Making a
Comeback
More than a Game # 3
More than a Game # 3
By: Kristina Mathews
Releasing July 7th,
2015
Lyrical Press
About The Book:
With a
divorce in the works, Annabelle Jones heads out to Southern
California , the land of sun and starting over. She wants to
prove to herself and her young daughters that she still has what it takes to
turn heads as a swimsuit model—that she doesn’t need a man to take care of her.
Until an accident forces her to rely on the hunky, yet mysterious man next
door…
Nathan
Cooper is trying to revive his own career. Once a top left-handed relief
pitcher, he tried to get over a hidden injury with the aid of banned
substances. Not only was he caught and suspended, he was traded and missed out
on winning the championship. Now he’s a free agent without a contract, and that
means life is ready to play ball…
My Review:
I love Sports-themed romances. What is sexier than a hunky man in prime condition finding that one woman that makes him feel that life is more than fame and fortune?
Nate Cooper was licking his wounds after his fall from glory due to an injury that could cost his career as a pitcher and after being caught using banned substances for pain. A beautiful woman named Annabelle moves in next door with her two young daughters and he plans to stay clear of her because they do have a connection, even though she doesn't know it. Fate has different plans and Nate finds himself taking care of the trio after Annabelle is in a car accident.
Annabelle is a strong woman and a good mother and all she wants to do is renew her modeling career that she gave up for her ex. She never wants to depend on a man again and needs to prove to herself that she can provide for her girls. Her plans and her heart change once she cautiously gets to know the man next door who charms her daughters and encourages her after her accident.
Nate knows he screwed up and he wants to prove to everyone that he has changed and is ready to return to the game. Meeting Annabelle has helped him heal deep inside and if he hadn't met her, he probably would have kept on with his self-punishing loneliness.
I liked Nate and how he helped calm the girls fears when their mom got hurt as he played his guitar for them and really cared about them. The road to the HEA is bumpy between the two adults, and Ms. Mathews writes a story that is full of heart-felt romance and has you rooting for Nate and Annabelle. This is my first time reading this author, but it won't be my last. I highly recommend it to readers of sports romance.
Nate Cooper was licking his wounds after his fall from glory due to an injury that could cost his career as a pitcher and after being caught using banned substances for pain. A beautiful woman named Annabelle moves in next door with her two young daughters and he plans to stay clear of her because they do have a connection, even though she doesn't know it. Fate has different plans and Nate finds himself taking care of the trio after Annabelle is in a car accident.
Annabelle is a strong woman and a good mother and all she wants to do is renew her modeling career that she gave up for her ex. She never wants to depend on a man again and needs to prove to herself that she can provide for her girls. Her plans and her heart change once she cautiously gets to know the man next door who charms her daughters and encourages her after her accident.
Nate knows he screwed up and he wants to prove to everyone that he has changed and is ready to return to the game. Meeting Annabelle has helped him heal deep inside and if he hadn't met her, he probably would have kept on with his self-punishing loneliness.
I liked Nate and how he helped calm the girls fears when their mom got hurt as he played his guitar for them and really cared about them. The road to the HEA is bumpy between the two adults, and Ms. Mathews writes a story that is full of heart-felt romance and has you rooting for Nate and Annabelle. This is my first time reading this author, but it won't be my last. I highly recommend it to readers of sports romance.
Excerpt #1
Today
was a good day. A glorious day. Sitting at the stoplight in the Southern California sunshine, Annabelle Jones did a drum solo
on the steering wheel of her convertible Mercedes. She didn’t care if people
stared at her singing along to “Don’t Stop Believing.” She hadn’t stopped
believing, and look at her now, fresh off her first modeling job since filing
for divorce. So it wasn’t the cover of Sports
Illustrated, still, it was a job. Something she could be proud of. Her
daughters could be proud of her.
It
wasn’t about the money. The income she earned from this modeling job was more
about pride. Having something to offer the world, even if it was just her face.
Annabelle
wanted to show her daughters that a woman didn’t need a man to take care of
her. She could stand on her own two feet, and return to the career she’d given
up when she married Clayton Barry. She might not fly off to exotic locations or
work with the world’s most famous photographers, but she was working.
She
lifted her face to the sun, soaking in its warmth. It was as if the fog of the
last few years had finally lifted. Nothing but blue skies ahead for her and her
six-year-old twin daughters.
Today’s
shoot was just the beginning. Her agent had two more jobs lined up for her
before the end of the month. He’d also scheduled her to attend the televised
celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. She hadn’t been able to make the
photo shoot last fall in New York for the magazine, but he thought making an
appearance on the live show would give her plenty of exposure.
Hopefully,
she’d be able to juggle it all. Part of what appealed to her about today’s job
was that it was close enough that she’d be able to shoot for a few hours and
still get home in time to meet her daughters when they got off the school bus.
Annabelle
glanced at the clock. If the light didn’t change soon, she wasn’t going to make
it to the bus stop in time.
The
song ended and Annabelle turned down the volume. She’d started listening to
Journey during the Goliaths’ World Series run. So the song was five years older
than she was, the message still rang true. It was about hope. Starting over.
Believing.
The
traffic light turned green, and she pulled into the intersection. A flash of
yellow appeared out of the corner of her eye. She turned in time to see an SUV
blow through the stoplight. Before she could react, the vehicle struck her
Mercedes just behind the driver’s side door.
Her
head slammed into the side window. Glass shattered and she looked down at the
blood on her blouse. A thousand black pixels danced before her eyes.
And
then nothing.
Author Info
Kristina Mathews doesn't remember a time when she didn't have a book
in her hand. Or in her head. But it wasn't until she turned forty that she
confessed the reason the laundry never made it out of the dryer was because she
was busy writing.
While she resigned from
teaching with the arrival of her second son, she's remained an educator in some
form. As a volunteer, parent club member or para educator, she finds the most
satisfaction working with emergent and developing readers, helping foster
confidence and a lifelong love of books.
Kristina lives in Northern California with her husband of more
than twenty years, two sons and a black lab. A veteran road tripper, amateur
renovator and sports fanatic. She hopes to one day travel all 3,073 miles of
Highway 50 from Sacramento , CA to Ocean City , MD , replace her carpet with
hardwood floors and serve as a “Ball Dudette” for the San Francisco Giants.
Review Copy Provided by:
Thank you for hosting me and sharing MAKING A COMEBACK with your readers.
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome, Kristina. Such a great read!
DeleteThank you so much for hosting MAKING A COMEBACK!
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome, Lisa!
DeleteThis was very enjoyable!
ReplyDeleteIt was. I would definitely read more of her books.
Delete