Goode Girls Steal

Goode Girl #3

by J.J. Arias

A compelling story about unexpected love, new beginnings, and second chances
Goode College's star pitcher Gabby is nearing the end of her athletic career. With only one more chance at winning the national championship before she graduates, Gabby is determined to play the best season of her life and enjoy her final year with her teammates. Her plans are shattered when her biggest rival Brooke transfers to the team.
If Gabby can't get over her complicated past with Brooke and focus on the most important season of her career, she will find herself watching from the dugout. As they are forced to reconnect, Gabby is faced with either forgiving Brooke or failing her team.
If enemies are forced together, can their intensity be transformed into something else - something just as passionate?

Genres: Romance, Sports, Lesbian, LGBT, Lesbian Fiction, Lesbian Romance, Queer

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2020

About the author

Hello! And thank you for finding me!

I am an independent author writing about fictional lesbians of all varieties.

My writing journey began with fan faction, and as much as I LOVED being part of a community of super fans, I got tired of working with other people’s characters to tell my stories. I started asking myself: Why should we string together pieces of subtext when our community deserves well-developed main-text about LBGT people and those who love them! So, that is what I aim to deliver.

If you want to know a little more about me personally, J.J. Arias is my pen name. I do have a day job, and due to the industry I’m in, I can’t write under my given name. Although who knows, maybe one day I can write full-time and come out of the … office? I am a Scorpio woman (I know, I know, but I’m a nice one I PROMISE) happily married to a uniquely wonderful Cancer lady. Together we have several fur babies of the feline and canine varieties.

So, here I am, and I hope you enjoy my writing! I’m very open to thoughts, comments, critiques, and knock-knock jokes, so please feel free to message me with any of the above – or anything else you would like to say!

Reviews

[Diane Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

**'Write as much as you can and also don't forget to write with passion, then never just say that this is enough...'

3.5stars!
An okay love story that involves about 75% of playing competitive softball in college. Recommended read!

[pipsqueakreviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

College softball.

This is the third book of the Goode Girl series and since there isn't any connection to the first two despite being written in the same universe, it can be read as a standalone.

I wasn't sure if I was the right target audience for this book. These girls are in the college softball team... and I'm not young anymore, plus I have absolutely no idea how softball works. So to be honest, I struggled a little bit at the very start to picture the game in my head and I was slow to connect with the characters, especially Gabby, who has this intense rivalry going on with a rival team's player, Brooke, and it's to the point of dislike. I couldn't understand this. I mean, it's just a game right?

Anyway. I'm glad I pressed on because this story took an unexpected turn and I realise it wasn't exactly about childish rivalry. But I don't think I want to share more in a review because spoilers. All I can say is I felt for Gabby at some point and started to understand her insecurities and trust issues. And the characters are incredibly sweet together when they eventually get together.

I love this! But I wish we could have had Brooke's POV as well. I want her side of the story too.

[hubsie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to transport myself back to my early 20s for this one, and as I did so I remarked what a total underachiever I was in university. huh. No regrets, people.

Softball, lesbians, nicknames galore, sweatpants, Cuban food, enemies, lovers. That about sums it up. Even though I don't really enjoy this age-demographic, the author started off quite strong, and I felt the obvious tension that MC Gabby had against MC Brooke. It was intriguing. However, once the story hit a super interesting point that I didn't expect, it became incredibly boring afterwards. Like, flattened. Flat like a ball diamond. Ha. I kept waiting for some kind of twist or drama that did not come to fruition, so that dropped the rating for me.

[Aamina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I frikkin loved it!

[Kexx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without question this is the best in this 'series' - really enjoyed this and loved the prolonged ending. Excellent. Editors please note. Thank you.

[XR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story but...

I can't articulate the but, but just but.

[Len · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angsty, sweet, enjoyable read. I liked it a lot.

[Jos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute low stakes sport romance. While I would have liked both players to have more time dating instead of being at odds, I was pleasantly surprised.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of softball and the first in the series that isn’t an age gap. Seeing as age gap isn’t my favourite that’s a plus, but softball and NA aren’t my favourites. Arias does a great job of making it fun for me in this second chance story.

[Serenity Snow]

I had never read anything by this author before. I like baseball so I decided to grab it. It was an easy read. The writing was good. The book felt a bit angsty for me. The two MCs had met before which you get no indication of at the beginning. I like that but as the story unfolds you learn the two MCs had met before and had in fact liked each other.

The story unfolds a bit slowly for me, but if you like angst and baseball, then give it a try.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. Lesbians and softball, what's not to like?

This is the third book in the Goode Girl series (I'm not normally someone who will read a later instalment of a series without going back and catching up first, but as I said, lesbians and softball - I couldn't wait), but it holds up really well as a stand alone book. I'll probably go back and read the other two - mainly because I enjoyed the writing style.

The book had enough softball terminology and game time in it to satisfy my sports cravings and a really good slow burn romance. There are some brief sex scenes and minor angst, so if you like your books quite lighthearted this one could be for you.

It's a shame this book couldn't be the start of a series for these characters, but I know that wouldn't fit with the rest of the books. All in all a great read and I look forward to reading more from this author.

[F. · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started off with some exciting softball stuff. I don’t know anything about softball (not a thing where I’m from) and it was all quite riveting. The set up with the star rival player transferring into the team was lovely. It was a good 4 stars for me at that point. And then with some big reveal... the air and tension and everything went right out of it. Lots of plot points that seemed a set up for some juicy drama just vanished. And I started really disliking one of the MCs who had behaved terribly and without a really very good reason.... Anyway. Not for me.

[Patricia Salazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

JJ Arias always keeping up!!

I have read the whole Goode Girls series, my favorite so far is Goode News but this one was good as the other two! I don’t enjoy much when the characters are less than 30 years old but besides that it is a really good book with a twist and who doesn’t love that? A lot of chemistry and romance with good hot scenes 😉

[Charlène · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sporty sapphic romance avec:
enemies/rivals-to-lovers
forced proximity
second chance

Quand j'ai compris que la Brooke de ce livre était la même que celle du précédent (Goode News), j'étais chokbar 😲😲

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute romance between two college softball players. We know there is something between Gabby and Brooke because of the way Gabby, who is the focal point, reacts every time they play each other. Gabby's bestie Natalie and her teammates don't really know what's going on. Then Brooke transfers to Goode and Gabby has to deal with being teammates instead of rivals. There are a lot of interesting scenes regarding the life softball athletes go through to stay on top of their game. I enjoyed the camaraderie and the knowledge I gained of what goes into this competitive sport. The romance has its ups and downs but everything comes together by the end.

[Yvi K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually rly like all her books.. but this one is definitely my least favorite.. I think the characters just didnt do it for me this time.. still a cute story though..

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book in the Good Girl Romance Series and a skillful blend of romance and sports. This one centres around Gabby (star softball pitcher) and Brooke (star softball hitter) once intense rivals, now teammates. Supporting characters (including sidekick Natalie) are well thought out and nicely woven into the storyline. I was drawn in by the author's descriptions of exhausting team workouts, games and academic pursuits all interwoven with underlying angst, a touch of sex and naturally, romance with a HEA. An easy read that should please lovers of romance and sports. I recommend with 5 stars.
An ARC rec'd from the author and this is an un-biased, voluntary review.

[Best Lesfic Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sports, cute girls, shared past, softball rivals, some complexes, some grand gestures and great chemistry make this one a nice, romantic read.

Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...

[Robert Jenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

J. J. Arias gives us another entry in her ongoing shared universe centered around Goode College, an all-women's school in northern Florida. Gabriela Pino, aka "Gabby", aka "Hat Trick" to her teammates, is brilliant at pitching but has never had a romance that didn't end without getting her heart broken. I should probably shoehorn a sports metaphor in here somewhere: Gabby can strike out batters on the opposing team as forcefully as she strikes out in matters of the heart! okay that's maybe 3 stars. The only constant relationships in her life are her parents, her best friend Natalie, her teammates, and her hated arch-rival from another team, Brooke "The Hammer" Trainor, the only batter who can somehow consistently hit her signature pitch.

Gabby's far from perfect. She sometimes allows her feelings on the field to spill over into her life off of it, such as her antagonism toward a young pitcher on her team, "Popeye" (who she calls "The Usurper" in her mind), who's obviously angling for her spot, and her rivalry with The Hammer is anything but friendly. Circumstances change drastically, however, when at the beginning of her senior year she discovers that there's a new transfer on the team: Brooke the Hammer. Suddenly the one person she detests most in the world is her teammate. Sharing her bench. Her teammates. Even her classes. And what's even worse, what's the most humiliating, the most horrifying outcome of this dumptruck of crap that's just unloaded on Gabby: she's being friendly. Downright pleasant. Needless to say, every friendly overture, word of encouragement or expression of goodwill on that part of Brooke grates on Gabby like nails on a blackboard. Gabby knows she should bury the hatchet for the good of the team. For the good of her academic and sports career. For the sake of her teammates! But she just can't.

Just why she can't is one of the central conflicts of the story, and makes an excellent read. J. J. Arias has a knack for creating characters who are brought together in the worst possible way, and have every reason to detest each other, but there's always this spark of affection, of endearment, or attraction, that's just waiting for the right moment to ignite, and when it does, it's never arbitrary or forced. Be warned, however, there's a lot of baggage these characters are carrying, and when catharsis occurs, it's pretty emotional, but rewarding and well worth the read. To sum up, with its flawed but endearing characters, emotional story and some unexpected twists, Goode Girls Steal will steal away your time until you're done reading it. Okay that was kind of awkward. I'll try closing with another sports metaphor: love doesn't play by the rules or listen to the umpire, but when it steals home plate, everyone cheers anyway! ... Maybe I should have workshopped that one first.

I received an early release of this novel from the author as a member of her mailing list in exchange for an honest review. After all these questionable sports metaphors she probably regrets that now.

[Robert M · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of this was pretty amazing. Softball captain Gabby hates the transfer student who can always get the best of her during the games. Seems like a little much to treat the new player her so badly instead of welcoming her to the team to help them with their ultimate goal. Watching that play out, if it would play out was compelling.
Before that, our hero starts out in a relationship, always a bit of a weird intro as we figure out who to root for. Though it does have implications to our story.
It has my least favorite trope in these books and it has it twice. Usually once is enough for me to hate a book, though in this book it almost makes sense, maybe, not sure. Even with that i was able to get past it and enjoy the story. But it sure left me some questions.
About that, the first ghosting is the set up for the story. It is explained later, and brings the weight to the hate of the new transfer student. Obviously, that kind of hate doesn't come from a few softball games and it is played for almost half the book. But the second ghosting gave me whiplash. Technically, it wasn't ghosting because they still had to be around each other. But to watch our hero go from in to out to all-in so fast when she still has it in her to go so cold so quickly is a little jarring. I mean from avoiding her to I love you in a nano second. For the story, this lack of ability to communicate, and some helpful friends, gives our other MC the opportunity to make the romantic gesture and the story suddenly turns into puppies and rainbows. It finishes nice, but I don't trust our hero, maybe she needs therapy. But hey, she's all better now and won't ever shut down again due to the power of love, lol.
Usually, once there is ghosting between people that were communicating or really like each other, i drop down to three stars. As that isn't the way to treat someone you actually like (Plus, it is my own issue due to real life, when someone ghosts it seems to always be cold, sometimes traumatic and if not final, the first nail in the coffin), for some reason i was still able to give this 4*.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delicious college softball team enemies to lovers story. Arias never fails to create supremely exciting stories with compelling characters and passionate romances. Goode Girls Steal is no exception, quite the opposite in fact. This is my favorite of the Goode Series so far.
The tension and build up between Gabby and Brooke is electric. As rivals on opposing softball teams their history is fraught with strife. When they become teammates their senior year and Gabby is forced to see the infuriating Brooke where ever she goes things reach a boiling point.
Gabby and Brooke have amazing chemistry no matter their relationship. Throughout the whole story they just click so well, even when Gabby is at Brookes throat. I loved Both Gabby and Brooke’s personalities so much and they meshed together flawlessly. Gabby’s ire and Brooke’s insistence to constantly insert herself into Gabby’s life creates a tantalizing, torturous, and often hilarious series of encounters.
The way Arias can weave so many emotions into her stories is awe inspiring. This story is an emotional roller coaster and the torrent made for a thrilling and gratifying ride.
I cannot emphasize enough how great of a book this is. Full of rivalries, anger, betrayal, forgiveness, games, love, and heart. Arias delivers another astounding must read.

[Mx Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

J.J. Arias knocks it out of the park on this one and I loved it! Yes, I used a cliche and I might continue to use them as I write this (laugh). Goode Girls Steal is a great romance for Valentine’s and the beginning of softball season.

This is a slow-burn romance with so much more going on. It is an enemies to lovers story and a story about second chances. It deals with insecurities and a child dealing with a parent with a mental illness. It tells of how people need to work together to be part of a team and how it is more than just working out.

Steal has so many layers and this is what I find that Arias is so good at and makes me want to read more of her. She sneaks them in and before you know it, you are eating Cuban food and listening to all the drama around the table. I grew up on arroz con pollo and let me tell you, I was nodding my head a lot of the time in this book. Arias is a TBR.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

[James Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, the title of the book is neat in that you think you're going to read a book about some young woman trouble maker but it's actually about a woman (Gabby) that's a pitcher (and a really good one) for a women's softball team. The problem for her is that the opposing team has a player (Brooke) that is just as good as a hitter and this leads to a loss for the team.

Which could be dealt with but now she has to deal with the same girl being added to her team. Not good for Gabby seeing that the other young woman had been her love interest in the past, an interest that didn't have a happy ending.

Gabby is still going to school so now she has to deal with all the above plus having Brooke in some of her classes plus it seems Brooke is trying to be nice to her.

It's a lesbian romance book and basically it's probably one of the best of this nature that I have ever read.

[Cameo Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, I really liked this book. I think Gabi is fantastic, maybe because I can totally relate to some of her story. I had a feeling their was something more about her not liking Brooke in the beginning, but I didn’t think it was what it ended up being. I’m glad that they were able to come back together and that Brooke was able to really open herself up and tell Gabi more about herself so they could be together.

It’s interesting that Brooke being one of the main characters is mentioned in book 2 of the series working as a PA which is a position she didn’t get till the end of this book which is listed as book 3….

[Rachel Crosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the central theme of women's softball

I played in a high arc, slow pitch women's softball league for nearly 15 years. And, like Gabby, I was the pitcher most of the time. Of course, slow pitch is nothing like the game Gabby and Brooke played, but I could still relate. Winning the league championship never got old (though my body did).
The relationship side of the book didn't work as well for me. A little too contrived and some of dialogue sounded artificial.
Still one of the better lesbian romances I've read.

[C.M. Michaels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming read

I've read several of J.J.Arias's books and have enjoyed them all. I was a little worried this one might be too superficial / teen angsty given that the central characters are college student athletes but that wasn't at all the case. The emotional baggage and history the love interests have to overcome is genuine and compelling and I love the surrounding cast of characters. The softball portion of the story is interesting in its own right and blends n perfectly with the enemies-to-lovers romance.

[Louise Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sporting Romance

Goode Girls Steal has two softball rivals being on the same team and sparks sure do fly. The author incorporated the softball culture and mechanics quite well which was well balanced with the romance aspect. There’s also a great twist to the story between the MC’s that stepped up the plot that explained so much.

This was an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

They have all been good reads but so far of the six books in this series this is my favorite book. The only think that would have made it better is if Brooke and Gabby had gotten engaged if not married at the end. Still I want another book in the Goode Girls series that ties all the books together somehow and gives each couple an even happier ending like marriages for each of them.

There are three books left in the series, and I will be reading each one in order.

[Gene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Story

Wonderful read, had just the right amount of all the elements of a YA romance with perfect balance, set in the world of D1 softball, my favorite winter sport, this was just a really well conceived and plotted story. Highly recommend it to readers of any genre. Entertaining, filled with the drama of the collegiate experience, the effort elite athletes have to put in along with a strong, complicated romance. And a happy ending!