The Perfect Catch by Meghan Quinn Published by Hot-Lanta Publishing LLC on June 10, 2021
Format: ARC
Genres: Romance, Sports Romance
Amazon
"Kiss me. Just this once . . . please Walker."
Those whispered words were my undoing . . .
As the most hated player in baseball, I had two options: either clean up my image or pack my bags. Being traded wasn't an option which only meant one thing, I had to become compliant.
That's how I found myself sharing a small bistro table with Kate Chapman, the Chicago Bobbies newest PR Manager. Devastatingly beautiful, vastly intelligent, and incredibly cunning, she knows exactly how to handle my grumpy demeanor.
It was supposed to be simple. Book some PR events, show up, smile for the camera, and be done. But one massive mistake on my end sends me into the trenches with Kate, forcing me to open up to her.
Innocent glances turn into cordial encounters.
Secret touches turn into tempting invitations.
And dangerous nights alone turn into consuming desperation.I’ve never wanted a woman as much as I want her. And I know she wants me, but there’s a no fraternizing with the players rule. Neither of us can afford to lose our jobs, but we also can't seem to keep our hands off each other either.
I kind of love that antsy feeling I get from forbidden office romances. While not my favorite baseball book of Meghan Quinn’s, I did appreciate the tension and the high stakes in The Perfect Catch. I’m torn between giving the book 3.5 or 4 stars.
Walker is a catcher for the pro baseball team the Bobbies (“Bobbies for life!”) and he is on the verge of being traded for his bad attitude and unsportsmanlike conduct. Kate is the new PR person for the Bobbies — a dream job she desperately wanted. Given the company’s no fraternization policy, both could lose their jobs if caught in a relationship with each other.
The beginning starts out strong. I was curious about what was behind Walker’s aggressive behavior and animosity toward fellow teammate Penn. I wondered how Kate would crack his shell and rehabilitate his image. The story was on its way to being a solid 4 stars. I even enjoyed surprise revelations. However, the dialogue devolves into too much I-wish-we-could-be-together-but-we-can’t redundancy. Literally, the exact same conversation over and over. It drags the pacing down. I also had a difficult time understanding the rationale behind Walker and Penn’s grudge and the severe repercussions.
I was struck by the sensibility of both characters. Walker is a truly decent and honorable man, despite his gruff exterior. Kate is compassionate and driven. They are never flagrant about their attraction, even though their chemistry is through the roof. They understand what’s at risk and make several attempts to resist the pull between them. Since it is Meghan Quinn, when they finally give in to their feelings, holy smokes is it hot!
I’m not sure if The Perfect Catch is officially part of the Brentwood Boys baseball series, but Walker’s teammates, Carson and Knox, are mentioned in passing. We are introduced to Ryot, Walker’s best friend and teammate, who has no filter and tends to say hilarious but wildly inappropriate things. I really hope he gets his own book.
Recommended for fans of:
Forbidden romance
Office romance
Baseball
Grumpy heroes
** I received an early copy to voluntarily read and review. **
About Meghan Quinn
Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if “It’s Raining Men” starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped.
Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing… enter her first novel, Caught Looking.
Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze!
So now I need to know which is your favorite Meghan Quinn baseball romance? I think this one is my new favorite. But I love most of them, so it’s hard to decide!
I loved both The Dugout and The Trade. Those Potter siblings have my heart.
The Potters are pretty cool. 🙂