6 Baseball Romance Recommendations

Two years ago I wrote a similar post to this. In that Baseball Romance Series recommendations post I listed 4 series that I thought all baseball romance lovers would enjoy. I stand by those recommendations to this day. I loved all of those books, and still think of them fondly. Heck I still recommend them to people who are looking for baseball romances!

So here we are in 2023 and I'm back with new recommendations. These titles have come out in the last 18 months or so. They all captured my attention for various reasons, and I think you should read them.

Since spring training is currently in full force it is the perfect time to grab a baseball romance, and immerse yourself into the world of baseball. Which books do I suggest? Let's head to the field and find out.

Vegas Heat by Lisa Suzanne

This series should come as no surprise. I've read the first four books, and am eagerly awaiting the fifth to arrive on my kindle. This first season of the Vegas Heat follows Cooper and Gabby. They met at a blackjack table in Vegas on Gabby's 21st birthday. Gabby had no clue who Cooper was, all she knew was that she was instantly attracted to him. It was only later that she found out that 1) there is a 12 year age gap, 2) he's moving to Vegas for his job, and much much later she found out that 3) he's her dad's best friend. Naturally they are keeping this relationship quiet because Troy does not want his daughter with a baseball player, nor does he want her dating someone THAT much older than she is. Yet the attraction is strong, and these two cannot stay away from each other. Should you choose to pick up this series, I actually suggest waiting until April 13 or at least pretty close to that. Why April 13? That is the day that Hardball, book 5, releases. If you wait until then, you don't have to really subject yourself to the cliffhangers, as you'll have all the books available to you.

The Wrong Pitch by Brittany Taylor

This college romance from Brittany Taylor was SO GOOD! I loved the meet-cute, I loved the hate-to-love, then there was the brother's best friend trope as well, and I was just hooked. The Wrong Pitch just released today, and if you'd like to read my full review you can do so here.

The Third Baseman by Lulu Moore

Full disclosure...this book isn't out yet. It comes out on March 29, and I read an advanced copy of the book. My review can be read in this blog post. I'll be honest and say that I had mixed feelings with The Third Baseman. I enjoyed many aspects of it, but there were others I didn't enjoy as much. Part of that I attribute to the fact that this was my introduction to the author, and the content of this book really carried over to previous titles. So why should you read it if I had mixed feelings? The obvious answer is that everyone experiences books differently, and my feelings won't be yours. Alternately it's a good second chance romance. It's set 14 years after the heartbreak, and the storyline bounced between modern day and the past. It was interesting to see how the characters have changed, and in some ways how they've remained the same.

Fake Love by Jocelyne Soto

This book was a bit of an emotional roller coaster. From the drug issues, to his mom’s health issues, to being traded, to meeting Jen, to coming up with this fake relationship plan, to everything that happened next, I was hooked. Jocelyne Soto created a wonderful story. While Maddox wasn’t always my cup of tea, in the end I came around to him. This book was emotional, it was steamy, and I could not put it down.

Wild Card by Ashley Munoz

This college sports romance was a doozy! There's drama, suspense, and of course a romance. Mallory is a school journalist, and she just got the tip of a lifetime. Talk about being in the right place at the right time! Only this potential story is going to cause some issues. Decker happens to be on the baseball team, and while he knows a bit about this card game he doesn't know the full story. He's also not keen on Mallory digging into it. Yet they work together. The connection these two had was impressive, even with them trying to deny it. Should you read Wild Card, be prepared for slow burn. Although I will say it is worth it. I absolutely loved Wild Card from start to finish. Loved the book. Loved the characters. 

Caught Looking by Aven Ellis

It's no secret that I am a major fan of Aven's storytelling, as well as her characters. There is just something about the way she brings these people to life that has me wanting to befriend them. Chase and Meghan were no different. I was drawn to them, and just wanted to stay with them for as long as possible. This may have started as a fake relationship, but it quickly morphed into something real. Yet things were not going smoothly. There were issues to be discussed, to be worked through, and trust to be built. Caught Looking is the FOURTH book in the DC Soaring Eagles series, and while you can read them out of order, I think it gives the best effect to start at the beginning.


So tell me, have you read any of these titles? If you did, how did you rate them? If you haven't, do you think you'll pick them up? What are some of your favorite baseball romances? Give me some recommendations!

Happy Reading,
Laura

Please note:

I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program.

Purchases made through links above allow me to earn a small commission.

Thank you!

10 of My Favorite Brother's Best Friend Romances

It should come as no surprise that I ADORE the Brother's Best Friend (and/or sister's best friend) trope. I've spoken about that before. Maybe it goes back to the fact that I grew up with two older brothers, and had a crush on a few of their friends way back then. That could play a small part in it. Maybe. No matter what though I'm obsessed and I find myself gravitating toward those stories. I think another part of it is similar to the friends to lovers trope. It's this person that you know, that you see on the regular, and an attraction just builds, or has the potential to build.

As brother's best friend is one of my top three favorite tropes I figured I'd share a few recommendations. Those that I selected are 10 of my favorite books that feature this trope. Of course there are other tropes that these books fall into as well, but I selected them for the brother's best friend trope. (psst: one is actually a sister's best friend book.) Be proud of me, I only shared 3 hockey romances. In all reality I could have probably had an entire post dedicated to hockey.

Have you read any of these titles? Do you have any recommendations for the brother's best friend trope? Fill me in on your favorites!

Happy Reading,
Laura

Fake Love by Jocelyne Soto {a review}

Maddox Bauer is the type of man I wish I could spend the rest of my life with. 

Jocelyne Soto released Fake Love on October 13, 2022. This book features a professional baseball player who has seemingly hit rock bottom, has been given a fresh start, and has met a woman who has deeply affected his life. Fake Love features the instalove trope, the fake relationship trope, and a bit of the workplace trope. This book was so dang good, I honestly could not put it down.

Maddox and Jen's introduction was one that was just supposed to be for a night. It wasn't supposed to be anything else. Except when Maddox returned to San Francisco, Jen immediately came to mind to handle his social media, and become his fake girlfriend. Meanwhile Jen was busy living her life, and finally deciding to make the jump to becoming a full time social media manager. She just needed to find her first client.

My rating for Fake Love:

Fake Love was full of emotional moments. It was a roller coaster ride that took us through drug addiction, a parent's health issue, being traded from Chicago to San Francisco, and entering into a fake relationship that would change their lives. Everything that happened after the relationship was created had me unwilling to put the book down. I had to know what was going to happen. What would be the breaking point? What would cause the conflict between Maddox and Jen? How would they reunite? How would they heal their relationship, and move forward?

The drug addiction was difficult to read, but witnessing Maddox go through everything that he did garnered a lot of sympathy. I say that because Maddox was not my favorite character. His actions didn't sit right with me, and while I could understand the heartache he was dealing with, and the grief he was feeling, I couldn't understand his reasoning behind his choices. I will say that as the story progressed my opinion of Maddox did change. Maybe it was seeing his eyes open at everything he could lose.

When it comes to Jen, I did like her character. For the most part. She was strong, passionate, sympathetic, and she was determined. Jen knew everything that Maddox was dealing with. She saw the man behind the mask, and fell in love with him regardless. Now I will say that I didn't like the fact that her job just disappeared and wasn't really mentioned, but I'll just assume that was happening in the background and therefore it wasn't necessary to mention.

The scene at the aquarium had me on edge for a moment. You see as that date was playing out, and a photo was snapped, my mind went to the worst case scenario. I thought for sure that it was going to wind up for everyone to see, and that there would be a gigantic fall out from that. If you caught my update on Goodreads, it was about this scene!

Let's talk about the conflict between Jen and Maddox. That was not what I was expecting at all. But when you look at everything that was shared in the story up until that point, it makes sense. It does. The fight or flight also makes 100% sense. I was not expecting our main character from Powerful Deception to make an appearance. Dante had a major influence in all of this, and so that cross over was interesting to read. 

Jocelyne Soto created a wonderful story. Fake Love was emotional, it was steamy, and I could not put it down. Also getting to catch up with previous characters always puts a smile on my face.

If you were paying attention in the story, then you may have noticed the set up for a few new books. There is Lucas’s story, as well as that new hockey romance series! I am loving the stories that Jocelyne creates, and she is working her way on to my auto-buy author list.

Go grab Fake Love. It is one of those books that just grabs hold, makes you tear up a bit, and has you rooting for a happily ever after.

Happy Reading,
Laura

Amazon | Goodreads

I had everything going for me.

Drafted right out of college. Signed a multimillion dollar contract. Slated to become a hall of famer.

All my prospects were looking up… Until a diagnosis caused me to ruin everything.

It took me a season to destroy my career and now I have to work to repair it.

Step 1 : Get clean.

Step 2 : Show my new team that their investment isn’t a waste.

Step 3 : Find a woman and convince her to be my fake girlfriend and make my mom happy.

1 and 2, I got a handle on. Step 3 is turning out to be a lot harder than I thought. Finding a woman was a piece of cake, convincing her is a different story.

Jen Zaragosa is hardheaded, feisty, and a pain in my behind. But even with her being all those things, I start to fall for her

And hard.

This started out as something to make my mom happy and it’s turning into me planning our future together.

Jen is my grand slam and there is nothing fake about it.

*FAKE LOVE IS A COMPLETE STANDALONE. THIS STORY DOES CONTAIN CONTENT WARNINGS, FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE.*

Thank you to Jocelyne Soto, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced reader copy of Fake Love.

Also, I am an Amazon Affiliate. Purchases made from the links above will allow me to earn a small commission.

 

Powerful Deception by Jocelyne Soto

 

Love in Blood and Lies.

 

The world that we live in is a very dark place. Everywhere you look there is blood looming. 

There are powerful individuals waiting for you to take your last breath. 

Powerful individuals that would strap you to a chair and let you suffer. 

It’s those powerful men and women that took my father from me, the ones I’m going after. 

Starting with Dante Rossetti. He called the hit that took the most meaningful person in my life down. 

I will take him down, watch every inch of his life burn to a crisp, even if I have to pretend to be someone else entirely and lie my way into his life.  

I will destroy the man that everyone calls the devil and he won’t see a thing that is coming his way. 

Pre-Order Your Copy on Amazon!

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Free in KU

Add to your Goodreads TBR List! 

Meet Jocelyne Soto

Jocelyne Soto is a romance author  born and raised in California. 

She started her writing journey in 2015 and in 2019 she published her first book. She is an independent author who loves discovering new authors on Goodreads and Amazon. 

She comes from a big Mexican family, and with it comes a love for all things family and food.

Jocelyne has a love for her mom’s coffee and writing. In her free time, she can be found reading a romance novel off her iPad or somewhere in the black hole of YouTube.

Connect with Jocelyne Soto

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Worth Every Second by Jocelyne Soto {a review}

Worth Every Second is a complete standalone, college romance from Jocelyne Soto. If you enjoy opposites attract, friends to lovers, and/or sports romance, then you need to read this book!

Now, this book does have content warnings. I'll be honest and say the brunt of it is in the opening of the story. The topic is discussed further into the book, so be prepared for that. Jocelyne handled the topic carefully. It isn't graphic. It isn't detailed. It just happens to one of our characters. If you are looking for more information in regards to these trigger warnings, please visit Jocelyne's website.

Let's dive into the recap!

Summer football camps are over, and Hunter is returning to campus early to surprise his girlfriend. Except when he arrives, it is Hunter who receives the surprise. After everything that went down, Hunter finds himself googling how to get over a break up. That leads him to a website where pictures are shared, friendship can be formed, and it's all fairly anonymous. Hunter decides to jump in, and posts a picture of his own. It is this picture that leads to Selena and Hunter beginning an online relationship. They are frequently sharing pictures, talking, and getting comfortable with each other. Shortly there after it is discovered that they live in the same area. Outside of that conversation, school is starting up. At the beginning of one class, Hunter decides to sit next to this beautiful girl, rather than with his teammate whom he's upset with. Hunter has no clue that the woman he's just sat next to is the same woman he's been talking with online. Throughout the semester they get to know each other, and feelings are bubbling up. Yet at the same time, there is also this online relationship happening. What happens when the truth is revealed? What happens when the past comes up to haunt you? What will happen if the pictures are shared? Can you trust this person again?

Worth Every Second was an interesting read, and it held my attention from cover to cover. The way it began had me curious as to how that scenario was going to affect the character in future situations. I also wasn't 100% which character it was. That was revealed later on though, so you do figure it out.

Selena and Hunter are both amazing characters. I enjoyed their interactions both in person, and in the online setting. I did find myself wondering when the truth would be revealed, and how that would happen. Then of course I also wondered if the photos would be revealed for others to see, who would be behind all of it, and how would that be discovered. 

I related to Selena in many ways, and she is an amazing character. Not only is she a quieter person, someone who enjoys reading (romance novels at that!), is more of a wallflower except around those she's comfortable with, she also struggles with body image. It's more than all that though. It's also the fact that she is passionate, and she is determined. Selena knows what she wants to do, and is going to d it! Hunter drew me in as well, and you could see that who he projected to others wasn't who he truly is. So it was nice to see him show that side of himself to Selena. Football is something he's passionate about, but there is more to him. He is a family person. He is smart. He is determined to make his future what he wants it to be. I love it!

I will say that I struggled with Hunter's dad quite a bit. The little we know about him had me realizing he doesn't truly care about his son. He cares about the fact that his son is a talented athlete, who has the potential for a professional athletic career. With that comes money. So pushing his son to do all of this, is just to get money in HIS pocket, not for his son's benefit. That just rubbed me wrong. As well as the information regarding the dad's relationship with Hunter's siblings. Ugh.

Let's talk about that content warning for a moment. I'm not going to name it. But everything our character experienced broke my heart. I gasped. My hand flew to my mouth, and I wanted to sob. Then when the flashback occurred, and they had to revisit this trauma, I was gutted. I was very thankful that the other character rushed out to find the other, stood by their side as the memories hit, and guided them through it. It showed support. It showed caring. It showed how this character could be leaned upon. That truth being revealed was difficult, but love and grace were by their side.

Now, about the moment of conflict, or rather moments of conflict. I knew it was coming. I had a general idea of what was going to happen. But how it played out, I wasn't fully prepared for. There was hurt, frustration, anger, and heartbreak. Feelings were formed. Trust was established. But in these moments it felt like all of that was obliterated. Underneath it all though there was still love flowing. There was still that connection. That friendship. That desire for a future with the other. And, in my mind, that is what helped guide them back together.

I loved so much of this story. From the online connection, to the in person friendship that was formed, to the start of the relationship, it all drew me in. These characters drew me in. They felt real. They felt genuine. Everything felt right. And I love that. Yes there were difficult moments, but that is something that most of us deal with in life. Some are just more difficult or traumatic than others. Rating wise I opted to give Worth Every Second 4 stars. 

Worth Every Second was worth every moment I spent with the characters in their little world. I cannot wait to find out what book Hunter and Selena make an appearance in. And I know they will pop up again because Jocelyne said so! Consider my curiosity piqued.

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on Worth Every Second. This is the fourth book of Jocelyne Soto's that I have read, and let me tell you, I am hooked. I can safely say that she is now an auto-buy author, and I will be reading all of her back list titles. 

Laura

Cover Design: Shanoff Designs

Posting “certain types” of pictures online is never a good idea. Especially when you’re the star player of your college football team. ⁣

But I did it anyway. ⁣

Never did I think that by posting my pictures online that I would find someone that I would actually be interested in.⁣

But I did.⁣

I saw her pictures, she commented on mine and the conversations were nonstop. She was the girl of my dreams and I wanted to meet her. Who knew that the girl of my dreams was the shy girl that sat next to me all semester. ⁣

Now that I know who she is, I want my shot. Only if she would give it to me. Every chance she gets I get turned down, but I'm not giving up. ⁣

I will show her that she is worth it, even if she may not think so. ⁣

One Click on Amazon Now!

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Meet Jocelyne Soto

Jocelyne Soto is a romance author  born and raised in California. 

She started her writing journey in 2015 and in 2019 she published her first book. She is an independent author who loves discovering new authors on Goodreads and Amazon. 

She comes from a big Mexican family, and with it comes a love for all things family and food.

Jocelyne has a love for her mom’s coffee and writing. In her free time, she can be found reading a romance novel off her iPad or somewhere in the black hole of YouTube.

Connect with Jocelyne Soto

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Thank you to Jocelyne Soto, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced review copy of Worth Every Second.

Worth Every Second by Jocelyne Soto {2nd cover reveal}

ALTERNATE COVER REVEAL

Now you may be thinking, didn't Jocelyne Soto already reveal the cover for Worth Every Second? You'd be correct, she did. HOWEVER, right now in the romance genre, alternate covers (or discreet covers) are a huge trend. So it just makes sense that Worth Every Second receives an alternate cover as well.

With the release date quickly approaching (ahem: March 31), you now have two amazing covers to choose from. Shanoff Designs did a great job on both covers, but I know which one I prefer. 

Which would you choose? The original or the alternate?

Book Cover Design by SHANOFF DESIGNS

Posting “certain types” of pictures online is never a good idea. Especially when you’re the star player of your college football team.

But I did it anyway.

Never did I think that by posting my pictures online that I would find someone that I would actually be interested in.

But I did.

I saw her pictures, she commented on mine and the conversations were nonstop. She was the girl of my dreams and I wanted to meet her. Who knew that the girl of my dreams was the shy girl that sat next to me all semester.

Now that I know who she is, I want my shot. Only if she would give it to me. Every chance she gets I get turned down, but I'm not giving up.

I will show her that she is worth it, even if she may not think so.

Pre-Order on Amazon!

US | UK | CA | AU

Add to your Goodreads TBR list!

Bloggers sign up for release events here!

Meet Jocelyne Soto

Jocelyne Soto is a romance author  born and raised in California. 

She started her writing journey in 2015 and in 2019 she published her first book. She is an independent author who loves discovering new authors on Goodreads and Amazon. 

She comes from a big Mexican family, and with it comes a love for all things family and food.

Jocelyne has a love for her mom’s coffee and writing. In her free time, she can be found reading a romance novel off her iPad or somewhere in the black hole of YouTube.

Connect with Jocelyne Soto

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest

Worth Every Second by Jocelyne Soto {cover reveal}

Jocelyne Soto has just revealed the cover for Worth Every Second! This college football romance will be available on March 31, 2022.

I loved her Flor de Muertos series, and so I cannot wait to check out Worth Every Second.

Jocelyne does say, on her website, that there is a content warning for this book. Here is the link to that info so you can be prepared should you choose to read Worth Every Second.

 

Cover Design: Shanoff Designs 

Posting “certain types” of pictures online is never a good idea. Especially when you’re the star player of your college football team.

But I did it anyway.

Never did I think that by posting my pictures online that I would find someone that I would actually be interested in.

But I did.

I saw her pictures, she commented on mine and the conversations were nonstop. She was the girl of my dreams and I wanted to meet her. Who knew that the girl of my dreams was the shy girl that sat next to me all semester.

Now that I know who she is, I want my shot. Only if she would give it to me. Every chance she gets I get turned down, but I'm not giving up.

I will show her that she is worth it, even if she may not think so.

Pre-Order Your Copy on Amazon!

US | UK | CA | AU

Free in KU

Add to your Goodreads TBR List!

Meet Jocelyne Soto

Jocelyne Soto is a romance author  born and raised in California. 

She started her writing journey in 2015 and in 2019 she published her first book. She is an independent author who loves discovering new authors on Goodreads and Amazon. 

She comes from a big Mexican family, and with it comes a love for all things family and food.

Jocelyne has a love for her mom’s coffee and writing. In her free time, she can be found reading a romance novel off her iPad or somewhere in the black hole of YouTube.

Connect with Jocelyne Soto

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest

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Vindictive Blood by Jocelyne Soto {a review}

 
The time has come for the third, and final, book in the Flor de Muertos series to be released. Vindictive Blood by Jocelyne Soto is officially available! If you've read the other two books in the series, then be prepared, because Cami and Nathaniel's story is so good. There's an age gap (14 years), there is suspenseful situations, there is spice, there is family, and I loved it all.

Cami has headed to New York where she is applying to an art program through a local university. Shortly after showing her work, she heads to a bar to get a drink and some food. It is there that she meets Nathaniel. Curiosity is piqued, questions are asked, and after a conversation, a painting is underway. At Nathaniel's apartment. From there the two spend a weekend together before Cami heads back to Texas and her family. She knows nothing about Nathaniel except he's a detective. Nathaniel knows nothing about Cami, except that she's an artist who could very well end up as  a NY college student. Oh, and she's 14 years his junior. Eventually Cami returns to New York, and the relationship with Nathaniel picks right back up, and intensifies. Cami tells her sister a bit about the man she's dating, but never says his profession. Once that is discovered though, things get intense. Can their relationship survive the fallout? 

WHAT AN ENDING TO A TRILOGY! Oh my word, I loved it. Camila and Nate's story was so good, and had me hooked from the beginning. From their first encounter at the bar, I knew this would be an interesting journey. In my mind I wondered if Nate knew who he was sitting next to, and had the entire thing planned. I mean it would be one way to infiltrate the Morales family and get to her dad. Yet as their story built that thought left m mind. I was confident that it was just a random meeting. I loved that Camila was able to spread her wings in New York and not be forced into anything by her father. I enjoyed the connection that Nate and Cami had built. There was a level of trust built from the very beginning. When the big moment happened, I was on the edge of my seat. I had been waiting for this moment to happen, and oofta it was a doozy. In my mind I couldn't see how this was going to be resolved. I knew it would, but there was so much pain, heartache, and distrust, that I just couldn't visualize it. Can we talk about Ava for a moment? If you don't know she works with Nate, and they had a coworkers with benefits situation going for a bit. Everything about her had my curiosity piqued. I still feel like there is more to the story than what was shared. Is she just an agent/lover scorned, or is it deeper than that?

From the big dramatic moment, to the grieving and heartache, to Leo stepping in to help, to the reunion, to Nate sharing about his past and what lead him to the job he has, to the resolution, I loved it. Now there was one little tidbit toward the end that I didn't care for, but I can see how that probably couldn't be avoided.

The Flor de Muertos series captivated me from the beginning, and I'm not ready to say goodbye to the family! I need to know what Jocelyne Soto is writing next! Maybe just maybe the Morales family can make an appearance here and there. (Hey, a reader can dream!)

If you're a fan of mafia or organized crime romances, then please add the Flor de Muertos series to your TBR! It was fabulous.

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts,

Laura

Cover Design by Book and Moods PR

I had one job and one job only. 

Bring down the most notorious drug lord known to man. 

Dead or alive, that was it.

As I worked the case more and more, the lines started getting blurred. I made enemies where I wasn’t supposed to and friends in places that would get me killed. 

Then I met her, at a bar in Brooklyn of all places. She became the one thing in my life that was a constant, the one thing that made the dark hole I was in, as bright as could be. She was younger but that didn’t matter to either of us. I was starting to see a future with her. That is until I heard her cries of despair for her father. 

That man I’m supposed to take down? 

That man is the father of the woman I love. 

A federal agent falling for a kingpin's daughter never ends well. 

Order Your Copy on Amazon!

US | UK | CA | AU

or read for free in KU

Add to your Goodreads TBR List!

Start the series from the beginning!
(I love these covers!)

Amazon | Goodreads | My Review

Amazon | Goodreads | My Review

Meet Jocelyne Soto

Jocelyne Soto is a romance author  born and raised in California. 

She started her writing journey in 2015 and in 2019 she published her first book. She is an independent author who loves discovering new authors on Goodreads and Amazon. 

She comes from a big Mexican family, and with it comes a love for all things family and food.

Jocelyne has a love for her mom’s coffee and writing. In her free time, she can be found reading a romance novel off her iPad or somewhere in the black hole of YouTube.

Connect with Jocelyne Soto

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest

Hosted by:

Thank you to Jocelyne Soto,  and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced copy of Vindictive Blood.