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Texas Playmakers #1
The Perfect Catch
He didn't think coming home would mean falling in love
Outfielder Calvin Ramsey returns to his Texas farm home after being released from his team, an unexpected surprise sure to tarnish the family baseball legacy. But when he finds a sexy stranger acting as the temporary caretaker for his childhood home, all thoughts of baseball disappear.
She won't fall for another player
After losing her savings to a swindler ex-boyfriend, Josie Vance moves to Last Stand to start fresh where no one knows her unhappy past or the con that bankrupted her. But her peaceful healing time evaporates when the homeowner’s son arrives and throws himself into life on the farm—and charming Josie. She can’t risk an affair that draws attention to her or her past. Especially not when the public's fascination with the baseball-playing Ramsey clan is at an all-time high. Can she keep her secrets, her low profile, and her heart too?
Outfielder Calvin Ramsey returns to his Texas farm home after being released from his team, an unexpected surprise sure to tarnish the family baseball legacy. But when he finds a sexy stranger acting as the temporary caretaker for his childhood home, all thoughts of baseball disappear.
She won't fall for another player
After losing her savings to a swindler ex-boyfriend, Josie Vance moves to Last Stand to start fresh where no one knows her unhappy past or the con that bankrupted her. But her peaceful healing time evaporates when the homeowner’s son arrives and throws himself into life on the farm—and charming Josie. She can’t risk an affair that draws attention to her or her past. Especially not when the public's fascination with the baseball-playing Ramsey clan is at an all-time high. Can she keep her secrets, her low profile, and her heart too?
171 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 20, 2019
539 people are currently reading
554 people want to read
About the author
Joanne Rock
571 books1,450 followersJoanne Rock is a USA Today bestselling author of over one hundred works of popular fiction, including domestic suspense and romantic suspense. A frequent speaker at regional and national writing conferences she enjoys giving back to the writing community that nurtured and inspired her early career. She has a Masters degree in Literature from the University of Louisville and has taught fiction, film, and writing at the college level. When she's not writing, Joanne enjoys travel to gather new ideas.
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April 25, 2019
The Perfect Catch is by Joanne Rock. It’s a short read, easily read in one afternoon, with a sexy baseball player unsure of what his future holds and a determined woman who just needs a place to let her wounds heal a bit!
Calvin Ramsey thought he had the world on a string. He is a professional baseball player in the major leagues. But everything changes when he goes in to practice one day and is told he is being let off the team. The only place that sounds good to Calvin to be is home. To enjoy the peace and quiet of his boyhood home until he figures out what to do next. So he heads back to Last Stand, Texas.
Calvin’s mom is away on a trip and has hired a woman to take care of her home, her dogs, and her bee hives. That woman is Josie Vance. Josie has spent most of her life trying to run her mother’s apartment building, with no help at all from her mother. She has been forced to repair things with spit and duct tape. Josie was lonely and fell easy prey to a swindler. She lost her entire life’s savings. After a heated argument with her mother over her job, it’s time for Josie to make a change. When she heard about the caretaker’s position in Texas, she thought it would be the perfect way to figure out her future, until a certain sexy baseball player came into the picture.
“Of all the women he could have chosen, why was he so taken with a mystery woman who’d made it clear she didn’t want to get to know him better?”
Cal and Josie try to keep the attraction between them under wraps. But it’s too strong. And you know that the minute they give in to what they are feeling, their pasts are going to come back to haunt them.
As I said, this was pretty short. Josie had been badly hurt so it was hard to trust. And Cal loved the game of baseball and hadn’t given up on returning to his career. So no matter what their time together had an expiration date. I really liked Josie and her determination to do well at no matter what she attempted. I liked Cal okay but disliked the way he jumped so soon to a conclusion when he should have just waited. The story did just sort of seem to end. I would have liked a further glimpse into the future to see how things turn out for these two. If you know me, then you know that things like that bug me and I will probably be thinking about it for days. All in all, it was a sweet story of two people who had been beat down in the past and given a second chance at happiness. All they had to do was to be brave enough to take it.
For more about this book and so many more, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/44036...
Calvin Ramsey thought he had the world on a string. He is a professional baseball player in the major leagues. But everything changes when he goes in to practice one day and is told he is being let off the team. The only place that sounds good to Calvin to be is home. To enjoy the peace and quiet of his boyhood home until he figures out what to do next. So he heads back to Last Stand, Texas.
Calvin’s mom is away on a trip and has hired a woman to take care of her home, her dogs, and her bee hives. That woman is Josie Vance. Josie has spent most of her life trying to run her mother’s apartment building, with no help at all from her mother. She has been forced to repair things with spit and duct tape. Josie was lonely and fell easy prey to a swindler. She lost her entire life’s savings. After a heated argument with her mother over her job, it’s time for Josie to make a change. When she heard about the caretaker’s position in Texas, she thought it would be the perfect way to figure out her future, until a certain sexy baseball player came into the picture.
“Of all the women he could have chosen, why was he so taken with a mystery woman who’d made it clear she didn’t want to get to know him better?”
Cal and Josie try to keep the attraction between them under wraps. But it’s too strong. And you know that the minute they give in to what they are feeling, their pasts are going to come back to haunt them.
As I said, this was pretty short. Josie had been badly hurt so it was hard to trust. And Cal loved the game of baseball and hadn’t given up on returning to his career. So no matter what their time together had an expiration date. I really liked Josie and her determination to do well at no matter what she attempted. I liked Cal okay but disliked the way he jumped so soon to a conclusion when he should have just waited. The story did just sort of seem to end. I would have liked a further glimpse into the future to see how things turn out for these two. If you know me, then you know that things like that bug me and I will probably be thinking about it for days. All in all, it was a sweet story of two people who had been beat down in the past and given a second chance at happiness. All they had to do was to be brave enough to take it.
For more about this book and so many more, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/44036...
Want to read
March 4, 2019💝
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
💝
May 10, 2019
This is a super quick fun, sexy read. I like the story and characters and honestly I would have like a bit more of them. Things move along pretty quickly as you would expect from a book of this length. Pro baseball player Calvin Ramsey finds himself adrift when his team abruptly cuts him from the roster. Now with nowhere else to go he returns home to regroup. He's surprised to find a strange woman in the house rather than his mom. Josie Vance needed to get away from her life and disappear for a while. Taking a job as a caretaker in small town Last Chance TX seems like the perfect solution. Everything is great until Calvin returns home and blows up her plans in the process.
I recommend this one for a quick fun escape.
I recommend this one for a quick fun escape.
May 8, 2019
4.5 stars
Joanna Rock delivered a romance that had a little bit of everything in it. Love, fear, distrust, a father from hell, a sweet woman and a man looking for his place in the world. He found it in his childhood home with one of the most unlikely woman.
Calvin was lost. Going home and having to face his future with the possibility of no baseball in it was daunting, scary and humbling. Finding out all that he missed while he was away was humiliating. But, now he is here and he is going to step up to the plate. He'll be here to help his grandfather. He'll be here to make sure the farm is running smoothly. At least until he gets the call-up again. But, will that ever happen? He knows he has to face his father and he knows that he'll have to deal with his attitude. The only thing keeping him half-way sane and fully insane is Josie. He needs to find a way to break through to her … get her to open up … get her to let him into her life.
Josie learned the hard way that trust is earned and not freely given. Now she is living with the past that could come back to haunt her. Unfortunately, Calvin isn't really helping matters. Working around the farm shirtless … buying her groceries … getting her involved with more that just taking care of the bees. Now, here she is out and about with him and, of course, the one thing she feared comes true. She opened herself up and not he's shutting her out … without listening to her side of the story.
Joanna Rock really did a nice job with this story. It was fluid, it was believable and it was interesting. She built the plot to the inevitable ending that had me both horrified and happy. She hit it out of the park with how the game of baseball is played and what players go through … especially with pushy stage-fathers. Yes, she made it easy to not like his father and step-mother. But, I really enjoyed the rest of the characters that she built and am looking forward to the rest of the books in this series.
June 28, 2019
The Perfect Catch by Joanne Rock is a heartwarming and enjoyable baseball themed country romance.
Calvin Ramsey is returning home, though not particularly happy about it. He’s been cut by his baseball team and for a family like his, with a father renowned in the baseball world and two brothers still actively playing, it’s a kick in the teeth to be without a contract and uncertain about his future. Holing up in his mother Hailey’s farmhouse while she’s off on a missionary trip should give him some peace and quiet to sort things out. The last thing he expects is to find the house already occupied!
Josie Vance has made herself a temporary home in Last Stand, Texas. As Hailey’s hired caretaker including resident beekeeper, she’s happy living day to day and enjoying the great outdoors. Though not specifically hired to do so, she also surreptitiously keeps an eye on Everett Ramsey, Hailey’s ex-father in law, recently home from the hospital. Her reasons for leaving Florida are complicated. Betrayed by all the people she’d trusted, she’d run away and taken her last stand in, well, Last Stand.
Calvin’s appearance on Josie’s doorstep is a complication she doesn’t need. And the attraction that pulsates between them doubly so. While Calvin is trying to rehabilitate his career, in close proximity to a beautiful woman it’s easy to slide into a convenient affair with an expected end date. Calvin can’t afford any scandal to put off team prospects and Josie’s afraid to tell him about her past. Is there a way for them to get a happy ending, one that will see them end up together?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: https://harlequinjunkie.com/review-th...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.
Calvin Ramsey is returning home, though not particularly happy about it. He’s been cut by his baseball team and for a family like his, with a father renowned in the baseball world and two brothers still actively playing, it’s a kick in the teeth to be without a contract and uncertain about his future. Holing up in his mother Hailey’s farmhouse while she’s off on a missionary trip should give him some peace and quiet to sort things out. The last thing he expects is to find the house already occupied!
Josie Vance has made herself a temporary home in Last Stand, Texas. As Hailey’s hired caretaker including resident beekeeper, she’s happy living day to day and enjoying the great outdoors. Though not specifically hired to do so, she also surreptitiously keeps an eye on Everett Ramsey, Hailey’s ex-father in law, recently home from the hospital. Her reasons for leaving Florida are complicated. Betrayed by all the people she’d trusted, she’d run away and taken her last stand in, well, Last Stand.
Calvin’s appearance on Josie’s doorstep is a complication she doesn’t need. And the attraction that pulsates between them doubly so. While Calvin is trying to rehabilitate his career, in close proximity to a beautiful woman it’s easy to slide into a convenient affair with an expected end date. Calvin can’t afford any scandal to put off team prospects and Josie’s afraid to tell him about her past. Is there a way for them to get a happy ending, one that will see them end up together?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: https://harlequinjunkie.com/review-th...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.
August 14, 2020
Josie Vance is working as a caretaker for a house while it's owner, the mother of the Ramsey clan that this whole series is about, is off in Ecuador. She's on the run having lost all her savings to a con artist and from potential criminal investigation after her mother more or less forced Josie to do unlicensed contract work on the apartment building that her mother owns. Josie's enjoying the solitude and peace when Cal Ramsey, the oldest baseball player son, shows up. He's suspicious of Josie and sure that she's got secrets, but Josie isn't revealing them. But he's not so suspicious that he doesn't try to put the moves on her, but she's reluctant. Fortunately for Cal, he does get to know Josie as they work together on some farm related stuff and he starts to fall for her (and she for him). But when Josie's past becomes public knowledge, will Call forgive her for keeping secrets from him?
On the whole, this was a decent little quick and easy read, but it suffered from being too short. I liked Cal and Josie, especially Josie, and thought they were a cute, fluffy couple. Josie doesn't jump straight into bed with Cal, since she's wary and Cal seems to respect that, but he tries to keep the connection in the hopes that she'll change her mind. But Cal never offers her more than a fling while she's in town...because it's expected that she'll leave and he'll return to his baseball career once he's over his injury. Josie finally agrees, they sleep together, and then her secrets come out. And Cal is pissed. He's pissed that she didn't tell him and that by not telling him he was seen out and about with her, affecting his reputation and possibly putting his career at risk. My issue with that is that he had no business being pissed. It's not like he declared his love and offered her a relationship - you don't have to tell your "fling" every detail of your past. If he'd offered her more, then yeah, I could see his anger. As it was, no. On top of that, what if she had been honest? Would he have just up and decided that he couldn't be with her because she was under criminal investigation (for something that's the moral equivalent of stealing food to feed a starving person)? Would he have refused to be seen with her? I just don't know. And even that wouldn't have bugged me if Josie had put him in his place instead of acting like a doormat and saying she was wrong not to have told him and that she's sorry he was hurt by it. Girl needed to get mad. But she rolls over and luckily he realizes his mistake before she leaves for good. But that was really disappointing how she just took the blame for all that.
On the whole, this was a decent little quick and easy read, but it suffered from being too short. I liked Cal and Josie, especially Josie, and thought they were a cute, fluffy couple. Josie doesn't jump straight into bed with Cal, since she's wary and Cal seems to respect that, but he tries to keep the connection in the hopes that she'll change her mind. But Cal never offers her more than a fling while she's in town...because it's expected that she'll leave and he'll return to his baseball career once he's over his injury. Josie finally agrees, they sleep together, and then her secrets come out. And Cal is pissed. He's pissed that she didn't tell him and that by not telling him he was seen out and about with her, affecting his reputation and possibly putting his career at risk. My issue with that is that he had no business being pissed. It's not like he declared his love and offered her a relationship - you don't have to tell your "fling" every detail of your past. If he'd offered her more, then yeah, I could see his anger. As it was, no. On top of that, what if she had been honest? Would he have just up and decided that he couldn't be with her because she was under criminal investigation (for something that's the moral equivalent of stealing food to feed a starving person)? Would he have refused to be seen with her? I just don't know. And even that wouldn't have bugged me if Josie had put him in his place instead of acting like a doormat and saying she was wrong not to have told him and that she's sorry he was hurt by it. Girl needed to get mad. But she rolls over and luckily he realizes his mistake before she leaves for good. But that was really disappointing how she just took the blame for all that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2019
This is a lovely, contemporary romance with a pro baseball player coming to terms with being released from his team and a young lady who has been swindled by her ex-boyfriend then sacked from her job - by her Mum! It is the first book in a new series and I'm really looking forward to reading further stories in the series in future.
Josie Vance has moved from her Florida home and job to Last Stand in Texas to work as the caretaker for the home and dogs of a lady who is working abroad for a few months. When his son, baseball player Calvin Ramsey, returns home to consider his future, he never expected to find Josie there. She's determined not to fall for another player but the attraction between the two is mutual but both are wary. Will love find a way to bring them together or will secrets from the past drive them apart?
This is a story of disjointed families, fame, notoriety, fresh starts and romance. Calvin and his brothers all have issues with their controlling and manipulative father, whilst Josie has a vindictive, terrible mother. As the two get to know each other they discover they have much more in common! Together will they strike out or will love help them score a home run?
I requested and received a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion after choosing to read it.
Josie Vance has moved from her Florida home and job to Last Stand in Texas to work as the caretaker for the home and dogs of a lady who is working abroad for a few months. When his son, baseball player Calvin Ramsey, returns home to consider his future, he never expected to find Josie there. She's determined not to fall for another player but the attraction between the two is mutual but both are wary. Will love find a way to bring them together or will secrets from the past drive them apart?
This is a story of disjointed families, fame, notoriety, fresh starts and romance. Calvin and his brothers all have issues with their controlling and manipulative father, whilst Josie has a vindictive, terrible mother. As the two get to know each other they discover they have much more in common! Together will they strike out or will love help them score a home run?
I requested and received a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion after choosing to read it.
August 16, 2019
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 Stars)
Title: The Perfect Catch
Author(s): Joanne Rock
Character(s):
― Josie Vance: Brunette, Blue Eyed
― Calvin Ramsey: Brunette, Green Eyed
Setting: Last Stand, Texas
Tag(s): Romance, Contemporary
Content Rating: R
POV: Third Person
Smexy Level: Warm
Favorite Quote(s):
― “Relationships 101―never chase a woman who doesn't want to be caught.”
Overall Opinion:
Returning back home to Last Stand, Texas after being released from his baseball contract, Calvin runs into an unexpected surprise when he find the beautiful caretaker Josie residing in his childhood home. Unbeknownst to the hometown sports hero, Josie moves to Last Stand to have a fresh start when she loses all her savings to a swindler ex-boyfriend and being fired from his job by her mother who threaten to report her to the authorities for violating state law when helping out her apartments tenants. After a one-sided flirtation from Cal's end which proves difficult to resist, he proposes a two week affair until his mother returns from overseas and the guarded brunette employment ends. Though she was reluctant at first due to not wanting to gather attention to her nor her past, it was hard to denied that mutual attraction and they spent an intimate night together. But when the public’s fascination with the baseball-playing Ramsey clan is at an all-time high, would the building relationship tarnish when her past is revealed?
Overall, I was impressed with this laid back and easy read. It wasn't generally what I was expecting when I picked up the book and I anticipated a somewhat of a cowboy romance but it was the complete opposite. The characters were realistic and struggled with real life issues such as dealing with estranged and broken relationships, work struggles, and relationships woes. The relationship between Josie and Calvin was very natural, mature and didn't seem force. They were immediately wary of each other despite the attraction and over time, a mutual understanding and romance was developed. Furthermore, in the span of 2-3 weeks the romance between the leads was formed rather quickly. If you haven't known this about me already, I am not a big fan of instant love and this series could have easily ended with an open-ended final in which the characters could have explored the natural of their romance naturally. When the "L" word dropped, I was like nooooo yet it didn't take away from the premise and was still a very enjoyable read. With "The Perfect Catch" being the first Joanne Rock novel I have read, I surely plan on keeping an eye out for any future series from the author.
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July 12, 2019I went into The Perfect Catch by Joanne Rock with all intentions of loving this novel. Sadly though, it was just a like for me. I read anywhere from 15 to 20 novels a month, most of them are first person point of views. I was thrown off by the third person point of view writing style. I really need to start widening my horizon where novels and writing styles are concerned. I prefer first person over third person due to one fact, I love to feel what the characters are feeling firsthand, not be told what their feeling. This small thing made it really hard for me to actually get into this story and in the long run I found myself skipping through this one.
About The Perfect Catch:
Being a Major League baseball players has its perks. It also has its downfalls and Calvin Ramsey is quickly sliding down that slope. After learning his team has decided to let him go, Cal packs up and heads back home to his small town where he can put the pieces of his life back together and figure out where to go from here. He doesn't anticipate a mysterious woman dressed in his mother's bathrobe pointing a gun at him as he steps into his home.
My THoughts:
You all don't realize how much I wanted to love this one! Baseball is my favorite sport and when I saw the cover, I immediately wanted to get wrapped up in this novel and hide away for hours on end. There were moments I absolutely loved and moments that didn't meet my standards. I wanted more of the game. I wanted more feels.
I do have to say though, Cal brings the swoon in a few scenes. I loved those moments the most!
It's really hard to give a review on a novella type novel. I fear giving spoilers away so I'm going to cut this review a tad bit short and say I'm so confused on how I feel about this novel!
Overall, The Perfect Catch was an alright read. There were moments I loved but there were also issues I had with the flow and the writing styles. Because this is my first novel written by Joanne Rock, I won't let it deter me, I'll give this author another shot because the world is too big, you can't love everything. Hopefully my next reading experience is better.
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About The Perfect Catch:
Being a Major League baseball players has its perks. It also has its downfalls and Calvin Ramsey is quickly sliding down that slope. After learning his team has decided to let him go, Cal packs up and heads back home to his small town where he can put the pieces of his life back together and figure out where to go from here. He doesn't anticipate a mysterious woman dressed in his mother's bathrobe pointing a gun at him as he steps into his home.
My THoughts:
You all don't realize how much I wanted to love this one! Baseball is my favorite sport and when I saw the cover, I immediately wanted to get wrapped up in this novel and hide away for hours on end. There were moments I absolutely loved and moments that didn't meet my standards. I wanted more of the game. I wanted more feels.
I do have to say though, Cal brings the swoon in a few scenes. I loved those moments the most!
It's really hard to give a review on a novella type novel. I fear giving spoilers away so I'm going to cut this review a tad bit short and say I'm so confused on how I feel about this novel!
Overall, The Perfect Catch was an alright read. There were moments I loved but there were also issues I had with the flow and the writing styles. Because this is my first novel written by Joanne Rock, I won't let it deter me, I'll give this author another shot because the world is too big, you can't love everything. Hopefully my next reading experience is better.
________________
Find me here:
The Staircase Reader
May 26, 2019
5 Stars!
I was pulled right into this story. The story has secrets, laughs, sweet love, and heartbreak.
This is Josie and Calvin’s story. When Calvin returns home, he is surprised to find Josie in his space. Josie has had enough of the players. She lost everything because of her ex. She does not want to be bothered with another player. She wants to do her job keep a low profile and not expose all her secrets. Will she be able to do that or will Calvin tear down all her walls and have her falling for him in no time?
I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.
I highly recommend this book.
I was pulled right into this story. The story has secrets, laughs, sweet love, and heartbreak.
This is Josie and Calvin’s story. When Calvin returns home, he is surprised to find Josie in his space. Josie has had enough of the players. She lost everything because of her ex. She does not want to be bothered with another player. She wants to do her job keep a low profile and not expose all her secrets. Will she be able to do that or will Calvin tear down all her walls and have her falling for him in no time?
I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.
I highly recommend this book.
May 3, 2023
i found it for FREE on Bookbub ... and got it from Amazon. series: "Texas Playmakers". sports fiction. (kindle store & books). sports romance. came out May 9, 2019. i don't believe i have read anything from Joanne before, i am recognizing the name though?? gotta check. will read more soon. fun times reading.
April 18, 2019
This is a NEW to me author & books! The blurb and cover is what caught my attention!! This writing style is a bit different for me and out of norm but I gave it a 100% as always!
After an injury Calvin gets releases from his baseball contract and it thrown into the hands of a beautiful smart caretaker. Josie is a sweet girl who is looking for a new beginning, a fresh start, after the horrific incidents, she just needs to feel back to normal and move on. After she dodges all the on-coming's from Cal, he proposes a two week agreement to her, until his mother returns. Easy, clean..what can go wrong?!
The read was easy, like you're just reading, I was expecting a bit more but got enough to keep me engaged. I did get frustrated at points but only because I'am that reader, I need to know reader hehe. But it wasn't too terrible where I wanted to stop. This was missing the overall cowboy romance feel I guess I was expecting, but in all the same still great. For a new to me author, this was a great read!
I am rating this a 4 & would recommend it!
H A P P Y - R E A D I N G
After an injury Calvin gets releases from his baseball contract and it thrown into the hands of a beautiful smart caretaker. Josie is a sweet girl who is looking for a new beginning, a fresh start, after the horrific incidents, she just needs to feel back to normal and move on. After she dodges all the on-coming's from Cal, he proposes a two week agreement to her, until his mother returns. Easy, clean..what can go wrong?!
The read was easy, like you're just reading, I was expecting a bit more but got enough to keep me engaged. I did get frustrated at points but only because I'am that reader, I need to know reader hehe. But it wasn't too terrible where I wanted to stop. This was missing the overall cowboy romance feel I guess I was expecting, but in all the same still great. For a new to me author, this was a great read!
I am rating this a 4 & would recommend it!
H A P P Y - R E A D I N G
May 9, 2019
Josie's been burned by a con man, and she might be on the lam, so keeping her past close to the vest and guarding her heart is her best defense. But, one look at the smooth baseball player, Calvin, makes it hard. Being the caretaker of his mother's farm and friend to his grandfather won't make things easy, especially when he starts helping around the properties.
Calvin was let go from his team, it smarts, but he's not done with the game. Laying low in his hometown was the plan till he found out his mother left the farm in the care of a woman with a secretive past. As they make peace and spend time together, there's a spark of passion.
Neither is ready for commitment, but when things are just falling into place, each has things from the past come out in a very public way. Is it too late for them to find their way back together?
Enjoyed and recommend this story!
**received an ARC from netgalley
Calvin was let go from his team, it smarts, but he's not done with the game. Laying low in his hometown was the plan till he found out his mother left the farm in the care of a woman with a secretive past. As they make peace and spend time together, there's a spark of passion.
Neither is ready for commitment, but when things are just falling into place, each has things from the past come out in a very public way. Is it too late for them to find their way back together?
Enjoyed and recommend this story!
**received an ARC from netgalley
May 20, 2019
2 Stars
Review by Elizabeth
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
Typically, this type of story hooks me from the beginning but I found myself struggling to make it through The Perfect Catch. For some reason, I could not connect with the characters and it made that much harder to read. It felt like the chemistry between Calvin and Josie was forced and that was also a turnoff.
When we meet Josie and Calvin they are each running from something. Josie is running from a mistake she made while living in Florida and Calvin is hiding out due to his failing baseball career.
The plot was good up until a certain point and then it felt rushed. I tried to get into The Perfect Catch and powered through so I could write an educated review but it did not change my initial view.
I encourage you to read other reviews as well before making a final decision.
***ARC received in exchange for an honest review.***.
Review by Elizabeth
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
Typically, this type of story hooks me from the beginning but I found myself struggling to make it through The Perfect Catch. For some reason, I could not connect with the characters and it made that much harder to read. It felt like the chemistry between Calvin and Josie was forced and that was also a turnoff.
When we meet Josie and Calvin they are each running from something. Josie is running from a mistake she made while living in Florida and Calvin is hiding out due to his failing baseball career.
The plot was good up until a certain point and then it felt rushed. I tried to get into The Perfect Catch and powered through so I could write an educated review but it did not change my initial view.
I encourage you to read other reviews as well before making a final decision.
***ARC received in exchange for an honest review.***.
February 25, 2019
2.5 Stars
While reading the description I thought, yes! this ticks all the boxes and also wrote by a bestselling author. What could go wrong.
It is a very short story, so I thought ok things are going to happen quiet quickly. I was very, very, VERY wrong. Half way into the book, Josie and Cal were still having the same conversation about their past and who they were.
*SPOILERS*
However, once I hit half way everything happened at once. They go to a game together, sleep together, secrets come out and boom they are in love. I'm sorry but what! All that happened in about 5 chapters.
Positives: Joanne Rock has a lovely writing technique. This book has massive potential, the plot is there and its good. It just needs to flow better.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While reading the description I thought, yes! this ticks all the boxes and also wrote by a bestselling author. What could go wrong.
It is a very short story, so I thought ok things are going to happen quiet quickly. I was very, very, VERY wrong. Half way into the book, Josie and Cal were still having the same conversation about their past and who they were.
*SPOILERS*
However, once I hit half way everything happened at once. They go to a game together, sleep together, secrets come out and boom they are in love. I'm sorry but what! All that happened in about 5 chapters.
Positives: Joanne Rock has a lovely writing technique. This book has massive potential, the plot is there and its good. It just needs to flow better.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2019
I'm a fan of Joanne Rock's books plus add in a baseball player you have me sold. I mean the cover definitely drew me in too. Man my heart goes out to Cal his future in baseball is up in the air. That's the worst possible outcome for a player. Though he's a crossroads in life it may just a blessing in disguise because he gets to meet his mother's caretaker Joise. Sparks fly between them, but Joise is gun shy when it comes to men and relationships. I don't blame her upon learning her back story. She deserves some happiness and peace. I love her love of books and reading; kindred spirit. Cal set ups to the plate for Joise which wins me over. I also loved the way Josie makes Cal feel and brings him some sort of peace during his turbulent time. Being a baseball fan I was intrigued by the behind the baseball aspects.
September 11, 2019
The Perfect Catch is the first of a fun series called Texas Playmakers. It is the story of Cal Ramsey, utility player on the Atlanta Rebels, who was released from the team. With time on his hands, he returns to his grandfather's farm in Texas--Rough Hallow Farm and Orchards. When he arrives he finds his mom's summer caretaker, Josie Vance, living there. Josie fled Florida for a chance to earn some money for three months of work. Cal decides to stick around and help check out how the farm is operating for his grandfather. Cal and Josie are each dealing with family drama and end up spending time together. Surprises definitely test their relationship. Book 2 and book 3 will highlight Cal's baseball playing brothers--Nate and Wes. I liked this book and I'm looking forward to continuing to learn about this family. Joanne Rock's book don't disappoint.
March 29, 2019
“The Perfect Catch” by Joanne Rock is book one of her Texas Playmakers series and takes place in Last Stand, Texas.
With his baseball career on hold, Cal Ramsey returns home to find a woman in his mother’s house.
Josie Vance is hiding in this small Texas town and the last thing she needs is Cal asking questions. They call a truce while they help Cal’s grandfather with the family farm.
But they can’t call a truce to the chemistry that arcs between them.
Ms. Rock gives us a story mixed with humor and heart as she shows us how a parent can still affect their children’s lives even when they become an adult.
“The Perfect Catch” is exactly that—a perfect book to start your summer off right. I can’t wait to read more books with the Ramsey family!
With his baseball career on hold, Cal Ramsey returns home to find a woman in his mother’s house.
Josie Vance is hiding in this small Texas town and the last thing she needs is Cal asking questions. They call a truce while they help Cal’s grandfather with the family farm.
But they can’t call a truce to the chemistry that arcs between them.
Ms. Rock gives us a story mixed with humor and heart as she shows us how a parent can still affect their children’s lives even when they become an adult.
“The Perfect Catch” is exactly that—a perfect book to start your summer off right. I can’t wait to read more books with the Ramsey family!
May 16, 2019
The Perfect Catch was a short easy read that had two main characters that I enjoyed reading about. I really liked the way that the story had a mix of different emotions intwined throughout the story. This was an interesting read with a great storyline.
Josie, I enjoyed reading about throughout the story. I enjoyed the way that she tried not to let anything happen with Calvin because of the way that she's been hurt int he past.
Calvin was the hot baseball player who is an alpha male. At the same time it is evident how sweet he is during the story. It was interesting reading what eh was going to do after being let go from his team.
This was an enjoyable and easy read story that i liked form start to finish. I recommend this to anyone looking for a short romance read.
Josie, I enjoyed reading about throughout the story. I enjoyed the way that she tried not to let anything happen with Calvin because of the way that she's been hurt int he past.
Calvin was the hot baseball player who is an alpha male. At the same time it is evident how sweet he is during the story. It was interesting reading what eh was going to do after being let go from his team.
This was an enjoyable and easy read story that i liked form start to finish. I recommend this to anyone looking for a short romance read.
April 9, 2019
I found Joanne's book and saw it was a series. I looked again and grabbed the first book. I fell for her! Cal was out of his spot onto the baseball and then he saw his Gramp hurt. Gramp had people to help him but Cal worddidn't know Josie! Josie has a few secrets! Cal worked on his Gramp's house. Now Cal will work on the farm and the market too. Josie is working will bees! Clint is Cal's dad. There is g to be a game to see who will for place! Now is where all the problems will be. This is a good story. I would recommend if you like baseball! This is a series. It is three brothers so give this book a chance!
March 23, 2019
This was my first time reading a book by Joanne Rock. On one hand I thought the book was the perfect length and on the other hand I though Cal and Josie ‘s relationship moved two quickly. I was glad to see it ended better than I thought it would once Cal found out about her past. This was a quick read book that I would recommend to fellow readers. I most likely will finish this series as the books come out.
*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
May 12, 2019
Calvin has returned to Last Stand, Texas after being released from his pro baseball team, when he finds his mom has hired a caretaker, Josie. Josie has taken on this job, to start a fresh and put her past behind her. Calvin is just waiting for the next phone call, hoping another team will pick him up. Soon they can't deny the chemistry that they share but will Josie's past hinder them from moving forward.
A quick read that I really enjoyed. Great characters. I love the farm. A great start to new series, what's better than baseball, but baseball and romance! I recommend this book.
A quick read that I really enjoyed. Great characters. I love the farm. A great start to new series, what's better than baseball, but baseball and romance! I recommend this book.
February 22, 2019
This was a very quick read with so much potential....the characters were interesting and so was the premise of the story but the relationship between the two main characters just seemed to quick to be believable. They went from ‘let’s have a no strings attached affair’ to the L word in less than 24 hours...the author could have ended it with a ‘let’s see where this goes’ since it’s the start of a series, which would have made more sense, which I would have enjoyed a lot more
May 7, 2019
A book about professional player that was let off from the team after his injury and his caretaker.
The plot was interesting and the story had a great potential, so I was interested in reading despite few bumps on the road... This is a new author to me and her books. It is a short read and I finished it in one sitting.
It was perfect for this period when I was so busy but wanted to read something that will relax me.
The plot was interesting and the story had a great potential, so I was interested in reading despite few bumps on the road... This is a new author to me and her books. It is a short read and I finished it in one sitting.
It was perfect for this period when I was so busy but wanted to read something that will relax me.
May 24, 2019
*I got this book as an arc from Give Me Books Promotions*
Unfortunately this book wasn't for me. I just couldn't connect with it and I felt like everything was really rushed. If it had even 50 more pages of time to flesh everything out, I would have enjoyed it more.
I have a full spoiler-free review here: https://courtofbooksandlove.wordpress...
Unfortunately this book wasn't for me. I just couldn't connect with it and I felt like everything was really rushed. If it had even 50 more pages of time to flesh everything out, I would have enjoyed it more.
I have a full spoiler-free review here: https://courtofbooksandlove.wordpress...
September 29, 2020
This may be one of the first, if not the first, book I DNF’d. I never do that. Unfortunately after four separate days and multiple attempts, I just couldn’t get into it and had zero interest. It’s supposed to be a short and quick read but I was dragging only a few chapters in! There’s too many great books on my TBR to spend anymore time trying to make myself like it.
June 2, 2019
The Perfect Catch, Joanne Rock’s latest and the first in her new baseball series, is the perfect spring read. No matter how well your team is doing, this baseball book will make you smile and enjoy some time at the ballpark.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
May 16, 2019
An amazing story about finding love when you least expect to. Cal and Josie both have a lot going on in life but can't shake the chemistry flowing between them.
July 7, 2025
This book was okay. I thought some of the romantic attraction seemed a bit forced early on, due to the author’s use of language. The relationship also seemed to go from 0-60 in under two weeks, which didn’t seem realistic. The story finishes abruptly with no real resolution on many outstanding issues with both main characters. It also just so happened to be almost exactly like a book I just finished called “The Brass Anchor Inn:” guy meets a girl named Josie, they have a very brief romantic fling that goes from nothing to serious without much relationship development, guy gets angry at Josie and dumps her, guy realizes his mistake and asks for forgiveness, and they live happily ever after.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2019
Calvin Ramsey, baseball player, has been released from his team. He can't believe that this happened. He is planning to visits his mother and grandfather and wait to be called in from different team.
Josie Vance, lost her all money to con artist and have been fired from the job. She is lucky to get new job as a caretaker of old farmhouse in Last Stand, Texas.
Cal and Josie meets, sparks fly. What would happen when Josie past finds them? Would Cal risk his career for her, or would he let her go?
Loved this story, book is well written with great characters.
Josie Vance, lost her all money to con artist and have been fired from the job. She is lucky to get new job as a caretaker of old farmhouse in Last Stand, Texas.
Cal and Josie meets, sparks fly. What would happen when Josie past finds them? Would Cal risk his career for her, or would he let her go?
Loved this story, book is well written with great characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews