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The New York Lions #1
The Third Baseman
My name is Jupiter Reeves, and I am a fraud.
It’s not that what’s written about me isn’t true.
I am the greatest third baseman of my generation, possibly ever.
I am surly and unapproachable.
I do have a constant scowl, with an armour of tattoos.
And to the outside world, I play my role as the bad boy of baseball like I was born to do it.
But when the doors are closed and you boil it down, I’m nothing more than a man who lost his heart too young, with no prospect of getting it back... especially as I still have no idea where its current owner is.
That was until I was offered an opportunity I couldn't refuse:
Leave the Los Angeles Dodgers - where I've played my entire career - and join The New York Lions in exchange for tracking down the one woman who's consumed me since the day I first saw her fourteen years ago.
Job done.
Now we're under the same roof once again; except Marnie Matthews wants nothing to do with me, or my heart.
So along with winning the Commissioner's Trophy, I have the added challenge of winning back the only woman I've ever loved before the season ends, and convince her to stay in New York with me.
I might have been stupid enough to lose her once, but I'm definitely not going to do it again.
Marnie Matthews is about to become the biggest achievement of my life.
It’s not that what’s written about me isn’t true.
I am the greatest third baseman of my generation, possibly ever.
I am surly and unapproachable.
I do have a constant scowl, with an armour of tattoos.
And to the outside world, I play my role as the bad boy of baseball like I was born to do it.
But when the doors are closed and you boil it down, I’m nothing more than a man who lost his heart too young, with no prospect of getting it back... especially as I still have no idea where its current owner is.
That was until I was offered an opportunity I couldn't refuse:
Leave the Los Angeles Dodgers - where I've played my entire career - and join The New York Lions in exchange for tracking down the one woman who's consumed me since the day I first saw her fourteen years ago.
Job done.
Now we're under the same roof once again; except Marnie Matthews wants nothing to do with me, or my heart.
So along with winning the Commissioner's Trophy, I have the added challenge of winning back the only woman I've ever loved before the season ends, and convince her to stay in New York with me.
I might have been stupid enough to lose her once, but I'm definitely not going to do it again.
Marnie Matthews is about to become the biggest achievement of my life.
413 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 29, 2023
1257 people are currently reading
11441 people want to read
About the author
Lulu Moore
22 books1,424 followersLulu started writing by accident, and somehow found herself stuck in a fictional world of ice hockey, baseball and billionaires. A world she has no plans to leave. She's the creator of The New York Players Series, The Tuesday Club Series, and The New York Lions - the worst team in the M.L.B.
More recently she's ventured across the Atlantic to where her latest novel is set - the beautiful cities of Oxford and Cambridge, and the annual rowing showdown on the River Thames.
She's a big fan of strong heroines, because those fierce alphas need someone to keep them in check. You'll find her navigating her way through Romance Land one HEA at a time, and trying to figure out the latest social media platform she needs to post to.
More recently she's ventured across the Atlantic to where her latest novel is set - the beautiful cities of Oxford and Cambridge, and the annual rowing showdown on the River Thames.
She's a big fan of strong heroines, because those fierce alphas need someone to keep them in check. You'll find her navigating her way through Romance Land one HEA at a time, and trying to figure out the latest social media platform she needs to post to.
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November 9, 2025yes yes, I'm going to be starting a new series 😝
April 12, 2023
4.5
gahhhh a new second chance romance that I loved!! The beginning was definitely a little hard to get into with how heavy and a bit slow going the flashbacks were, but I loved the forced proximity of the romance and how the hero was obsessed with winning hte heroine back! They dated in high school, but he broke her heart to play Major League Baseball. Now, over a decade later he makes sure he comes to work for the team he plays for so that he can win her back. The past takes a long time to unravel to understand why he broke her heart, but I loved how she was slowly breaking down her walls to let him back in again as he showed her how serious he was about being with her again. And so much baseball! I loved that he played and she was always around him because she was hired to help the team succeed. I'm so excited to that I picked up this book and I can't wait to check out more from Lulu Moore!
gahhhh a new second chance romance that I loved!! The beginning was definitely a little hard to get into with how heavy and a bit slow going the flashbacks were, but I loved the forced proximity of the romance and how the hero was obsessed with winning hte heroine back! They dated in high school, but he broke her heart to play Major League Baseball. Now, over a decade later he makes sure he comes to work for the team he plays for so that he can win her back. The past takes a long time to unravel to understand why he broke her heart, but I loved how she was slowly breaking down her walls to let him back in again as he showed her how serious he was about being with her again. And so much baseball! I loved that he played and she was always around him because she was hired to help the team succeed. I'm so excited to that I picked up this book and I can't wait to check out more from Lulu Moore!
April 13, 2023
3.5 Stars
I will say, flashbacks is just something I personally don’t always enjoy in romances and the first 30% was rough for me. I felt that the flashbacks made the beginning a bit boring.
After that, the story picked up and I enjoyed it. I will say, there needed to be more groveling. Seriously. After what he did and how he left her? Yeah more groveling was needed. And considering there was a miscommunication with everything. Ugh.
I will say, flashbacks is just something I personally don’t always enjoy in romances and the first 30% was rough for me. I felt that the flashbacks made the beginning a bit boring.
After that, the story picked up and I enjoyed it. I will say, there needed to be more groveling. Seriously. After what he did and how he left her? Yeah more groveling was needed. And considering there was a miscommunication with everything. Ugh.
July 5, 2023
I love a sports romance and it seems baseball is rare so I was excited to try this! Second chance is hit or miss for me and unfortunately I didn’t love this.
They were apart for 14 years and Jupiter decided me wanted Marnie back after all this time and literally made it happen. He manipulated a job offer she couldn’t refuse and he just shoved his way back into her life. He says he thought about her every day while they were apart and all of his tattoos are related to her or their relationship from when they were teenagers.
It really bothered me how he was MAD she got married? Like excuse you? She was 16 when you broke up with her and you think she was just gonna sit around and wait for you to change your mind ??? His friend literally says Jupiter has slept with “hundreds of women” and it just made me mad. Honestly it just felt like Jupiter got tired of ons and boom the thought of getting Marnie back was born it’s gross. I understand moving on but he was a manwhore before Marnie and again after and it just didn’t sit right with me.
I didn’t like how Marnie’s marriage was downplayed and she got divorced because she realized she wasn’t over Jupiter like are you for real?
They were apart for 14 years and Jupiter decided me wanted Marnie back after all this time and literally made it happen. He manipulated a job offer she couldn’t refuse and he just shoved his way back into her life. He says he thought about her every day while they were apart and all of his tattoos are related to her or their relationship from when they were teenagers.
It really bothered me how he was MAD she got married? Like excuse you? She was 16 when you broke up with her and you think she was just gonna sit around and wait for you to change your mind ??? His friend literally says Jupiter has slept with “hundreds of women” and it just made me mad. Honestly it just felt like Jupiter got tired of ons and boom the thought of getting Marnie back was born it’s gross. I understand moving on but he was a manwhore before Marnie and again after and it just didn’t sit right with me.
I didn’t like how Marnie’s marriage was downplayed and she got divorced because she realized she wasn’t over Jupiter like are you for real?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2024
The first book in The New York Lions series, featuring Jupiter Reeves and Marnie Matthews in their second chance romance.
Tropes:
🔥 Tattoos for her
🚀 Grumpy / sunshine, space obsessed STEM girl
⚾️ MLB bad boy
💕 Second chance
❤️ Secret love signals
🔥 cute nicknames
⚾️ flashbacks
Available on KU, Paperback and Audible - https://geni.us/aelw5
Enjoy,
Lulu xo
Tropes:
🔥 Tattoos for her
🚀 Grumpy / sunshine, space obsessed STEM girl
⚾️ MLB bad boy
💕 Second chance
❤️ Secret love signals
🔥 cute nicknames
⚾️ flashbacks
Available on KU, Paperback and Audible - https://geni.us/aelw5
Enjoy,
Lulu xo
April 4, 2025
2.5 stars
This book started out strong, but as it went on, to me it felt like Jupiter pretty much badgered Marnie into getting back together. Did he ever respect her boundaries?
Moreover, a quick sorry in between him being a psycho did not cut it as an apology for what happened when they broke up. That warranted a longer conversation. He kept sweeping things under a rug and trying to not dwell, when she clearly needed more than that.
I also felt like Marnie did not stand her ground enough? One kiss and she was ready to jump back into things with him.
I did enjoy the sports part of it - the teams, games, and all the people involved.
I felt that the romance part did not really balance out well. By 60% they were back together, but I was still curious about what else needed to happen in the remaining 40% which is why I actually read the whole thing, although I did skim a lot by then. Making it to the end is a win for me.
This book started out strong, but as it went on, to me it felt like Jupiter pretty much badgered Marnie into getting back together. Did he ever respect her boundaries?
Moreover, a quick sorry in between him being a psycho did not cut it as an apology for what happened when they broke up. That warranted a longer conversation. He kept sweeping things under a rug and trying to not dwell, when she clearly needed more than that.
I also felt like Marnie did not stand her ground enough? One kiss and she was ready to jump back into things with him.
I did enjoy the sports part of it - the teams, games, and all the people involved.
I felt that the romance part did not really balance out well. By 60% they were back together, but I was still curious about what else needed to happen in the remaining 40% which is why I actually read the whole thing, although I did skim a lot by then. Making it to the end is a win for me.
November 21, 2024
Second Chance get me EVERY.SINGLE.TIME yall. I was lucky enough to get the ARC for the third book in this series and after liking that one and those characters, I wanted to go back and read the others. This was a wonderful Intro to this new world and the new characters. I LOVED the flashbacks. I loved watching these characters fall in love at 16. OMG My heart was overflowing. Then fast forward 14 years and I loved watching them do it all over again. I loved Jupiter and how we got to unravel all of his layers of grumpiness and this exterior that he put on for everyone. When really he was in love with this woman who he let go (for a dumb reason I might add BUT I got it). I was a little irked with how grumpy he was towards her from the jump- like you have to woo a little bit which he did but after trying a different way. Then he was like putty in her hands, and she didn't even know it. I loved learning about all of his tattoos and how he had decided to have her with him always even if she wasn't. I do love reading when the MMC falls hard and fast and FIRST. I also loved our girl Marnie. Man she was strong. She was brilliant, had worked her way up in a men's world. I loved her reaction to finding out why she had been hired for this baseball team when she knows NOTHING about baseball BUT then also watching her succeed. The thing I love most about second chance is watching them fight their feelings (really only her in this case) until they finally combust.
Marnie is moving across the country to work for a team that the man that she loathes plays for. Also she knows nothing about baseball and yet she found herself unable to say no to this opportunity. Again not even after she realized she would be interacting with Jupiter Reeves, the man who broke her heart 14 years ago, on a daily basis. Oh and did she mention he ghosted her. No contact in all that time. So color her shocked when she finds out that he wouldn't move to this team unless she came too. Or that he spent a literal fortune on her dream telescope. She can't make sense of this grump borderline mean man to who she fell for all those years ago. She also can't make sense of how her body still reacts to him. When she finally learns why he ghosted her and how he has felt about her all this time, she is even more baffled. She could have made that decision with him. They could have had all this time together. But then she realizes that she doesn't want to waste any more time. She wants to get that time together that they didn't have back. But will he believe her now that she has held him at arm's length only giving him her body and not her heart?
Jupiter has a persona. He has a reputation of being the bad boy of baseball. No one knows the kid who fell in love at 16 and left his heart back home. Or how he has had to harden it over time to be able to deal with the never ending ache. So when he is asked to move to New York to help a struggling team, his one condition is he will come if they can find Marnie and get her to work there too. Everything will fall into place when they see each other again he tells himself. But that isn't how it goes. She doesn't want anything to do with him. Clearly his current tactics aren't working. So he tries to relate to her how he used to....space. He tries to give her space while also making it clear what he wants. He woos her in his own way. What he doesn't expect is for her to give in but only with her body. He takes what he can get thinking he will get the rest. But the longer they are doing this and the longer she isn't his, he doesn't know whether he can be half in anymore.
Definitely recommend this series if you haven't started it yet. I really liked Lulu's writing and how she wove this story together. I am excited to read the rest and see everyone fall and who they fall for.
Marnie is moving across the country to work for a team that the man that she loathes plays for. Also she knows nothing about baseball and yet she found herself unable to say no to this opportunity. Again not even after she realized she would be interacting with Jupiter Reeves, the man who broke her heart 14 years ago, on a daily basis. Oh and did she mention he ghosted her. No contact in all that time. So color her shocked when she finds out that he wouldn't move to this team unless she came too. Or that he spent a literal fortune on her dream telescope. She can't make sense of this grump borderline mean man to who she fell for all those years ago. She also can't make sense of how her body still reacts to him. When she finally learns why he ghosted her and how he has felt about her all this time, she is even more baffled. She could have made that decision with him. They could have had all this time together. But then she realizes that she doesn't want to waste any more time. She wants to get that time together that they didn't have back. But will he believe her now that she has held him at arm's length only giving him her body and not her heart?
Jupiter has a persona. He has a reputation of being the bad boy of baseball. No one knows the kid who fell in love at 16 and left his heart back home. Or how he has had to harden it over time to be able to deal with the never ending ache. So when he is asked to move to New York to help a struggling team, his one condition is he will come if they can find Marnie and get her to work there too. Everything will fall into place when they see each other again he tells himself. But that isn't how it goes. She doesn't want anything to do with him. Clearly his current tactics aren't working. So he tries to relate to her how he used to....space. He tries to give her space while also making it clear what he wants. He woos her in his own way. What he doesn't expect is for her to give in but only with her body. He takes what he can get thinking he will get the rest. But the longer they are doing this and the longer she isn't his, he doesn't know whether he can be half in anymore.
Definitely recommend this series if you haven't started it yet. I really liked Lulu's writing and how she wove this story together. I am excited to read the rest and see everyone fall and who they fall for.
April 4, 2023
I was so excited to read the book, but it was such a disappointment, FMC didn’t know how to stand her ground she was such a doormat and the MC was such a shitty person he didn’t have any character development he didn’t apologize for shit and he was such a manipulative person
I couldn’t complete the book stopped at 62%
I couldn’t complete the book stopped at 62%
October 21, 2024
I am so sad because my original review disappeared. That just means I get to gush about it all over again!
I loved this book so much. The dual POV and the dual timelines were wonderful. Lulu really knows how to write a love story with substance.
Marnie and Jupiter are electric together. I may love her more than Jupiter. Absolutely a top three FMC for me.
I can't recommend this book enough. Hello to my new comfort read.
I loved this book so much. The dual POV and the dual timelines were wonderful. Lulu really knows how to write a love story with substance.
Marnie and Jupiter are electric together. I may love her more than Jupiter. Absolutely a top three FMC for me.
I can't recommend this book enough. Hello to my new comfort read.
Read
April 1, 2023DNF @25%
November 20, 2023
i was told this was a second chance romance with lots of “he got a tattoo for her while they were apart” and it did NOT disappoint. lots of mutual pining and “it’s always been you” vibes, despite him being a bit of an idiot back in high school (hey we’ve all been there). and there’s not enough baseball romances out there in my opinion, so that was a win for me. really enjoyed it!
September 17, 2023
4.5 Marnie and Jupiter Stars
I really enjoyed this second chance, sports romance. Jupiter and Marnie met at school when she was a 16 year old , extremely clever A-student with plans to graduate early and study at M.I.T. Jupiter, at 18, was one of the most popular athletes at school with a very real chance of being scouted by the L.A. Dodgers.
'A physics student and a baseball player. Marnie the nerd, and Jupiter the most popular of jocks.'
Theirs was a passionate , charming, sweet and intense romance that burned as brightly as the stars twinkling in the night sky that Marnie was fascinated by.
“I learned something today.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, in one of your books. Jupiter is the protector planet, so I guess my job is to always protect you.”
When Jupiter ends their relationship , it's brutal and heartbreaking. He has his reasons for doing so but Marnie doesn't know what they are. She is utterly devastated and moves far away from him and all things connected to him. Fourteen years later , they reconnect. She is a respected astrodynamicist (literally a Rocket Scientist) and he is hugely successful and popular baseball player.
I thought this was a really well written book. I am not the biggest fan of flashbacks in a novel , but in this case it works very well and doesn't interrupt the flow of this charming , sexy and addictive story. Both Marnie and Jupiter are very likeable characters. At times , Jupiter throws his toys out of his pram and behaves like a bit of a diva but he is a highly accomplished , driven , alpha male who gets whatever (and whoever) he wants. He is also desperate to get Marnie back and I loved seeing his romantic, gentle side. All diva behaviour was forgiven!
HEA? Yes
Cheating? No.
I know absolutely nothing about baseball and it didn't deter from my enjoyment of the story. If you’re a Baseball fan then I think the details about the game will be a gorgeous bonus for you.
I really enjoyed this second chance, sports romance. Jupiter and Marnie met at school when she was a 16 year old , extremely clever A-student with plans to graduate early and study at M.I.T. Jupiter, at 18, was one of the most popular athletes at school with a very real chance of being scouted by the L.A. Dodgers.
'A physics student and a baseball player. Marnie the nerd, and Jupiter the most popular of jocks.'
Theirs was a passionate , charming, sweet and intense romance that burned as brightly as the stars twinkling in the night sky that Marnie was fascinated by.
“I learned something today.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, in one of your books. Jupiter is the protector planet, so I guess my job is to always protect you.”
When Jupiter ends their relationship , it's brutal and heartbreaking. He has his reasons for doing so but Marnie doesn't know what they are. She is utterly devastated and moves far away from him and all things connected to him. Fourteen years later , they reconnect. She is a respected astrodynamicist (literally a Rocket Scientist) and he is hugely successful and popular baseball player.
I thought this was a really well written book. I am not the biggest fan of flashbacks in a novel , but in this case it works very well and doesn't interrupt the flow of this charming , sexy and addictive story. Both Marnie and Jupiter are very likeable characters. At times , Jupiter throws his toys out of his pram and behaves like a bit of a diva but he is a highly accomplished , driven , alpha male who gets whatever (and whoever) he wants. He is also desperate to get Marnie back and I loved seeing his romantic, gentle side. All diva behaviour was forgiven!
HEA? Yes
Cheating? No.
I know absolutely nothing about baseball and it didn't deter from my enjoyment of the story. If you’re a Baseball fan then I think the details about the game will be a gorgeous bonus for you.
November 8, 2023
If I could give this book infinity stars I would!!
I do not have the words to describe my love for this book and for its characters. From the first page I was obsessed!! And my love for Lulu Moore and her books was born!
I’m not really a second chance romance kinda girl, but when I say I ATE this book up! I mean it!! I literally devoured it!
The Third Baseman is a second chance, baseball romance and it’s one of my best reads of 2023 easily!
Jupiter and Marnie have my whole heart. This was one of those books that I couldn’t put down but you try to read slowly cause you don’t want it to end!
If you know anything about me you know that I will not stop screaming/recommending this book. So do yourself a favour and READ IT!! You won’t regret it!
I also had the pleasure of meeting Lulu Moore at RARE London and to say she is the sweetest most kindest person would be an understatement!
I do not have the words to describe my love for this book and for its characters. From the first page I was obsessed!! And my love for Lulu Moore and her books was born!
I’m not really a second chance romance kinda girl, but when I say I ATE this book up! I mean it!! I literally devoured it!
The Third Baseman is a second chance, baseball romance and it’s one of my best reads of 2023 easily!
Jupiter and Marnie have my whole heart. This was one of those books that I couldn’t put down but you try to read slowly cause you don’t want it to end!
If you know anything about me you know that I will not stop screaming/recommending this book. So do yourself a favour and READ IT!! You won’t regret it!
I also had the pleasure of meeting Lulu Moore at RARE London and to say she is the sweetest most kindest person would be an understatement!
lost-interest
August 7, 2025I don't think I like the concept of this one, and I think I'm not going to force it
------
Yes, I am reading this after I read book 2, avert your eyes
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Yes, I am reading this after I read book 2, avert your eyes
March 22, 2024
Impartial Rating ~ 5 stars
(Totally Biased Rating - because I’m allowed and don’t want Jupiter to beat Murray in the swoon stakes ~ 4.5 - I’m not sorry.)
Objectively this is a 5 star read, but
un-objectively I feel I need to give it 4.5 just to keep Murray in my top spot of Lulu Moore’s boys!! But I digress.
As Lulu will tell you herself, I did not get the hype for Jupiter from his appearances in The New York Players and The Tuesday Club books. But I completely understand the hype now, even if it is begrudgingly.
Jupiter is a moody, cocky, swoon worthy sweetheart. And it’s Marnie that makes him turn to mush. Unfortunately for him, he broke Marnie’s heart and now she’s having none of Jupiter and his attempts at getting her back. And he is determined to get her back. Like in an adorably, slightly unhinged obsessed way. And I was all over that shiz.
The whole book is swoony, there’s a hint of angst and a lot of fun! But what I liked best was the way that we don’t fully meet these characters until the near the end of the book. They both hold themselves back, as though they’re slowly opening up to us as the reader as they open up to each other. And as usual Lulu Moore delivers a strong female character who can take just as much as she can give, and still hurts like the rest of us.
And then there’s that ending, where I won’t lie, I was wondering which direction Moore was taking us, but oh my god, get ready ladies & gents because it is a good one! And totally not what you expect. It made me tear up and fall harder for Jupe.
Now I’m going to sit, impatiently waiting for the next book because man oh man do I want to meet the rest of The New York Lions, especially Ace & Stone!
(Totally Biased Rating - because I’m allowed and don’t want Jupiter to beat Murray in the swoon stakes ~ 4.5 - I’m not sorry.)
Objectively this is a 5 star read, but
un-objectively I feel I need to give it 4.5 just to keep Murray in my top spot of Lulu Moore’s boys!! But I digress.
As Lulu will tell you herself, I did not get the hype for Jupiter from his appearances in The New York Players and The Tuesday Club books. But I completely understand the hype now, even if it is begrudgingly.
Jupiter is a moody, cocky, swoon worthy sweetheart. And it’s Marnie that makes him turn to mush. Unfortunately for him, he broke Marnie’s heart and now she’s having none of Jupiter and his attempts at getting her back. And he is determined to get her back. Like in an adorably, slightly unhinged obsessed way. And I was all over that shiz.
The whole book is swoony, there’s a hint of angst and a lot of fun! But what I liked best was the way that we don’t fully meet these characters until the near the end of the book. They both hold themselves back, as though they’re slowly opening up to us as the reader as they open up to each other. And as usual Lulu Moore delivers a strong female character who can take just as much as she can give, and still hurts like the rest of us.
And then there’s that ending, where I won’t lie, I was wondering which direction Moore was taking us, but oh my god, get ready ladies & gents because it is a good one! And totally not what you expect. It made me tear up and fall harder for Jupe.
Now I’m going to sit, impatiently waiting for the next book because man oh man do I want to meet the rest of The New York Lions, especially Ace & Stone!
October 2, 2024
"Finding your forever person was goddamn hard – especially if you lost them once already."
I loved this book! It was super sweet with some angst and a very swoonworthy baseman book boyfriend who would do anything to win his geeky highschool sweetheart back. This book kept me engaged and had me smiling throughout the times Jupiter did something to melt Marnie's heart. And their past moments made my heart flutter! I also liked the side characters, they had a strong and charming presence. Jupiter & Marnie's bond was very special and there was no doubt that they will be the ultimate endgame. Overall, this book gave me all the second chance feels I was looking for. Just wished the epilogue was more fluffy.
I loved this book! It was super sweet with some angst and a very swoonworthy baseman book boyfriend who would do anything to win his geeky highschool sweetheart back. This book kept me engaged and had me smiling throughout the times Jupiter did something to melt Marnie's heart. And their past moments made my heart flutter! I also liked the side characters, they had a strong and charming presence. Jupiter & Marnie's bond was very special and there was no doubt that they will be the ultimate endgame. Overall, this book gave me all the second chance feels I was looking for. Just wished the epilogue was more fluffy.
dnf
May 8, 2025if I wanted to read about high schoolers I’d read YA novels not a second chance MLB romance 👋
May 23, 2023
“𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔, 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆."
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🔥🔥
Relationship dynamic: MW
Tropes/content: Sports romance (baseball), second chance, jock hero/nerdy heroine, virgin main character, flashbacks, "It's always been you", high school sweethearts, forced proximity, workplace romance
Series: New York Lions #1
⚠️Check triggers⚠️
Marnie Matthews is starting a new job as the Director of Baseball Science for the New York Lions after spending years working for NASA. She's in for a surprise when she runs into Jupiter Reeves, the star third baseman on the team, and her high school sweetheart who broke her heart. Marnie and Jupiter haven't seen each other since the day Jupiter broke her heart fourteen years ago. She wants nothing to do with him, but he makes it known he wants her back and she's the love of his life. Jupiter works to rebuild their relationship, but his refusal to talk about why he broke up with her might be the reason they never get back together.
Baseball has played an important role in my life and it's a sport I truly enjoy watching. I was excited to read this story, and while I liked the baseball elements, but the rest fell flat for me. This story is told in the past and present. I enjoyed the past chapters because the reader gets to see Marnie and Jupiter fall in love. They were sweet and you could how much they loved each other. I loved the tattoos that they both had as adults to honor their love.
The present day chapters were okay, but I didn't care for how they reconnected. Jupiter truly takes no accountability for the break up and refuses to talk about it. He said some awful things to her when he broke up with her. I understand why he said those things, to a degree (I won't share why because that's a spoiler), but he should've understood how that impacted Marnie. Yes, I get his heart was broken, too, but he made that choice. She didn't know for fourteen years why he ended it, so of course she has questions. It truly baffled me that he thought he could buy her a few things, make some proclamations, and start saying, "I love you" again and she'd just go with it. I wish he had groveled more and truly showed that he wasn't going to break her heart.
Speaking of groveling, I really hated that Marnie had to be the one to fix things after their fight. I felt like Jupiter gaslit her a bit when he explained why he broke up with her. Yes, she wasn't fully truthful about changes she wanted to make when they were teens (keeping it vague since it's a spoiler), but he should've talked to her about it. Instead, he broke her heart, broke his own heart, then held onto her "lies" and expected her to get over it. I hated that she had to do the public display for him. I was honestly embarrassed for her. He's the one that should've been doing any and everything for her forgiveness. I wish Marnie had stood her ground more and made him work hard for her trust.
Outside of the story, my other issues were with the writing style. I'm not an expert by any means, but there were several misspelled words and grammatical errors. Additionally, the overuse of exclamation points was exhausting. They were used at odd times that would throw off scenes or make the characters, who are in their 30s, come off really immature. There's a way to show characters arguing without exclamation points and I wish that had been used here.
While this wasn't a total hit for me, I would try more books by Lulu. I'd be interested to see what else comes from this series.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🔥🔥
Relationship dynamic: MW
Tropes/content: Sports romance (baseball), second chance, jock hero/nerdy heroine, virgin main character, flashbacks, "It's always been you", high school sweethearts, forced proximity, workplace romance
Series: New York Lions #1
⚠️Check triggers⚠️
Marnie Matthews is starting a new job as the Director of Baseball Science for the New York Lions after spending years working for NASA. She's in for a surprise when she runs into Jupiter Reeves, the star third baseman on the team, and her high school sweetheart who broke her heart. Marnie and Jupiter haven't seen each other since the day Jupiter broke her heart fourteen years ago. She wants nothing to do with him, but he makes it known he wants her back and she's the love of his life. Jupiter works to rebuild their relationship, but his refusal to talk about why he broke up with her might be the reason they never get back together.
Baseball has played an important role in my life and it's a sport I truly enjoy watching. I was excited to read this story, and while I liked the baseball elements, but the rest fell flat for me. This story is told in the past and present. I enjoyed the past chapters because the reader gets to see Marnie and Jupiter fall in love. They were sweet and you could how much they loved each other. I loved the tattoos that they both had as adults to honor their love.
The present day chapters were okay, but I didn't care for how they reconnected. Jupiter truly takes no accountability for the break up and refuses to talk about it. He said some awful things to her when he broke up with her. I understand why he said those things, to a degree (I won't share why because that's a spoiler), but he should've understood how that impacted Marnie. Yes, I get his heart was broken, too, but he made that choice. She didn't know for fourteen years why he ended it, so of course she has questions. It truly baffled me that he thought he could buy her a few things, make some proclamations, and start saying, "I love you" again and she'd just go with it. I wish he had groveled more and truly showed that he wasn't going to break her heart.
Speaking of groveling, I really hated that Marnie had to be the one to fix things after their fight. I felt like Jupiter gaslit her a bit when he explained why he broke up with her. Yes, she wasn't fully truthful about changes she wanted to make when they were teens (keeping it vague since it's a spoiler), but he should've talked to her about it. Instead, he broke her heart, broke his own heart, then held onto her "lies" and expected her to get over it. I hated that she had to do the public display for him. I was honestly embarrassed for her. He's the one that should've been doing any and everything for her forgiveness. I wish Marnie had stood her ground more and made him work hard for her trust.
Outside of the story, my other issues were with the writing style. I'm not an expert by any means, but there were several misspelled words and grammatical errors. Additionally, the overuse of exclamation points was exhausting. They were used at odd times that would throw off scenes or make the characters, who are in their 30s, come off really immature. There's a way to show characters arguing without exclamation points and I wish that had been used here.
While this wasn't a total hit for me, I would try more books by Lulu. I'd be interested to see what else comes from this series.
March 30, 2023
“The field is the only place I play fair. When it comes to you, all bets are off.”
Ok I loved this book from start to finish and sign me up for The Jupiter Reeves Fan Club! This is a contemporary, second chance, sports romance and I am officially obsessed with Marnie and Jupiter!
Marnie and Jupiter were highschool sweethearts, they met his last year of highschool and had a whirlwind, soulmate-level, relationship. But Jupiter had big plans of getting drafted for baseball and Marnie had big plans of graduating early and attending M.I.T. and eventually working for NASA. The day Jupiter got drafted for the Dodgers was also the day he broke up with Marnie and broke both their hearts. Cut to 14 years later!!
Now Marnie is 30, recently divorced, has been working as an astrodynamicist for NASA, and gets a million-dollar job offer from the new owner of the New York Lions baseball team. Marnie’s new boss wants her to study analytics and come up with a plan to help the team win. She has avoided baseball for years but looks at this chance as an opportunity for her to finally move on. It isn’t until after signing her contract she found out that Jupiter also recently signed on with the team. In fact, she finds out on her first day that it was part of his deal in signing with the team…they had to hire on Marnie because he is ready to win her back!
And omg was it so much fun seeing just how desperate Jupiter was to win back Marnie! The flashback chapters were sooo good, I loved seeing their sweet early days together as teens: he’s the boy next door, their stargazing nights, him giving her rides to/from school…eee so cute! I loved seeing how much he loves her and how far he was willing to go to win her back in the present day chapters: buys her a telescope (after she mentions hers is in storage in TX), gets tons of stock of her fav candy delivered, he buys them a future house and has Pinterest boards for decorating inspiration! He calls her Star and sends her daily texts to check in. Ugh so good! I want to read more from this author now (including his sister and Drew’s hockey romance), this was so good and fun.
Ok I loved this book from start to finish and sign me up for The Jupiter Reeves Fan Club! This is a contemporary, second chance, sports romance and I am officially obsessed with Marnie and Jupiter!
Marnie and Jupiter were highschool sweethearts, they met his last year of highschool and had a whirlwind, soulmate-level, relationship. But Jupiter had big plans of getting drafted for baseball and Marnie had big plans of graduating early and attending M.I.T. and eventually working for NASA. The day Jupiter got drafted for the Dodgers was also the day he broke up with Marnie and broke both their hearts. Cut to 14 years later!!
Now Marnie is 30, recently divorced, has been working as an astrodynamicist for NASA, and gets a million-dollar job offer from the new owner of the New York Lions baseball team. Marnie’s new boss wants her to study analytics and come up with a plan to help the team win. She has avoided baseball for years but looks at this chance as an opportunity for her to finally move on. It isn’t until after signing her contract she found out that Jupiter also recently signed on with the team. In fact, she finds out on her first day that it was part of his deal in signing with the team…they had to hire on Marnie because he is ready to win her back!
And omg was it so much fun seeing just how desperate Jupiter was to win back Marnie! The flashback chapters were sooo good, I loved seeing their sweet early days together as teens: he’s the boy next door, their stargazing nights, him giving her rides to/from school…eee so cute! I loved seeing how much he loves her and how far he was willing to go to win her back in the present day chapters: buys her a telescope (after she mentions hers is in storage in TX), gets tons of stock of her fav candy delivered, he buys them a future house and has Pinterest boards for decorating inspiration! He calls her Star and sends her daily texts to check in. Ugh so good! I want to read more from this author now (including his sister and Drew’s hockey romance), this was so good and fun.
March 29, 2023
I have been a HUGE Jupiter fan since we first really met him in Drew and Emerson’s story so I was a little nervous reading his and Marnie’s story in case I hyped him up too much in my head. But like y’all…. He is EVERYTHING and so much more than I ever dreamed of!!! I absolutely refused to put this book down as soon as I was hooked right away. These two have some history that we see in pieces as the book progresses which was a great way to keep me on my toes rather than doing a past and present sections. Definitely gave it a little more suspense.
I love their second meet cute in Penn’s office. Marnie is fiery to her core yet still was so emotional and vulnerable along the way. And we finally get to see the real Jupiter too along the way when he drops his broody grumpy schtick. He was so playful and light and fun that I had to do a few double takes to make sure I had the right baseball player LOL. Jupe comes in hot right away with his antics to win her back which naturally causes some friction between the two while Marnie figures out how she feels and what to do next. Both of them go through the emotional ringer in their own ways as they come to terms with their shared past and work to get on the same page. I mean really all of it just makes you swoon so hard.
My favorite thing about all Lulu’s books are the worlds that she builds around all her books. We got to see Emerson and Drew again along with Penn, Lowe and Beulah from her previous Tuesday Club series. It’s so fun to see our favorites pop back in while we get to love a new couple and meet some new people. I absolutely adore Jupe and the team he introduced us to in this book! I can't wait for Ace's book next!
I love their second meet cute in Penn’s office. Marnie is fiery to her core yet still was so emotional and vulnerable along the way. And we finally get to see the real Jupiter too along the way when he drops his broody grumpy schtick. He was so playful and light and fun that I had to do a few double takes to make sure I had the right baseball player LOL. Jupe comes in hot right away with his antics to win her back which naturally causes some friction between the two while Marnie figures out how she feels and what to do next. Both of them go through the emotional ringer in their own ways as they come to terms with their shared past and work to get on the same page. I mean really all of it just makes you swoon so hard.
My favorite thing about all Lulu’s books are the worlds that she builds around all her books. We got to see Emerson and Drew again along with Penn, Lowe and Beulah from her previous Tuesday Club series. It’s so fun to see our favorites pop back in while we get to love a new couple and meet some new people. I absolutely adore Jupe and the team he introduced us to in this book! I can't wait for Ace's book next!
March 29, 2023
This was cute but I never totally warmed to Jupiter.
For me, second chance is only successful when the person who broke it up communicates, proves they’re sorry and that they deserve the other person.
Ok, so they’re teenagers when they break up but in the future, Jupiter doesn’t give any explanations. I *hate* that he wants her back but never apologized or explained that he was lying when he broke up with her! He calls her clingy, says she’s not girlfriend material, etc. and she’s just left with this impression. Telling her the real reason he broke them up should’ve been step one. He literally only says he’s *not* sorry for bringing her to NY.
Which brings me to the next point… he breaks up with her so she’ll go to MIT, and they’ll both follow their dreams…but then doesn’t mind taking her away from her job at NASA to his baseball team now?
I do like the baseball parts of the book, and some of the 1% improvement stuff was unique!
So I believe Jupiter loves her, and he has a lot of sweet thoughts about her. He apparently thinks about her before bed every night, gets tattoos all over in honor of her, but we have this exchange between him and a friend…
“I can’t believe she got married.”
“Um, dude, you’ve slept with hundreds of women.”
“I didn’t want to marry any of them. I didn’t pledge my undying love to someone else.”
Ok. It’s been like 14 years, I don’t expect celibacy. But you paint me a picture of a man obsessed, who’s also slept with *hundreds* of women?? If he thinks about her every day, what’s his thoughts when he’s with other women? I would’ve rather it was an every once in a while occurrence. (Thankfully there’s no active OW drama, just her jealous hearing some fans talk about him.)
Onto Marnie. I know she gets married. She’s never gotten over Jupiter though, and I tend to side with the person who was broken up with. She doesn’t know Jupiter didn’t really want to, and was trying to move on, so that doesn’t bother me as much.
I was actually glad she wasn’t waiting around like a doormat, that she did get married and date even though she didn’t love anyone like him.
As for their reconciliation… I felt like their conversations were a little halting and it’s been a long time - 14 years! I wanted more of them getting to know each other again and a build up of trust before they sleep together - also hearing about his sexual history I would’ve liked some talk about safe sex or condoms.
But to Marnie’s credit she does want to go slow. To my annoyance, Jupiter avoids most blame or any communication about their breakup which only causes issues.
When shit finally hits the fan, I don’t really like that she takes part of the blame for the breakup. Yes, she was going to switch schools to be near him, and he didn’t want that… but if he just *talked* to her about it and told her not to do that, things could’ve been different. Instead she’s left guessing and broken hearted!
I can forgive some of it because they were young but now it’s been so long, Jupiter could’ve reached out long ago or been way more communicative present day. He basically coerces her to be near him, buys her gifts, and orders teammates away from her. It would’ve more satisfying to see him comfort her, communicate, and apologize.
I don’t want to seem like I’m being totally negative! I read it very quickly and thought the writing was good. Jupiter does some cute things, like the “M” he does before batting, and how happy he is when she gives him a try again.
The ending was cute, too, and I liked them building their house together. So if you’re wanting a second chance book, you could enjoy it!
For me, second chance is only successful when the person who broke it up communicates, proves they’re sorry and that they deserve the other person.
Ok, so they’re teenagers when they break up but in the future, Jupiter doesn’t give any explanations. I *hate* that he wants her back but never apologized or explained that he was lying when he broke up with her! He calls her clingy, says she’s not girlfriend material, etc. and she’s just left with this impression. Telling her the real reason he broke them up should’ve been step one. He literally only says he’s *not* sorry for bringing her to NY.
Which brings me to the next point… he breaks up with her so she’ll go to MIT, and they’ll both follow their dreams…but then doesn’t mind taking her away from her job at NASA to his baseball team now?
I do like the baseball parts of the book, and some of the 1% improvement stuff was unique!
So I believe Jupiter loves her, and he has a lot of sweet thoughts about her. He apparently thinks about her before bed every night, gets tattoos all over in honor of her, but we have this exchange between him and a friend…
“I can’t believe she got married.”
“Um, dude, you’ve slept with hundreds of women.”
“I didn’t want to marry any of them. I didn’t pledge my undying love to someone else.”
Ok. It’s been like 14 years, I don’t expect celibacy. But you paint me a picture of a man obsessed, who’s also slept with *hundreds* of women?? If he thinks about her every day, what’s his thoughts when he’s with other women? I would’ve rather it was an every once in a while occurrence. (Thankfully there’s no active OW drama, just her jealous hearing some fans talk about him.)
Onto Marnie. I know she gets married. She’s never gotten over Jupiter though, and I tend to side with the person who was broken up with. She doesn’t know Jupiter didn’t really want to, and was trying to move on, so that doesn’t bother me as much.
I was actually glad she wasn’t waiting around like a doormat, that she did get married and date even though she didn’t love anyone like him.
As for their reconciliation… I felt like their conversations were a little halting and it’s been a long time - 14 years! I wanted more of them getting to know each other again and a build up of trust before they sleep together - also hearing about his sexual history I would’ve liked some talk about safe sex or condoms.
But to Marnie’s credit she does want to go slow. To my annoyance, Jupiter avoids most blame or any communication about their breakup which only causes issues.
When shit finally hits the fan, I don’t really like that she takes part of the blame for the breakup. Yes, she was going to switch schools to be near him, and he didn’t want that… but if he just *talked* to her about it and told her not to do that, things could’ve been different. Instead she’s left guessing and broken hearted!
I can forgive some of it because they were young but now it’s been so long, Jupiter could’ve reached out long ago or been way more communicative present day. He basically coerces her to be near him, buys her gifts, and orders teammates away from her. It would’ve more satisfying to see him comfort her, communicate, and apologize.
I don’t want to seem like I’m being totally negative! I read it very quickly and thought the writing was good. Jupiter does some cute things, like the “M” he does before batting, and how happy he is when she gives him a try again.
The ending was cute, too, and I liked them building their house together. So if you’re wanting a second chance book, you could enjoy it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2023
Jupiter Reeves
The Man. The Myth. The Legend.
The Bad Boy of Baseball has an attitude for a reason. Her name is Marnie Matthews and she’s an actual rocket scientist.
In previous books, readers find out that Jupiter is pining for his first and only love from high school. He is ready to forget about the past and make Marnie his again, but she isn’t going to go calmly into that good night (even if it is very good night).
Jupiter and Marnie try to navigate their new reality, after years of heartbreak, while working for the same organization. The Jupiter orchestrated forced proximity leads to some explosive interactions.
This book switches between scenes from their high school relationship and present day. The flashbacks were well done and crucial for the story. We’ve seen Jupiter as the grump baseball player and here we also get to see Jupiter as the young man in love. Lulu does such a wonderful job of bringing these two halves of him together to become the man Marnie deserves.
I’ve been infatuated with Jupiter since he first appeared in Drew’s Vegas book. He definitely lives up to the hype and Marnie has officially been added to my girl crush list. I love them and their dynamic. This book is heavy on the swoon with the perfect amount of steam. I laughed out loud, gasped and made that “awww” face so many times I lost count.
This story was a little different than I expected and everything I wanted all at the same time.
The cameos from the characters of previous books are great and I’m so excited about all of the new characters for this series. The friendship that develops between Marnie, Lowe & Beulah is one of my favorite things.
As usual, I am left with a perma-grin and a deep longing for the next book…
The Man. The Myth. The Legend.
The Bad Boy of Baseball has an attitude for a reason. Her name is Marnie Matthews and she’s an actual rocket scientist.
In previous books, readers find out that Jupiter is pining for his first and only love from high school. He is ready to forget about the past and make Marnie his again, but she isn’t going to go calmly into that good night (even if it is very good night).
Jupiter and Marnie try to navigate their new reality, after years of heartbreak, while working for the same organization. The Jupiter orchestrated forced proximity leads to some explosive interactions.
This book switches between scenes from their high school relationship and present day. The flashbacks were well done and crucial for the story. We’ve seen Jupiter as the grump baseball player and here we also get to see Jupiter as the young man in love. Lulu does such a wonderful job of bringing these two halves of him together to become the man Marnie deserves.
I’ve been infatuated with Jupiter since he first appeared in Drew’s Vegas book. He definitely lives up to the hype and Marnie has officially been added to my girl crush list. I love them and their dynamic. This book is heavy on the swoon with the perfect amount of steam. I laughed out loud, gasped and made that “awww” face so many times I lost count.
This story was a little different than I expected and everything I wanted all at the same time.
The cameos from the characters of previous books are great and I’m so excited about all of the new characters for this series. The friendship that develops between Marnie, Lowe & Beulah is one of my favorite things.
As usual, I am left with a perma-grin and a deep longing for the next book…
July 14, 2023
I'm not always the biggest fan of 2nd chance romances, but I LOVED this one. I want to be a part of the Jupiter Reeves fan club also! I saw some reviews that said the flashbacks were kind of slow, but those were my favorite parts. I've been obsessed with Baseball lately so I knew I wanted a good baseball romance, and this one definitely delivered. I can't wait to read some more in this series!
March 28, 2023
Reread: March 28th, 2023
1st read: March 18th, 2023
This was amazing!
Beyond what I was expecting .
As soon as I started reading this, i couldn't put it down.
It was funny and sweet.
The romance was beautiful, and the steam, albeit it was slow burn, was fantastic. The pace was so perfect that you didn't feel like you had to wait that long for our main characters to actually be together.
This is a second chance romance, and it really felt that way. I like how stubborn Jupe was and how Marnie made him work for it.
I was a bit unsure about the main conflict and how it was going to be resolved, but... it was amazing. I got teary-eyed and all mushy, and I loved it.
I love how Jupe was a "man's man," yet he also was very in touch with his emotions and how much he cared for Marnie's emotions as well.
Now... my favorite part of this was the new "girl's club" and the special appearance of two of my favorites from Lulu's books (I'm not spoiling that). I was giggling and laughing. It was amazing.
Overall, this was a fabulous start to the series, and I can't wait for more.
Thank you to Lulu Moore and Valentine PR team for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
1st read: March 18th, 2023
This was amazing!
Beyond what I was expecting .
As soon as I started reading this, i couldn't put it down.
It was funny and sweet.
The romance was beautiful, and the steam, albeit it was slow burn, was fantastic. The pace was so perfect that you didn't feel like you had to wait that long for our main characters to actually be together.
This is a second chance romance, and it really felt that way. I like how stubborn Jupe was and how Marnie made him work for it.
I was a bit unsure about the main conflict and how it was going to be resolved, but... it was amazing. I got teary-eyed and all mushy, and I loved it.
I love how Jupe was a "man's man," yet he also was very in touch with his emotions and how much he cared for Marnie's emotions as well.
Now... my favorite part of this was the new "girl's club" and the special appearance of two of my favorites from Lulu's books (I'm not spoiling that). I was giggling and laughing. It was amazing.
Overall, this was a fabulous start to the series, and I can't wait for more.
Thank you to Lulu Moore and Valentine PR team for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2023
The Third Baseman by Lulu Moore
♾✨
3🌶
A huge thank you to Lulu and Valentine PR for the arc, everyone, please go read it. ❤
First, let me say this was amazing, this is one of those stories that I never wanted to end, but became such a place of home for me. Jupiter and Marine's story is all about first love and the one that got away. They're the perfect high school sweethearts, until Jupiter gets drafted and leaves Marine behind. Until 14 years later, as fate would have it, they're back, in each other's lives where they are forced to be around each again.
Jupiter, allow me to introduce you all to your new book husband, he's the grumpy-tattooed baseball player, he's wonderful. He's one of those men that are so rare, but deep, with the most incredible heart. Especially when it comes to this woman, even though things are different and times have changed, his love for this woman never faltered. He's just everything. If anyone can find him in real life, please let me know. 😁
Marine, my girl! Now can we talk about an remarkable fmc! Because Marine, is that, we need more characters like her in the world and in books. She's sweet, kind and a rocket scientist. She is so incredibly strong, feisty and beyond intelligent. Marine is a woman who is very fearful of the past, and her heart being broken again, but she is confident and she knows her worth. I just love her and her journey of healing, forgiveness and finding her happiness.
This story, was so unique and special from any sports romance or second chance romance that I have ever read. Everything from the friendships, the teammates, the families, to the love story, to the Jupiter and Marine was just perfect. This is my first book by Lulu and I've already added everything of hers to my TBR. I'm so excited to read more from this series and to see what Lulu has planned.
♾✨
3🌶
A huge thank you to Lulu and Valentine PR for the arc, everyone, please go read it. ❤
First, let me say this was amazing, this is one of those stories that I never wanted to end, but became such a place of home for me. Jupiter and Marine's story is all about first love and the one that got away. They're the perfect high school sweethearts, until Jupiter gets drafted and leaves Marine behind. Until 14 years later, as fate would have it, they're back, in each other's lives where they are forced to be around each again.
Jupiter, allow me to introduce you all to your new book husband, he's the grumpy-tattooed baseball player, he's wonderful. He's one of those men that are so rare, but deep, with the most incredible heart. Especially when it comes to this woman, even though things are different and times have changed, his love for this woman never faltered. He's just everything. If anyone can find him in real life, please let me know. 😁
Marine, my girl! Now can we talk about an remarkable fmc! Because Marine, is that, we need more characters like her in the world and in books. She's sweet, kind and a rocket scientist. She is so incredibly strong, feisty and beyond intelligent. Marine is a woman who is very fearful of the past, and her heart being broken again, but she is confident and she knows her worth. I just love her and her journey of healing, forgiveness and finding her happiness.
This story, was so unique and special from any sports romance or second chance romance that I have ever read. Everything from the friendships, the teammates, the families, to the love story, to the Jupiter and Marine was just perfect. This is my first book by Lulu and I've already added everything of hers to my TBR. I'm so excited to read more from this series and to see what Lulu has planned.
November 7, 2023
it was great…. until it wasn’t 🤧
2.5
2.5
March 27, 2023
only ♾️ infinity stars for this masterpiece 💖
I'm going to start by saying that this book was wonderful, I didn't find anything wrong with it and I loved reading it every minute, despite being a second chance it's so well written that I loved it 💖🥺
Jupiter has become one of my book boyfriends and with a lot of strength, I loved his personality, I liked that despite everything and the years he still love Marnie, he is tattooed and believe me that when we get to the part where he says the meaning of them i cried like a magdalena for how beautiful it is, am i being objective here? No, but it doesn't matter because here we love Jupiter and he did nothing wrong. Now if we are going to talk about Marnie, I loved her, she is a rocket scientist, she loves space and she was working at N.A.S.A until she got a new job with the New York Lions to see how she makes them win with the whole aerodynamics thing, Marnie on personality issues, my poor girl suffered and she knows that she has not fully healed but we see throughout the book how she is growing ❤️🩹
This book felt close to home bc where I'm from we like baseball so much and I hadn't read a book about this sport in a long time, I liked the dynamics of the chapters, I liked the group of friends that Marnie, Beulah and Lowe make... I lived my best life with this book ❤️🩹💖
Now while I wait for the other book in the series I'm going to read all of Lulu's books because I honestly liked her writing!!!
🫂thank you @lulumoorebooks and @valentine_pr_ for gave me this arc in exchange for my honest review 📚!!
____________
Voy a empezar diciendo que este libro fue una maravilla, no le encontré nada de malo y amé cada minuto leyéndolo, a pesar de ser un second chance está tan bien escrito que me encanto 🥺💖
Júpiter se ha convertido en uno de mis book boyfriends y con muchísima fuerza, me encanto su personalidad, me gusto que a pesar de todo y los años no dejo de amar a Marnie, está tatuado y créanme que cuando llegamos a la parte donde dice el significado de ellos lloré como una magdalena de lo hermoso que es ¿estoy siendo objetiva aquí? No, pero no importa porque aquí amamos a Júpiter y él no hizo nada malo. Ahora si vamos hablar de Marnie, me encanto, ella es una científica, le encanta el espacio y estaba trabajando en la N.A.S.A hasta que consigue un nuevo trabajo con los New York Lions para ver cómo los hace ganar con todo el tema de la aerodinámica, Marnie en temas de personalidad mi pobre chica sufrió y ella sabe que no ha sanado del todo pero vemos a lo largo del libro como va creciendo ❤️🩹
Este libro se sintió cerca de casa porque de donde soy nos gusta el béisbol y tenia muchísimo tiempo sin leer un libro sobre este deporte, me gusto la dinámica de los capítulos, me gusto el grupo de amigas que hacen Marnie, Beulah y Lowe, en fin viví mi mejor vida con este libro ❤️🩹💖
Ahora mientras espero el otro libro de la serie me pondré a leer todo de Lulu porque sinceramente me gusto su escritura!!!
I'm going to start by saying that this book was wonderful, I didn't find anything wrong with it and I loved reading it every minute, despite being a second chance it's so well written that I loved it 💖🥺
Jupiter has become one of my book boyfriends and with a lot of strength, I loved his personality, I liked that despite everything and the years he still love Marnie, he is tattooed and believe me that when we get to the part where he says the meaning of them i cried like a magdalena for how beautiful it is, am i being objective here? No, but it doesn't matter because here we love Jupiter and he did nothing wrong. Now if we are going to talk about Marnie, I loved her, she is a rocket scientist, she loves space and she was working at N.A.S.A until she got a new job with the New York Lions to see how she makes them win with the whole aerodynamics thing, Marnie on personality issues, my poor girl suffered and she knows that she has not fully healed but we see throughout the book how she is growing ❤️🩹
This book felt close to home bc where I'm from we like baseball so much and I hadn't read a book about this sport in a long time, I liked the dynamics of the chapters, I liked the group of friends that Marnie, Beulah and Lowe make... I lived my best life with this book ❤️🩹💖
Now while I wait for the other book in the series I'm going to read all of Lulu's books because I honestly liked her writing!!!
🫂thank you @lulumoorebooks and @valentine_pr_ for gave me this arc in exchange for my honest review 📚!!
____________
Voy a empezar diciendo que este libro fue una maravilla, no le encontré nada de malo y amé cada minuto leyéndolo, a pesar de ser un second chance está tan bien escrito que me encanto 🥺💖
Júpiter se ha convertido en uno de mis book boyfriends y con muchísima fuerza, me encanto su personalidad, me gusto que a pesar de todo y los años no dejo de amar a Marnie, está tatuado y créanme que cuando llegamos a la parte donde dice el significado de ellos lloré como una magdalena de lo hermoso que es ¿estoy siendo objetiva aquí? No, pero no importa porque aquí amamos a Júpiter y él no hizo nada malo. Ahora si vamos hablar de Marnie, me encanto, ella es una científica, le encanta el espacio y estaba trabajando en la N.A.S.A hasta que consigue un nuevo trabajo con los New York Lions para ver cómo los hace ganar con todo el tema de la aerodinámica, Marnie en temas de personalidad mi pobre chica sufrió y ella sabe que no ha sanado del todo pero vemos a lo largo del libro como va creciendo ❤️🩹
Este libro se sintió cerca de casa porque de donde soy nos gusta el béisbol y tenia muchísimo tiempo sin leer un libro sobre este deporte, me gusto la dinámica de los capítulos, me gusto el grupo de amigas que hacen Marnie, Beulah y Lowe, en fin viví mi mejor vida con este libro ❤️🩹💖
Ahora mientras espero el otro libro de la serie me pondré a leer todo de Lulu porque sinceramente me gusto su escritura!!!
April 3, 2023
2 ⭐️s
”Because if I was the question, Marnie Matthews was my answer.”
I truly think this book could be a home run (pun intended) for some people, but I don’t think this book was entirely for me. I loved the idea of a second chance baseball romance, and this book is absolutely that. There were just a few aspects that either fell short, or didn’t quite do it for me personally.
The Third Baseman by Lulu Moore: ⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Tropes: second chance, friends to lovers, “enemies” to lovers, jock boy/ nerdy girl, forced proximity, girl next door
Here’s what I loved:
The high school chapters
I really enjoyed these chapters! Young Marnie and Jupiter are so authentically teenagers in love and I ate it up. Their dynamic as a jock/nerd played out nicely, and I loved watching them fall in love. While their high school was definitely not set up like mine, or what I imagine a typical high school is, I do know that kinda like theirs exist.
The ending
I love a happily ever after and this one was just that with a sweetness that’s capable of delivering a toothache.
Here’s what I didn’t love:
The editing
I won’t say the writing because we’re all human and typos/grammatical errors are inevitable and a part of the writing process; however, the amount of typos is startling. It read more like a beta read than an arc. This is something that the editor should’ve caught. The only thing I will say about the writing is that sometimes British terms are used even though both characters are American and it take place in America. (i.e. “diary” instead of “schedule”)
The “cheesiness”
She’s a nerdy girl who loves space and the boy she falls in love with? His name is Jupiter… Come on now! It would be one thing if it was a nickname, but it’s his real name. Then Jupiter has all of these tattoos and ALL of them are about Marnie, even though they haven’t seen each other or talked in 14+ years! Some notable “cheesy” examples of his tattoos being the date they first met, the date of their first kiss, the Milky Way (which has to be an ugly tattoo in my opinion. Go ahead and Google it. Not the ones with planets and stuff, just the Milky Way). I’m sure this won’t bother a lot of people and will, contrarily, enhance the story for them, but for me it was a little too over the top.
The believability
This is what really tanked the rating and my overall enjoyment with the book. I just don’t believe that after 14 years of no communication, both character are still wholeheartedly hung up on a high school romance that lasted less than a year. So much so that Jupiter coerces Marnie into taking a job so he can win her back, as if she isn’t an entirely new/ different person now. To give Lulu credit, this is something Marnie mentions, but it just really didn’t work for me. Marnie was previously married and Jupiter had a bunch of one night stands, and you’re telling me somehow the two of them never moved on?
The characters in the present
I love high school Marnie and Jupiter, but unfortunately, present day Marnie and Jupiter read like they’re still in high school. They don’t seem like mature adults in their 30’s.
Inconsistencies with/unresolved plot points
This was another big rating tanker. Throughout Marnie and Jupiter’s relationship both in the past and in the present, Marnie struggles with Jupiter’s fame and the hoards of girls fangirling over him. It’s a key factor in her hesitancy to start something back up again with him, but it goes unresolved. It’s insinuated that she just “gets over it”, but it feels abrupt and never fully addressed or discussed between the two of them. There’s also an issue with the largest plot point which is that the reason Jupiter breaks both of their hearts in high school is because Marnie is about to give up her dream of M.I.T. to follow Jupiter, and he doesn’t want her to do that. Then flash forward 14 years and she’s working for NASA (like the NASA. As in her ultimate dream) and now he’s okay ripping her away from her career to be with him? It just doesn’t make sense.
**A huge thank you to Lulu and Valentine PR for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. As always, these opinions are my own.
”Because if I was the question, Marnie Matthews was my answer.”
I truly think this book could be a home run (pun intended) for some people, but I don’t think this book was entirely for me. I loved the idea of a second chance baseball romance, and this book is absolutely that. There were just a few aspects that either fell short, or didn’t quite do it for me personally.
The Third Baseman by Lulu Moore: ⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Tropes: second chance, friends to lovers, “enemies” to lovers, jock boy/ nerdy girl, forced proximity, girl next door
Here’s what I loved:
The high school chapters
I really enjoyed these chapters! Young Marnie and Jupiter are so authentically teenagers in love and I ate it up. Their dynamic as a jock/nerd played out nicely, and I loved watching them fall in love. While their high school was definitely not set up like mine, or what I imagine a typical high school is, I do know that kinda like theirs exist.
The ending
I love a happily ever after and this one was just that with a sweetness that’s capable of delivering a toothache.
Here’s what I didn’t love:
The editing
I won’t say the writing because we’re all human and typos/grammatical errors are inevitable and a part of the writing process; however, the amount of typos is startling. It read more like a beta read than an arc. This is something that the editor should’ve caught. The only thing I will say about the writing is that sometimes British terms are used even though both characters are American and it take place in America. (i.e. “diary” instead of “schedule”)
The “cheesiness”
She’s a nerdy girl who loves space and the boy she falls in love with? His name is Jupiter… Come on now! It would be one thing if it was a nickname, but it’s his real name. Then Jupiter has all of these tattoos and ALL of them are about Marnie, even though they haven’t seen each other or talked in 14+ years! Some notable “cheesy” examples of his tattoos being the date they first met, the date of their first kiss, the Milky Way (which has to be an ugly tattoo in my opinion. Go ahead and Google it. Not the ones with planets and stuff, just the Milky Way). I’m sure this won’t bother a lot of people and will, contrarily, enhance the story for them, but for me it was a little too over the top.
The believability
This is what really tanked the rating and my overall enjoyment with the book. I just don’t believe that after 14 years of no communication, both character are still wholeheartedly hung up on a high school romance that lasted less than a year. So much so that Jupiter coerces Marnie into taking a job so he can win her back, as if she isn’t an entirely new/ different person now. To give Lulu credit, this is something Marnie mentions, but it just really didn’t work for me. Marnie was previously married and Jupiter had a bunch of one night stands, and you’re telling me somehow the two of them never moved on?
The characters in the present
I love high school Marnie and Jupiter, but unfortunately, present day Marnie and Jupiter read like they’re still in high school. They don’t seem like mature adults in their 30’s.
Inconsistencies with/unresolved plot points
This was another big rating tanker. Throughout Marnie and Jupiter’s relationship both in the past and in the present, Marnie struggles with Jupiter’s fame and the hoards of girls fangirling over him. It’s a key factor in her hesitancy to start something back up again with him, but it goes unresolved. It’s insinuated that she just “gets over it”, but it feels abrupt and never fully addressed or discussed between the two of them. There’s also an issue with the largest plot point which is that the reason Jupiter breaks both of their hearts in high school is because Marnie is about to give up her dream of M.I.T. to follow Jupiter, and he doesn’t want her to do that. Then flash forward 14 years and she’s working for NASA (like the NASA. As in her ultimate dream) and now he’s okay ripping her away from her career to be with him? It just doesn’t make sense.
**A huge thank you to Lulu and Valentine PR for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. As always, these opinions are my own.
October 25, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
5 huge, enormous stars aren’t enough for this book- it needs a whole new category of its own.
I’m not exagerating when I say this has been my most highly anticipated book since Lulu Moore’s Drew (which ironically is where we first met Jupiter) and my expectations over the last couple of years since then have just gotten higher and higher. But somehow, Lulu managed to exceed them all and wow did she do an amazing job!
I’m very conscious of not giving away any spoilers here because I want everyone who’s been waiting for this story to fully appreciate it for the first time when reading like I did. So many times I was smiling to myself, internally fist pumping, messaging Lulu in ALL CAPITALS! I wanted to both devour it, and savour it so it never ended.
Jupiter and Marnie met in high school and dated as teenagers for a few months before he was drafted by the Dodgers. He broke her heart, and they haven’t seen each other for more than 14 years. If you’ve read The Show, you know what happens next.
Now back in the same city and working together, will Jupiter finally be able to win back his star?
We’ve seen bits of Jupiter here and there in past books and all totally fallen in love with him, but I think we have a fairly clear picture of what we think he’s like. Here we see a completely different side to him- the real Jupiter Reeves, not the one he shows to the fans and cameras.
To be completely honest, I wasn’t sure I was going to like or warm to Marnie. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. I adored her. She’s super smart, very real, strong yet vulnerable. Perfect for Jupiter.
Their story is both beautiful and at times heart breaking, and I couldn’t get enough of it.
For fans of Lulu’s previous books there’s also a few little cameos of some of our favourite characters which I loved, and I can’t wait to read more of the New York Lions boys later this year!
Huge thank you to Lulu for this arc, I am so grateful ❤️
5 huge, enormous stars aren’t enough for this book- it needs a whole new category of its own.
I’m not exagerating when I say this has been my most highly anticipated book since Lulu Moore’s Drew (which ironically is where we first met Jupiter) and my expectations over the last couple of years since then have just gotten higher and higher. But somehow, Lulu managed to exceed them all and wow did she do an amazing job!
I’m very conscious of not giving away any spoilers here because I want everyone who’s been waiting for this story to fully appreciate it for the first time when reading like I did. So many times I was smiling to myself, internally fist pumping, messaging Lulu in ALL CAPITALS! I wanted to both devour it, and savour it so it never ended.
Jupiter and Marnie met in high school and dated as teenagers for a few months before he was drafted by the Dodgers. He broke her heart, and they haven’t seen each other for more than 14 years. If you’ve read The Show, you know what happens next.
Now back in the same city and working together, will Jupiter finally be able to win back his star?
We’ve seen bits of Jupiter here and there in past books and all totally fallen in love with him, but I think we have a fairly clear picture of what we think he’s like. Here we see a completely different side to him- the real Jupiter Reeves, not the one he shows to the fans and cameras.
To be completely honest, I wasn’t sure I was going to like or warm to Marnie. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. I adored her. She’s super smart, very real, strong yet vulnerable. Perfect for Jupiter.
Their story is both beautiful and at times heart breaking, and I couldn’t get enough of it.
For fans of Lulu’s previous books there’s also a few little cameos of some of our favourite characters which I loved, and I can’t wait to read more of the New York Lions boys later this year!
Huge thank you to Lulu for this arc, I am so grateful ❤️
March 30, 2023
⚾️ Secondchance
🔭High school sweethearts
⚾️ Baseball romance
🔭Super smart FMC
⚾️Forced proximity
🔭Slow burn
4.5 ⭐️
Jupiter & Marnie
Alright!, this is my FIRST baseball romance!!! I’m a hockey girl through & through.. but dare I say, I’m entering my Baseball era?!?!
I appreciated that this couple was older and it wasn’t another college sports romance. These two met & fell in love in high school… only to end up on opposite sides of the country single. Flash forward 14 years…
Marnie!! I was SO happy that she made Jupiter Work. For. It!!! There were so many “will they/won’t they” moments, she was not a doormat and so easily swayed. She’s a rocket scientist yall., she’s super smart and loves star gazing. I love her character and that role., bringing they physics element to sport and showing how they can meld together to make improvements. Reminded me a little of Ice Princess with that storyline (not me showing my age right now haha)
I absolutely loved Jupiter. He was the epitome of grumpy and a dick to everybody but her. When she’s around, he lights up. He is confident and knows exactly what he wants and does his best to get it! He has so many moments, ones I don’t want to spoil, but i will say they are swoony, they make you hurt for him and with him. He is a great book boyfriend candidate!
There was only ONE thing that bothered me, and that was the 14yr wait period. It initially made me think what’s the point after all that time .. but then as the story unfolded and the characters grew on me I let that one minor thing go and really really enjoyed this story!!
🔭High school sweethearts
⚾️ Baseball romance
🔭Super smart FMC
⚾️Forced proximity
🔭Slow burn
4.5 ⭐️
Jupiter & Marnie
Alright!, this is my FIRST baseball romance!!! I’m a hockey girl through & through.. but dare I say, I’m entering my Baseball era?!?!
I appreciated that this couple was older and it wasn’t another college sports romance. These two met & fell in love in high school… only to end up on opposite sides of the country single. Flash forward 14 years…
Marnie!! I was SO happy that she made Jupiter Work. For. It!!! There were so many “will they/won’t they” moments, she was not a doormat and so easily swayed. She’s a rocket scientist yall., she’s super smart and loves star gazing. I love her character and that role., bringing they physics element to sport and showing how they can meld together to make improvements. Reminded me a little of Ice Princess with that storyline (not me showing my age right now haha)
I absolutely loved Jupiter. He was the epitome of grumpy and a dick to everybody but her. When she’s around, he lights up. He is confident and knows exactly what he wants and does his best to get it! He has so many moments, ones I don’t want to spoil, but i will say they are swoony, they make you hurt for him and with him. He is a great book boyfriend candidate!
There was only ONE thing that bothered me, and that was the 14yr wait period. It initially made me think what’s the point after all that time .. but then as the story unfolded and the characters grew on me I let that one minor thing go and really really enjoyed this story!!
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