“She’s a nerd.”
“Heyyyy!”
“Okay, she’s a flight instructor.”
“Better.”
“He’s a ballplayer.”
“The best that ever was.”
“Technically, you aren’t according to MLB stats.”
“See? Total nerd. She also has no filter.”
“He’s no southern gentlemen.”
“I had one last season to prove my worth.”
“I’d never seen a game.”
“He told me he was a player.”
“She told me she was a lesbian.”
“But you fell in love with me anyway.”
“Yeah, baby, I totally did.”

 

Okay so first off no spoilers although there will be some quotes but I’ll try to keep it to a minimum ah who am I kidding I’m going to go wild. I could quote the hell out of this book it is that good.

Ms. Stewart doesn’t know this but we have a love/hate relationship going on of all the books I’ve read by her I’ve given them a high rating because they are unique, different and they touch the heart. In saying that the difficult part was tough going when it came to the rating. I didn’t always agree but I was objective about it. But with this book it is a no brainer.

I have a major girl crush on Alice and I’m sure I won’t be the only one who feels that way. On top of my love for Alice, I also have a crush and love for Rafe. It is rare that I love both characters in a book equally as I always connect more with one character than the other but I connected equally with both characters here.

5 ‘random facts’ Stars.

 

Alice Boyd is a flight instructor she is THE Kelly McGillis in real life. She moves to Charleston to take a new job to get away from her repressed mother who is very religious and with whom she has never had a solid relationship. Because of this she has had a very lonely existence.

Google is her friend and she is more informational than conversational. I’d be her drinking pal any day of the week or we could google random facts together. Alice wants to lead her life to achieve the best day ever and not live through her favorite films instead. She is hilarious she has no filter, she is smart, funny and beautiful in her own way. What did I say? Major girl crush here.

While checking out Charleston she buys a ticket to a baseball game and meets Dutch. They hit it off and she learns all about the game. At the game she sees Rafe ‘Bullet’ Hembrey and they lock eyes.

Rafe Hembrey needs it to be his year and everyone tells him it is coming and that he’ll get the call. He is a pitcher for the minor leagues. At his game he sees a blonde little something sitting next to his number one fan Dutch. There is a story with Dutch, so didn’t see that one coming but I loved it. He is intrigued by the blonde something.

Rafe has an inner depth that he doesn’t show. He is devoted to those few friends and family that he has. He has a good heart although he is slightly narcisstic at times but we all have our flaws. I loved him as a hero he is vulnerable and he has some insecurities as well. How I jumped all in with Alice? Beautiful.

Their first encounter doesn’t go as planned….but it is bloody hilarious.

“What. The. Fuck!” I turned to see the source of the voice covered in half eaten peanuts and spewed beer. I looked up as the man Dutch had called Bullet towered over me, and his hazel eyes burned a hole straight through me.

Awkward!

Looks can be deceiving and they realize that they aren’t what the other one expected to be. Especially Alice when it came to Rafe.

She paused before she opened the door. “I may be wrong about you, I thought you were one of those bone-headed, stupid athletes who only cared about baseball and women. But I have a feeling you’re worth knowing.”

Andy is there to help him get the call but he also warns him when it comes to Alice.

“She’s out of your league? “And you think that because?” “She has manners. She said crud, not shit. She’s reserved and doesn’t have her legs spread.

And that he wasn’t ready for real but the more he got to know Alice the more real he wanted.

The woman was insane but the kind of insane that you gravitated toward.

He also knew when he had lost the battle.

Blush and bashful. My colors are blush and bashful,” I said in my best southern accent. I went on to explain. “It’s a line from-““Steel Magnolias, I know. I do have a mother and sister.” I gave him a smile I knew to be my biggest, and I swear I could him mutter shit under his breath.

Rafe works hard to persuade Alice to give him a chance.

“Nothing will happen that you don’t want to happen. I just want to be alone with you. Okay?”

Oh, it was going to happen. I’d make sure if it. We’d crossed the friend line.

But they both have things to overcome personal demons to fight, to forgive or not to. Choices that were made by parents that they had to accept. My heart bled for Rafe because he didn’t deserve that and it wasn’t salvageable. Alice gets to improve her relationship with her mother. Hey they went out and got drunk together.

There are some incidents that are hilarious where I couldn’t contain my laughter unfortunately I can’t disclose them because spoiler.

There text messaging was bloody hilarious.

Rafe: Do you have ADD?

Alice: You would think that but …..no. This is my normal.

And I believed her.

Rafe: Tell me more.

And the banter and chemistry they had together.

“Don’t move. I’m going to take a shower and then undress you again.” “Okay.” “Wow, we made you agreeable, too.”

“Stop referring to your junk as another entity, Rafe. It’s creepy.” “We’ll shut you up again soon.”

Such a fantastic and sweet epilogue.

Two questions before I finish my review.

What song changed everything for you?

Have you had your one movie moment in life yet? What was it?

Parting words

This is a fantastic read and I can only recommend reading it. Take the plunge have a laugh and a good time it will be worth it.

This will definitely go on my best books of 2016 shelf so that I can do the 10 best books of 2016 at the end of the year. It took me nearly 3 days to write this review I’ve never taken that long to write a review.