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The Outlaws of Baseball #1
Saving Maverick
NOTE: This edition is a re-release, updated with new content and an epilogue of the original version pubbed in 2016.
The reigning "Bad Boy of Baseball" has just met the one woman immune to his charm.
Or is she just really good at pretending?
Kelsey Sullivan is hired by the Idaho Outlaw’s owner, and her childhood friend, to help restore star pitcher Maverick Jansen’s recently damaged image.
When an impulsive kiss is caught on camera and blows up on social media, they're forced into a fake relationship by the owner of the team.
Kelsey soon questions her long-held belief that a pro athlete isn’t the happily-ever-after type when their game of PR strategy by day turns into searing passion at night.
Realizing what he feels for Kelsey goes beyond their soul-shattering chemistry, can Mav overcome his fear of commitment and prove to her that love can save them both?
Welcome to Pineville, Idaho where there is more to life than baseball.
***
This story first released in 2016 as part of the Outlaws of Baseball series. With new branding, cover and content. It is now part of Debra’s Rescued by Love series. It also features a brand-new epilogue.
***
Rescued by Love Series info: Each story can be read in any order; however, each book contains connected characters within the Pineville World
Saving Maverick – Maverick & Kelsey
Managing Blake – Blake & Caris
Chasing Noel – TS & Noel
Redeeming Scrooge – Grant & Sophie
Rescuing Royce – Royce & Amber
Tempting Zak – Zak & Harlowe
Love at Second & 49th – Kade & Patrice
Love at First & 35th - Evie & Sam
Coming in 2023:
FULL COUNT (formerly titled Catching Luke, will include new material and release in Sept 2023 as part of the Playing for Keeps series – Pre-order coming soon!)
BASES LOADED (formerly titled Claiming Connor, will include new material Oct 2023 as part of the Playing for Keeps series – Pre-order coming soon!)
The reigning "Bad Boy of Baseball" has just met the one woman immune to his charm.
Or is she just really good at pretending?
Kelsey Sullivan is hired by the Idaho Outlaw’s owner, and her childhood friend, to help restore star pitcher Maverick Jansen’s recently damaged image.
When an impulsive kiss is caught on camera and blows up on social media, they're forced into a fake relationship by the owner of the team.
Kelsey soon questions her long-held belief that a pro athlete isn’t the happily-ever-after type when their game of PR strategy by day turns into searing passion at night.
Realizing what he feels for Kelsey goes beyond their soul-shattering chemistry, can Mav overcome his fear of commitment and prove to her that love can save them both?
Welcome to Pineville, Idaho where there is more to life than baseball.
***
This story first released in 2016 as part of the Outlaws of Baseball series. With new branding, cover and content. It is now part of Debra’s Rescued by Love series. It also features a brand-new epilogue.
***
Rescued by Love Series info: Each story can be read in any order; however, each book contains connected characters within the Pineville World
Saving Maverick – Maverick & Kelsey
Managing Blake – Blake & Caris
Chasing Noel – TS & Noel
Redeeming Scrooge – Grant & Sophie
Rescuing Royce – Royce & Amber
Tempting Zak – Zak & Harlowe
Love at Second & 49th – Kade & Patrice
Love at First & 35th - Evie & Sam
Coming in 2023:
FULL COUNT (formerly titled Catching Luke, will include new material and release in Sept 2023 as part of the Playing for Keeps series – Pre-order coming soon!)
BASES LOADED (formerly titled Claiming Connor, will include new material Oct 2023 as part of the Playing for Keeps series – Pre-order coming soon!)
Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2016
66 people are currently reading
320 people want to read
About the author
Debra Elise
84 books627 followersDebra Elise, a USA Today Bestselling Author, lives with her husband and their two teenage sons in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Her books are steamy & sweet featuring later in life characters across several genres.
A self-proclaimed extroverted introvert, when not writing or procrastinating, she enjoys a strong cup of coffee, a good nap and teasing her three 'boys' into displaying their killer smiles. Visit Debra at www.debraelise.com
A self-proclaimed extroverted introvert, when not writing or procrastinating, she enjoys a strong cup of coffee, a good nap and teasing her three 'boys' into displaying their killer smiles. Visit Debra at www.debraelise.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
May 25, 2016
When the strikes happen on and off the field…
“You can’t pick and choose who you love or who melts your panties.”
…and sometimes that means a relationship that is very, very complicated. That is exactly what Maverick Jansen, pitcher extraordinaire, and Kelsey Sullivan, PR guru, find themselves in.
These two cannot catch a break... at all. Besides both coming with a trunk-full of baggage, their current situation couldn’t be less likely to encourage a romance between them.
They try to be professional—try being the key word. The chemistry between them is off the charts and nothing is hotter than the encounters they have. Melting, uber-fun and oh, so hot encounters…
“So, fair warning, Doll Face, when it comes to something I really want, I rarely play fair.”
Kelsey tries harder to keep things from getting personal but she’s fighting herself and Mav so she really isn’t able to pull that off. And how can she, when Mav is an irresistible bad boy with the patter and the abs to back it up? He’s cocky but at the same time achingly vulnerable as he tries to deal with guilt and grief.
The turmoil is real as a PR nightmare turns into a can’t-help-themselves romance with setbacks around each and every corner. I couldn’t help but root for both of them… ~ Diane, 3.5 stars
“You can’t pick and choose who you love or who melts your panties.”
…and sometimes that means a relationship that is very, very complicated. That is exactly what Maverick Jansen, pitcher extraordinaire, and Kelsey Sullivan, PR guru, find themselves in.
These two cannot catch a break... at all. Besides both coming with a trunk-full of baggage, their current situation couldn’t be less likely to encourage a romance between them.
They try to be professional—try being the key word. The chemistry between them is off the charts and nothing is hotter than the encounters they have. Melting, uber-fun and oh, so hot encounters…
“So, fair warning, Doll Face, when it comes to something I really want, I rarely play fair.”
Kelsey tries harder to keep things from getting personal but she’s fighting herself and Mav so she really isn’t able to pull that off. And how can she, when Mav is an irresistible bad boy with the patter and the abs to back it up? He’s cocky but at the same time achingly vulnerable as he tries to deal with guilt and grief.
The turmoil is real as a PR nightmare turns into a can’t-help-themselves romance with setbacks around each and every corner. I couldn’t help but root for both of them… ~ Diane, 3.5 stars
June 30, 2018
I've been hitting the heavy heartbreakers that tear your heart out lately. I needed a little break and a fun-to-read sports romance most always satisfies me and puts me at ease. This little number popped up for 99-cents and I was one-clicking before giving it another thought.
I didn't love nor hate it. It was an average easy read with a Maverick as the standard sports bad boy hero pitcher. One who definitely needed some help in getting his act together in the press and on the mound. Enter Kelsey, a PR consultant and heavy hitter in her own right. The plot was similar to a number of others I've read. Neither leading character bowled me over. Again, standard fare. There's a fair amount of angst involved from all sides. And the sex is almost set on replay word for word. Not much to my liking. The ending came on like a fast ball pitch. I would have liked a little more future look-see.
Oh and there were a number of easily fixable editing errors that could have been solved with a last line by line edit. Not to my liking either. In fact, it just plain irritates me.
I didn't love nor hate it. It was an average easy read with a Maverick as the standard sports bad boy hero pitcher. One who definitely needed some help in getting his act together in the press and on the mound. Enter Kelsey, a PR consultant and heavy hitter in her own right. The plot was similar to a number of others I've read. Neither leading character bowled me over. Again, standard fare. There's a fair amount of angst involved from all sides. And the sex is almost set on replay word for word. Not much to my liking. The ending came on like a fast ball pitch. I would have liked a little more future look-see.
Oh and there were a number of easily fixable editing errors that could have been solved with a last line by line edit. Not to my liking either. In fact, it just plain irritates me.
June 11, 2015
Having been privileged to read the ARC of this sports romance, I am thrilled to say it's a fabulous debut for author Debra Elise. Full of sexual tension, angst, heart-felt romance and laugh-out-loud funny moments. With action like this, no wonder baseball is America's sport!
April 4, 2016
Kitty's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
4.5 stars
It’s baseball season and what a way to start off Spring Training. A bad boy, hot baseball player and the woman that could either bench him or have him pitch a perfect game. Yep, here we go with the baseball euphemisms.
Maverick was one hot mess. Since his brother’s death, the loss of the big game and moving the team to some podunk town, whiskey has been his friend, lover and coach. Add that to lying to the new owner and trainers and he has no idea if he even has a career in baseball anymore.
Kelsey is at the top of her game in the PR business …. She’s happy with it and wants nothing to do with anything baseball. But, how does she turn down the one man who has always been there for her, has had her back on more than one occasion and been her big-brother forever? Hell, how does she turn down the job of a lifetime? So, taking on Maverick is going to open old wounds but she’ll do it. Now, to keep her libido in check, just be his PR person and then go on with her life.
One heart-stopping kiss, one viral on-line video, one stalker and she ends up in the arms and bed of the one man that she knows will never give up his playboy ways to just be with her.
I had fun with Maverick and Kelsey. He was unstoppable when he wanted something and she knew how to throw up the brick wall when it was needed. The stalker story line was really well written but you kind of had an idea of who it was right from the beginning. Luke was interesting and is going to be fun to watch in future books. But, the person I really want to see be taken down a notch is T.S. He definitely needs a woman to bring him in line and show him that there’s more to life than the rich and powerful. Don’t get me wrong, he was fantastic throughout the story … he wasn’t mean or nasty … but … he needs a woman.
Debra Elise really kept me entertained throughout the story. It was light then serious, it was hot and sexy and it was eye-opening. Being a huge baseball fan, it was interesting to see just what a player in a slump may be going through. It was nice realizing that they are just human too and may have outside forces causing them to act the way they do. I also loved that she showed us all sides of Maverick. She wrote him as a drunk, as a lover, as a despondent man, as a caring person and as a baseball player that finally realizes that it’s not just him on the field, but a team. Ms. Elise did a wonderful job keeping the story moving and giving us just what we needed from Maverick and Kelsey.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
4.5 stars
It’s baseball season and what a way to start off Spring Training. A bad boy, hot baseball player and the woman that could either bench him or have him pitch a perfect game. Yep, here we go with the baseball euphemisms.
Maverick was one hot mess. Since his brother’s death, the loss of the big game and moving the team to some podunk town, whiskey has been his friend, lover and coach. Add that to lying to the new owner and trainers and he has no idea if he even has a career in baseball anymore.
Kelsey is at the top of her game in the PR business …. She’s happy with it and wants nothing to do with anything baseball. But, how does she turn down the one man who has always been there for her, has had her back on more than one occasion and been her big-brother forever? Hell, how does she turn down the job of a lifetime? So, taking on Maverick is going to open old wounds but she’ll do it. Now, to keep her libido in check, just be his PR person and then go on with her life.
One heart-stopping kiss, one viral on-line video, one stalker and she ends up in the arms and bed of the one man that she knows will never give up his playboy ways to just be with her.
I had fun with Maverick and Kelsey. He was unstoppable when he wanted something and she knew how to throw up the brick wall when it was needed. The stalker story line was really well written but you kind of had an idea of who it was right from the beginning. Luke was interesting and is going to be fun to watch in future books. But, the person I really want to see be taken down a notch is T.S. He definitely needs a woman to bring him in line and show him that there’s more to life than the rich and powerful. Don’t get me wrong, he was fantastic throughout the story … he wasn’t mean or nasty … but … he needs a woman.
Debra Elise really kept me entertained throughout the story. It was light then serious, it was hot and sexy and it was eye-opening. Being a huge baseball fan, it was interesting to see just what a player in a slump may be going through. It was nice realizing that they are just human too and may have outside forces causing them to act the way they do. I also loved that she showed us all sides of Maverick. She wrote him as a drunk, as a lover, as a despondent man, as a caring person and as a baseball player that finally realizes that it’s not just him on the field, but a team. Ms. Elise did a wonderful job keeping the story moving and giving us just what we needed from Maverick and Kelsey.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
December 1, 2016
Review in progress.
May 3, 2017
Wow, what can I say about this book that doesn't make me sound corny?
I'll admit that at first, I was a little hesitant. The story line sounded very interesting to me, however, I am not a huge fan of sports or baseball. But let me just say, I'm pretty sure this book has peaked my interest a bit.
From the first chapter you are reeled in by these characters. They are so well written and so complex, not to mention the fact that they have some issues in their pasts that makes you very curious as to what it is they are hiding. The book is full of action and surprises and held my attention the entire time, which is hard to do as I have 2 kids and one I babysit during the week.
I did feel that some of the more action packed parts could have been drawn out a little further but I understand completely that this book was about two people working past their issues and learning to let someone else into their life again. And this is, in no way, detrimental to the story, which was still awesome.
The pace of this book is definitely fast. Sometimes, to me at least, it felt a little rushed. But that could just be because I'm not use to the writing style yet.
The only complaint, is that I noticed a few punctuation errors as well as spacing but nothing dramatic or anything.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading the next one in the series! :)
I'll admit that at first, I was a little hesitant. The story line sounded very interesting to me, however, I am not a huge fan of sports or baseball. But let me just say, I'm pretty sure this book has peaked my interest a bit.
From the first chapter you are reeled in by these characters. They are so well written and so complex, not to mention the fact that they have some issues in their pasts that makes you very curious as to what it is they are hiding. The book is full of action and surprises and held my attention the entire time, which is hard to do as I have 2 kids and one I babysit during the week.
I did feel that some of the more action packed parts could have been drawn out a little further but I understand completely that this book was about two people working past their issues and learning to let someone else into their life again. And this is, in no way, detrimental to the story, which was still awesome.
The pace of this book is definitely fast. Sometimes, to me at least, it felt a little rushed. But that could just be because I'm not use to the writing style yet.
The only complaint, is that I noticed a few punctuation errors as well as spacing but nothing dramatic or anything.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading the next one in the series! :)
April 1, 2016
I’m not entirely sure how I feel after Saving Maverick. I enjoyed it, but there were some parts that confused me. The story kept my focus and I liked reading it, but I just felt like something was missing as I was reading. I don’t know exactly what… but there was something missing.
The plot was a little predictive, but after reading so many romance novels, you start to understand how the plot goes. I do love a happily ever after though. I was confused about some of the writing though. Throughout the story, the POV seemed to just randomly change. One paragraph it would be Kelsey’s POV and then the next paragraph or even a sentence within that paragraph would seem to be from Maverick’s. It was confusing to say the least. I tried my best to understand what was going on, but I don’t know if I fully understood some of the scenes because of that.
Kelsey was awesome. I’m all for strong female leads and Kelsey did not disappoint. She was one of the bet PR reps in Hollywood and came to Pinesville as a favor to her long-time best friend. Kelsey did not have the best childhood, but she didn’t let it get her down. She was able to move on with her life and become successful without too much baggage holding her back. Though some of her actions seemed very sudden. It was hard to get a grasp on her character and what her motivations were because she always seemed to be contradicting herself.
Maverick was determined. Yes, he had a crap ton of baggage, but he was still striving to achieve his goals. When a video of him running his mouth goes viral, he has to majorly fix his image. It was very motivating to see how determined he was to fix things. He never backed down from a fight and stood up for what he thought was right. It was also great how dedicated he was to fixing his image. Sure, at the beginning he was just doing it to guarantee his spot as starting pitcher, but he really got into it. Plus, it helps when he’s gorgeous, hilarious, and sexy as all get out. Yes, gorgeous and sexy are too different things. :P
I did enjoy the Saving Maverick. It was a good, quick easy read that I was able to finish in about a day. I love little romances, which is why this book caught my eye. Besides the POV issue, the writing was good and enjoyable. If you’re a lover of romance, pick up Saving Maverick today!
The plot was a little predictive, but after reading so many romance novels, you start to understand how the plot goes. I do love a happily ever after though. I was confused about some of the writing though. Throughout the story, the POV seemed to just randomly change. One paragraph it would be Kelsey’s POV and then the next paragraph or even a sentence within that paragraph would seem to be from Maverick’s. It was confusing to say the least. I tried my best to understand what was going on, but I don’t know if I fully understood some of the scenes because of that.
Kelsey was awesome. I’m all for strong female leads and Kelsey did not disappoint. She was one of the bet PR reps in Hollywood and came to Pinesville as a favor to her long-time best friend. Kelsey did not have the best childhood, but she didn’t let it get her down. She was able to move on with her life and become successful without too much baggage holding her back. Though some of her actions seemed very sudden. It was hard to get a grasp on her character and what her motivations were because she always seemed to be contradicting herself.
Maverick was determined. Yes, he had a crap ton of baggage, but he was still striving to achieve his goals. When a video of him running his mouth goes viral, he has to majorly fix his image. It was very motivating to see how determined he was to fix things. He never backed down from a fight and stood up for what he thought was right. It was also great how dedicated he was to fixing his image. Sure, at the beginning he was just doing it to guarantee his spot as starting pitcher, but he really got into it. Plus, it helps when he’s gorgeous, hilarious, and sexy as all get out. Yes, gorgeous and sexy are too different things. :P
I did enjoy the Saving Maverick. It was a good, quick easy read that I was able to finish in about a day. I love little romances, which is why this book caught my eye. Besides the POV issue, the writing was good and enjoyable. If you’re a lover of romance, pick up Saving Maverick today!
December 31, 2023
Dual point of view but based on the way it was written and edited it's sometimes difficult to tell who the point of view is from. There's also lots of spelling errors, which is lazy and irritating.
No spoilers--There's a story plot which could have made the whole thing much better if it had become a major point and fleshed out a lot more. Instead it was thrown in hastily and really became more of a throw away and unnecessary. The only reason I can see that it was there was to find a way to insert a fake dating situation for the 2 main characters. But that could have happened several other ways. Which brings me back to saying it should have been a bigger deal and become a major plot point.
The MCs were ok, but there wasn't anything about them that made me like them or want to root for the relationship.
The side plots of the MMC had good starts but needed more umph to them. A complicated character was created, but there wasn't enough there to make me invested in him. His brother, parents, kids at the charity, his notorious bad boy of baseball image. For the love of all things good, give me something to grab onto.
The female main character was almost treated as a side character in a story about her. There was so little about her life or why she was the way she was. Other than she was supposed to be beautiful and smart, I didn't learn anything about her. At one point the MMC called her funny. Yet I don't think we were ever shown that side of her. She was also referred to as an Ice Princess, but other than really one interaction with the MMC where she could come off as one, that side of her was also not explored much. When it was brought up much further in the book I failed to see why that name was continuing on.
I don't remember if this book was one that was from Stuff your Kindle Day or if it was recommended from TicTok. Either way, I'm not sure I'm convinced I want to do more reading from this author.
No spoilers--There's a story plot which could have made the whole thing much better if it had become a major point and fleshed out a lot more. Instead it was thrown in hastily and really became more of a throw away and unnecessary. The only reason I can see that it was there was to find a way to insert a fake dating situation for the 2 main characters. But that could have happened several other ways. Which brings me back to saying it should have been a bigger deal and become a major plot point.
The MCs were ok, but there wasn't anything about them that made me like them or want to root for the relationship.
The side plots of the MMC had good starts but needed more umph to them. A complicated character was created, but there wasn't enough there to make me invested in him. His brother, parents, kids at the charity, his notorious bad boy of baseball image. For the love of all things good, give me something to grab onto.
The female main character was almost treated as a side character in a story about her. There was so little about her life or why she was the way she was. Other than she was supposed to be beautiful and smart, I didn't learn anything about her. At one point the MMC called her funny. Yet I don't think we were ever shown that side of her. She was also referred to as an Ice Princess, but other than really one interaction with the MMC where she could come off as one, that side of her was also not explored much. When it was brought up much further in the book I failed to see why that name was continuing on.
I don't remember if this book was one that was from Stuff your Kindle Day or if it was recommended from TicTok. Either way, I'm not sure I'm convinced I want to do more reading from this author.
August 13, 2022
The first time Maverick meets Kelsey, he calls her Doll Face because it ‘suits her’ – even as he’s trying to change his reputation as a bad-boy ‘player.’ He comes on very strong/pushy, totally disregarding the fact that getting involved with her could put her job in jeopardy. These characteristics aren’t sexy, they’re disrespectful. And this supposedly strong woman caves in and lets her libido take over. I kept reading, though, because I wanted to know more about Maverick’s brother. Then they have to ‘fake’ a relationship for the media (meh). He does get a bit more mature (sees a shrink, starts volunteering at a kids’ program) but I never really felt more than lust between these two characters.
August 17, 2017
I got to say the idea for this book was good..but something was lacking for me. The plot is cliched at best. I couldn't bring myself to like Kelsey at all. The worst part is the she make assumptions about him that they are most often totally wrong. Maverick seems like a great guy and goes through a lot to finally convinces Kelsey to let him in.
April 10, 2019
This is a good mellow sports book- it is very similar to other books I've read but still a good book. I liked the characters and how their story unfolded but, I did feel parts were missing from their past that needed to be added to understand them better and the ending needed to have an epilogue maybe 3 years later, to close the story out better.
March 25, 2023
good book but it feels like chapters were deleted
Great storyline, engaging characters and the writing is good but is feels like there entire chapters missing. Suddenly he had a relationship on twitter with the kid and knows all about his dad when it’s never mentioned. That and the antagonist is suddenly cleanly turning herself in with a vague reference to a phone call?
Great storyline, engaging characters and the writing is good but is feels like there entire chapters missing. Suddenly he had a relationship on twitter with the kid and knows all about his dad when it’s never mentioned. That and the antagonist is suddenly cleanly turning herself in with a vague reference to a phone call?
April 13, 2023
Kelsey is hired to help improve mavericks image after a video is released causing bad press.
What she doesn't expect is to get caught up in all that is Maverick.
Maverick has to over come a past tragedy to heal himself. He sees hope in Kelsey.
This was a nice read. Both characters had great back stories and grew together.
What she doesn't expect is to get caught up in all that is Maverick.
Maverick has to over come a past tragedy to heal himself. He sees hope in Kelsey.
This was a nice read. Both characters had great back stories and grew together.
January 22, 2024
cute story
Cute story, with characters that are in their 30s. The downside of the book is how many misspellings and even wrong words there are. A good editor could clean it all up.
I hope that the next book has been edited better, because I do like the author and her story telling.
Cute story, with characters that are in their 30s. The downside of the book is how many misspellings and even wrong words there are. A good editor could clean it all up.
I hope that the next book has been edited better, because I do like the author and her story telling.
January 14, 2025
Short and quick read. The author's style was easy to read and I enjoyed it. But i didn't feel any connection between the two of them.
However, this is a re-release which I found quite poor because there were continuity and other errors.
Had the editing errors been sorted and there was more connection between them this would have been an easy 4 stars and it's nicely written
However, this is a re-release which I found quite poor because there were continuity and other errors.
Had the editing errors been sorted and there was more connection between them this would have been an easy 4 stars and it's nicely written
January 11, 2024
The plot was not horrible, but the book needs like 200 more pages and double the details. Then it could have been good. Also needs something to indicate the POV changes. They change mid chapter and it’s easy to get confused because it’s not obvious at all.
February 17, 2024
Very Short with All the Plot Holes
In a foreword, the author mentions cutting out fluff, I can’t help but wonder if she cut out the whole book. This story is incredibly short and missing crucial scenes.
In a foreword, the author mentions cutting out fluff, I can’t help but wonder if she cut out the whole book. This story is incredibly short and missing crucial scenes.
March 30, 2025
Great story
I loved the dynamics of the story. I loved the characters. Each one is perfect. The happy ever after had me giving it 5 stars. And I recommend it to any one who craves a good love story
I loved the dynamics of the story. I loved the characters. Each one is perfect. The happy ever after had me giving it 5 stars. And I recommend it to any one who craves a good love story
March 20, 2017
Maverick Jensen is his own worst enemy and one night when he is drunk and is complaining about his baseball team being moved to a “Hicksville” town in Idaho, his rant is captured on video and has made all of the media outlets. Now he must deal with this and with the loss of his brother in a car accident. Once in Idaho he is surprised to find Kelsey Sullivan has taken on this client for a friend but now has also broken her one main rule falling for a professional athlete. When things begin to get too close she chooses to leave and it is up to Maverick to get out of his comfort zone and to take a chance if what he thinks is love. The problem is he must find her in order to tell her his feelings. A good fun loving and hurt felt story. I got this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
July 31, 2020
Not good. I was soooo bored and just did not like the characters at all. I noticed I was starting to skim full pages so I skipped to the end about halfway through. Then skimmed through that. 😑
November 20, 2021
Fun and sexy read.
March 21, 2023
Ending sucked
June 21, 2024
This was so bad I have nothing else to even say
January 4, 2025
dnf @ 75%
July 14, 2016
This review was originally posted on Ticket to Anywhere
Place(s) Traveled To: Pineville, Idaho
First Line(s): Maverick Jansen woke to the sound of a jackhammer tearing down his hotel room door.
Place(s) Traveled To: Pineville, Idaho
First Line(s): Maverick Jansen woke to the sound of a jackhammer tearing down his hotel room door.
If you know me then you know a couple things, namely that I like New Adult and that while I may not be a big sportsing fan in real life I do adore a good sportsing book. With that in mind one would think that SAVING MAVERICK would be a book that is right up my alley. Especially when you toss in a bad boy in need of redemption and the girl hired to save his image. I had hopes for SAVING MAVERICK but sadly this book failed to live up to them. First, SAVING MAVERICK is billed as a New Adult read but for me it came across as a very adult story. If you go just based on age I think it might just squeak in, though to be honest I can't remember how old these characters were. But they were all pretty settled and established in their careers and that to me just makes this story lean more towards Adult. For me, New Adult is more college and early career, with characters trying to figure out their place in the world.
Another thing that bugged me about SAVING MAVERICK was that it was filled with errors and random head jumping. Some of the errors I could chalk up to reading an ARC but there were just so many that they became hard to ignore. And the head jumping oh my stars it was just bad. One paragraph we'd be in Kelsey's head in the next Maverick and then a few pages later a whole new POV just for fun. I don't mind books with alternate POVs but I do like there to be a little structure to them. The constant changing of POV makes it really hard to keep up with the story and it just gives my brain whiplash as I struggle to keep up! It also didn't help to endear me to Kelsey and Maverick who are just two very blah, cliched characters that are pretty forgettable. Sorry folks, no heart achy moments here....or at least none that I can remember.
Normally I have a really good memory when it comes to books and plots but when I think back on SAVING MAVERICK I mostly get a blank page in my brain and so am very glad for my Goodreads notes because my kindle has totally failed me. (Why oh why is it deleting my highlights and notes?!? *cries*) But memorability aside, Kelsey and Maverick where your pretty standard fare when it comes to romance characters and their story may have been a good one if the plot wasn't so muddled with those errors mentioned above and the crazy side plot. The subplot was just too much and was more of a distraction than anything else. It was also very predictable. This whole story was pretty predicable. Not to mention repetitive. So very very very very repetitive. And we all know just how much I "love" repetitive dialogue and storylines. *eye roll*
In the end SAVING MAVERICK wasn't a bad book but it wasn't good either. It falls somewhere in the middle and was just mediocre for me. SAVING MAVERICK is the start of a series and I'm not sure if I'll read the other books when they come out. Or at the very least I don't think I'll be rushing out to read it.
Add Act Like It by Lucy Parker to Goodreads. (Click here for my review.)
Add Love Me Tenor by Annabeth Albert to Goodreads. (Click here for my review)
This review was originally posted on Ticket to Anywhere
October 11, 2023
Maverick and Kelsey
This is the start of the Pineville World series. Maverick is a pitcher for the recently moved team the Idaho Outlaws. With the death of his younger brother and an injury to his pitching arm, he has been struggling with getting back to the mound. He has also been labeled as one of the bad boys in baseball. When the media reported his comments about moving to a different town, the owner brings in PR to fix his reputation. Kelsey is a friend of the owner of the team and is brought in to help Maverick change his public image. The attraction is instant for both of them. Must read to see if this couple makes it through some rough patches and if Maverick’s image with the public improves. Great read from my go to author!
This is the start of the Pineville World series. Maverick is a pitcher for the recently moved team the Idaho Outlaws. With the death of his younger brother and an injury to his pitching arm, he has been struggling with getting back to the mound. He has also been labeled as one of the bad boys in baseball. When the media reported his comments about moving to a different town, the owner brings in PR to fix his reputation. Kelsey is a friend of the owner of the team and is brought in to help Maverick change his public image. The attraction is instant for both of them. Must read to see if this couple makes it through some rough patches and if Maverick’s image with the public improves. Great read from my go to author!
April 20, 2016
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**Saving Maverick is the first book in the new adult Outlaws of baseball series by Debra Elise. I love the bloomsbury spark line, but for some reason I was under the impression that it was for more young adult line of books, but this was most certainly a new adult romance. I am really excited that the spark line is branching out into (or maybe has always done) new adult romances as well. Saving Maverick is a really yummy first book in the Outlaws of baseball series. It is a fluffy romances with depth. And I can't wait to read some more of the players stories. I already have a feeling as to another pairing, and if I am right, it is going to be a great one!
Saving Maverick is told in dual narrative between Maverick and Kelsey. I really liked both Kelsey and Mav. I love a guy that knows exactly what he wants and goes after it relentlessly. I admired the heck out of Mav for just that. He never once wavered in his goal- getting Kelsey, and he was never dissuaded. He is a loyal guy. And I liked Kelsey a lot too. She is brought on to the team to raise Mav's horrible public image. And while she ended up fake dating him to raise his reputation, my one complaint about the book is that we never really saw too much PR in play. We didn't see how their relationship affected his reputation, and I didn't see her doing too many things to help his reputation, other than having him work with the kids (but that wasn't really publicized)
The bulk of the story in Saving Maverick was centered around Mav and Kelsey's relationship. For that reason, I think this book will resonate a lot more with character driven readers than plot driven ones. I think there were a couple of areas, like the one I mentioned above, where I would have liked the plot to have been fleshed out a bit more, but the relationship aspect of this book was wonderful. I really loved getting to know Mav and Kelsey and both of their pasts. Mav totally surprised me at the end of the book, when he found out some bad news. Up until that point I had thought of him as a really strong guy, but the way he reacted was a little disappointing to me. Then again, it was not a light matter that he was dealing with.
Bottom line: if you are a character driven reader and you love a good sports romance, Saving Maverick and the Outlaws of Baseball series is a going to be a wonderful book for you to check out. I think you will completely fall for Maverick.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Saving Maverick is told in dual narrative between Maverick and Kelsey. I really liked both Kelsey and Mav. I love a guy that knows exactly what he wants and goes after it relentlessly. I admired the heck out of Mav for just that. He never once wavered in his goal- getting Kelsey, and he was never dissuaded. He is a loyal guy. And I liked Kelsey a lot too. She is brought on to the team to raise Mav's horrible public image. And while she ended up fake dating him to raise his reputation, my one complaint about the book is that we never really saw too much PR in play. We didn't see how their relationship affected his reputation, and I didn't see her doing too many things to help his reputation, other than having him work with the kids (but that wasn't really publicized)
The bulk of the story in Saving Maverick was centered around Mav and Kelsey's relationship. For that reason, I think this book will resonate a lot more with character driven readers than plot driven ones. I think there were a couple of areas, like the one I mentioned above, where I would have liked the plot to have been fleshed out a bit more, but the relationship aspect of this book was wonderful. I really loved getting to know Mav and Kelsey and both of their pasts. Mav totally surprised me at the end of the book, when he found out some bad news. Up until that point I had thought of him as a really strong guy, but the way he reacted was a little disappointing to me. Then again, it was not a light matter that he was dealing with.
Bottom line: if you are a character driven reader and you love a good sports romance, Saving Maverick and the Outlaws of Baseball series is a going to be a wonderful book for you to check out. I think you will completely fall for Maverick.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
March 31, 2016
** ARC PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
Who doesn't love a book with sports, hot sexy men, romance and crazy drama.
Debra did an amazing job in combining all my favorites in one book. It was a good read.
Maverick Jansen has been struggling with his career as a Pitcher for the Outlaws. After an accident left him on the Disabled List he has been unable to work his was back to where he used to be. Now the media see him as a man with a drinking problem and a man whore. After his boss and owner of the team give him one last chance Maverick is willing to put in the work to rise again.
Kelsey Sullivan is the best at what she does. She worked hard to earn the respect and position she has. When her best friend Thomas asks her for a favor to help with the Bad Boy of Baseball her PR skills will be tested as well as her skills to keep to her rules ... the biggest one Don't Sleep with the Client.
Seems no matter what Maverick and Kelsey do they are drawn together. Tired of fighting at a weak moment Kelsey gives in but now that moment is all over the media. With her job on the line as well as her reputation they decide that the best way to spin it their way is to play the happy couple and take advantage of their lust for each other. When things start getting out of hand and feelings start blurring lines as well as the past both are unwilling to share push them apart both have to decide what is real.
REVIEWED BY : DEANNE C.
Who doesn't love a book with sports, hot sexy men, romance and crazy drama.
Debra did an amazing job in combining all my favorites in one book. It was a good read.
Maverick Jansen has been struggling with his career as a Pitcher for the Outlaws. After an accident left him on the Disabled List he has been unable to work his was back to where he used to be. Now the media see him as a man with a drinking problem and a man whore. After his boss and owner of the team give him one last chance Maverick is willing to put in the work to rise again.
Kelsey Sullivan is the best at what she does. She worked hard to earn the respect and position she has. When her best friend Thomas asks her for a favor to help with the Bad Boy of Baseball her PR skills will be tested as well as her skills to keep to her rules ... the biggest one Don't Sleep with the Client.
Seems no matter what Maverick and Kelsey do they are drawn together. Tired of fighting at a weak moment Kelsey gives in but now that moment is all over the media. With her job on the line as well as her reputation they decide that the best way to spin it their way is to play the happy couple and take advantage of their lust for each other. When things start getting out of hand and feelings start blurring lines as well as the past both are unwilling to share push them apart both have to decide what is real.
REVIEWED BY : DEANNE C.
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March 24, 2016I am such a sucker for sport romances! I really enjoyed this book by Debra Elise. I enjoyed the chemistry between Maverick and Kelsey. The book flows well and it is entertaining through the eyes of the sports world. I thought the wrinkle of Kelsey and Maverick "having to date" was great. My only slight issue with this book is that Kelsey is forcefully like "no, I don't want to date you" but completely turns the switch. That could just be me, but overall I thought this book was really enjoyable!
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