She’s the curve ball I wasn’t expecting.
Leslie Pike
The Curve
Format:
Audiobook
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Memphis Mavericks catcher Atticus Swift has game. On the field and off. Things and people come easy to the baseball player.
Then why is the woman across the room ignoring him?
Single mother Charlotte Bay is one minded. Focus is on daughter, Mallory, who bears emotional and physical scars of the past.
Love, romance, or even male attention is not on the radar.
Sometimes life throws you a perfect curveball.
Point of view:
1st person. Alternating between Atticus & Charlotte.
Rellim’s Thoughts:
This was my first book by Leslie Pike, but it definitely won’t be my last. I really enjoyed this low angst, high heat romance. Lots of tropes & themes I enjoy: especially single mom, sports star who meets his match, and super sexy chemistry.
I liked that Pike kicked this off with Charlotte not knowing sports and Atticus had to work to get attention. I loved that Mallory is the focus and priority of Charlotte’s life. Even better is that Atticus respects that and carves out his own friendship with Mallory.
Most of the angst comes from dealing with Mallory being bullied and what that means for her, Charlotte, and Atticus as he becomes more involved in their lives. I liked the mix of sweet dates and steamy sex scenes.
Atticus’s family is great and all the banter is a lot of fun. I enjoyed getting to know the other Swift siblings, Brick & Bristol. Enough to be interested in their books, but they didn’t take over this story.
Epilogues! I love ‘em and Pike delivers here! All the warm fuzzies knowing Atticus, Charlotte, and Mallory get their HEA.
I’m ready to dive into The Closer, but definitely waiting for audio.
Narration:
I adore Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell in dual narration. In addition to having wonderfully swoony performances of their own, they complement each other well. They’re both great at banter, emotion, and sex scenes. Perfect.
Trigger Warnings (possible spoilers):
Bullying of Mallory, fairly descriptive
I received a free advance copy of this audiobook from Home Cooked Books and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
About the author:
USA TODAY bestselling author, Leslie Pike, has loved expressing herself through the written word since she was a child. The first romance “book” she wrote was at ten years old. The scene, a California Beach. The hero, a blonde surfer. The ending, happily forever after.
Leslie’s passion for film and screenwriting eventually led her to Texas for eight years, writing for a prime time CBS series. She’s traveled the world as part of film crews, from Africa to Israel, New York to San Francisco. Now she finds her favorite creative adventures taking place in her home, in Southern California, writing Contemporary Romance.
You can connect with Leslie Pike here:
About the narrators:
You can connect with Joe Arden here:
You can connect with Maxine Mitchell here:
My Favorite Quotes
Now, I have more than baseball to think about. – The Curve by @AuthorLPike #Audiobook narrated by @NarratorMaxine & @TheRealJoeArden #SportsRomance #SwiftSeries #SingleMom #OppositesAttract
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With that smile I’d spill state secrets. – The Curve by @AuthorLPike #Audiobook narrated by @NarratorMaxine & @TheRealJoeArden #SportsRomance #SwiftSeries #SingleMom #OppositesAttract
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Sometimes we need to wail at the universe. – The Curve by @AuthorLPike #Audiobook narrated by @NarratorMaxine & @TheRealJoeArden #SportsRomance #SwiftSeries #SingleMom #OppositesAttract
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Kissing so desperately our bodies melt into each other’s and become one thing. Moving as if we choreographed each moment. – The Curve by @AuthorLPike #Audiobook narrated by @NarratorMaxine & @TheRealJoeArden #SportsRomance #SwiftSeries #SingleMom #OppositesAttract
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She’s the curve ball I wasn’t expecting. – The Curve by @AuthorLPike #Audiobook narrated by @NarratorMaxine & @TheRealJoeArden #SportsRomance #SwiftSeries #SingleMom #OppositesAttract
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Rellim Reads 