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readfrenzy's review
5.0
Just when I think Kate Stewart can’t do any better, she manages to prove me wrong. I was a massive fan of her previous book, [b:Anything but Minor|29910116|Anything but Minor (Balls in Play, #1)|Kate Stewart|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1464752913s/29910116.jpg|50286087], so this one had fairly large shoes to fill. Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit if I didn’t enjoy Major Love just as much, if not more.
Andy is a former minor league baseball player turned pro ball coach/bar owner/craft beer brewer. April is a spunky 911 operator. Both of them are nursing broken hearts when they meet one night. Although Andy is at his absolute worst, their meeting has a profound impact on April and they quickly form a friendship.
I fell majorly in love with this couple. April is outrageously funny and multi-faceted—she’s feisty yet sensitive; spontaneous but dependable; a sexy southern tomboy that loves rap music. She keeps it real and takes no crap, but her huge heart makes her incredibly giving toward her family and friends. Quick witted, caring, and devastatingly charming, Andy is the perfect catch for a certain firecracker who is holding out for Mr. Right. He’s a real romantic with a very dirty mind.
There’s an abundance of consistently clever humor and seriously steamy sexy times. We’re talking get-out-your-fan-and-have-a-spare-pair-of panties-on-hand hot.
More importantly, this is a well crafted heartwarming story. I laughed and cheered April and Andy all the way to very last page.
Major Love is easily one of my favorite romantic comedies of the year. If you’re looking for a hilariously entertaining and sizzling sports romance, do yourself a favor and grab this book. Major Love is the second book in the Balls in Play series, and it can be read as a standalone.
Recommended for fans of:
Baseball
Romantic comedies
Southern accents
Moon Pies
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
Andy is a former minor league baseball player turned pro ball coach/bar owner/craft beer brewer. April is a spunky 911 operator. Both of them are nursing broken hearts when they meet one night. Although Andy is at his absolute worst, their meeting has a profound impact on April and they quickly form a friendship.
I fell majorly in love with this couple. April is outrageously funny and multi-faceted—she’s feisty yet sensitive; spontaneous but dependable; a sexy southern tomboy that loves rap music. She keeps it real and takes no crap, but her huge heart makes her incredibly giving toward her family and friends. Quick witted, caring, and devastatingly charming, Andy is the perfect catch for a certain firecracker who is holding out for Mr. Right. He’s a real romantic with a very dirty mind.
There’s an abundance of consistently clever humor and seriously steamy sexy times. We’re talking get-out-your-fan-and-have-a-spare-pair-of panties-on-hand hot.
More importantly, this is a well crafted heartwarming story. I laughed and cheered April and Andy all the way to very last page.
Major Love is easily one of my favorite romantic comedies of the year. If you’re looking for a hilariously entertaining and sizzling sports romance, do yourself a favor and grab this book. Major Love is the second book in the Balls in Play series, and it can be read as a standalone.
Recommended for fans of:
Baseball
Romantic comedies
Southern accents
Moon Pies
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
indeanna's review
5.0
Andy gave his heart to baseball and to a woman that didn’t love him back. So during his darkest moment he met someone who fell in love with him but he didn’t know it.
April’s job is one of the hardest emotionally. She is a 911 operator and greatest aunt to 9 nieces and nephews.
This is an emotional story at parts, funny at parts and parts that I’m would shout, REALLY? I think the author did a great job showing us the emotional drain a 911 operator goes though and also the hardship of having a relationship with a person who works for professional baseball. But there are parts that I felt were a little unbelievable. I didn’t like the promise that she made with a drunk guy she just met. I thought it was not true to life. Like who does that?
Overall it was a pretty good read. I like the baseball parts and the friendship parts. Other then the whole promise, it wasn’t a bad book.
April’s job is one of the hardest emotionally. She is a 911 operator and greatest aunt to 9 nieces and nephews.
This is an emotional story at parts, funny at parts and parts that I’m would shout, REALLY? I think the author did a great job showing us the emotional drain a 911 operator goes though and also the hardship of having a relationship with a person who works for professional baseball. But there are parts that I felt were a little unbelievable. I didn’t like the promise that she made with a drunk guy she just met. I thought it was not true to life. Like who does that?
Overall it was a pretty good read. I like the baseball parts and the friendship parts. Other then the whole promise, it wasn’t a bad book.
kate_and_books's review
4.0
SPOILER FREE REVIEW with some quotes.
4 Moon Pie & Puddin’ Stars.
Andy Pracht is in a bad place at the moment. After falling in love that love being unrequited he has lost himself. One particular night he loses himself in a bottle of Johnny Walker. Without knowing his life changes that night. Slight issue? He can't bloody remember. He is attracted to the maid of honor but doesn’t really know what to do with that attraction.
“You are a bit crooked, best man Andy,” she said as she straightened my tie. “I thought we agreed to just Andy,” I corrected, tempted to go in then and there and suck the gloss off. Clearly, I’d drank too much already.
Andy is a perfect Hero. I didn't get how he could be so hung up on Kristina to be honest. He is adorable, kindhearted, funny, warm, and let's face it ladies hot as hell. He is tired of the game although he loves baseball it cost him something dear. But he can’t quite let it go and takes a coaching job in Atlanta. Exactly where the dreadful Kristina has moved to. She isn’t that bad. More than anything else Andy was in love with love. But being in love with love and finding the right person to be in love with are two different things. It is a natural process. His promise to himself? Not to force things.
I loved Andy in Anything but Minor and I was rooting for him to get his own book. My wish was granted. Once again I can only say that you are the dog's bollocks Ms. Stewart.
BTW good choice with the surname Pracht it means gorgeousness in German. Coincidence? I think not.
April Turner's life has changed ever since one of her best friends died. She has put her life on hold. April has one of the hardest jobs ever you need a cool head and nerves of steel. Although there are tragic days there are also moments in the Coop which are hilarious.
“Charleston 911, what’s the address to your emergency?” “773 Palm Tree Way. There are people in my house!” With a level voice, I asked, “Are you in the house now?” “YES! YES! They came out of the refrigerator.” [……] I’m sorry, ma’am, can you repeat that?” “Midgets came out of the refrigerator! They’re wearing camouflage.”
After giving her ex 15 years of her life she is thinking of herself. Even after 15 years and being single it wasn’t easy as they also shared the same friends. One chance encounter with Best Man Andy gives her the strength to give her heart to someone special.
“Give that big heart to a man who deserves it, okay?! Make him earn it, make him earn you.” He pulled back with a serious face I couldn’t look away from. Andy kept his eyes on mine, waiting for a reply. “I promise.”
April knows what she wants from the beginning. Andy. Andy bless his soul is oblivious whereas April remembers everything it breaks her heart. But she has to woman up and by helping Alice with wedding preparations it brings them together.
The attraction is there they don't want to act on it to begin with. They both can't deny it in the end.
While they were separated I love their texting with one another. Especially Andy’s attempts at icebreakers more specifically when he tried to get back into April’s good graces.
Andy: I’m no weatherman…
April: No?
Andy: But I definitely see several inches in your future.
Andy: When was the last time you had SWAG?
April: SWAG?
Andy: SWAG. Sex with a ginger.
They have filthy, sweaty, and dirty sex. It’s unrehearsed, raw and they feed off each other. They are in sync. They are electric. They just are.
The man was a beast and had the sexual appetite of a caveman on crack. And I loved every second of it.
“Jesus Christ,” Andy swore as he tried to control his breathing. If we were talking to God, I was next in line. Please Jesus, can I keep this one?
The hotel room, the woman’s toilets, while Andy was on the telephone. Dear Lord, me knickers went poof!
They both get sick together. Rain is not their friend.
“You look like a science experiment,” he said, choking on his cold. “You loob like a circus clown who needs more lipstick.” “You hab enough grease in your hair to fry chicken.” “You loob like Colonel Sanders ten days post mortem.”
These two are perfect for one another. They want to save themselves the heartache but in the end it nearly leads to this.
“Daddy, Andy is the kind of man I’ve wanted my whole life. The kind Tyler could never be. The same way I feel about him… I couldn’t manage again with anyone else. I know it. I know it’s Andy. I knew it the night I met him. I don’t want to lose him. “You got to have him to lose him.”
Although there was an easiness to their relationship they never really defined what they are. But thought wise they were already there.
April was my biggest and boldest seam scar. She’d clocked in the fastest and brazened her way throughout the whole of my heart.
April herself comes to a revelation.
We both had hearts to put back together before we could give them to each other.
I love and adore Ms. Stewart and her writing style she knows how to set up a romantic comedy book without it being too cheesy, kitschy and falling flat. I laughed so much but it wasn’t unfortunately on par with the first book. Nothing beats Alice and Rafe. They are the best. They have a special place in my heart. Alas with all the humorous banter and sweet moments Andy and April didn’t quite get there.
On a side not:
“If you were a tropical fruit, you’d been a fineapple.” – Where does Ms. Stewart come up with these things?
Review can also be found @ http://jerisbookattic-reviewblog.blogspot.de/2016/11/major-love-balls-in-play-2-by-kate.html
Book received by the Hype PR in exchange for an honest review.
4 Moon Pie & Puddin’ Stars.
Andy Pracht is in a bad place at the moment. After falling in love that love being unrequited he has lost himself. One particular night he loses himself in a bottle of Johnny Walker. Without knowing his life changes that night. Slight issue? He can't bloody remember. He is attracted to the maid of honor but doesn’t really know what to do with that attraction.
“You are a bit crooked, best man Andy,” she said as she straightened my tie. “I thought we agreed to just Andy,” I corrected, tempted to go in then and there and suck the gloss off. Clearly, I’d drank too much already.
Andy is a perfect Hero. I didn't get how he could be so hung up on Kristina to be honest. He is adorable, kindhearted, funny, warm, and let's face it ladies hot as hell. He is tired of the game although he loves baseball it cost him something dear. But he can’t quite let it go and takes a coaching job in Atlanta. Exactly where the dreadful Kristina has moved to. She isn’t that bad. More than anything else Andy was in love with love. But being in love with love and finding the right person to be in love with are two different things. It is a natural process. His promise to himself? Not to force things.
I loved Andy in Anything but Minor and I was rooting for him to get his own book. My wish was granted. Once again I can only say that you are the dog's bollocks Ms. Stewart.
BTW good choice with the surname Pracht it means gorgeousness in German. Coincidence? I think not.
April Turner's life has changed ever since one of her best friends died. She has put her life on hold. April has one of the hardest jobs ever you need a cool head and nerves of steel. Although there are tragic days there are also moments in the Coop which are hilarious.
“Charleston 911, what’s the address to your emergency?” “773 Palm Tree Way. There are people in my house!” With a level voice, I asked, “Are you in the house now?” “YES! YES! They came out of the refrigerator.” [……] I’m sorry, ma’am, can you repeat that?” “Midgets came out of the refrigerator! They’re wearing camouflage.”
After giving her ex 15 years of her life she is thinking of herself. Even after 15 years and being single it wasn’t easy as they also shared the same friends. One chance encounter with Best Man Andy gives her the strength to give her heart to someone special.
“Give that big heart to a man who deserves it, okay?! Make him earn it, make him earn you.” He pulled back with a serious face I couldn’t look away from. Andy kept his eyes on mine, waiting for a reply. “I promise.”
April knows what she wants from the beginning. Andy. Andy bless his soul is oblivious whereas April remembers everything it breaks her heart. But she has to woman up and by helping Alice with wedding preparations it brings them together.
The attraction is there they don't want to act on it to begin with. They both can't deny it in the end.
While they were separated I love their texting with one another. Especially Andy’s attempts at icebreakers more specifically when he tried to get back into April’s good graces.
Andy: I’m no weatherman…
April: No?
Andy: But I definitely see several inches in your future.
Andy: When was the last time you had SWAG?
April: SWAG?
Andy: SWAG. Sex with a ginger.
They have filthy, sweaty, and dirty sex. It’s unrehearsed, raw and they feed off each other. They are in sync. They are electric. They just are.
The man was a beast and had the sexual appetite of a caveman on crack. And I loved every second of it.
“Jesus Christ,” Andy swore as he tried to control his breathing. If we were talking to God, I was next in line. Please Jesus, can I keep this one?
The hotel room, the woman’s toilets, while Andy was on the telephone. Dear Lord, me knickers went poof!
They both get sick together. Rain is not their friend.
“You look like a science experiment,” he said, choking on his cold. “You loob like a circus clown who needs more lipstick.” “You hab enough grease in your hair to fry chicken.” “You loob like Colonel Sanders ten days post mortem.”
These two are perfect for one another. They want to save themselves the heartache but in the end it nearly leads to this.
“Daddy, Andy is the kind of man I’ve wanted my whole life. The kind Tyler could never be. The same way I feel about him… I couldn’t manage again with anyone else. I know it. I know it’s Andy. I knew it the night I met him. I don’t want to lose him. “You got to have him to lose him.”
Although there was an easiness to their relationship they never really defined what they are. But thought wise they were already there.
April was my biggest and boldest seam scar. She’d clocked in the fastest and brazened her way throughout the whole of my heart.
April herself comes to a revelation.
We both had hearts to put back together before we could give them to each other.
I love and adore Ms. Stewart and her writing style she knows how to set up a romantic comedy book without it being too cheesy, kitschy and falling flat. I laughed so much but it wasn’t unfortunately on par with the first book. Nothing beats Alice and Rafe. They are the best. They have a special place in my heart. Alas with all the humorous banter and sweet moments Andy and April didn’t quite get there.
On a side not:
“If you were a tropical fruit, you’d been a fineapple.” – Where does Ms. Stewart come up with these things?
Review can also be found @ http://jerisbookattic-reviewblog.blogspot.de/2016/11/major-love-balls-in-play-2-by-kate.html
Book received by the Hype PR in exchange for an honest review.
sonja_ahrb's review
5.0
This is one of those books that came along at the perfect time. After all the heaviness of the past few weeks; the election, the fighting on Facebook, I just needed this book. Kate Stewart wrote a hilarious, heartwarming, sexy book. And it's got a jock hero. Double bonus!
There are some great laugh-out-loud moments in this book. And as I was reading I found myself being side-eyed by my family wondering what was so funny. I haven't read the first book in this series, but that didn't slow me down any. Major Love can definitely stand on its own. You can bet I'm going to download Anything but Minor ASAP.
This book just hit all the right spots for me. I rely on my books to take me from another place. Away from problems, and stress. Like I said, this story came along at the perfect time. I needed this book in my life. I just didn't know how much until I read it.
~ Lia, 4.5 Stars
There are some great laugh-out-loud moments in this book. And as I was reading I found myself being side-eyed by my family wondering what was so funny. I haven't read the first book in this series, but that didn't slow me down any. Major Love can definitely stand on its own. You can bet I'm going to download Anything but Minor ASAP.
This book just hit all the right spots for me. I rely on my books to take me from another place. Away from problems, and stress. Like I said, this story came along at the perfect time. I needed this book in my life. I just didn't know how much until I read it.
~ Lia, 4.5 Stars
wvgirl_304's review
5.0
"If you love a southern woman raise your glass. If you don't raise your standards"
I will never look at moon pies the same ever again
I will never look at moon pies the same ever again
jen286's review
2.0
*spoilers ahead*
This is the second book in a row that I have read that ended with the lady being all I love him, but I can't be with him!! Which makes NO sense! Not I love him, but he doesn't love me, but I love him, but I am afraid so I can't be with him. Argh! It is soooo annoying!!
So this is the story of April and Andy. Andy who had his heart broken and is not really ready for a relationship, and April who lost someone close to her and her boyfriend and the same time. So she has ber own baggage. But there is just something there between them. They connect and they can't seem to stay away from each other. April first met Andy when he was drunk and very open about what he was going through. Very open with how he thought she was beautiful, but he had his heart broken and all of that. He made her promise to hold out for a good man as she is a great person.
So Andy doesn't remember that night and April is adamant she can not tell him! Why I have no idea. He says he wants her at some point and she tells him she made a promise to someone else and so right from the start Andy things she is waiting for someone else. Just like his ex and he doesn't want to do that again. It was so stupid. By the end I was just like what does this promise even mean if you keep using it to not be closer with Andy? If you are using it to not tell him you love him? Do you not think he is a good man by now?? I don't understand!!! It was so stupid.
And then at the end April is all I love him, but I saw him hug his ex when she came to a game and so he MUST be in love with her!! So I will just ghost him as I love him and can't be with him because if he loved me he would have said something by now. Hello pot meet kettle. I mean she uses Andy not telling her he loves her sooner as a reason why he must not and they can't be together...when she never said anything either. They both have this thing where it has to be natural and so somehow that means they don't talk to the other person about anything of significance. It means you hold back yourself even though you love the other person and don't tell them. It was so stupid. I did not understand the last chapters at all. I didn't understand April and it really ruined the whole book. Like I was enjoying it up until then, and then it was like oh. Okay. This makes no sense so...SO stupid. I want my main characters to be able to have a conversation and not run away scared because of nothing. Oh it annoyed me. I loved the first book, thought it was so much fun, but this one was a huge letdown. Oh well.
This is the second book in a row that I have read that ended with the lady being all I love him, but I can't be with him!! Which makes NO sense! Not I love him, but he doesn't love me, but I love him, but I am afraid so I can't be with him. Argh! It is soooo annoying!!
So this is the story of April and Andy. Andy who had his heart broken and is not really ready for a relationship, and April who lost someone close to her and her boyfriend and the same time. So she has ber own baggage. But there is just something there between them. They connect and they can't seem to stay away from each other. April first met Andy when he was drunk and very open about what he was going through. Very open with how he thought she was beautiful, but he had his heart broken and all of that. He made her promise to hold out for a good man as she is a great person.
So Andy doesn't remember that night and April is adamant she can not tell him! Why I have no idea. He says he wants her at some point and she tells him she made a promise to someone else and so right from the start Andy things she is waiting for someone else. Just like his ex and he doesn't want to do that again. It was so stupid. By the end I was just like what does this promise even mean if you keep using it to not be closer with Andy? If you are using it to not tell him you love him? Do you not think he is a good man by now?? I don't understand!!! It was so stupid.
And then at the end April is all I love him, but I saw him hug his ex when she came to a game and so he MUST be in love with her!! So I will just ghost him as I love him and can't be with him because if he loved me he would have said something by now. Hello pot meet kettle. I mean she uses Andy not telling her he loves her sooner as a reason why he must not and they can't be together...when she never said anything either. They both have this thing where it has to be natural and so somehow that means they don't talk to the other person about anything of significance. It means you hold back yourself even though you love the other person and don't tell them. It was so stupid. I did not understand the last chapters at all. I didn't understand April and it really ruined the whole book. Like I was enjoying it up until then, and then it was like oh. Okay. This makes no sense so...SO stupid. I want my main characters to be able to have a conversation and not run away scared because of nothing. Oh it annoyed me. I loved the first book, thought it was so much fun, but this one was a huge letdown. Oh well.
tracy_j's review
4.0
I've enjoyed all of the Kate Stewart books that I've read but I'm so over them all ending with a pregnancy
dollylovestoread's review
3.0
2.5, only stayed this long bc of Alice and rage and I barely remembered them
jessicrow's review against another edition
5.0
loved!
So glad Andy and April got their happy ending. With lots of moon pies and pudding. Loved how Dutch also found her a slice of happiness.
So glad Andy and April got their happy ending. With lots of moon pies and pudding. Loved how Dutch also found her a slice of happiness.