Title: Wild Pitch (Homeruns #1)
Author: Sloan Johnson
Release Date: June 18, 2015
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24597806-wild-pitch?ac=1
Synopsis
There’s never been any question in Sean Tucker’s mind that he’d do whatever it took to make it to the major leagues and be one of the best pitchers of his time. The day he acknowledged to himself that he was gay was also the day he vowed to stay in the closet in order to chase his dreams. The problem is, he never counted on Mason Atley.
Sean showed rookie short stop Mason Atley the ropes, both on the field and off. The two forged a friendship which continued as both of them moved through the ranks of the farm system and into the majors. Unfortunately, there’s always been one secret Mason never felt he could share with Sean. Until now.
For seven years, Sean lived with the fact that he loved a man who would never reciprocate. When Mason admits that he’s always known he’s bisexual but has never allowed himself to pursue a relationship with a man, will Sean be able to put aside his reservations about starting a relationship with the friend he’d always assumed was straight? And more importantly, will they be able to find a way to stay together when their careers keep them apart more than they can be together?
Review
The ability to be one’s true self without secrets is a luxury some people don’t have, especially those in a masculine game like Major League Baseball. So, many players conceal things about themselves that might force them to be seen in a different way – one such concealment being their sexuality.
Both Sean Tucker and Mason Atley have wanted to be major league ball players their entire lives, and they reached their goal, forging amazing careers, but the one aspect of their lives that has never felt complete has been finding someone to spend their lives with…Mason thought he had it with his ex wife, but he realized that regardless of how much he tried to deny is true feelings…suppress his inner needs, he couldn’t create the kind of life he wanted outside the game of baseball because he didn’t have the person he needed beside him to do so, Sean.
Sean’s always known he was gay, but he’s never made that fact public knowledge because the repercussions could cost him his career. So, Sean’s lived a lie and pined away for the one man he never thought he’d have – Mason. But when Sean and Mason reconnect and their true feelings are finally out in the open, how will the two juggle their professional lives where they feel like they have to hide the truth and their private lives where they can’t seem to get enough of each other and want to give their relationship a real shot?
Sloan Johnson brings together my two favorite types of reading in Wild Pitch – sports and m/m romance, and Sloan does a great job of balancing the plot with enough baseball in order for readers to understand the passion that Mason and Sean have for the game with the burgeoning relationship that’s developing between them and the ups and downs that come with trying to make a go at having something real while having to hide aspects of their love/friendship for the sake of their career.
I’m an absolute sucker for a friends to lovers’ storyline, and Sloan allows readers to understand Sean’s apprehension with Mason’s confession and his hesitancy to put his heart on the line for something that he believes could just be a passing fad. What I would have liked to see more of was the bond between the two men. At times, I didn’t feel Sean and Mason’s connection was explored as concretely as it should have been in order for readers to see how real their feelings were for one another. The physical nature of their relationship was developed extremely well…it wasn’t rushed even though we could sense their desperation for each other, but I would have liked to see more conversation and depth to how they communicated with one another outside of the bedroom.
What I do have to mention is that Sloan expanded scenes to allow a more thorough connection between Sean and Mason, adding in a bit more spice and communication than the original version, and I love that fact because she’s always looking to improve her craft and she has my absolute respect for her willingness to take that approach in her writing.
Sloan’s Homeruns series is definitely one I will continue reading. I’m excited for Jason’s story next. He was a huge help to Sean throughout Wild Pitch, and I can’t wait for him to get his man as well!
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
4 poison apples
Excerpt
“Are you saying what I think you are?” I asked, my mind still holding me back from pushing him back on the couch to give him what he seemed to be begging for. My fingers tangled through his hair, holding him so his face was barely an inch away from mine. I feared that, if I let go, the trance would be broken and I’d never know what it felt to press my body against his.
“Yeah, I think I am.” Throwing caution to the wind, I placed my hands on his shoulders and shoved him back. His wavy hair felt like silk under my fingers as I plundered his mouth with a crushing kiss. He moaned as his hips bucked against mine, just as desperate for release as I felt. A surge of connection jolted through my body, from my mouth all the way down to my cock, urging me to claim him. There’d be time for regrets later, but if this was what Mason wanted, I would be the one to give it to him.
My cock begged to be freed from the confines of my jeans, pleaded with my hands to reach between our bodies and pull his sweats over his hips, but I couldn’t. Just like my performance earlier in the day, I allowed someone else to weasel his way into my mind and I choked.
“Mace, we can’t do this,” I said with more than a trace of resignation behind the words. “I don’t want you doing something with me because you think it’ll take my mind off what happened earlier. You deserve better than that. If you’re really interested in guys, that’s awesome, but I can’t be your guinea pig. You mean too much to me for me to lose you when you decide you want to go back to women. I wouldn’t be able to stand being pushed aside because your tastes change.”
Mason’s face contorted as if he’d eaten something sour. “Dude, you make it sound like it’s a banquet dinner and I’m going to decide I picked the wrong entrée! Why can’t life be a buffet? If I’m in the mood for a steak, I’ll have the steak. If I want the salmon, I’ll grab a piece of that. Life’s short, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to get to St. Peter and regret never trying steak. Unfortunately for me, the only cut I’m interested in is you.”
“See, that’s exactly what I’m talking about,” I countered. “Let’s keep going with your ridiculous analogy, because you seem to focus better when we’re talking about food… what happens when you try the steak, only to decide that you can’t stand it? What if you realize that what you thought was steak was closer to a nasty fast-food burger? I don’t want to take that chance.”
Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/1291772024/playlist/442suDdatjMpPAQRhLmj2A
About the Author
Sloan Johnson is a big city girl trapped in a country girl’s life. While she longs for the hustle and bustle of New York City or Las Vegas, she hasn’t yet figured out how to sit on the deck with her morning coffee, watching the deer and wild turkeys in the fields while surrounded by concrete and glass.
When she was three, her parents received their first call from the principal asking them to pick her up from school. Apparently, if you aren’t enrolled, you can’t attend classes, even in Kindergarten. The next week, she was in preschool and started plotting her first story soon after.
Later in life, her parents needed to do something to help their socially awkward, uncoordinated child come out of her shell and figured there was no better place than a bar on Wednesday nights. It’s a good thing they did because this is where she found her love of reading and writing. Who needs socialization when you can sit alone in your bedroom with a good book?
Now, Sloan is a tattooed mom with a mohawk and two kids. She’s been kicked out of the PTA in two school districts and is no longer asked to help with fundraisers because she’s been known to lose herself with a good book and forget she has somewhere to be.
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