journey into proving to others and yourself that you are more than you have become. Nothing about this story was easy. In fact, it was so hard to watch the beautiful main characters struggle, fall, and climb their way back from the darkness of labels, assumptions, and their own self-made trouble. I wept and hurt for them throughout every step, and then I held my breath at pivotal times so see what they would choose and which way they would go. It was a journey of great patience, genuine hard work, and never-ending determination. It is a story of hope beyond the jeers and discouragement of others. It is a hand to hold onto while you pull yourself out of your own pit of despair and degradation. Above all, it is a story of love proving to us once again that we are ALWAYS more than we appear.

Tina sees herself as one who lacks the courage to live. Her biggest fight is with herself. She doesn’t feel that she is able to stand on her own feet. More than anything, she wants to prove that she can be productive, helpful, and whole in spite of her past. Just like a magnet, she finds that her sticky past continues to haunt her in spite of her new life goals. Timmy is determined that he will finally achieve everything he wants this year. Both a long coveted baseball award and a wild and fun social life. First, he has some changes he wants to make to the friends his Father hangs out with. His father’s money will not go to some unknown and questionable woman. As Timmy begins to fight this “nobel” battle, he discovers that he might have been completely wrong from the beginning. Can Tina fix her life while being sabotaged at every corner, and will Timmy find something more worthwhile to concentrate his attention on than a baseball award this year?

Tina and Timmy seems like a most unlikely pair if you have been following the Ayala’s Men of Baseball series. In fact, you might be reading this and already be lost to laughter, but you have to realize that there is more to either character that we haven’t seen yet. Tina’s background isn’t beautiful or filled with wealth, and Timmy is missing more than just the Cy award in his life. Tina wants to prove to the world that she has changed. She isn’t who she used to be. While Timmy needs to fill a yawning black void in his life. He needs someone real and true, and as he gets to know Tina he sees just how brave and real and stunning she really is. They learn so much about themselves as they get to know each other. I honestly loved and couldn’t get over just how amazing these two characters are! They are so much more than I ever imagined.

This is such a wonderful heartwarming masterpiece by Rachelle Ayala! When little is expected from one and everything is taken for granted by the other what entails is a journey full of child-like wonder, unlikely surprises, and spectacular revelations. Time is precious and life is fragile so never take either for granted.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing Fastball is like a tidal wave. The emotions keep getting bigger until they threaten to swallow you whole. Tina is the poster child for heartbreak. Neglected, abandoned, abused and lonely. She longs to be loved, but doesn't really know what that means. Timmy is willing to show her, if she let's him into her heart. He's an open book. She's a bundle of secrets. Underneath their outer differences, they want the same thing. LOVE. Ayala makes magic out of tragedy. Timmy and Tina are a sweet inspiration of the healing power of love.

[Judy Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting story with sports theme and well developed characters. those who don't think they are loved and those who aren't looking might find it with the help of an imperfect dog.

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was interstellar the characters. were amazing. the sparks were awesome. could not put it down. Rachael's work is always amazing and the cover was awesome. thank you for letting me arc for you.

[Chantel Rhondeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! This is a new favorite of mine. The best in the series! The characters are so complex and have real problems, struggling to overcome them. They feel like real people and the issues that happen are so fantastic and almost unbelievable while at the same time seeming entirely too plausible and a bit scary. I was so worried about Tina not getting away from the horrors of her past life. She's made so many mistakes and can't seem to make good choices most of the time, so she was one of the more interesting characters I think I've ever read. Timmy has his own problems, and he could annoy me at times but was also so sweet at other times. I could see why Tina had a hard time not falling for him, player or not.

Overall, this is a read that feels like a much shorter book than it really is because it was so hard to put down and everything was so fast paced and exciting. The complexity of the characters and their problems just made it all that much better. Loved it!

[Sam Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love is blind...normally.
Not so with this couple
He thinks she's out to bamboozle his father.
She knows that he's up to something.
Yet, they can't seem to help but fall for each other, and they do try.
This is a story that anyone who has ever been in love with someone they believed was completely wrong for them can relate to.
And at the end of it all, love is blind.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can a sweet little blind, deaf puppy bring two people who are opposites together and help them fall in love? Even when both their families create chaos, will the couple be able to keep the love they have for each other? Find out in this beautiful love story, and keep the tissues close by.

[Pam Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tina, an ex-con befriends an older billionaire gentleman to the dismay of his star baseball player son. Setting out to get her out of his dad’s life turns into a series of adventures and misadventures for Timmy who is also a player in the romance department. Tina may just find out her heart is involved. The plot twists & turns against a pro baseball team background kept me turning pages to the last one. A great read!

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timmy has it all, but Tina does not. In fact, Tina comes from a very rough background which makes it hard for someone to trust her. An unlikely couple to fall in love. A good plot and characters.