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One True Outcome
A veteran player on a new team. The rookie who hero-worshiped him growing up. The unwritten rule they're about to break.
Everyone knows you don't fall for a teammate. Especially the rookie you're supposed to mentor. Tell that to Matt “Big Mack” Mackenzie though. Now at the tail end of his career, the one-time superstar takes an offer from the only team willing to give him a shot.
The hook? The job includes extra practice sessions with the team’s rookie catcher. The tempting, smart-mouthed Jamie DeLuca, who Mack really shouldn’t think about that way. And he definitely shouldn’t agree to after-hours video review sessions with.
The sky’s the limit for Jamie, if only he can keep his spot in the lineup. But the rookie’s on the verge of being cut. If he wants to stay on a big league roster that’ll mean extra work—and extra time with Big Mack. The guy he fantasized about playing like growing up. And then just fantasized about.
Mack’s nothing like Jamie’s fantasies. He’s better. If only Jamie could keep his attraction to the charming, generous veteran under wraps. Easier said than done, especially when the heat between them ignites.
But nothing in baseball comes with a guarantee—and the only outcome they can be certain of is the one they make for themselves.
Everyone knows you don't fall for a teammate. Especially the rookie you're supposed to mentor. Tell that to Matt “Big Mack” Mackenzie though. Now at the tail end of his career, the one-time superstar takes an offer from the only team willing to give him a shot.
The hook? The job includes extra practice sessions with the team’s rookie catcher. The tempting, smart-mouthed Jamie DeLuca, who Mack really shouldn’t think about that way. And he definitely shouldn’t agree to after-hours video review sessions with.
The sky’s the limit for Jamie, if only he can keep his spot in the lineup. But the rookie’s on the verge of being cut. If he wants to stay on a big league roster that’ll mean extra work—and extra time with Big Mack. The guy he fantasized about playing like growing up. And then just fantasized about.
Mack’s nothing like Jamie’s fantasies. He’s better. If only Jamie could keep his attraction to the charming, generous veteran under wraps. Easier said than done, especially when the heat between them ignites.
But nothing in baseball comes with a guarantee—and the only outcome they can be certain of is the one they make for themselves.
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First published August 31, 2021
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392 people want to read
About the author
K.D. Casey
11 books312 followersKD Casey is a writer and baseball enthusiast. Come chat about writing and baseball at kdcaseywrites on Instagram. Want a free story? Let's keep in touch at kdcaseywrites dot com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
September 10, 2021
I was disappointed to have to DNF, but at the halfway mark I still wasn't emotionally invested in the MCs, or their romance, or their careers, or... anything.
I loathe being pummeled with the Romance Cluestick™. I do not need to be reminded on every other page that MC1 finds MC2 attractive, that he's attracted to him, that he finds him attractive, that he's attracted to him, that he finds him attractive, on and on and on and on and on and on and on. I get it. I GET IT.
And I don't enjoy being stuck inside the head of a self-disparaging MC who lacks a sense of humor. Mack's ruminations — pretty much the same ones over and over, about being a failure, being justifiably looked down upon, finding the other guy attractive (grrrrr), and how he shouldn't no shouldn't no really really shouldn't act on that attraction — were pure dullsville.
The baseball side of things was engaging. The author co-hosts a baseball podcast, so I'm not surprised she can bring the goods. But the characters did not win me over and their romance did not interest me.
I loathe being pummeled with the Romance Cluestick™. I do not need to be reminded on every other page that MC1 finds MC2 attractive, that he's attracted to him, that he finds him attractive, that he's attracted to him, that he finds him attractive, on and on and on and on and on and on and on. I get it. I GET IT.
And I don't enjoy being stuck inside the head of a self-disparaging MC who lacks a sense of humor. Mack's ruminations — pretty much the same ones over and over, about being a failure, being justifiably looked down upon, finding the other guy attractive (grrrrr), and how he shouldn't no shouldn't no really really shouldn't act on that attraction — were pure dullsville.
The baseball side of things was engaging. The author co-hosts a baseball podcast, so I'm not surprised she can bring the goods. But the characters did not win me over and their romance did not interest me.
March 8, 2022
I recently read and adored Unwritten Rules by K.D. Casey, so I was excited to try another one of this author's baseball romances. However, though I enjoyed One True Outcome, it wasn't quite a homerun (ba-dum-ching!).
First of all, you need to know going in that this story is HEAVY on the baseball. You can tell that the author has a passion for the sport, but as a non-baseball fan, the baseball in this book felt similar to the baseball scenes in Unwritten Rules. I mean, older player helping a younger player, private batting lessons... it melded together in my mind, and didn't make this story stand out.
The romance felt a bit... easy? Which is nice, but the story moved along as a meandering pace, which made this relatively short book feel a little longer than expected. Both of these guys struggle with anxiety, especially Jamie, and I liked those aspects of the story. I think it made it feel very realistic.
I liked that we didn't get a huge existential crisis over being gay or coming out in the story, and these two felt like a compatible, lovely couple. I enjoyed reading about them, and I think it was a good book, just too similar in feel and style to Unwritten Rules, which is a new favorite of mine.
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First of all, you need to know going in that this story is HEAVY on the baseball. You can tell that the author has a passion for the sport, but as a non-baseball fan, the baseball in this book felt similar to the baseball scenes in Unwritten Rules. I mean, older player helping a younger player, private batting lessons... it melded together in my mind, and didn't make this story stand out.
The romance felt a bit... easy? Which is nice, but the story moved along as a meandering pace, which made this relatively short book feel a little longer than expected. Both of these guys struggle with anxiety, especially Jamie, and I liked those aspects of the story. I think it made it feel very realistic.
I liked that we didn't get a huge existential crisis over being gay or coming out in the story, and these two felt like a compatible, lovely couple. I enjoyed reading about them, and I think it was a good book, just too similar in feel and style to Unwritten Rules, which is a new favorite of mine.
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January 5, 2025
I'm gonna start by saying I have never had a book make me feel so fucking old!!! Matt is 37.
thirty-fucking-seven
Same age as me, yet he acts like he's about to go into a literal retirement home, not retire from professional sport. I'd just like to point out to all the youngsters that 37 year olds do know how to use apps, it's just that back in my day we had the luxury of being the last generation to grow up without that all consuming social media obsession that 'the kids' have now and I couldn't be more grateful for that fact 😂 Seriously, fuck this book for making me feel ancient! 37 is still plenty young and I wanted to kick Matt in the arse everytime he acted like an octogenarian. I don't think I've ever truly felt offended at a book before so this is new for me 😂😂😂
Ok, so with that out the way, I can safely conclude I am just not a baseball girl. This book bored me to tears and it was such a slog to get through because there is so much baseball content. It's not well balanced with the relationship, and for me as an English person I can only come to the conclusion that baseball is as thrilling as cricket, i.e. watching paint dry is infinitely more riveting.
I did like Jamie and Matt, I liked how they were together and how they supported each other. I liked how Matt was adamant he wanted to give Jamie a better life, even though the money talk got a bit weird at times. I liked how he made a book room for Jamie too. When their relationship was given the time to shine, it was really great because it was so easy between them and they both knew what they wanted and how they felt.
There was just way too much baseball and for a book that was just over 200 pages long, I do feel like I've been reading this for days! Safely going to ignore baseball books in future I think because it's just not for me.
Ok, so with that out the way, I can safely conclude I am just not a baseball girl. This book bored me to tears and it was such a slog to get through because there is so much baseball content. It's not well balanced with the relationship, and for me as an English person I can only come to the conclusion that baseball is as thrilling as cricket, i.e. watching paint dry is infinitely more riveting.
I did like Jamie and Matt, I liked how they were together and how they supported each other. I liked how Matt was adamant he wanted to give Jamie a better life, even though the money talk got a bit weird at times. I liked how he made a book room for Jamie too. When their relationship was given the time to shine, it was really great because it was so easy between them and they both knew what they wanted and how they felt.
There was just way too much baseball and for a book that was just over 200 pages long, I do feel like I've been reading this for days! Safely going to ignore baseball books in future I think because it's just not for me.
October 25, 2022
Re-read and new rating, October 2022
After my last (but by no means last) re-read of Fire Season, I decided to revisit this one. Because while I adore both Fire Season and Unwritten Rules, I remember being underwhelmed by One True Outcome. So I dove back into it without re-reading my review, and . . .
. . . I kind of loved it?
And then I re-read my review (original below) and . . .
. . . I kind of stand by that as well?
Which is to say: this book needs you to catch it in the right mood. In the original review, I wrote that this was too soft and low-angst. This time around, I wallowed in that softness and lack of angst. It felt lyrical and languorous.
The first time around, I felt the relationship was a bit under-developed. This time around, I appreciated how real the progression felt: two men feeling a strong but tamped-down attraction, falling into bed and then falling into feelings, communicating with each other and taking things as they come.
Last time around, I felt that there were too many threads that were raised and then dropped or resolved off-page. This time around, I appreciate that we are shown the work going into the resolution, low-key though it is. Jamie worries about being sent down to the minors; there is no one big, dramatic moment where his future in the majors is assured (as there wouldn't be in real life, either), but instead we see how he's plugging away at his batting and his game calling, getting crucial help from Mack but also, no less crucially, from a therapist who helps him manage and channel intrusive thoughts more positively. We follow Mack as his final season limps to an end. There is a comeback, of sorts, but it ends more on a whimper than a bang. But this isn't a story about the last home run or the triumphant final out. It's a story of Mack's own gradual, halting acceptance of his career and place in the game and being at peace with what he's been and done -- and, no less, what he wants to be and do once his playing days are over.
All of which to say: if you're in the mood for something angsty and pacey, keep this one on the shelf a bit longer. But when you want to curl up in beautiful writing about two funny, lovely, dedicated men who are gently devoted to each other; who navigate life and its obstacles by just putting one foot in front of the other, day after day; and who discover along the way that second chances aren't just for other people, then give this one a chance.
First read: 3 stars; 2nd read: 5 stars; splitting the difference
----------------------------------------------------------------
Original review March 2022
I really enjoyed KD Casey's first book, Unwritten Rules, set in the same baseball AU but only tangentially connected. Unwritten Rules is serious angst, centering primarily on the POV character's struggle with coming out as well the impact his extreme closetedness has on both MCs and their relationship. I was really looking forward to this little addition to the universe, marketed as a soft, hot, low-angst baseball romance. I like all of those things!
Unfortunately, this just didn't work for me. Baseball? Yes. It was baseball-y. That worked. I like sporty sport romances. Hot? Eh. I mean, yes, sex scenes, but they weren't particularly memorable or steamy. Soft and low-angst? Here is the gist of the problem. Because there is low angst, and then there is literally nothing happening. Or no, that's not right. There were a lot of things that were brought up that could have been sources of angst. Jamie not understanding the scouting reports and generally not getting the support he needs from the team. Jamie worried about being sent back to the minors. Jamie worried about money. Mack worried about the age gap. Mack worried about his shoulder. Mack worried about his reputation and legacy in the game. Mack worried about retirement. Both of them keeping their relationship a secret. All of this could have been a source of conflict, or at least action. But all of it was just ... dropped. Or resolved, but mostly off-page. It all just kind of worked out, without us really seeing how. Meaning my investment in these problems was low, and my relief at their resolution was non-existent. Just kind of ho-hum.
I think the main problem was that I didn't fully invest in the romance. I mean, these two just kind of got together, very little prelude, very little build-up, very little reason why. They were hot for each other and they hooked up and then they're doing the casual thing and then they're moving in together and in love. What do these two see in each other, besides hotness and (on Jamie's side) a residual childhood crush? What is pulling them towards love besides proximity? Again, just not really any investment. The two MCs were perfectly likable, but I just didn't buy their relationship. Not in the sense that, "these two should never be together." More in the sense of, "this seems perfectly plausible but I have limited interest in this because no one has shown me why I should care."
I quite liked that hiding the relationship was framed less as a Big Coming Out issue, and more as a normal workplace romance that has to be kept secret from your colleagues cause you know you'll get shit for it. That aspect was where the low angst worked for me. (I have no problem with coming out stories in sport romances, since that is the reality of professional sports. It's more that not every sport romance needs to be a coming out story.)
Am 3-starring this because I can't knock the writing and I enjoyed the MCs, even if I wasn't very invested in them. KD Casey is a talented author, but I guess what it comes down to is that I prefer their work in high-angst rather than low-angst mode.
After my last (but by no means last) re-read of Fire Season, I decided to revisit this one. Because while I adore both Fire Season and Unwritten Rules, I remember being underwhelmed by One True Outcome. So I dove back into it without re-reading my review, and . . .
. . . I kind of loved it?
And then I re-read my review (original below) and . . .
. . . I kind of stand by that as well?
Which is to say: this book needs you to catch it in the right mood. In the original review, I wrote that this was too soft and low-angst. This time around, I wallowed in that softness and lack of angst. It felt lyrical and languorous.
The first time around, I felt the relationship was a bit under-developed. This time around, I appreciated how real the progression felt: two men feeling a strong but tamped-down attraction, falling into bed and then falling into feelings, communicating with each other and taking things as they come.
Last time around, I felt that there were too many threads that were raised and then dropped or resolved off-page. This time around, I appreciate that we are shown the work going into the resolution, low-key though it is. Jamie worries about being sent down to the minors; there is no one big, dramatic moment where his future in the majors is assured (as there wouldn't be in real life, either), but instead we see how he's plugging away at his batting and his game calling, getting crucial help from Mack but also, no less crucially, from a therapist who helps him manage and channel intrusive thoughts more positively. We follow Mack as his final season limps to an end. There is a comeback, of sorts, but it ends more on a whimper than a bang. But this isn't a story about the last home run or the triumphant final out. It's a story of Mack's own gradual, halting acceptance of his career and place in the game and being at peace with what he's been and done -- and, no less, what he wants to be and do once his playing days are over.
All of which to say: if you're in the mood for something angsty and pacey, keep this one on the shelf a bit longer. But when you want to curl up in beautiful writing about two funny, lovely, dedicated men who are gently devoted to each other; who navigate life and its obstacles by just putting one foot in front of the other, day after day; and who discover along the way that second chances aren't just for other people, then give this one a chance.
First read: 3 stars; 2nd read: 5 stars; splitting the difference
----------------------------------------------------------------
Original review March 2022
I really enjoyed KD Casey's first book, Unwritten Rules, set in the same baseball AU but only tangentially connected. Unwritten Rules is serious angst, centering primarily on the POV character's struggle with coming out as well the impact his extreme closetedness has on both MCs and their relationship. I was really looking forward to this little addition to the universe, marketed as a soft, hot, low-angst baseball romance. I like all of those things!
Unfortunately, this just didn't work for me. Baseball? Yes. It was baseball-y. That worked. I like sporty sport romances. Hot? Eh. I mean, yes, sex scenes, but they weren't particularly memorable or steamy. Soft and low-angst? Here is the gist of the problem. Because there is low angst, and then there is literally nothing happening. Or no, that's not right. There were a lot of things that were brought up that could have been sources of angst. Jamie not understanding the scouting reports and generally not getting the support he needs from the team. Jamie worried about being sent back to the minors. Jamie worried about money. Mack worried about the age gap. Mack worried about his shoulder. Mack worried about his reputation and legacy in the game. Mack worried about retirement. Both of them keeping their relationship a secret. All of this could have been a source of conflict, or at least action. But all of it was just ... dropped. Or resolved, but mostly off-page. It all just kind of worked out, without us really seeing how. Meaning my investment in these problems was low, and my relief at their resolution was non-existent. Just kind of ho-hum.
I think the main problem was that I didn't fully invest in the romance. I mean, these two just kind of got together, very little prelude, very little build-up, very little reason why. They were hot for each other and they hooked up and then they're doing the casual thing and then they're moving in together and in love. What do these two see in each other, besides hotness and (on Jamie's side) a residual childhood crush? What is pulling them towards love besides proximity? Again, just not really any investment. The two MCs were perfectly likable, but I just didn't buy their relationship. Not in the sense that, "these two should never be together." More in the sense of, "this seems perfectly plausible but I have limited interest in this because no one has shown me why I should care."
I quite liked that hiding the relationship was framed less as a Big Coming Out issue, and more as a normal workplace romance that has to be kept secret from your colleagues cause you know you'll get shit for it. That aspect was where the low angst worked for me. (I have no problem with coming out stories in sport romances, since that is the reality of professional sports. It's more that not every sport romance needs to be a coming out story.)
Am 3-starring this because I can't knock the writing and I enjoyed the MCs, even if I wasn't very invested in them. KD Casey is a talented author, but I guess what it comes down to is that I prefer their work in high-angst rather than low-angst mode.
November 4, 2023
lamenting my last KD Casey! honestly, you don't know how good you have it with your KJCs and Alexis Halls of the world until you become obsessed with a new author who has the *gall* not to be a mad Brit with 30+ books under their belt lol
well, at least my last one (until the next one!! i have no idea if there are any new books in the works, but i for one am preemptively excited for them to see the light of day) was great!! i liked Mac in the way that the reader is (i think) meant to like Charlie from Fire Season (see Kathleen and Claire, i like an obliging, kind millionaire who is built like a brick shithouse as much as the next girl, i just need him to come with a side helping of mild angst!), and Jamie was a sweetheart too. just an all-round good time. i remember starting this book being like "ugh, instalove, blergh", but Casey has a great way of finding depth and nuance even in unexpected places. and once again i was delighted by how their protagonists think about the sport they play - it's such a complex mixture of affection, exasperation, anxiety, brotherhood and boredom, that are somehow all simultaneously present. i think it's Jamie who describes it as "getting to play a kids' game for a living." and then there's this bit in Mack's POV:
remember a couple of weeks back when i was all "eww, baseball"? famous last words, i guess.
one final sidenote: i noticed that this was published before unwritten rules so i don't know if they counts as a cameos but!! zach!!! gordon!!! womack participating in the team's Pride PR events!! one thing about me, i love an extended universe of sporty people!! here's to hoping Casey's next book is a sapphic romance about members of a women's baseball team **manifesting**
well, at least my last one (until the next one!! i have no idea if there are any new books in the works, but i for one am preemptively excited for them to see the light of day) was great!! i liked Mac in the way that the reader is (i think) meant to like Charlie from Fire Season (see Kathleen and Claire, i like an obliging, kind millionaire who is built like a brick shithouse as much as the next girl, i just need him to come with a side helping of mild angst!), and Jamie was a sweetheart too. just an all-round good time. i remember starting this book being like "ugh, instalove, blergh", but Casey has a great way of finding depth and nuance even in unexpected places. and once again i was delighted by how their protagonists think about the sport they play - it's such a complex mixture of affection, exasperation, anxiety, brotherhood and boredom, that are somehow all simultaneously present. i think it's Jamie who describes it as "getting to play a kids' game for a living." and then there's this bit in Mack's POV:
How the game makes you feel, with its smell of cut grass, its reminders to look, to listen, to pause what you're doing for three hours at a clip and focus on nothing more than each pitch, each decision to swing or stay put. How it could waste your time and test your patience, but was played endlessly, patiently, unhurried by the whirring world beyond the ballpark.
remember a couple of weeks back when i was all "eww, baseball"? famous last words, i guess.
one final sidenote: i noticed that this was published before unwritten rules so i don't know if they counts as a cameos but!! zach!!! gordon!!! womack participating in the team's Pride PR events!! one thing about me, i love an extended universe of sporty people!! here's to hoping Casey's next book is a sapphic romance about members of a women's baseball team **manifesting**
March 6, 2022
3,5 stars rounded up.
I discovered KD Casey when I read her book Unwritten Rules and it was one of my top reads last year. Her writing needed a little getting used to, but once I was, I was fully invested and ended up loving it so much! So when I got the opportunity to read an ARC for this new, upcoming novel, I took it with both hands.
And it was good. It was sweet and lovely, and I loved to watch the romance between soon-to-retire player Mack and rookie Jamie. Mack's struggles felt real, the accepting that his body was ready to retire, even if his mind and the love for the game wasn't yet. I loved how he wanted to teach Jamie not to fall into the traps of being a prof baseball player, the hardship and the dedication. I loved how Mack needed to live up to Jamie's idolizing, still worshipping the player from the poster he once had on his bedroom wall, where Jamie was already past that and lived in the reality of Mack's declining career. And still loved and admired him.
These two were sweet and adorable together. Yes, there was a lot of baseball talk here, but what else do you expect when you pick up a baseball romance? And living in a country where baseball is just a minor sport, it was sometimes hard to understand all of it, but I didn't mind skimming these lines a little. It didn't influence my enjoyment of the story as a whole.
I kindly received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary, unbiased review
I discovered KD Casey when I read her book Unwritten Rules and it was one of my top reads last year. Her writing needed a little getting used to, but once I was, I was fully invested and ended up loving it so much! So when I got the opportunity to read an ARC for this new, upcoming novel, I took it with both hands.
And it was good. It was sweet and lovely, and I loved to watch the romance between soon-to-retire player Mack and rookie Jamie. Mack's struggles felt real, the accepting that his body was ready to retire, even if his mind and the love for the game wasn't yet. I loved how he wanted to teach Jamie not to fall into the traps of being a prof baseball player, the hardship and the dedication. I loved how Mack needed to live up to Jamie's idolizing, still worshipping the player from the poster he once had on his bedroom wall, where Jamie was already past that and lived in the reality of Mack's declining career. And still loved and admired him.
These two were sweet and adorable together. Yes, there was a lot of baseball talk here, but what else do you expect when you pick up a baseball romance? And living in a country where baseball is just a minor sport, it was sometimes hard to understand all of it, but I didn't mind skimming these lines a little. It didn't influence my enjoyment of the story as a whole.
I kindly received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary, unbiased review
July 13, 2022
I really quite enjoyed this one!!
I was worried that it would feel very similar to another book by this author, Unwritten Rules, which also deals with catchers and a rookie/mentor situation, but I personally felt it read quite differently, which was good! This is definitely a slower and gentler book than her others, which I personally thought worked well for the story, though others found it a bit boring. But I really loved the characters and their connection, and the way the hero-worship etc. gentled into something real. On the lower end of the steam spectrum, and I'd have liked more, but what we got I enjoyed. I appreciated the way the money issues were brought up, but I don't totally feel like we got a really meaty resolution there--I felt a little confused about Jamie's attitudes on when it was okay to accept money from his boyfriend, as it seemed a little inconsistent and I wish there'd just been more clarity around that conflict overall. Like this author's other books, quite baseball-heavy, which is sometimes a bit confusing as I'm not really a fan and there were nuances of the sport and business of baseball that weren't fully explained for the non-obsessed, though nothing that really majorly impacted my reading.
IDK, I liked this one! I've quite enjoyed this author's books so far. :D
I was worried that it would feel very similar to another book by this author, Unwritten Rules, which also deals with catchers and a rookie/mentor situation, but I personally felt it read quite differently, which was good! This is definitely a slower and gentler book than her others, which I personally thought worked well for the story, though others found it a bit boring. But I really loved the characters and their connection, and the way the hero-worship etc. gentled into something real. On the lower end of the steam spectrum, and I'd have liked more, but what we got I enjoyed. I appreciated the way the money issues were brought up, but I don't totally feel like we got a really meaty resolution there--I felt a little confused about Jamie's attitudes on when it was okay to accept money from his boyfriend, as it seemed a little inconsistent and I wish there'd just been more clarity around that conflict overall. Like this author's other books, quite baseball-heavy, which is sometimes a bit confusing as I'm not really a fan and there were nuances of the sport and business of baseball that weren't fully explained for the non-obsessed, though nothing that really majorly impacted my reading.
IDK, I liked this one! I've quite enjoyed this author's books so far. :D
April 2, 2022
Baseball has rhythm:
Urgent, sweet, a little rough.
Lush writing, real men.
Urgent, sweet, a little rough.
Lush writing, real men.
August 7, 2022
Really, really loved this!! The way the characters show their love is quite moving, whether it’s showing interest in the other’s hobby or making a difficult process even the slightest bit more bearable. KD writes their characters in a really interesting way: I find them three dimensional with minimal information and I deeply care about them. There’s a sense of being dropped into their stories and you’re given the right context at exactly the right time.
Jamie’s growth largely took place on the field and trickled into his relationships with his teammates and Mack. I really enjoyed figuring him out. Mack was incredibly sweet and kind, and the discussions of money between them was really well done I thought. Like, whatever you think about the decision they come to, it’s theirs that they made together. No surprises.
Mack’s impending retirement gave way to a lense of nostalgia that really moved me as a life-long fan and player of baseball/softball.
“How the game makes you feel, with its smell of cut grass, its reminders to look, to listen, to pause what you’re doing for three hours at a clip and focus on nothing more than each pitch, each decision to swing or stay put. How it could waste your time and test your patience, but was played endlessly, patiently, unhurried by the whirring world beyond the ballpark.”
Finally, I was brought to tears by a whiteboard, so, yeah. Highly recommend.
Jamie’s growth largely took place on the field and trickled into his relationships with his teammates and Mack. I really enjoyed figuring him out. Mack was incredibly sweet and kind, and the discussions of money between them was really well done I thought. Like, whatever you think about the decision they come to, it’s theirs that they made together. No surprises.
Mack’s impending retirement gave way to a lense of nostalgia that really moved me as a life-long fan and player of baseball/softball.
“How the game makes you feel, with its smell of cut grass, its reminders to look, to listen, to pause what you’re doing for three hours at a clip and focus on nothing more than each pitch, each decision to swing or stay put. How it could waste your time and test your patience, but was played endlessly, patiently, unhurried by the whirring world beyond the ballpark.”
Finally, I was brought to tears by a whiteboard, so, yeah. Highly recommend.
June 3, 2022
This was nowhere near as good as Unwritten Rules, but I'm still super excited for her next one.
March 8, 2022
One of the softest sports romance stories I have read. I **loved** these two characters.
Mack and Jamie- two ends of the spectrum of a baseball career. Rookie and aging out player. This dynamic could have a power imbalance that feels ick. The author frames this in a way that the characters continually address the age and career gaps, work to connect as peers and it all just, works so well.
If you love baseball, you will not be disappointed in this one. The romance rolls out and stays heavily in the lane of **accurate** baseball.
If you read Unwritten Rules, you’ll even get a brief blip of Zach Glasser. 🙌🏻
Mack and Jamie- two ends of the spectrum of a baseball career. Rookie and aging out player. This dynamic could have a power imbalance that feels ick. The author frames this in a way that the characters continually address the age and career gaps, work to connect as peers and it all just, works so well.
If you love baseball, you will not be disappointed in this one. The romance rolls out and stays heavily in the lane of **accurate** baseball.
If you read Unwritten Rules, you’ll even get a brief blip of Zach Glasser. 🙌🏻
March 31, 2022
Liked this! The dichotomy between the heroes, with one at the start of the their career and one at the end, made for a really nice contrast. And I thought it was a lovely bit of meditation on what it's like for athletes to have to hang it up even when they really don't want to.
March 25, 2022
One true Outcome is another winner from KD Casey.
Thank you for trusting me with an ARC❤️.
I've been acquainted with the author writing from her debuted novel Unwritten Rules & I adored Zach & Eugenio's story. I was embracing myself for the angst that I read in her previous book, which to my surprise, was low in angst & filled with sweetness/tender moments which I appreciate since March hasn't been treating me the best with school & work & having my anxiety through the roof 😭.
This book has the same vibe as Unwritten Rules with all the baseball jargon, so this is a gift to all the baseball enthusiasts & if you are like me with zero knowledge in baseball, you will still enjoy it. Just don't stress over it. I'll admit I'm not the biggest fan of the age gap, but this one works well since the younger (Jamie) 26 and the older one (Mack) 36. I loved how Mack was looking after Jamie, which I'm all for that❤️
I feel like the author granted me my wish since I wanted more ooey-gooey marshmallow sweetness😆moments like those the small affectionate gestures, be it a kiss on the cheek, temple, or forehead & I absolutely adore all those moments the Mack & Jamie shared its something that I wish to read more in books...Also, that could be an unpopular opinion. Still, I don't care about the steamy scene when I have those sweet moments but don't worry, you will get those scenes here😆 & they are 🔥. The epilogue was just soooo dang sweet & just sums it up❤️.
If you enjoy MM sports romance (Baseball), age gap, kinda the fan meets his celebrity crush😆 with ooey-gooey marshmallow sweetness, then pick this one up you won't be disappointed.
Thank you for trusting me with an ARC❤️.
I've been acquainted with the author writing from her debuted novel Unwritten Rules & I adored Zach & Eugenio's story. I was embracing myself for the angst that I read in her previous book, which to my surprise, was low in angst & filled with sweetness/tender moments which I appreciate since March hasn't been treating me the best with school & work & having my anxiety through the roof 😭.
This book has the same vibe as Unwritten Rules with all the baseball jargon, so this is a gift to all the baseball enthusiasts & if you are like me with zero knowledge in baseball, you will still enjoy it. Just don't stress over it. I'll admit I'm not the biggest fan of the age gap, but this one works well since the younger (Jamie) 26 and the older one (Mack) 36. I loved how Mack was looking after Jamie, which I'm all for that❤️
I feel like the author granted me my wish since I wanted more ooey-gooey marshmallow sweetness😆moments like those the small affectionate gestures, be it a kiss on the cheek, temple, or forehead & I absolutely adore all those moments the Mack & Jamie shared its something that I wish to read more in books...Also, that could be an unpopular opinion. Still, I don't care about the steamy scene when I have those sweet moments but don't worry, you will get those scenes here😆 & they are 🔥. The epilogue was just soooo dang sweet & just sums it up❤️.
If you enjoy MM sports romance (Baseball), age gap, kinda the fan meets his celebrity crush😆 with ooey-gooey marshmallow sweetness, then pick this one up you won't be disappointed.
July 17, 2022
This wasn't as good as the first one??? The baseball details weren't as good either:
1. Teams don't pick their All Star Selection.
2. There was a countdown of the last 15 games of the season. Game 15 was rained in. Games 14 and 13 were a doubleheader. What happened to game 15??? And if the doubleheader didn't include a make up Game 15, why was it a doubleheader???
Also I know 36 is old for a baseball player, but (assuming it's set now), that's three years younger than me and firmly a millennial. I didn't buy the things like Mac preferring not to use apps for ordering food. Like, that's a fine preference! But it was portrayed as because he was "old".
Anyway. The relationship was nice. Low key in a good way.
1. Teams don't pick their All Star Selection.
2. There was a countdown of the last 15 games of the season. Game 15 was rained in. Games 14 and 13 were a doubleheader. What happened to game 15??? And if the doubleheader didn't include a make up Game 15, why was it a doubleheader???
Also I know 36 is old for a baseball player, but (assuming it's set now), that's three years younger than me and firmly a millennial. I didn't buy the things like Mac preferring not to use apps for ordering food. Like, that's a fine preference! But it was portrayed as because he was "old".
Anyway. The relationship was nice. Low key in a good way.
June 25, 2024
3.5 stars
This is definitely the Year of KD Casey for me, because of her beautiful writing, sensitive characterization, exquisite sexual tension and how she makes inside baseball (literally) appealing to those who are typically uninterested in sportsball (like me).
All this was on display in this book, which is about a 25yo rookie, Jamie DeLuca, and a near-decrepit elderly pitcher, Mack (age 36), who's in the last-chance saloon after being picked up by the Miami Swordfish, DeLuca's team. We very soon learn that Jamie used to get himself off to Mack's poster when he was a teenage fanboy and is still suffering from a case of hero worship, but that doesn't dissuade Mack from feeling a powerful attraction to Jamie.
This slight squickishness is addressed throughout the book reasonably well, but overall, it felt a little too much like insta-love for what I'm used to with KD Casey. I also didn't feel the chemistry as much as in her other books, possibly because there was so much emphasis on Jamie's youngness and Mack's elderliness (hahaha ), even though there was only 10 years between them.
I can only gather that KD Casey is very young, because no 36yo looks askance at someone for using one of those newfangled "apps," but I acknowledge that in the baseball world, 36 is getting up there (currently, the oldest MLB player is 41). It still made this 46yo laugh and laugh.
Things pick up in the second half in all respects and I finished the book having bought into Mack and Jamie's love story.
This is a standalone novel, but characters from her brilliant Unwritten Rules series, namely John Gordon and Zach Glasser of the Oakland Elephants, make cameos, which was nice.
This is definitely the Year of KD Casey for me, because of her beautiful writing, sensitive characterization, exquisite sexual tension and how she makes inside baseball (literally) appealing to those who are typically uninterested in sportsball (like me).
All this was on display in this book, which is about a 25yo rookie, Jamie DeLuca, and a near-decrepit elderly pitcher, Mack (age 36), who's in the last-chance saloon after being picked up by the Miami Swordfish, DeLuca's team. We very soon learn that Jamie used to get himself off to Mack's poster when he was a teenage fanboy and is still suffering from a case of hero worship, but that doesn't dissuade Mack from feeling a powerful attraction to Jamie.
This slight squickishness is addressed throughout the book reasonably well, but overall, it felt a little too much like insta-love for what I'm used to with KD Casey. I also didn't feel the chemistry as much as in her other books, possibly because there was so much emphasis on Jamie's youngness and Mack's elderliness (hahaha ), even though there was only 10 years between them.
I can only gather that KD Casey is very young, because no 36yo looks askance at someone for using one of those newfangled "apps," but I acknowledge that in the baseball world, 36 is getting up there (currently, the oldest MLB player is 41). It still made this 46yo laugh and laugh.
Things pick up in the second half in all respects and I finished the book having bought into Mack and Jamie's love story.
This is a standalone novel, but characters from her brilliant Unwritten Rules series, namely John Gordon and Zach Glasser of the Oakland Elephants, make cameos, which was nice.
July 5, 2025
Shorter and not as emotionally in depth as this author’s other baseball books, but still good. Sweet couple. And, I always learn something about baseball (which I find tedious and boring to watch, but interesting to read about)
May 11, 2022
this was an enjoyable read for me. it felt pretty authentic and true to baseball which i appreciated. i used to be a huge baseball fan because it was my childhood sport, so the slight nostalgic feeling was there while reading. all the good memories i had with the sport and the inevitable end of growing out of it (or in mack’s case, retirement).
anyways, i liked jamie and mack a lot; both were characters i was rooting for good things to happen to. they both had issues that they slowly worked through in this book, but the tone of this story wasn’t angsty at all. in fact, it was quite sweet and warm.
this book felt like the fading of a warm summer day. i liked it, but i also wished the plot could be a bit tighter and more concise. i wanted a more believable connection between jamie and mack. my mood these days also wanted something a bit more exciting, but that’s just me being picky.
anyways, i liked jamie and mack a lot; both were characters i was rooting for good things to happen to. they both had issues that they slowly worked through in this book, but the tone of this story wasn’t angsty at all. in fact, it was quite sweet and warm.
this book felt like the fading of a warm summer day. i liked it, but i also wished the plot could be a bit tighter and more concise. i wanted a more believable connection between jamie and mack. my mood these days also wanted something a bit more exciting, but that’s just me being picky.
March 29, 2022
This was good, very slice-of-life. A good pick for when you want to read about normal people in realistic situations. I appreciated that the author didn’t try to rush some super-clear HEA which wasn’t necessary for the story. I also appreciated a sports romance where neither of the characters had to get over a bunch of hang-ups before the relationship could actually begin. The only part I didn’t love was the financial stuff, i.e., one of the characters giving the other a bunch of money, covering expenses, etc. - I don’t think that was super realistic and I don’t think it was necessary for the story at all, so not sure why that was included.
September 10, 2021
This novella delivered exactly the beats that I was hoping for in a veteran/rookie romance. However, through Casey's very thoughtful and nuanced characterization (particularly of Jamie) and the strong execution of the setting in Miami, it managed to avoid reading like just another vet/rookie romance.
While it's dual POV, the first half-ish of the novella is told from the veteran Mack's perspective. Casey timed the switch to rookie catcher Jamie's perspective perfectly.
While it's dual POV, the first half-ish of the novella is told from the veteran Mack's perspective. Casey timed the switch to rookie catcher Jamie's perspective perfectly.
August 26, 2024
After the last book I read, this was like wrapping up in a nice soft blanket. Veteran MLB player Mack is aging out of his career and rookie Jamie DeLuca is just beginning. It’s a low angst read, good writing, nice characters. (Almost like if Thrown Off the Ice’s Mike and Liam had a low angst love story with no TBIs and a HEA).
July 23, 2023
This was a pleasant read.
Likeable MCs with dual POV Chapters that focuses on both peoples insecurities which was nice to see, rather then your usual where one of the MC is struggling.
Likeable MCs with dual POV Chapters that focuses on both peoples insecurities which was nice to see, rather then your usual where one of the MC is struggling.
May 1, 2022
This was okay? There is something really utilitarian about Casey's writing that is neither compelling nor particularly interesting, but the story here was nice and it was a pleasant change from the close, torturous POV of the last book I read from her. It's disappointing to see likable, clearly well-structured characters and stories with the kind of low-medium stakes I really like that all somehow ends up feeling nearly lifeless. Characters have human experiences but they feel distant, almost emotionless, and that doesn't make for a satisfying or enjoyable read. There's so much skill here! And so, so little emotion or passion or romance, a massive issue when it's supposed to be a romance. All of that said, I will probably foolishly continue to buy Casey's books because every other baseball romance I've tried to read was unreadable and these are at least not that.
October 12, 2022
I love the character development
But would have liked a little more perspective (Mack is in his mid-thirties not 'old ') and growth besides just the romance. It's double pov but I wanted to understand Jamie a little more. But lovely, sweet baseball romance a little reminiscent of Bull Durham.
But would have liked a little more perspective (Mack is in his mid-thirties not 'old ') and growth besides just the romance. It's double pov but I wanted to understand Jamie a little more. But lovely, sweet baseball romance a little reminiscent of Bull Durham.
Read
March 30, 2022DNF @ 22%
There is absolutely nothing wrong with this novella - it’s a ‘me not you’ situation. I really enjoy Casey’s writing, I just don’t a) get the baseball stuff and b) vibe with the MCs chemistry.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with this novella - it’s a ‘me not you’ situation. I really enjoy Casey’s writing, I just don’t a) get the baseball stuff and b) vibe with the MCs chemistry.
July 1, 2023
I am absolutely a sucker for the veteran/rookie trope, and even more of a sucker for the "my body is breaking down and I am getting old but I don't know who I am if I'm not an Athlete" trope so it's like this story was made just for me. I loved it, I loved Mack and Jamie, I will absolutely go ready this again and also am going to immediately go read the rest of KD Casey's writings. (There is a lot of baseball in this, but as someone who dabbles in Sports Romance Where There's Actually A Lot Of Scenes About That Sport, I was also all about that.)
March 29, 2022
Another home run
There is something about K.D. Casey's writing that sucks me in and wrings me out emotionally before letting go. The best way I can describe it is delicious melancholy. I love baseball, I loved baseball long before I loved queer romance books, and while I love queer baseball romance books, too often the baseball part leaves me wanting - this didn't. And like baseball, it's not always pretty, it can grind players down over a season or over a career, and that realness makes this book all the better. Casey's similes will be sticking in my brain for days, if not weeks or longer. "Jamie scrolls through the potential reasons for it, each ratcheting up his anxiety like the click of an ascending roller coaster." "The urge to check it throbs like a bruise he can't keep himself from pressing." "The clubhouse has a particular kind of stretched silence, like a piece of paper right before it tears." I'll definitely have a book hangover, the sweetest anguish, now that I've devoured this.
There is something about K.D. Casey's writing that sucks me in and wrings me out emotionally before letting go. The best way I can describe it is delicious melancholy. I love baseball, I loved baseball long before I loved queer romance books, and while I love queer baseball romance books, too often the baseball part leaves me wanting - this didn't. And like baseball, it's not always pretty, it can grind players down over a season or over a career, and that realness makes this book all the better. Casey's similes will be sticking in my brain for days, if not weeks or longer. "Jamie scrolls through the potential reasons for it, each ratcheting up his anxiety like the click of an ascending roller coaster." "The urge to check it throbs like a bruise he can't keep himself from pressing." "The clubhouse has a particular kind of stretched silence, like a piece of paper right before it tears." I'll definitely have a book hangover, the sweetest anguish, now that I've devoured this.
Read
March 8, 2022This novella was offered as a bonus to for people who pre-ordered UNWRITTEN RULES. If you missed it, don't worry! It will be available in March 2022.
Content includes (updated March 2022)
Content includes (updated March 2022)
January 1, 2023
3 stars.
Not nearly as strong as Unwritten Rules. I wasn’t nearly as invested in the characters — their relationship or their careers. And then something was just off in the pacing. It felt like we were being jerked through the story in fits and starts, rather than a smooth and considered plot.
I think this is self-published? But has character/team overlap with the author’s trad series from Carina?
First off, no clue how non-compete clauses didn’t prevent that. And second, I wonder if the roughness I’m feeling in the story comes from a difference in editing.
Contains: both players, veteran + rookie, new to the team, Florida, retirement
3🔥
Not nearly as strong as Unwritten Rules. I wasn’t nearly as invested in the characters — their relationship or their careers. And then something was just off in the pacing. It felt like we were being jerked through the story in fits and starts, rather than a smooth and considered plot.
I think this is self-published? But has character/team overlap with the author’s trad series from Carina?
First off, no clue how non-compete clauses didn’t prevent that. And second, I wonder if the roughness I’m feeling in the story comes from a difference in editing.
Contains: both players, veteran + rookie, new to the team, Florida, retirement
3🔥
July 21, 2022
This book felt a smidge odd to me. The book wasn’t super long but I don’t feel like we got enough on anything I wanted. The relationship happened fairly quick and was solid-ish fast. The baseball happened. In hindsight, we must have spent more pages on the actual baseball than the relationship because all of a sudden everything was concluded and the book was over.
Fire Season by this author was great and I really enjoyed it.
Fire Season by this author was great and I really enjoyed it.
March 27, 2022
Casey makes me love baseball for every minute I'm reading her books; otherwise, I pay no attention.
So, she makes me Want to love the game.
But seriously, Casey uses baseball to make us care deeply about her characters. And I do, I do.
Lots of Feelings.
I know how good a writer she is because her chops are invisible to me; the story just carries me along.
So, she makes me Want to love the game.
But seriously, Casey uses baseball to make us care deeply about her characters. And I do, I do.
Lots of Feelings.
I know how good a writer she is because her chops are invisible to me; the story just carries me along.
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