"Ohhh...This Is A Treat!"

Kate Angell's fourth book, Squeeze Play, (Dorchester, Leisure Books, May 2006) is the first in a series and the first that doesn't have a paranormal element in it (Calder's Rose, 2003; Drive Me Crazy, 2004; Crazy For You, 2005 - Love Spell, Dorchester Publishing). This series centers on the fast life of pro baseball, that will be the perfect summer read. The Boys of Summer will win your heart, but it's the Girls of Summer who make this series come alive.

Risk and Jacey have been friends their whole life. Vibrant, sexy, sassy Jacey Grayson was the second cousin of Richard Kincaid's best friend. Richard is better known as "Risk" to his baseball pals, but oddly, risk is the one thing Jacey won't take with him. They'd grown up together. With her being a year younger, Risk always protected her like a brother. Only, his feelings were far from brotherly toward this free spirit. He easily spotted Jacey in any crowd. Dressed in brilliant colors that had others accusing her of being colorblind, she endlessly fascinated him. Then there was her hair. She went from pink to purple to maroon at the drop of a hat. Risk knew there was no one like Jacey. To him she was "Totally unforgettable. She was pure sparkle and pizzazz."

Jacey has always watched Risk like a big brother, a hero, loved him, yet feared he was the one man who could crush her heart, so she kept an emotional distance. The first time Risk offered to "pick up the pieces of her broken heart" from her current failed romance, he warned Jacey he didn't do tears. Jacey asked what did he do? He replied, "Rebounds." He promised he would kiss her until she forgot the lout who dumped her. Jacey took him at his word. She told herself it was okay to "play with Risk" but never let him too near.

This has become the pattern of their lives.

Risk has regretted ever uttering the word. Now the World Series is over, he rushes home to Jacey hoping to break this stalemate in their lives. Life as a pro baseball player has grown hollow and he wants Jacey as his. Only she is too conditioned at taking him to bed, yet all the while keeping him at arms length where her heart was concerned. It's up to Risk to convince her where love and marriage is the objective he is no risk at all!

Evocative of small town life and well-stocked with secondary characters, who clearly are setting the stage for novels two and three in the series, the story leaves us charmed, delighted and laughing out loud. All I can say is Angell hits a homerun with this enchanting tribute to the boys in the dugout and the women in the stands cheering them on.

Angell Scores a home run with the first in a series on the Richmond Rogues.

Reviewed by Kristi Ahlers
Posted June 9, 2006

Summary

Risk Kincaid is finding out that the life of a pro baseball player isn't all it's cracked up to be. The fame, the fortune, the fans—what good are they when he keeps striking out with the one woman who really matters to him? Jacy Grayson is sassy and spirited, but she only sees him as her rebound lover—the man who'll pick up the pieces when her heart is broken. Yet Risk has never stepped down from the plate before, and he certainly isn't going to start now. The bases are loaded—all Risk needs to do is show her that the diamond he has in mind won't be found on a baseball field.