Curve Ball

Curvy Girl #3

by C.L. Cruz

Lucy

My teacher life is my only life. Every day I’m pleasant, logical, and respectable except for one night when I let my passions free.

Now it's back to the real world, and I’m determined to leave it—and him—in the past.

But that becomes impossible when he shows up at the school where I teach. Rhett Hartigan is everything I’m not. He's popular, outgoing, and a player, literally.

A secret part of me wants to award his buns in those baseball pants my personal cuma sum laude.

The other part of me worries—do I let fear win and stick to my boring life, or do I take a chance on love?

Rhett

As a pro baseball player, I’m used to living a big life. After an injury benches me for a year, I take a temporary job as a coach in my old home town. My plan is to get better and get out.

But life throws me a curve ball when I discover my high school crush works at the same school. Lucy Santarosa is sweet, sexy, and has no idea her bases are loaded.

When I get an unexpected offer, do I go back to my “big life” or do I try for a home run here in Fairview?

Genres: Romance, Novella, Contemporary

65 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

C.L. Cruz writes short, steamy romance with curvy girls and the men who love them. She is a single mom of two kids currently seeking her own happily ever after.

Reviews

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this story. A best friend’s older brother romance. Lucy and Rhett have known each other forever and she has always had a crush on him. They meet up again at his sister’s wedding and have what she thinks is one night. She is wrong, he wants more. Will he be able to convince her that he is there to stay and that she is the one for him? You will have to read it and find out.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Penelope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Curve Ball is book #3 in C.L. Cruz’s Curvy Girl novella series. Curve Ball is a quick read; I completed it in less than 2 hours. First in the series is Fat Chance; Spare Tire is title #2. Each novella can be read as standalone books, or as part of the series. I have read both Fat Chance and now Curve Ball. I very much enjoyed them both and look forward to reading Spare Tire which I purchased previously.

Curve Ball is a sweet 2nd Chance at Love story. 10 yrs after HS, the 2 main characters meet again at a wedding rehearsal. Can an attraction that couldn’t work in the past possibly rekindle and grow into something lasting now that both Lucy and Rhett have matured, experienced life, and better know what they really want? I recommend Curve Ball to readers that enjoy lite contemporary romance novels, HEAs, 2nd Chances at Love - with a sexy “Sizzle” added. Curve Ball is also great for that quick read before bed or when time is limited.

Curve Ball contains some profanity. It also contains several “on-scene” moments of sexual intimacy between the 2 main characters which is closer to Steamy than Sweet (3.5 or so on a 0 to 5 Sweet to Steamy scale). Yet, IMO, the overall story between the 2 characters is Sweet in nature. I do not recommend Curve Ball to readers looking for a Clean read or those who would be offended by the aforementioned. Also, not recommended for young readers.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Zero · Rating 3 out of 5]

A second chance novella about a baseball player who walks away from the girl in order to pursue his major league dreams. 10 years later, he decides to try to win her back.

This wasn't as good as I was hoping, but it wasn't bad. The reason for them not getting together earlier wasn't good enough to me, so I had a hard time believing in the great love that he had for her. At least she wasn't a pushover.

[JudyAnnLovesBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s nothing I love better than an InstaLove Novella length read and CL Cruz delivers quite nicely on that front. In her latest addition to her Curvy Girl Story collection, we get an InstaLove Sister’s Best Friend/Second Chance/Sports romance. Rhett is a sexy major league baseball player suffering from an injury. He’s home recovering when he gets close and dirty with Lucy - the one that got away. Lucy is beautiful and curvy, she’s also closed off and runs away from the sexy man who gives her the night of her life. No worries, Rhett is not a quitter and he pursues her and does not take no for an answer. A sexy, short read. TBR and enjoy.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

One curvalicious package
This was my first reading experience with this author, and I absolutely LOVED it! It was sweet and sad and steamy – the perfect emotional combination!
Lucy and Rhett have known each other for years. He is one of her best friends’ brother. They kissed in a tree house when they were teenagers, but he then left to play pro baseball.
They hadn’t seen each other for ten years until they’re at a rehearsal dinner for her other best friend’s wedding. He saves her from an uncomfortable situation with another pompous douchebag, trying to hit on her. Rhett got extremely protective, and those instincts kicked in.
They have what Lucy assumes will be a one-night stand after the wedding, and she leaves him in the morning before he’s even up. She does this thinking he’s going to up and leave anyway, so she’d save herself the inevitable heartache. However, that was NOT the case for Rhett. He wants to reconnect, but she’s not giving him the chance.
As time goes on, they see each other again, in a very different and unexpected setting. While she’s still uncertain what he wants, his perseverance slowly etches away at those feelings of doubt for her. It’s a somewhat sweet and romantic courtship, but there are some dramas along the way. Will this wonderful couple find their HEA together? You’ll have to read it to find out!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this story a lot. The characters were interesting and relatable. I liked Lucy and Rhett as well as the supporting characters.

Lucy is a teacher and leads a respectable, normal boring life. One night she lets her past desires out, but just for one night and then she goes back to her regular life. Unfortunately for Lucy, her past is now in her present when Everett (Rhett) shows up as the new coach as the school where she teaches. She has always wanted to be with Rhett, but he's her opposite and she knows that he will leave again.

Rhett was used to living large as a pro baseball player. After he's injured he meets up with his sisters' friend Lucy, and his one time crush, but she ghosts him after one night. When Rhett finds out that his pro career is over, he takes a job as a coach and Lucy just happens to work at the same school. He decides that now she can't run away so he is going to pursue her and show her how great they can be together.

I liked Lucy's friends and how supportive and fun they were. Rhett seemed to grow into a better man the longer he was coaching. I liked that Rhett didn't care what anyone thought about him and Lucy being together, including Lucy. Their happy ever after made me smile. I recommend reading this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coach and Teacher – Wonderful Combination! This story is short but very lovable. This is about Lucy and Rhett. Lucy is the high school teacher and while at a wedding of one of her friends, the brother of her BFF, Rhett, shows up and they spend the night together. They have both had feelings for each other, but never proclaimed them, so this was supposed to be a one-night stand. Rhett is a professional baseball player that is out of the league due to an injury and while staying at his parents, he decides to go to the wedding of his sisters’ friend and meets up with Lucy.
He is determined to make this work now because he left without saying goodbye the last time, they saw each other. Months pass by after their one-night stand and the start of school is upon them and during the first day when the teachers all get together, some of the other women state that there is a new coach and that he is hot…she soon realizes that its him and he only has eyes for her. She may be nice and curvy, but she still has the hots for him and him for her! The story takes off from there and it has its funny parts as well...LOVE IT!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Suzanne Houser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just discovered C.L. Cruz a couple of months ago, and Curve Ball is the fourth book I have read of hers, the second from the Curvy Girls series. I have loved every one, but Curve Ball is definitely my favourite thus far.

C.L. has married two of my favourite things in this fun and steamy novella: baseball and a dreamy book boyfriend. Rhett is a former professional baseball player, injured and back home for a friend's wedding. He runs into his high school crush, Lucy, a luscious curvy girl who is also his little sister's best friend (read Spare Tire for Emmy's awesome story) - the girl he left behind and has missed for ten years. Lucy is a buttoned-up high school teacher who gives herself permission to let loose for one night with Rhett - the boy she has missed ever since he left for the Majors.

Rhett wants more from the very beginning, but Lucy is convinced he will leave her again and holds him at arm's length - forcing Rhett to be all swoon-y as he woos his girl.

These two are so much fun to cheer on and I highly recommend this novella - and the whole series. I'm off to read Book 1 now!

[JLH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy has children’s her heart for the past 10 years. She’s been in love with her best friend‘s older brother. But when they were in high school things kind of took a turn off for the worse when he went to go play professional ball and left her. Fast forward basically 10 years later, he has an injury he’s at his sisters wedding and he’s looking for Lucy. Rhett is hoping that he can fix the mistakes that he has created 10 years ago when he went to go print play professional ball. Lucy is doubtful and she has blonde in the background for so long it’s hard for her to come back into her own self. Rhett knows he has his work cut out for him. but is he ready to make the change and to prove to her she is all he needs? No cliffhanger as we round all the bases.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhett, Emmy's older brother (read book #2 in the series), is a professional baseball player who shows up for Berkley's wedding (see book #1 in the series). Lucy, the best friend of Emmy and Berkley, is also there to do her part as a Bridesmaid. However, she's not having a great time until something happens and Rhett steps in. From there, it's the back and forth between Lucy being insecure and not trusting that Rhett is serious about her. Rhett is serious about her, but doesn't always make it absolutely clear to Lucy.

I liked this book a lot! No cheating, HEA, and no cliffhangers!! A great happy ending for the series!!

I received an ARC from Booksprout and am leaving a review!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

By far my favorite out of the three books in this series. Much like the first two books, our heroine pushes the hero away at first. But this is the only book in the series, and Lucy the only h, where it actually made sense.

Lucy had been hurt by Rhett when they were teenagers. He kissed her and then left to pursue his baseball career. I love that Lucy didn't seem to be angry about this, she just figured it would likely happen again so might as well protect herself. And the fact that she didn't pine away for Rhett for ten years? THANK YOU, C.L. CRUZ!

Rhett and Lucy had great chemistry, but they were also great characters on their own.

I would pick this one up again.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you get when you mix an out-of-work pro baseball player with the girl he left behind? You get some major drama, on and off the field. Rhett wants to show Lucy he’s serious about their relationship now but she is ambivalent. Having been apart for ten years, Lucy is very suspicious of Rhett’s attitude and demeanor. Can she trust him now after all his track record wasn’t good. It’s easy to understand Lucy’s feelings. Author did a fantastic job relating the personal struggles of a sports player of giving up any sort of personal life in order to be a pro. Lucy has focused on her teaching job though she does feel more lonely just as Rhett comes back into her life.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Caroline Doig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy meets up with Rhett her best friends brother again after 10 years the last time she saw him they were in his tree house and he kissed her but then he ran away to play pro baseball but now he’s back with an injury he wants Lucy she wants him too but what will happen to her heart when he gets a call to go and play again and he leaves next week or next month. In the morning Lucy is the one that leaves he’s still asleep and it’s better for the both of them if she’s the one that leaves. Fantastic story I loved it and I highly recommend this book.

[Magali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good short romance
Very good romance with characters who face not a second chance but a third chance because one and the other were afraid to take risks.
When Lucy, a teacher, finds herself again in front of Rhett that 10 years before, she had kissed then he had fled, she decides without him without him knowing it, that it will be only one night, then it's her turn to disappear.
When he then works with her, Rhett will do anything to convince her that he will stay.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book

[Joyce Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Bases Safely Cleared

The only curves in this short story are the curves found on the main female character. The main male character has little problem wending his way around the main female character's curves. In fact, he hits a home run. Together they safely clear all the bases and find their home with each other. A long time coming but they finally attain their happily ever after.

I voluntarily received an advance review copy of this novella via Booksprout and I am leaving an honest and unbiased review. I have no affiliation to this author.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series that I have read as part of the ARC program with this author. Although it is a standalone, I like reading the stories of each of the girls. This one might be my favorite since the author made the story take place over time instead of making instant. This is the story of Lucy, who is a teacher and Rhett, her best friend’s brother who has just started coaching at her school. Yet there has been a flirtation and more between them for years and now they are at the same place they are trying to figure out if they might have a future.

[Mags · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐

Curve Ball was a great read. That caught my attention straight away, especially as it was easy to feel that connection between baseball player Rhett and school teacher Lucy. And with a few hot moments, and some sweet ones too, this really was an enjoyable, uncomplicated, and charming novella that I would happily recommend to others.

**I was kindly provided with an ARC via Booksprout in exchange for an honest review**

[Mawgan Dipple · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was the third book in this series of a group of ladies looking for love. at the end of book 2 we see rhett and lucy together at the wedding, so i knew something was going on between them. it was a second chance type romance as lucy had to overcome her fears of losing the man she was in love with over his love of the game. rhett knew he had something to prove this time around and it was a sweet romance to see them work through it.

[Tesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute! Lucy is sick of guys leaving her, well one guy especially, Rhett who went off to the pro s in baseball. He is back to get her. Such a sweet story, steamy and romantic. Rhett is the hot alpha male, and Lucy the curvy girl guys leave. There is lots of action, great support characters and a special happy ending. A wonderful addition to the curvy series from C L Cruz. Really enjoying this series.
This is an ARC from Book sprout and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Charity Esparza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book! Lucy has been in love with Rhett since high school. They had one encounter before he ran off to a high powered baseball career. But they reconnect at a wedding, and Rhett has his work cut out to prove to Lucy that he's sincere, that this time he won't cut and run. I love that although she loves him, Lucy won't cut Rhett any slack. This is a fun, sexy book, and a great end to the trilogy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Curve Ball by C.L. Cruz! Best friend/older brother romance are one of my favorite themes so I was anxious to read Lucy and Rhett's story. 10 years ago, Rhett kissed his sister's best friend Lucy but then left town to pursue his baseball career. Lucy was hurt when Rhett left town and she was determined not to let him back into her life a second time. Luckily for Lucy, Rhett is not about to give her up this time. He will not be walking away this time.

[Am Goff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy is a hometown girl who teaches at the local school where she attended years back. She attended a friends wedding and comes face to face with her old crush Rhett, who is now a baseball player on medical leave. Although he is at his sister's wedding, he can't wait to finally spend time alone with Lucy now that they are older. I loved Rhett's tenacity and their HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

So happy when your best friend is happy for you when you date their brother. I was a little worried a few times, the kids being mean to Lucy, Rhett was gonna leave again. The. I remembered this was gonna have a HEA and it was only 70 pages.
This whole series is body positivity and showing everyone can have their own HEA. Men loving girls for who they are and all of their curves. Short and sweet books that has a plot.

[Janet Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual CL wrote a sweet and sexy story. I’m happy Lucy found her happy with her long time love. I loved everything about the story except it was too short. I’m already feenin’ for next CL story. Until next time y’all happy reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely fantastic engaging page turner that will draw you in from the first page and hold you captivated until the end! It is well written, emotionally deep, funny, and quite enjoyable. Likeable characters; the chemistry between them is amazing. A recommended read!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Charmaine Nouwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curve Ball by C.L. Cruz is a great short read.interesting,captivating,sweet,fun and steamy second chance at love romance story of Rhett and Lucy, a pro baseball player and a teacher romance story that will captured your heart,love and enjoy,loved it! well done!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[BusyM3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A entertaining story of Lucy and Rhett. They come from different worlds but they have a connection. The story was well written, the characters were likeable and had amazing chemistry. This is the third book in this series and worth reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[An Epilogue a Day Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teens in love reunite 10 years later. She is a school teacher and he is an injured baseball player and they are still in love. She has to let her guard down and he has to prove that he is back for good. Their relationship grow and matures and I loved that they were able to talk their problems.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chelsea Ortiz-Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute.
Ive got a soft spot for baseball.
But Rhett and Lucy didnt need it.
Best friends brother is seriously one if the best concepts. I loved their chemistry from beginning to end. I wish i could get an epilogue...
I would highly recommend.
Happy reading!
Rating 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of second chance romance so a three is high praise. It was well written and a full storyline in a short book. I just personally like the insta-love stories where the H knows she’s the one and will do anything to have her. So books where the H walks away for something better leave a bitter taste in my mouth no matter how they try to make up for it later.