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Playing for First #1
Playing for First
Lisa Collins feels she has it all as an Indianapolis sportswriter covering the city's minor league baseball team and as a freelancer for the newspaper. Her best friend, bar owner Frankie Dunkin, helps keep her grounded and sane. Her life is uncomplicated-that is until Amy Perry enters her world. Amy, the all-star first baseman for a professional women's baseball team, dreams the dream most boys do-to play in the major leagues. The Cincinnati Reds are about to give her that chance. While covering Amy's ascent through the minor league system, out-and-proud Lisa finds herself falling for the closeted first baseman. But as they begin a relationship, something unexpected happens: Lisa realizes her feelings for Frankie Dunkin run much deeper than friendship. With Amy facing harassment from her male teammates in her quest to break through the gender barrier, Lisa is torn between supporting her and exploring her feelings toward Frankie. Frankie has her own demons to face as painful physical and emotional scars from her past haunt her. Despite the myriad conflicting emotions raging in Lisa's life, one thing is clear-Frankie and Amy are Playing for First in her heart.
208 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2009
4 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Chris Paynter
10 books79 followersChris Paynter is the author of nine novels, including "Survived by Her Longtime Companion," the winner of the 2013 Golden Crown Literary Society Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award and Finalist for the 2013 Lambda Literary Award in Lesbian Romance. Her latest release is "Just a Touch Away," a romance set in Indiana about a grieving children’s book author and the illustrator who captures her heart. She has been a three-time GCLS Finalist for the Ann Bannon Award, and her novels have won five Rainbow Awards Honorable Mentions. She was also a GCLS Finalist in Traditional Lesbian Romance for "Come Back to Me."
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 23, 2021
Don't know why but just didn't work for me - couldn't associate with the characters and though the 'best friend' scenes worked the relationship between the MCs, for me, didn't. Disappointing as I really like CP's work.
May 25, 2015
I have to admit that I don't follow baseball, but I thought I'd give this book a try because I really liked Chris Paynter's other novels. I'm glad I did!
The story pulled me in right away and I even found myself very invested in Amy's baseball career. I particularly appreciated the dynamics of Amy breaking through and establishing herself in the exclusively male realm of major league baseball. Her struggle has parallels to women achieving success in other areas, such as on corporate boards.
The other main characters - including sports journalist Lisa, and her long-time friend Frankie - were all well developed, and it was interesting to follow their emerging romances, relationships and friendships.
Overall, Playing for First was a very enjoyable read.
The story pulled me in right away and I even found myself very invested in Amy's baseball career. I particularly appreciated the dynamics of Amy breaking through and establishing herself in the exclusively male realm of major league baseball. Her struggle has parallels to women achieving success in other areas, such as on corporate boards.
The other main characters - including sports journalist Lisa, and her long-time friend Frankie - were all well developed, and it was interesting to follow their emerging romances, relationships and friendships.
Overall, Playing for First was a very enjoyable read.
June 21, 2019
That was a really enjoyable read, especially for baseball fans. I’m gonna call that a wrap on my 2018 reads and not start a new one til the new year.
Thanks to the author and Women & Words for the book! I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
I perhaps shouldn't be so surprised but I was really glad to find baseball such a central part of the story and presented with such detailed descriptions. As a baseball fan, I loved following the games and it was a really nice balance of sports and romance. There were some parts I was a little confused by, not having superior baseball knowledge, so I'm not sure that readers with little baseball knowledge would be able to follow along but there's likely still parts of the description you'll be able to enjoy.
I really wasn't sure where the romance aspect of the book would go in the last quarter of the story since it seemed all wrapped up. I was really glad the author didn't just throw a major wrench in for drama, it felt much more natural and we got to explore other aspects of the characters and story rather than worry about when the two characters will get to be happy together.
Thanks to the author and Women & Words for the book! I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
I perhaps shouldn't be so surprised but I was really glad to find baseball such a central part of the story and presented with such detailed descriptions. As a baseball fan, I loved following the games and it was a really nice balance of sports and romance. There were some parts I was a little confused by, not having superior baseball knowledge, so I'm not sure that readers with little baseball knowledge would be able to follow along but there's likely still parts of the description you'll be able to enjoy.
I really wasn't sure where the romance aspect of the book would go in the last quarter of the story since it seemed all wrapped up. I was really glad the author didn't just throw a major wrench in for drama, it felt much more natural and we got to explore other aspects of the characters and story rather than worry about when the two characters will get to be happy together.
August 27, 2016
This is the first book I've read by this author.
The book follows several characters, but from the point of view of one (unless I got confused, I know the next book follows the point of view of two people, Amy Perry and Lisa Collins; I believe the first one, and this is what I get for waiting until after I read two books before writing anything, is only from Lisa Collins point of view).
Lisa Collins is a writer for both a local Indianapolis newspaper, and for Minorleague.com. When she comes across an interesting story involving a major league baseball team taking a close look at a baseball player, Collins goes to investigate. When that team invites that player to winter league with a good possibility of then having that player join a minor league team in their system, Collins comes up with a proposal for her MinorLeague.com bosses involving Collins following along and reporting on the games as they occur.
I was attempting to be somewhat subtle there, though I'm sure anyone reading this review already knows two things - whom that baseball player probably is, and the part wherein that baseball player happens to be a woman. So, yeah, it appears that a Major League team, the Cincinnati Reds to be exact, is interested in testing the concept of allowing a woman play for them.
Following Amy Perry, that female baseball player, through the eyes of Lisa Collins, sportswriter, as Perry moves along on the possible path to breaking into the major leagues is quite fun and interesting. But the book is more than just a sports book. There's also a bit of romance in there. And, for those who care about such things, graphic displays of a sexual nature.
Several thoughts I had while wandering along in my reading:
The dating of a writer with her subject, had a vaguely 'icky' feeling; the dating occurred a lot quicker in the story line than I expected (I do not recall now if it was 'Hey Collins, this is Perry; Collins to Perry - 'let's date'; Perry to Collins - 'sure'; but it was close enough to that to make things weird; since Collins had already committed to a really long lengthy project that would force her to be away from her home for a longish period of time to report on Perry's progress. What if their relationship imploded? What if it didn't? What if it got awkward to interview your lover? Not an issue? Well . . . apparently not an issue for Collins).
I was set to be annoyed about the 'lesbian character who needs to remain in the closet, while at the same time attempts to have a relationship'; and yet I was more annoyed with the other party in that relationship. Since Perry's 'public outing' of her lesbian nature could quite easily destroy her chances of fulfilling her life-long dream of breaking into the major leagues. Or, at the very least, be an extra little layer that a team might not want to tackle at the same time as tackling everything else.
I’d insert something here about how Jackie Robinson was neither the best Negro League baseball player playing at the time Robinson was scouted, nor the only Negro League baseball player scouted. This book here kind of had a vague vibe that made it seem as if Amy Perry was the only possibility available for a major league team; while at the same time including the part where Perry played for a professional baseball team. A female team. Which, obviously enough, meant that there were other female baseball players out there. Of course, Perry was the one that people, and scouts, thought should have already had a chance to play for a major league team, or in a major league system, but for the fact she was female. While not having that thought about other female players. Still, it was never a certainty that any woman would get the nod, nor that, if one did, that Perry would be that player. Point being, that adding an extra layer of ‘issue’ might have knocked Perry out of the running. The book makes note that there’s just been one professional athlete who came out as being gay or lesbian while still playing, and that it isn’t exactly a profession open to the concept (there have been others since the book’s publication – many of whom possibly cut short their career by being open).
Hmm. Interesting. The team Perry gets sent to was the Chattanooga Lookouts. On April 2, 1931, 17 year old Jackie Mitchell, while playing for the Lookouts, struck out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. The baseball commissioner promptly voided her contract.
Hmmx2. On June 24 2015 the first female player was added to major League Baseball’s international registration list. That being Melissa Mayeux, a 16 year old French short-stop. http://nymag.com/betamale/2016/05/wom...
Right, got distracted. And to think all I was going to note was that I was more annoyed with Collins reactions to Perry needing to remain in the closet than with Perry needing to remain in the closet.
But that’s something of a misdirection/red-herring. Those who notice my shelves might notice certain issues that seem odd. Like, say, the ‘fell-for-friend’ one. Perry and Collins were not friends before they started dating. Course the ‘love-triangle’ one kind of gives the game away in and of itself. Yes, this is a book that involves more than one coupling. Involving one person tangled up in the same coupling. Weirdly, or not, some of the same shelvings work for both couplings, including the age-difference one. And, for that matter, the butch-butch one.
Collins goes from a relationship involving someone 8 years younger than them, to a relationship with someone 15 years older than them. When she moves from 27 year old Amy Perry to 50 year old Frankie Dunkin, a long time friend of Collins.
In terms of relationships/romance: things bordered on the edge of things that annoy me, that I dislike (like, say cheating); but things kept just on the side of the border wherein things remained enjoyable without becoming unbearable.
In terms of sports: that was handled quite well. Following the trajectory of Perry playing for a female baseball team against a minor league male team, to going to winter ball, to going to a minor league team; etc. Enjoyable experience.
Overall: Obviously enough I liked the book so much that I immediately acquired and read the next book in the series. A good solid effort by the author. Quite good for a baseball book.
June 8 2016
The book follows several characters, but from the point of view of one (unless I got confused, I know the next book follows the point of view of two people, Amy Perry and Lisa Collins; I believe the first one, and this is what I get for waiting until after I read two books before writing anything, is only from Lisa Collins point of view).
Lisa Collins is a writer for both a local Indianapolis newspaper, and for Minorleague.com. When she comes across an interesting story involving a major league baseball team taking a close look at a baseball player, Collins goes to investigate. When that team invites that player to winter league with a good possibility of then having that player join a minor league team in their system, Collins comes up with a proposal for her MinorLeague.com bosses involving Collins following along and reporting on the games as they occur.
I was attempting to be somewhat subtle there, though I'm sure anyone reading this review already knows two things - whom that baseball player probably is, and the part wherein that baseball player happens to be a woman. So, yeah, it appears that a Major League team, the Cincinnati Reds to be exact, is interested in testing the concept of allowing a woman play for them.
Following Amy Perry, that female baseball player, through the eyes of Lisa Collins, sportswriter, as Perry moves along on the possible path to breaking into the major leagues is quite fun and interesting. But the book is more than just a sports book. There's also a bit of romance in there. And, for those who care about such things, graphic displays of a sexual nature.
Several thoughts I had while wandering along in my reading:
The dating of a writer with her subject, had a vaguely 'icky' feeling; the dating occurred a lot quicker in the story line than I expected (I do not recall now if it was 'Hey Collins, this is Perry; Collins to Perry - 'let's date'; Perry to Collins - 'sure'; but it was close enough to that to make things weird; since Collins had already committed to a really long lengthy project that would force her to be away from her home for a longish period of time to report on Perry's progress. What if their relationship imploded? What if it didn't? What if it got awkward to interview your lover? Not an issue? Well . . . apparently not an issue for Collins).
I was set to be annoyed about the 'lesbian character who needs to remain in the closet, while at the same time attempts to have a relationship'; and yet I was more annoyed with the other party in that relationship. Since Perry's 'public outing' of her lesbian nature could quite easily destroy her chances of fulfilling her life-long dream of breaking into the major leagues. Or, at the very least, be an extra little layer that a team might not want to tackle at the same time as tackling everything else.
I’d insert something here about how Jackie Robinson was neither the best Negro League baseball player playing at the time Robinson was scouted, nor the only Negro League baseball player scouted. This book here kind of had a vague vibe that made it seem as if Amy Perry was the only possibility available for a major league team; while at the same time including the part where Perry played for a professional baseball team. A female team. Which, obviously enough, meant that there were other female baseball players out there. Of course, Perry was the one that people, and scouts, thought should have already had a chance to play for a major league team, or in a major league system, but for the fact she was female. While not having that thought about other female players. Still, it was never a certainty that any woman would get the nod, nor that, if one did, that Perry would be that player. Point being, that adding an extra layer of ‘issue’ might have knocked Perry out of the running. The book makes note that there’s just been one professional athlete who came out as being gay or lesbian while still playing, and that it isn’t exactly a profession open to the concept (there have been others since the book’s publication – many of whom possibly cut short their career by being open).
Hmm. Interesting. The team Perry gets sent to was the Chattanooga Lookouts. On April 2, 1931, 17 year old Jackie Mitchell, while playing for the Lookouts, struck out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. The baseball commissioner promptly voided her contract.
Hmmx2. On June 24 2015 the first female player was added to major League Baseball’s international registration list. That being Melissa Mayeux, a 16 year old French short-stop. http://nymag.com/betamale/2016/05/wom...
Right, got distracted. And to think all I was going to note was that I was more annoyed with Collins reactions to Perry needing to remain in the closet than with Perry needing to remain in the closet.
But that’s something of a misdirection/red-herring. Those who notice my shelves might notice certain issues that seem odd. Like, say, the ‘fell-for-friend’ one. Perry and Collins were not friends before they started dating. Course the ‘love-triangle’ one kind of gives the game away in and of itself. Yes, this is a book that involves more than one coupling. Involving one person tangled up in the same coupling. Weirdly, or not, some of the same shelvings work for both couplings, including the age-difference one. And, for that matter, the butch-butch one.
Collins goes from a relationship involving someone 8 years younger than them, to a relationship with someone 15 years older than them. When she moves from 27 year old Amy Perry to 50 year old Frankie Dunkin, a long time friend of Collins.
In terms of relationships/romance: things bordered on the edge of things that annoy me, that I dislike (like, say cheating); but things kept just on the side of the border wherein things remained enjoyable without becoming unbearable.
In terms of sports: that was handled quite well. Following the trajectory of Perry playing for a female baseball team against a minor league male team, to going to winter ball, to going to a minor league team; etc. Enjoyable experience.
Overall: Obviously enough I liked the book so much that I immediately acquired and read the next book in the series. A good solid effort by the author. Quite good for a baseball book.
June 8 2016
May 2, 2025
I loved this story. I liked the interaction with the characters. The frustration of different situations was very evident. I can't wait to read the next chapter.
July 5, 2013
I loved this book. It played right into my hands, being a sports lover, and it didn't make any difference that I knew nothing of baseball at the beginning, because I followed without much effort. It was true to life on so many levels, and didn't spend lots of time and effort on sex scenes. It did spend time on developing characters and unusual situations, and gave great enlightenment into the life of a sports reporter, which I found fascinating. All in all, excellent book, and I have downloaded the second in the series on the strength of it.
September 28, 2011
I am not a huge baseball fan, but I really enjoyed this book. It's a story of baseball, but more than that it is a story of courage... Not by one character, but by many. I alternately liked, disliked, and loved, these characters... Just like real life. It's a good story, with great characters. I'm looking forward to reading the second in the series!
July 25, 2012
Would have been nice if there was a little more baseball, actually, or any excitement built into the games themselves. Many of the games are just describing the main character's stats. Characters were dull, interactions and conversations were dull and often unnecessary to the plot or character development. As lesbian romance novels go, there are definitely better.
November 18, 2014
A novel that will hold your attention, A gripping story of three women, love and the struggle against a deeply biased arena of profession sports. In my opinion this is a must read for all LGBT youth as it is very inspirational. Finding the strength to come out of the closet can sometimes seem like an impossibility, especially in the sport arena's.
May 5, 2018
I really liked this book at the beginning. I was in to the baseball situation as well as the romance between the journalist and the player. Then there was a ...plot twist...and I didn't like it after that. I was actually pretty bored and only continued reading it for the baseball. It really felt really forced and unbelievable to put it mildly. No chemistry what so ever. 4 stars for the first half, 2 for the second half so I'll give it 3 stars.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews