Behind the Plate

The Boys of Baseball #2

by J. Sterling

The most anticipated J. Sterling release of the year is finally here! You've waited years to meet Jack Carter's son and the wait is over! Strap in and enjoy the ride.

Chance Carter is the son of local baseball legend, Jack Carter. Now in his junior year at Fullton State, Chance is facing challenges he never saw coming. Failing a class will stop his draft season short, making him ineligible to play and pushing his goal of professional baseball even further away.

In steps Danika, a mouthy tutor from New York, who only wants to help him pass his class... NOT get in his pants. But try telling that to Chance. He doesn't trust girls and he definitely doesn't trust his new tutor. A lifetime growing up as a Carter taught him that.

But Danika has issues of her own. After an incident that happened last year, she doesn't trust athletes and wants nothing to do with them. And Chance is no exception.

The fireworks explode as the two try to deny the chemistry between them and family secrets are revealed. Chance doesn't know how to give up on something he wants and he's decided he wants Danika. There's just one problem... she has a boyfriend she has no intention of breaking up with.

How can he have her when she belongs to someone else?.

Genres: Sports Romance, Sports, Romance, Audiobook, Baseball, College, College Romance

417 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2020

About the author

J. (jenn) Sterling is a New York Times and USA Today best selling author of multiple contemporary romances. She lives in California with her only son, Blake. If you can't find her sitting behind a computer screen writing new stories, then there's a good chance she's sitting in the bleachers of a baseball stadium watching him play.

Jenn enjoys traveling to new places, meeting her readers and spending time with the love of her life, the one & only, Jack F'n Carter! Oh yeah, it's true. <3

Stay in touch with Jenn here:
Newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/619557...
Website: http://www.jsterlingbooks.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJSterling
Instagram & TikTok: @AuthorJSterling

Reviews

[Syndi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another really stupid stupid NA romance. This book is bad. There is no real/ tender/ vulnerable connection between Chase and Dannika. I usually like tutor and student relationship.

The is no character development.
No real story/plot/twist.
Just people acting stupid and immature.

2 stars

[Alecia (The Staircase Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

**4.5 Stars**

Chance Carter has finally arrived and there is no doubt about it, this man is everything plus so much more!

About Behind The Plate:

All Chance Carter wants is for people to see him for the man he is. Growing up in the spotlight has left him with a jaded streak where the opposite sex is concerned. His main goal is to become a major league baseball player, and his focus is on that and that alone. But when Chance finds himself in a tough spot with his grades that could lead to his ineligibility to play baseball during his draft year, he has no choice but to put his trust in his new tutor.... Danika.

Danika's world is far from perfect, but she's comfortable, and that's all that matters... Right? Her world is comfortable until she's assigned to be an athlete's tutor. They need the best, and she is in fact the best. When she meets Chance Carter, immediate warning bells go off in her head, she's about to come to a crossroads in her comfortable life. Which direction will she chose to go?

My Thoughts:

I've been craving Chance's story ever since his Jack and Cassie's story ended. I knew this man was going to have obstacles thrown in his path and given his dad's slightly bad man-whorish reputation, there was a lot he was going to have to overcome. I legit can't wipe this smile from my face. I loved Chance and Danika's story so much. Thank you J. sterling for writing this wonderful novel!! Love definitely shows itself most when unexpected.

You wouldn’t believe how bad I have been craving a sweet baseball romance. It’s been a long damn time since I read a book in this sports drama, and ended up being completely consumed beyond words by it. Everything from the story line to the characters were on point. The glimpses of a much older Jack and Cassie were flawless, but the romance between Chance and Danika may just be my favorite of all! What can I say, I’m a sucker for an opposites attract story line.

I wasn't expecting Chance to be such a good guy raised on morals with a sweet heart and a kind soul. Given the drama in his mom and dad's story, I was expecting him to be a bit of a wild child with an ego..... I'm really happy my assumptions were wrong! I couldn't have loved Chance any more if I tried. He was everything!! Danika is a New Yorker through and through. From her style down to her attitude, there wasn't a thing I didn't love about this girl. She is definitely a spitfire, that's for damn sure. I loved her fiery spirit when she's being backed in a corner. This is a woman not to be messed with!

The two fit seamlessly together, but not without their own hurdles to jump through first. And that main hurdle being Jared, Danika's long time boyfriend.... Jared is an egotistical donkey! From the first moment he stepped on the pages of my novel I legit wanted to erase his name. I hated his, I'm better than everyone else, vibes. I wanted to reach into my kindle and slap him so freaking hard!! So much disrespect! Once Jared was out of the picture, I found myself grinning like a fool through the rest of the novel. Chance and Danika are so damn sweet!! They may have just stolen my heart!

Now onto the reasoning behind my 4.5 star rating. I loved behind the plate, I loved Chance and Danika’s story, but I needed a bit more heat with this one. I wanted to feel more of the raw passion I felt during their first time together. Chalk it up to me being selfish. As for the rest of the novel it was all consuming and spot on!

To those who love baseball romances with swoony and sweet vibes, don’t miss out on Behind The Plate by J. Sterling! This may just be your next 5 star read!!

________________



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[Wendy'sThoughts]

NO STRIKES, IT'S LIVE!!!
Being A Carter...
Has Never Been Easy...
Being Chance Carter...
Son of the Infamous Jack Carter...

Impossible...

Because Not Fulfilling His Baseball Destiny...
That. Just. Can't. Happen.

Only Way to Nip That In The Bud...
Get A Friggin' Tutor, Bud...
Now Chance Has To Buckle Down...
And Work With Brainiac Danika...

It Should Work...
She Doesn't Trust Athletes...
He Doesn't Trust Girls...

Perfect...Eh, Not Exactly...

Because When Chance Decides...
To Go All In On Danika...
That Means All In...

"If we do this, we're together. We're not seeing other people. We're not casually dating. We're not friends with benefits. We're a couple. You're my girl. And I'm your guy."

Now There Is Just...
One Itsy, Bitsy Problem...
Danika is "Taken" ...
And Is Not Looking
To Change Who Is...

Behind the Plate (the Boys of Baseball #2)-September 3, 2020

The Ninth Inning (The Boys of Baseball #1)
Behind the Plate (The Boys of Baseball #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Jo - •.★Reading Is My Bliss★.• · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having Jack and Cassie Carter as parents is something their son Chance would never take for granted. Their past has definitely helped him define what sort of a relationship he wants for himself one day and gave him some great insight into how a baseball career can affect all aspects of his life. He knows the downfalls of playing pro and everything he does is with the end goal in mind, to get drafted and have a successful playing career.

Just to be clear, Chance was not looking to meet anyone to date. Dating is not on his radar at all, finding someone who genuinely wants to know him and not be influenced by his baseball success makes him steer clear of most girls. Until he meets Danika. Chance is failing one class and he needs to pass maths if he wants the opportunity to be drafted and Danika is the best tutor with a 100% pass rate. She is very reluctant to tutor him, she finds guys like him a bit cocky and arrogant.

Chance is not happy about having a girl tutor him, he is worried it will be a distraction in this important year. The fact that Danika has a serious boyfriend is good but damn if she isn’t the most beautiful girl he has ever met and the fact he is so affected by her is really messing with him. The more time that Danika spends with Chance, the more dissatisfied she is feeling about her relationship with her boyfriend. To be fair though, she had been feeling these things before she met Chance, being around him has made them more obvious now.

‘I know he’s been there for you. But just because you have a past with someone doesn’t mean that you owe them your future.’

Chance is so polite and respectful, he is great to talk to and she can feel the connection growing between them. Things are just so confusing now. Chance is feeling exactly the same way but he would never cross that moral line, he respects and cares for Danika too much. As they struggle to work through the growing feelings between them she begins to wonder what a future with him would be like. She already has her own career path sorted in her mind, would she be willing to make sacrifices and follow him into a professional baseball career?

'If we do this, we're together. We're not seeing other people. We're not casually dating. We're not friends with benefits. We're a couple. You're my girl. And I'm your guy.'

One thing Danika does know is that her future is not with the guy who has been with her the past few years and she has some tough decisions to make so she can clear her head and figure out what she really wants. Is she willing to take a chance? intentional pun right there!

Okay, I absolutely LOVED this book, any time spent with the Carter family is awesome and they all feature throughout this story. I loved the relationship Chance has with his parents, his passion for the sport he loves and the adoration & respect he has for Danika. Jenn did a fantastic job at bringing these characters to life and I love how I could feel Jack & Cassie’s influence in their son’s personality. Now I want more!

[Weronika - Little Steamy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Just because you have a past with someone doesn’t mean that you owe them your future.”


Let me start by saying that this book is a dream come true for my bookish dreams. As soon as I found out that the son of Cassie and Jack from The Perfect Game series would have his own story, I couldn't suppress my excitement. These two took me through an emotional rollercoaster and I will never forget their turbulent love story. So it was an unbelievable pleasure for me to return to Fullton State and visit Carter family.


Chance made me fall in love with him from the very beginning. This guy is dedicated to baseball, but despite his famous name, he's not smug and pompous and he doesn't benefit from his position at every turn. He's down to earth and hard-working and he avoids distractions at all costs. I just loved that he was always so responsible and reasonable. I also adored his protectiveness and kind heart.

Danika is the type of girl who is sassy and feisty, but also a bit lost in life. On the one hand, she has everything in order, both from the emotional and career point of view, but she slowly begins to notice that all her plans are the way to settling, and that’s exactly what she wanted to avoid. However, even with new discoveries, this girl is sensible and she makes sure that all her bases are covered before she makes life-changing decicions. That's what I admired about her the most.

These two had a scorching-hot chemistry right from the start, even though both were in a position where they couldn't act on it. The tension was palpable and it left me in a delicious state of need. They had some obstacles to overcome, but I loved how wisely and reasonably they acted, despite growing feelings and unrestrained longing they both felt. Chance and Danika are a magnetizing couple, extremely passionate and gahhh, I couldn't get enough of them!


I also have to mention the outstanding supporting characters - both main characters were lucky enough to have amazing friends (who I hope will end up as a couple in the future). Danika's father is great, and Jack and Cassie are wonderful as parents. Especially daddy Carter (I swear, I'm not saying that in a kinky way, lol!).


Behind The Plate is a perfect sports romance with all the feels and heat. It’s a prime example of an excellent New Adult book, filled with angst, steam and emotions. I devoured this story in one sitting and I can’t wait to get back to Fullton State in the next book. I’m completely addicted to these baseball boys!

[Three Chicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!
Review by Lisa Kane

I have been curious to read about Chance Carter-he's the son of Jack and Cassie Carter. Their story decimated my heart but it was a fantastic story.

Chance's odds of being drafted to play major league baseball are great. He's a junior at Fullton State in California and he's so close he can taste it. He's never felt like he lived in his father's shadow.

Where Jack Carter was one of the best left-handed pitchers anyone had seen in years, I was one of the best catchers on the field.

The only obstacle on Chance's road to success-math. He's in danger of failing math, which means he won't be eligible to play ball for Fullton which means he can kiss the major leagues goodbye.
His coach tells him they are getting a math tutor for him. Chance's only stipulation-the tutor has to be a male. Chance doesn't date, he doesn't want a girl messing with his head. He is completely focused on baseball. Besides, the girls at Fullton just want to be with him because he's the big guy on campus. He's the one that people talk about, both because of his dad and because they know he is going to make it big. He can do without all the superficial crap.

As luck would have it, the best tutor and the only one that isn't already committed to tutoring someone else is a female- Danika Marchetti.

"Chance, meet your tutor, Danika Marchetti." I frowned because I could not have a female tutor and Coach knew it.

Danika isn't thrilled about tutoring Chance. She has an aversion to athletes.

Maybe it was because the athletes on this campus tended to be arrogant pricks who were above the law. Even worse, they all knew it. I didn't trust them.

She has another reason to dislike athletes, but that will come out further in the story.

Danika's boyfriend Jared is also a student at Fullton. They've been together since high school. Danika's dad is a real estate mogul in Manhatten and their two families do business together. It's been expected that once Danika and Jared graduate, they'll take their places in the Marchetti empire. But lately, things have been off between Danika and Jared. Things have changed.

"Just because you have a past with someone doesn't mean you owe them your future."

There's no denying that there are sparks between Chance and Danika. But neither one will cross any lines. Chance is well aware of his parents' past and he's not about to go there. But as they spend more time together, the temptation to cross those lines gets stronger.

"I really thought I'd be alone forever. I mean, I hoped that maybe I'd find a girl someday, but I never knew how it would happen. It just didn't seem possible. She'd always want Chance Carter, the baseball player, and never just Chance Carter, the guy."

I loved the first book in this series, The Ninth Inning and this one was even better! I loved the moral compasses that Chance and Danika had and how cheating was not an option. I enjoyed the secondary characters, especially Mac and Sunny. (hoping we see those two together at some point!) I can never get enough of Jack and Cassie and reading about their lives, how they raised Chance and his younger sister, Jacey and how, after all these years, have not lost that spark that got them through the hard times. Dean and Melissa showing up in the book was no hardship either.

Check this series out, because the stories are well developed and the characters are likable. The sex scenes are steamy and make cause a few blushes. (who doesn't love when that happens!) Behind the Plate scores a home run for me!

"Girls always say they have walls that guys need to climb, but I had armor. And you cracked it the first day I met you, and you've been slicing through it ever since."

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book definitely lived up to its hype!!! Chance Carter was everything I had hoped for and more!!

I absolutely devoured this book in one sitting. I didn't want it to end but I also couldn't read it fast it enough!!

Chance is the son of Jack F&%#in' Carter from The Perfect Game series. Even if you never read the series (you will want to after you read this book), you will fall in love with Chance. Chance has put off one math course most of his college career because it's not his strong suit but he needs to pass this class in order to play baseball.

Enter Danika – she is the only tutor on their college campus that has the ability to help Chance pass this class. However, after a bad incident involving another athlete the previous year, Danika wants nothing to do with athletes. She is feisty, holds nothing back and has no problem holding her own in any situation.

Yea – as much as these two try to deny the explosive chemistry that's immediately felt, it's impossible to ignore. But oh do they try. Danika has a boyfriend, one she's been with for quite a few years. And Chance refuses to ever be someone who ruins another relationship.

Jenn writes a very angsty, raw, honest and real story. The interactions amongst all the characters, main and secondary, is very authentic. I loved how real these characters came across. They were honest in their feelings, accepted where they went wrong but were not overly dramatic for the sake of the story. These characters were just so genuine and real. I laughed, applauded and cheered so much throughout this book.

I loved every single bit of this story. There is not one thing I would change – NOTHING!!! I want to blab so much about this book but I don't want to give anything away. This book is AMAZING!!! And I love how Jenn stealthy builds her next character up within this story without pulling away from the main plot. I cannot wait for Mac's book and where his story go.

Jenn – Chance totally stole my heart and nailed this one out of the park (pun intended)!!

[Jenifer Briggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this was my second read by this author, and even though I am so, so glad that Carter is nothing like his father (seriously, I can't stress enough how much I loved how different he was) there was something about this book that I just couldn't connect with. It was definitely a cute story, but I just felt like it was missing that something special for me. I didn't hate the reading experience, I just didn't particularly enjoy it either. I think in this case it's me and not the book because I've seen all my blogger friends loving this book, but it was just a miss for me.

That's just my opinion though! I can definitely see why so many people are loving it, I just wasn't as invested in it as much as I hoped I would be.

**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions.**

[Anne OK · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit disappointing -- nothing new and certainly not in the same line-up as Jack and Cassie's (the parents) story. And the formatting was off in my Kindle version running the sentences together in many spots.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I received a digital copy for an honest review]

Behind the Plate is the second book in J. Sterling's The Boys of Baseball series. This can without a doubt be enjoyed as a stand alone but if you have read her other sports romances you'll be in for some recognizable characters.

Chance Carter has one focus and that's baseball. He works hard to stand on his own skill and not that of his baseball legend father. He doesn't have time for women since it seems everyone wants him for his fame and not for who he is a person. In order to achieve his goal he needs to pass his college math class and the only way that going to happen is with a tutor. His tutor whether he likes it or not is Danika. He's never felt feelings for a woman the way he does her with her snarky honest personality. Problem Danika has a steady boyfriend so Chance has to learn how to deal with only being friends. When her relationship status changes will two people with different career goals be able to make it work or will they call it quits before their hearts become to involved.

"I had no idea how to be normal around her. She made me question what normal even meant, She made me feel thins I didn't want to feel."

AHHH Chance Carter was fantastic !!! He's officially my number one J. Sterling book boyfriend. He is such a cinnamon roll who loves his family and acknowledges is emotions. Danika fits the nickname Chance gives her, Spitefire. She is quick to speak her mind, and she doesn't suppress her sarcasm. My favorite aspect of her character was that she thought through her actions before making rash decisions. Since she has a boyfriend when she meets Chance there is a bit of angst between the two of them but neither of them take the fact that she is in a relationship lightly. There's no cheating in the book but the topic is addressed often because of the situation. They become friends, and she doesn't jump right into a rlationship with Chance when she breaks it off with her boyfriend. When Chance and Danika finally take the relationship leap its honest and the intimacy between them is passionate.

"I want to kiss you, Danika. I want to make you forget that anyone else in the world exists, except you and me."

Behind the Plate also has a great cast of supporting characters. Chance's family is great. If you've read Sterling's original baseball series you will know his parents, Jack and Cassie. They were exactly the kind of parents I pictured them being. Loving, caring, supportive and still completely in love with each other. His friend Mac was nice comedic relief, even though I have a feeling when his book comes out it's going to hit me with the feels. Danika's best friend Sunny was as sweet and kind as her name and I loved how her and Danika's opposite personalities worked together.

Behind the Plate was a romance about love, communication, talking things out, support and trust. I very much enjoyed this addition to The Boys of Baseball series and look forward to the next one.

[Lindsey Domokur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen, Chance is one of the good ones. He isn’t a player off the field, he’s not capitalizing on the fact he is a baseball player to get chicks, he’s focused on the game and that’s pretty much it. He has tunnel vision until Danika comes in and blows up his world.
Danika doesn’t want to date Chance.. she has a boyfriend, so there is no reason why they can’t be friends as she tutors him, right? Well, sometimes when you meet the person you’re supposed to be with, things get messy. This is what happened in the story of Chance and Danika. Danika’s boyfriend is obviously a terrible person, we can see that clearly in the way he tries to control her and demeans her. I’ve been in a few of these relationships and these guys are master manipulators. It’s nice when your eyes are opened and you can see just how unhappy you are. This is what happened here and I was so proud of her for getting out of such a toxic relationship and knowing a good thing when she saw it. Relationships take work, but both people need to do the work to make sure the other is happy and their number one. This story was a adorable and I liked seeing more of the backstory of Jack and Cassie.

[acourtofbooksandchocolate II Giulia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is so full of cliche and sterotypes that I honestly don’t even know where to start.


We have Chance our hero who thinks that all women are gold diggers and he throws a fit because his tutor is a girl and he wants to work with boys only 🤦🏽‍♀️


According to this books all girls are the nurturer type and they will clean your room and pick up stuff because that is just what we do . Mmm what?


And then conversation between Danika and her dad “ danika stop speaking girl and just speak” . I wasn’t aware girls spoke girl language that boys can’t understand!!

Another example “ we girls told each other things. Especially hard things”

And what’s up with all these differences between people in New York and California , like seriously i get it people act differently in different states but this is ridiculous .

I read previous books by this author and enjoyed them but this one was a big no.

[ReadingTilTheBreakOfDawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, dang! IF I was in college, I think I might know who I would set my sights on.
Chance Carter is the king of the baseball diamond. Not only is he an all star catcher that is catching the eyes of the major leagues, but he can hit the ball too. He is a leader, a little bit cocky, a whole lot dedicated to the sport AND his family, and he is the teammate you want behind the plate. But his work in math may set him back. He's only ever wanted to play baseball and he knows he won't get by on his name alone. He is going to need to pass math if he wants to play ball, so he's going to need a tutor to set him on track. It just cannot be a girl. He has sworn off girls because they are a distraction. And Chance F'in Carter cannot be distracted to get to his dreams

Danika Marchetti is the tutor of athletes. She likes to see them succeed and she knows how to get them there. She is strong, a bit of a spitfire and knows where she is headed in life. She has had the same goals since she moved out to California from Manhattan and her future is within her grasp. She just needs to finish this year out and her and her boyfriend Jared will return home to work with her father. So, what could possibly happen when Danika is the lone tutor available for Chance? She doesn't need to tutor, but he does need to pass math. It seems like these two are going to be stuck with one another.

"Let's break the rules then. Be different."

I really enjoyed Chance and Danika, but I was kind of worried about the whole boyfriend thing. I did not know how it was all going to pan out, but J. Sterling handled it perfectly for her characters. Never fear! She didn't add drama where it didn't need to be, but she made you see Jared and understand Sunny's (Danika's BFF and roomie) feelings about him. But reading that will only make you wonder why Chance and Danika didn't just throw caution to the wind and go for it. Fortunately, Chance was the best combo of his parents and I loved him for it. He's not a player like a lot of athletes and that made me respect him more. He was sweet and little bit cocky. Like the perfect combo of the two. Mix it with Danika's NY attitude and these two worked. Their banter and their respect for one another and their futures is what really made me like their story. There was very little unneeded drama and it was a good balance for those two. And the supporting characters will leave you wanting so much more of them.

If you're ready to play ball be prepared for a bit of a slow burn with so much sexual tension in the air. Head on down to the diamond to get a taste of two strong characters, their family and friends PLUS you get to see Jack and Cassie for you Perfect Game fans. All of the supporting characters (ahhh Mac and Sunny...I hope we see you again) and family and friends of these two will leave you feeling like you hit a home run right out of the park.

"We don't settle in love when we could have so much better. Am I right, or am I right?"

[Sannia]

Jack's son. hmm. He better not screw up like his dad did.

[Thuy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been so ready for Chance Carter's book!!! College sports, opposites attract romance. I think JSterling knocked it out of the ballpark with this one. Chance is the son of baseball legend, Jack Carter. He has alot to live up to but he is a great baseball player on his own with all of his hard work over the years. He's making a name for himself and its not being Jack and Cassie Carter's son. With that, he knows the ups and downs of dating a baseball player, the stress, the users, the good, the bad. No one has intrigued him as much as his tutor, Danika, aka Spitfire.
She was a tutor to athletes but opted out after a bad experience with one, but now she's back after one of their best players needs the best tutor. Opposites and already rubbing each other the wrong way immediately when they meet. These two have to learn to get along for the sake of his grades and him being eligible for the baseball draft. But with Danika, he's sensing things he's never ever felt before. Can he just be friends with her with all these new feelings? She also has a long term boyfriend.

I loved how their story played out. Chance Carter fell and he fell hard for her. I loved seeing that. He respected her, he felt so much for her. When these two finally got together, FIREWORKS!!!! These two were so good together, she doesn't make abrupt decisions, she thinks everything out, and everything worked out. It was so sweet to see Jack, Cassie and the family, her roommate Sunny, and the baseball boys. I cannot wait for the next book!!! Bring on Mac!!!!

[Jackie Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do when you come baseball royalty... you follow in your father’s footsteps but Chance Carter is struggling in one class in his junior year at Fullton State and that could mean an the end to his career before it’s even started....
Danika is a mouthy tutor from New York who steps up to help him with that class, she doesn’t suffer fools gladly and she has no interest in getting in this mans pants, unlike most other students who seem to fall at Chance’s feet. Chance is used to girls wanting more than friendship from him and he struggles to trust this tutor who seems to be his lifeline to the draft....
What follows is two people who struggle to trust but still have amazing chemistry trying to put feelings aside so they can get the ultimate goals they desire. Chance is a guy you will fall and hard and fast for and Danika is a strong independent woman you will wish had your corner. This is one of those books that touches you on so many levels and you know just how special it is when you find yourself thinking about the romance long after the final words have been read. I smiled, I laughed, I swooned and I found myself hoping this couple got the HEA they so deserved. I loved everything about this book, I loved the knowledge of baseball, the character’s, the love, the humour and I loved catching up with Jack and Cassie Carter. Great addition to one of my favourite series.

[Flavs is Mrs David Gandy♥~♥’ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chance Carter is the son of a local baseball legend and right now his life is going great. He’s hard working and his life is baseball. But one thing is standing in his way and that is his math class, he needs a tutor. But it cannot be a girl, he doesn’t have time for distractions and girls are a major distraction. Unfortunately for him his tutor is a girl. His never met someone like her. She is sassy and completely honest about everything and doesn’t let him get away with anything and he kind of likes that about her, but Danika has a steady boyfriend, so now he has to learn how to be friends with a girl ☹ But then Danika’s status changes, but will that be enough for their happily ever after or will the fact that they have different career paths be too much to overcome?

"I had no idea how to be normal around her. She made me question what normal even meant, She made me feel thins I didn't want to feel."

I haven’t read a J Sterling book in a long time and I have to say I really enjoyed this one. I loved Danika she was just too sweet, but she also didn’t let Chance overwhelm her at all. She was sassy and always honest about everything. Chance I really liked him from the start. He was hard working and patient and kind and just #sigh… The chemistry between these two was amazing and definitely had me on the edge of my seat to see how this would end <3

Read on behalf of
Fay’s Corner

[Amber - TBR Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every J Sterling book I've read, I have loved and Chance Carter's story is one of the best! I read book 1 in the Boys of Baseball and oh how I loved Chance. And in reading his story, I need to re-read Jack and Cassie's story, The Perfect Game. It's a great story and a great setup to Chance's story.

Anyway, Chance needs some help with math, which is of course where Danika comes in. Am I the only one who was immediately thinking Danica Patrick.... Oh well, so Danika is the tutor. But SO much more. Danika is not interested in Chance, she has a boyfriend and she doesn't do the baseball player route. She's not a cleat chaser.

You can see how this might go but you have no idea. Read the book. Yes, they will end up together - we all want an HEA right? But how they get there. Jessica Sterling is one of my favorite and most sought out authors. So if I see a sale, new release, promo, I'm ON IT!

I can't wait for Mac's story. I have soooooo many thoughts but who knows if I am right? ;)

[gretareadsromance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Behind the Plate is an epic baseball romance! I couldn't wait to dive into Chance Carter's story and it was everything I wanted.

Chance goes through what I imagine many athletes do and question everyone's sincerity in their life. With always having his guard up he almost missed out on his tutor, Danika.

Danika is leery of athletes due to a past experience so at the beginning she wanted nothing to do with Chance outside of teaching him math.

I really loved this story. I loved being back in with the Carter family and how awesome Jack and Cassie are as parents. Chance is a lovable character who is very driven in what he wants and doesn't stray from it. Danika is a great leading lady from New York who was blinded by a relationship in the beginning. As many of us have had them until your eyes get opened you just go with the flow as it is what you are used to. I liked that communication was big in this book and while there was conflict there wasn't a lot of drama along with it. Even with all the obstacles they realize dreams don't have to be given up - sometimes you just have to rework it.

[Nicki - The Overflowing Bookcase · Rating 5 out of 5]

While an ace behind the plate as a catcher for the baseball team, Chance has more drive and ambition to be drafted by the major league. His one downfall - Math - the one class he needs to pass to remain on the team. His request for a male tutor in order to keep his head in the game and having to avoid the baseball bunny mentality does not go as planned when Danika becomes his tutor. But Danika is not like the others in the past. She really does not care about the game and actually sees him for who he is. But will this be enough to make a relationship work? Or will Chance only keep his goals in mind and Danika out of his heart? With so many obstacles in the way and a life changing option on the horizon, from the moment the reader picks this book up until the very last page they are taken on an emotional journey. Fabulous characters, a beautifully written stroyline and adding baseball and romance together make this another J. Sterling masterpiece.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Girls need to vent. Venting is like breathing for us. We do it to stay alive and to stop ourselves from killing the people who make us mad.’  

I loved The Perfect Game Series so much when I first read it and I fell in love with Jack and Cassie and the story of them falling in love.
I also really enjoyed Dean and Melissa's story too so I had high hopes for this book! And man, it did not disappoint! 

Chance Carter is just the most swoon worthy baseball player and I fell in love with him when I read The Ninth Inning and his attitude toward girls and baseball and his family was explained.

Danika is a great fmc who really grew as the story progressed and I thought all of the interactions between the two were realistic and genuine.

J. Sterling has the gift of writing realistic romance that takes you on the journey with the characters. You can feel every emotion; every high and low. I really do love her style and I find myself reading them in a day as they are so hard to put down! 

I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Stacie R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start this review out by saying, if you loved Jack and Cassie Carter you will fall head over heels for their son, Chance!

Chance is serious about one thing, baseball. He’s known forever that he wants to play professional baseball, but there is one class standing between him, and being eligible to play baseball. When his coach tells him, he has a tutor he’s all for it, until he meets Danika.

Danika is a no-nonsense girl, and she doesn’t take crap from anybody. She doesn’t like athletes and prefers to not have to tutor them. But when the tutor center calls her and begs for her to help THE Chance Carter, she can’t seem to say no. There is no denying their chemistry, but Danika has a boyfriend, and that’s a line Chance won’t cross.

Perfection. Complete and utter perfection. From beginning to end, I couldn’t put this book down. I devoured every single page, and every piece of information about Chance and Danika. J. Sterling took this book to another level. Yes, we get to catch up with Jack and Cassie and see them still so in love, but she was able to write Chance outside of his parents’ shadow, which I think was phenomenal. Sometimes in second generation books, I feel like there is too much focus on the first generation, but I didn’t feel that way at all with this book. Chance is very much his own person, and I absolutely loved the chemistry between him and Danika.

This was a fantastic story, it really shows the reader the struggles that college athletes face, and the work that is required for any relationship. And catching up with Jack and Cassie was so amazing, Jack Carter is as swoony as ever! I will say, after reading the first book in this series, watching Chance Carter be brought to his knees by Danika was BEAUTIFUL. Everything about this book was amazing, and I need the next book as soon as possible!!

[•.~*Izzy*~.• · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf at 64%. okay so i really tried to like this and enjoy this but so much of the wording is rooted in deep deep sexism like the frat guys making their gfs clean the house and then the mmc making a joke about a girl doing that for him and honestly the whole will they wont they with her boyfriend is just annoying atp and her going to the mmc’s game only for him to admit he knew her now ex cheated and blah blah blah bc really none of it is worth wasting my energy anymore to write out. plus i think this book has put me in a slump again…

[Rhonda Ziglar · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 HOME RUN STARS!! So much love for baseball stories and this one was like a perfect game for me. Chance and Danika's story was a home run in my book with all the feels and chemistry....it hit all my bases. I am loving this authors words and I know you will too. If you love baseball romance look no further.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap! I feel some kinda way right now!

Like... some kind of fictional character cougar! And I can't handle it. I love LOVED Jack F'n Carter. So how am I supposed to deal with all these feelin's his freakin kid just inflicted?!

I love Chance Carter. Possibly more than Jack. And I seriously am struggling to wrap my head around it. Because HOW IS IT POSSIBLE?!

Jenn's a sorceress. A word-sorceress who writes freaking phenomenal baseball guys. I did not want this to end, and now I'm sad I have to wait for book 3. This is like book addict pergutory. I was not ready.

Hands. Down. Best. Book. Of. 2020.

That's it. The end. Welcome to my book review, now go read it so you can love him, and suffer with the rest of us. ❤❤❤

[Laura Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting for this book since the ending of The Sweetest game, and it did not disappoint.
I love Chance and Danika.. I loved how Chance did the right thing even though it wasn’t what he wanted.. a few times..
I loved how they had family history even though they didn’t know it..
It was such a sweet romance which I kinda suspected it would be but it was so cute... I loved every page..
While it was sweet there was definitely heat and hot sex scenes.. they had super hot chemistry..
I loved all the supporting characters also ,well except for Jared.
I love this series.. I can’t wait for book three.
Thank you for writing Chances story.. it was everything and more...

[Reading with 2 book lovers Sarah P - · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good story. I devoured chance and want more of him.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.

Chance Carter is the son of local baseball legend, Jack Carter. Now in his junior year at Fullton State, Chance is facing challenges he never saw coming. Failing a class will stop his draft season short, making him ineligible to play and pushing the goal of professional baseball even further away. In steps Danika, a mouthy tutor from New York, who only wants to help him pass his class...NOT getin his pants. But try telling that to Chance. He doesn't trust girls and he definitely doesn't trust his new tutor. A lifetime growing up as a Carter taught him that. But Danika has issues of her own. After an incident that happened last year, she doesn't trust athletes and wants nothing to do with them. And Chance is no exception. The fireworks explode as they two try to deny the chemistry between them and family secrets are revealed. Chance doesn't know how to give up on something he wants and he's decided he wants Danika. There's just on problem....she has a boyfriend she has no intention of breaking up with. How can he have her when she belongs to someone else?

First of all when you read the description of this book your mind might go to oh no....cheating in a book. But that is not the case so don't let that keep you from picking up this book and reading it. It does not contain cheating. This is the story of Chance who is the son of Jack and Cassie Carter. Being their son has helped to make him the kid he is today and he knows just exactly what kind of relationship he wants to have one day when he is ready for it. However with that said the last thing on Chance's radar is dating. He is not ready and now he is failing a class and has to have a tutor. This introduces up to Danika and she is the one who can save him from failing math and ending his dream of being drafter to a bigger and better game. What he doesn't plan is his attraction to Danika. However she has a boyfriend a serious one and she is not a cheater. However there just might be a problem there because the more time she spends with Chance the more she finds her self not wanting her boyfriend. I don't want to give to much of this book away. I loved it. I couldn't stop reading and fell so in love with these characters.

[Tammy-Jane Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say now is I miss the Carter boys

[Amy Dickinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Okay, so I’ve been trying to figure out why J. Sterling’s sports romances, more specifically baseball romances, intrigue me. I mean, I do love the sport of baseball. I am a college professor at the university that inspires Fullton State, the fictional university of her series, and I’ve had baseball players in my classes over the years. In fact, I have a former student with a World Series ring on his finger and several who are currently playing Major League Baseball. Even more, I grew up in a family where baseball reigned supreme: my brother played and my father coached. My father had season tickets to college baseball, and our family holds College World Series tickets. Why am I telling you all of this in my review of J. Sterling’s newest book, Behind the Plate? Because I think the reason I enjoy J. Sterling’s baseball romances is they hit upon my feelings of nostalgia about baseball and they connect me to the experiences of my baseball athletes. I think this is what makes J. Sterling’s Perfect Game series and her current series, The Boys of Baseball, interesting to me. Yes, she creates steamy, exciting romance with her characters. In Behind the Plate, she offers an homage to the fans of her successful Perfect Game series. Chance Carter is the son of her hero and heroine of that series. Now, I haven’t yet read that series. It’s a trilogy that feels like a journey, a journey that I will inevitably take based on the first two books of her The Boys of Baseball series. Yet, for me, reading these books feels like going home. She can clearly write romance, as evidenced by this book and others, but, almost above that, she can write baseball in a way that feels different than most sports romances. This is interesting because many romances categorized as sports romance rarely deal with the sport. And I have to be honest, the ones that don’t are usually not as strong as the ones that do. If you are going to construct a hero or heroine who is an athlete, then I believe you need to deal with the sport instead of letting it be an anomalous feature of the proposed story.

For me, J. Sterling writes baseball well. Like really well. You see HOW demonstrative it is in Chance Carter’s life, which is important because it shades his characterization. We understand why he makes the choices he makes because Sterling shows how baseball can overtake his world. This causes the story to feel very very real. When Chance and his heroine, Danika, are faced with a dilemma for their future, as a reader, you feel the tension in that decision. It makes you uncomfortable wondering if they will find their happy ending while you note that these two are fated for each other. Without understanding the depth of the world of baseball, you cannot fully feel the depth of their decision making. And this is where other sports romances don’t do the genre of sports romances right. Thankfully, J. Sterling does.

Along with Sterling’s apt depiction of the world of college baseball, in Behind the Plate, you are treated to a hero and heroine who, quite frankly, are adorable. On the one hand, Chance Carter is NOT his father. Well, he is his father in talent. However, he is a good mixture of his father and mother. He is passionate about his sport and he is careful with his intention with women. He is not a womanizing hero like his father; he leans more into the empathy and spirit of his mother. I love this depiction; it makes for the dreamiest of heroes. Even more, Danika is his “little spitfire.” I ADORE a heroine who can stand toe-to-toe with a hero and put him in his place. This is necessary for this story. It’s what sets her apart from other women. She is intelligent and insightful about others. Her kryptonite is her boyfriend, Jason. This is where I was disappointed with Danika’s depiction. I would have liked to see a bit more consistency in her depiction. For all that she dishes out to Chance, she becomes passive with her boyfriend. That being said, this is any person afraid to make choices that potentially change their status quo, so it doesn’t feel out of place in the context of the story. And in the end, she remedies her conflict when she recognizes her heart belongs with Chance. I love that J. Sterling made this a slow-burn for these two. When they finally fall, it’s quite glorious and perfectly timed.

Based on the first book of this new series, I knew I was going to adore Chance Carter, but I didn’t know how much until I was grabbed by J. Sterling’s story. Behind the Plate feels real; it’s beautifully crafted; and it will grab your heart. If you have never read the Perfect Game series, you will not be lost. I wasn’t. Instead, you will fall for Chance Carter and Danika’s journey, and it feels like a grand slam in the end.