Friday, June 19, 2015

[Kame's Review]: "Stealing Second"

Stealing Second by Alison Packard
Publisher: Carina Press (June 22, 2015)
Series: Feeling the Heat, 5
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Katherine Whitton doesn’t purposely avoid men and relationships, but she doesn’t mind that side effect of immersing herself in her job with the San Francisco Blaze. Years ago she was betrayed by her one true love, and she’s never fully recovered, though she’s tried by building a new life in a city she loves.

It’s taken seventeen years for Tom Morgan to get over Katie—Katherine now. Sober now and faced with the incredible opportunity to manage the Blaze, he thinks he’ll finally be able to handle working with this beautiful woman without falling to pieces…as long as she doesn’t get too close.

A crisis with the team's star pitcher forces Tom and Katherine to put in long hours together. Years of animosity melt away as the sexual tension between them ignites. But it’ll take more than scorching kisses to avoid the wreckage of the past. And neither Tom nor Katie are sure they’re ready to trust each other or risk their hearts for a second chance at happiness.




Where to Buy*:
More Info:

Reviews of Packard's Previous Novels:

The Winning Season (#2) -- Kame
Catching Heat (#3) -- Kame
Breaking His Rules (#4) -- Kame

A Christmas for Carrie -- Kame

Hearts on Fire -- Kame


Kame's Review:



Katherine and Tom share a past, but have different ideas of what broke them up. Seventeen years later they find themselves both working for the same major league baseball team. Neither have found another love that can replace what they had; and both think they can just ignore the pull of their hearts.


I love characters like Katherine who are strong women in high profile positions, who have jobs that take brains and some determination. I like that she can be tough and sexy at the same time. Tom was harder for me to imagine, a sexy single MLB manager. He holds as much pain as Katherine but holds it in more, you can tell from the instant he sees her that he has never stopped loving her. I enjoyed the scenes where they found their love again and discovered the truth about the past.


I think steamy scenes between characters who have a past - and a past that is years ago can sometimes be hard - you have to convey a maturity that time has brought, but there isn't a newness - you have to honor that "he" knows she gets ticklish when she is touched "there", and things like "her" noticing his shoulders are now more broad. Tom and Katherine's steamy scenes were very satisfying to read. I truly felt they knew their second chance was rare and they realized they never stopped loving each other.


Fans who are not also baseball fans do not worry that you will get lost in baseball jargon, baseball really is only a framework for the plot. We do get a treat to see characters from the other books in the series, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I will say one of my favorite scenes was the resolution of the conflict that tore them apart again.


I love this series and will definitely pick up any future titles.


4 1/2 STARS! 


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Kame received an e-ARC of this book from the author in exchange for her honest opinion.

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Thanks for the review, Kame! :) 

Have you read Alison Packard before? Do you have a favorite of hers?

We'll have Alison on the blog Monday with a fun interview, don't miss it! 

Remember, since this is a Royal Pick, come back on June 25th for a chance to WIN an ecopy of your own!



Enjoy!


Until Next Time,


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6 comments :

Alison Packard said...

Thank you so much for the lovely review, Kame!

Sophia Rose said...

I have not read her stories yet. I do love a romance with middle-aged characters and the second chance trope is also a favorite. Can it standalone or is it best to read in order?

Sharlene Wegner said...

Sounds good! I love a 2nd chance romance. The cover is yummy, too!

Alison Packard said...

Hi Sophia Rose! Although it's part of a series, I think Stealing Second can be read as a stand alone. You don't need to know the other character's stories to enjoy this one. Hope you like it if you read it!

Sophia Rose said...

Yay! I do like to read books in order, but sometimes I get excited by a blurb and don't have the patience to wait.

Alison Packard said...

That's happened to me a few times too, Sophia Rose. Then I've still gone back to read the first books in the series because the one I read was so good!