☆☆ 4.5 stars ☆☆
"He’s the fastball I didn’t see coming."
With her dreams of fashion design in New York shattering into pieces, Ophelia moved back to her hometown of Eden, Maine, to live with her brother, Reed, and two of his teammates on the Northeast Rebels, Hunter and Dawson. Hunter Moore, the impossibly gorgeous star pitcher for the Rebels, lived and breathed baseball, his dedication reaching the point of obsession. Free from the obligations of his family's business, he was finally able to concentrate all of his focus on baseball and his dream of going pro and getting drafted by the Boston Revolutionaries. He wouldn't allow any distractions to stand in his way.
Hunter and Ophelia first met when she tackled him on a dark street and then again naked in the shower. They tried to avoid each other, seemingly not even wanting to be in the same room. Yet the attraction between them sparked instantly with a strong magnetic pull drawing them together, every interaction raising the heat higher in true enemies to lovers style. But with Hunter and Reed being best friends and teammates, as well as roommates with Reed's sister, any relationship between Hunter and Ophelia seemed unlikely to work.
"If you’re going to come into my room without my permission . . . make sure you have a good reason for it."
I loved how Hunter and Ophelia challenged each other, pushing their limits and boundaries. Ophelia broke down Hunter's walls, exposing his vulnerabilities, getting him to open up and share parts of his life with her that he never did with anyone else. And she felt things with him that she never felt before. Their connection was so powerful and all-consuming that it was as if his intense green eyes saw straight into her soul. But even with shared passions, they had different dreams, inevitably creating conflicts and doubts with the future unknown.
"I don’t think you understand the power you have over me, Ophelia. If I have the power to break you, it means you could break me, too."
I absolutely loved the two of them together and the steam never let up. Hunter was the deliciously sexy ball player and Ophelia was the woman who could bring him to his knees. I just loved watching him come undone with her. My heart broke every time something came between them and I held my breath waiting to see how they would push through.
Ultimately, this was a story about regrets and forgiveness, along with the sacrifices you make to reach your dreams. What would you give up to achieve your goals? What would you give up for love? What happens when you hurt the one you love? Do we always have a choice?
"You crashed into my world, and it changed everything for me."
The Wrong Pitch was the perfect start to the Northeast Rebels series and I loved watching it unfold. I would have liked to see the resolution after the third act break a little more drawn out but this was such a beautiful story nevertheless. I enjoyed meeting Reed and Dawson as well as Ophelia's best friend, Claire. Family dynamics introduced some interesting twists to the story with a few surprising complications. I loved seeing how the Rebels teammates had each other's backs on and off the field and I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for these boys.
"Your wrong move led me to you. You were the dream I didn’t know I wanted until I had it."
** Special thanks to author Brittany Taylor for sending me this ARC to read and review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Quotes subject to change at time of publication. Available March 24, 2023. **