Pitch Perfect (Boys of Summer #1) by Sierra Dean
Romance Contemporary
E book, 259 pages
August 6, 2013
Samhain Publishing

Reviewed by Tori

A die hard baseball fan and athletic trainer, Emmett (Emmy) Kasper has more than paid her dues, rising her way through the ranks of the Chicago Cubs franchise until she couldn’t go any further. When she is offered the position of  head athletic trainer for the San Francisco Felons, she jumps at the chance; packing up and leaving Chicago without a second glance.

Tucker Lloyd, star pitcher for the Felons, is returning to the active roster after a year off for elbow surgery. Though a talented pitcher, at 36 years old he’s considered used goods in the world of baseball. Baseball is Tucker’s life and he just wants this one chance to prove he still has what it takes to be a winner.

As Tucker and Emmy’s worlds collide, neither of them expect  the intense chemistry that erupts between them.  Emmy tries to keep things professional as she has  a long term  boyfriend and she feels business and pleasure shouldn’t mix. When Emmy’s boyfriend, a sports columnist, writes an article about Emmy that makes it sound as if she got her breaks in the business because of her connections and the fact she is woman, Emmy knows they are done for and breaks it off with him. This gives Tucker the green light to act on his feelings for Emmy and soon they embark on a hot steamy relationship.

When Tucker’s dreams of  pitching take a dismal turn, can he and Emmy weather the storm or will they have to put their passion on hold to make their individual dreams come true?

Pitch Perfect is the first in Sierra Dean’s Boys Of Summer series. A sport dominated romance contemporary that balances the ins and outs of baseball with a light hearted romance. With a personable cast of characters and an entertaining informative look at baseball from Spring Training to the Division playoffs, this book should have swept me off my feet. A hot male lead, intelligent heroine, realistic plot lines, and some smexy times everywhere in between should have engaged me from the start and not let go. Unfortunately, I found myself bored less than halfway through. This book had no real conflict or emotional turmoil. From the very beginning to the end, everyone and everything is nice and polite. From Tucker accepting Emmy’s edict to just be friends, to Emmy’s literally catching her boyfriend Simon with another woman. Everything resolves with little  fuss. The plot elements are predictable as is the romance. The individual elements were good but the execution failed for me.

The romance is slow to start but it’s expected when the details of Emmy’s life are revealed. I did like her and Tucker became friends first but I would have enjoyed seeing that evolution myself. It becomes a case of tell not show. Once they are free to act on their feelings, the chemistry heats up and we are privy to some very nice and detail oriented sex scenes.

What saved this book for me were the characters and the baseball story line.  I liked Emmy and Tucker individually. Both are strong, intelligent, witty people who weren’t into playing games.  They know what they want, both personally and professionally and have worked hard to get where they are.  They are likable protagonists. I found the interaction and dialogue between the players hilarious. and the minute details of baseball informative and interesting. Sierra doesn’t overwhelm us with textbook style narrative.  Her love of baseball is evident.

While I foresee myself sticking with her paranormal series, as it offers more action and depth in my opinion, I do feel fans of sports romance contemporary will enjoy Dean’s newest venture.

Overall Rating: C

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