Free Agent

Mustangs Baseball #0.5

by Roz Lee

Librarian's Note: An alternate cover for this ASIN can be found here.

The stress of opening her own specialty bakery has kept Brooke tied up in knots, just not the kind she would prefer. When she spies the hunk of a Dom across the crowded bar, she’s intrigued, but his wristband indicates he’s off limits. That doesn’t stop her from doing the most daring thing she’s ever done to snag a man’s attention, but when things escalate beyond even her wildest imaginings, she can’t get out of there fast enough.

Genres: Sports, Romance, BDSM, Erotica, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance, Contemporary

223 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 24, 2013

About the author

USA Today Best-Selling author Roz Lee is the author of over thirty romances. The first, The Lust Boat, was born of an idea acquired while on a Caribbean cruise with her family and soon blossomed into a five-book series originally published by Red Sage. Following her love of baseball, she turned her attention to sexy athletes in tight pants, writing the critically acclaimed Mustangs Baseball series.
Roz has been married to her best friend, and high school sweetheart, for nearly four decades. Roz and her husband have two grown daughters and are the proud grandparents to three adorable grandkids. Roz and her husband live in the wilds of New Jersey with their Labrador Retriever, Bud which is code for Big Unruly Dog.
Even though Roz has lived on both coasts, her heart lies in between, in Texas. A Texan by birth, she can trace her family back to the Republic of Texas. With roots that deep, she says, “You can’t ever really leave.”
When Roz isn’t writing, she’s reading, or traipsing around the country on one adventure or another. No trip is too small, no tourist trap too cheesy, and no road unworthy of travel.

Reviews

[Downward dog · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a story about major league baseball player, Todd Stevens. He is approaching the end of his career and starting to think about his future. He would like to meet a women who enjoys his lifestyle. He is a Dom and wants to find a submissive women to share his future with. He meets Brooke one night and can't stop thinking about her. This is well written story and has interesting characters. I only wish the story was a little longer. Worth reading!

[Sónia Tigol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short story and one that I really enjoyed. The characters were likable, the story was fast and amazing.This book had me hooked from the first sentence. It was great watching Todd and Brooke fall in love with each other. It was a great read.

[Coco.V]

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[Aղցela W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short quick read that was pretty good. The stress of opening her own specialty bakery has kept Brooke tied up in knots, just not the kind she would prefer. When she spies the hunk of a Dom across the crowded bar, she’s intrigued, but his wristband indicates he’s off limits. That doesn’t stop her from doing the most daring thing she’s ever done to snag a man’s attention, but when things escalate beyond even her wildest imaginings, she can’t get out of there fast enough.
His contract with the Mustangs is set to expire at the end of the season, and third baseman, Todd Stevens is holding out for a longer, more lucrative deal as a free agent. Convinced more money and a new city will cure what ails him, he isn’t looking for a long-term relationship, much less a one-time hookup with a sub who doesn’t know her place. Unfortunately, the little minx eyeing him from across the room might just be the one to make him change his mind. This was a fast pace moving very hot story. This was my first time reading this author I have had this book on my kindle for awhile and I wish that I had read it earlier. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. Brooke and Todd have good chemistry together. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series.

[Kennedy Streath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roz Lee hits one out of the ballpark in this D/s novella that puts the sizz in sizzle. Todd's the dom with fulfillment issues. He's happy, but only when he's on the baseball field, otherwise, there's a lot missing in his life. He just doesn't know yet what that might be.
Brooke runs her own baking business. She's a sub but not an especially experienced one. Todd and Brooke come to each other's attention in a club, Brooke goes a little brazen hussy, breaking unspoken rules and, as they say, the rest is history.
Todd will leave in six months for greener pastures but after exploring and probing his and Brooke's ability to trust, he might have to come up with Plan B.
The D/s scenes are extremely well-depicted and *very* sensual.
Roz Lee has become my auto-buy sports-themed romance writer, for good reason. Five unreserved stars for excellent writing.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Todd Stevens has decided not to renew his contract with the Mustangs baseball team. He has been looking for a sub who he can spend his life with, but realizes it is not going to happen here and it is time to move on.

When a friend invites him to the D/s club, he goes but has no plans in playing, until he sees a sub who ignites something within. Fighting against his attraction, he can't believe what he is witnessing with the sub. When she apologizes at a later date, Todd decides he wants to spend time with her but with the knowledge that this is temporary only. As there time together continues to be everything Todd wanted in a sub, he realizes he has a difficult decision to make about his future and hers.

Exceptional read, I was blown away by Todd because he is walking that line of being a Dom only and not letting his feelings get involved. Highly entertaining.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great novella about two people looking for something but not quite sure what that was. Todd is a Dom and a professional baseball player who thinks he needs a bigger contract with more money. Brooke is a sub who is looking for the right Dom for her. They have an interesting first encounter but its actually a few weeks later that they get to meet. They embark on a relationship with a deadline not realizing they would grow to care for each other and want more. This was a hot and sweet novella that I really enjoyed. I think the author did a great job with this one and I will most definitely be checking out her other books! :-)

[Tanya · Rating 1 out of 5]

Even for a short story, this is one of the least romantic or sexy. There is no relationship and no character development, with fairly uninteresting and unlikeable characters. Also rather hypocritical to say honesty is a gift when you're flat out lying to her, even at the end. What relationship was supposed to be there I guess happened off page and that defeats the purpose of reading books in this genre. And what was up with the leap in time from one chapter to the other. I was hoping this would interest me in reading the rest of the series but I think not. Even for free, it's not worth the time.

[Vettech · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a nice intro to the Mustang series. Todd is an up and coming baseball player looking to move on and become a *free agent* wanting to make a break from Dallas and make more money with a new baseball team. While at a BDSM bar with a friend he sees the perfect "sub" to his Dom. Enter Brooke, a baker by trade and a submissive in her private life.

I admit I'm relatively new to the world of BDSM and liked this short love story between these characters. Yes, I would've liked the story to continue, which I'm guessing this isn't the last time we'll be seeing Todd and Brooke. Now onto the next book in this baseball series....Inside Heat, here I come!!

[Epicbookaddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

ugggg....I want MORE! Todd..Holy macaroni. I knew going into this that it was a novella & damn it-I got sucked in.

I liked that he is a bit older not the "just out of college-multi gazillionaire (not that he's hurting for money).
The story progresses well, the characters are well developed and the storyline is good as well; of course being that it's short it develops a lot quicker than a full novel. But wow-I'll def check out more of the baseball books-Jason looks interesting too.

Nice job Roz Lee.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Brooke see's a sexy Dom across the room she feels something. Only thing is that he has a blue band on and that means he's not looking for a sub. She does the only thing she can and gets off.

When Todd seen Brooke he wanted her but he can't have her since he will soon be leaving. When he sees what she does under the table that only makes him mad. How dare she do that without permission.

This was one hot sexy read and I enjoyed every single page. It was shore but I will be getting the other books to see what happens next.

[Amber Detjens · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know the life style of BDSM, but it just sounded a little off to me. I have read a couple other BDSM books and I don't remember the unattached subs having to act like that. I'll have to find out more just to make sure.

SPOILER

I also didn't like the fact that even at the end he didn't trust her to tell her who he was/is. I know this is a 0.5 book. This book is how they became who who they are in the series. But they have already told each other they are falling in love with one another, but you can't tell her what you do for a living? You ain't undercover!

[Lady Aeval · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short story and one that I really enjoyed. I don't like a lot of melodrama in my romance novels and this one delivers with characters who are in touch and at peace with their BDSM lifestyle choices and are searching for something but don't know what. The characters were likable, the story was fast, the sex scenes were probably not quite as graphic as some would like but to me this was the perfect short before bedtime read.

[Elizabeth_s · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read!!

I picked this up thinking that it would be a quick read between books. I wasn't expecting to get that invested in the book but boy was I wrong. I truly enjoyed this one and wished it would have been a full length novel. This was basically based in a sex club but you don't need to be someone who only likes bdsm to appreciate this book...that is an aspect of the book but not the entire story. Great Read Roz!

[Mary Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review, so here it is. This is a great short story. I finished it in a couple of hours. It had me hooked from the first sentence. Todd is only happy when on the field until he meets Brooke and she hits it out of the park and steals his heart. This is the first I have read from Roz Lee and I loved it. Looking forward to reading more from her!

[Anne OK · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not paying much attention to anything but the hot baseball player on the front cover, I found myself involved in something I'm not really comfortable reading. The storyline grabbed me but I didn't feel there was much depth to the characters. Of course, this is a novella so you can't expect a ton of back history.

I'll be honest, just not my cuppa.

[Fabiola Chenet · Rating 2 out of 5]

My appreciation is only due to one thing: I'm not fond of BDSM. Since I didn't remember the summary, it was a shock when I started the reading and I realized it was one. The writing and the characters were ok but I didn't like very much all that revolved around BDSM.
I think other BDSM readers may like this story.

[Beverly Diehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like your baseball and your explicit BDSM in bakery-sized bites, then this (currently) FREE short story is a home run.

I would have liked more detail about Todd's pleasure, and there isn't the full emotional development you find in a full-length novel, but I still enjoyed this very much.

[grumpyoldbird · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novella, and as such it does what it says on the tin. But, there's always a but, I wanted just a little bit more. The story pretty much leapt over the months of the actual arrangement, this is where I'd of liked to have seen a bit more, even if it was only 2 or 3 extra pages.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was HOT!! Todd and Brooke were fun and interesting, excellent read.

[Theresa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Weird BDSM club rules for uncollared subs. Asshat Dom. Not much sex and what was there was really bad. Will not continue with this series.

[Mia Epsilon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful but way too short

I loved this story. Brooke and a Todd are amazing and the connection realistic. But it was way too short!

What I liked most:
The bdsm lifestyle is well portrayed and real. Not crap fantasy here. True and honest.
The emotion between the two was incredible.
His care of her
Her devotion to him
How they first met (no spoilers, but have NEVER read that before. Epic!)

What I didn’t like:
It’s too short, too fast, and not in depth. I understand it’s a prequel? Or secondary characters of a series, so maybe more is fleshed out in later books. I am not a fan of the books that stop every chapter or so and make a reader buy the next. While Ms. Lee does not do that here, the story still feels incomplete. I like a bit more fleshing put, and length in stories. And this doesn’t have that. It was too much like their contract... no personal details... and maybe that was the intent?

There are no descriptive sex scenes. There sex descriptions, but no scenes where emotions are shared, aftermath, etc. I missed that greatly and frankly, it would have pushed me to buy the next book simply to read more about Todd and Brooke. While I like the characters, I feel no connection or need to read more. And that is a shame.

Overall, a good fast read for a lunch break or hour at the beach. It’s not a full novel, to me, so that is why only 4 stars.

[Carolyn M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a character and plot-driven reader. I love both in this book. I will not give away spoilers and characters because I believe the book must be read from cover to cover for the sheer pleasure of each word. I am also a sports-loving reader. This book is perfect for the end of the baseball season as well as picking it up before the new season gets started. I love writers who incorporate a sport in their stories because behind each player; there is another life. There is no easy task writing combining sports figures in any story. I applaud Roz. I say lovely work, Roz Lee. I believe you can do the same treatment as any other sport.
I look forward to reading upcoming books from Roz. I recommend this book and any others written by Roz Lee.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Todd has decided to go on the free agent market and tells the Mustangs he will not re-sign with the team. He is looking for something but has not yet found it. He goes to a munch and sees Brooke across the room. Since he is not looking, he will not go to Brooke, nor will she go to him. Brooke looks for two weeks to find him. When she finds him, she asks for a punishment because of her behavior. Todd decides to show her how she should behave for a Dom. He decides to draw up a contract with her for the rest of the season. But as the end of the contract nears, will he be able to let her go? Will she be able to let go?

I enjoyed this short story. It is perfect for this series. I liked Todd and Brooke. I love hearing their internal dialogue. I also like how Todd's teammates are ganging up on him to stay. I wish Todd would have talked to Doyle. Doyle could have given him so much advice.

I have read the rest of this series and loved it. I am glad this is just as good as the rest.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Todd is star player of the Texas Mustang’s but his personal life is empty. He’s looking to move on to another team until he spots Brooke at a night out at a club. Brooke is a driven business owner operating a successful bakery. Their eyes lock across the club and each knows the other could be something special…but neither wants to make the first move. Dom Todd is very upfront about his needs and requirements for his sub and Brooke eagerly signs on. They push boundaries and find so much more. Great start to the series.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this was one of those stories that kind of suffered for not being long enough. I thought the beginning was really interesting, and I was looking forward to where it would go. But then the whole rest of the story just feels kind of glossed over. There's really nothing strong moving things along, just some random moments, so it's kind of hard to buy that by the end that these two are so into each other. It was good enough that I'd read the next book in the series to see if that feels more whole, but on its own, this didn't feel like enough to me.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

This was my first read by Roz Lee and for me It was a three and a half star read. I liked that it was a fairly quick read but felt that the ending was incomplete. I would have liked for Todd to tell Brooke what he really did for a living for one thing and maybe a little more about Brooke could have been talked about. I will probably read the next book in this series just to see if these two are mentioned and their story "resolved" ...

[J.J. Lair · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wondered if I downloaded the wrong book. There is a baseball player on the cover. It’s not about baseball. It’s a very risqué story about a couple at a club. There are parts when the sex is rushed and just words. There are parts that are scintillating

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short

This story was okay. Nothing exciting wish the story had more of a story lacked substance, but was okay. Something s need to be longer lol this story is one.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short bdsm read

Very nice little story with a mixture of sport and bdsm. Characters were okay but ending was abrupt. Otherwise good story.