****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Home Run is an emotional, sexy, funny and beautiful story that hit me in unexpected ways. One minute I was laughing and the next, reaching for tissues because I was bawling my eyes out. Cooper is a rookie baseball player who was just called up to the major leagues. While he is confident in his abilities, he's a pretty humble guy and isn't like most cocky athletes who use their fame to sleep around and garner perks everywhere. He's more of the awkward, shy guy and that translates into a character who is multi-dimensional. Ainsley has a heart of gold and is dealing with some very heavy emotional situations at home. When she takes a chance on Cooper, their relationship heats up and the sparks fly. Together, they have so much chemistry and truly are perfect for one another. Their relationship is far from roses and sunshine though. There is plenty of conflict and some major curveballs (natch) which the reader won't see coming but a beautiful ending that will make readers swoon is the payoff and it's totally worth it!While this book is part of a series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. I did not read Third Base (Book 1) but plan to do so now since there are many secondary characters in Home Run that are standouts and I need to read more about them! These characters helped round out the story and give it even more character. Home Run includes the perfect amount of baseball for those who love the sport but for those who don't, it's not overwhelming---it's easy to understand and follow along. Overall, it's a beautiful sports love story and Cooper is sure to be your next book boyfriend! McLaughlin really hit it out of the park with this book so be sure to grab it but don't forget the tissues which you will surely need. 5 Stars
