Sweet Spot

Roseville Ramblers #3

by Staci Hart

I should absolutely, under no circumstance develop a crush on my co-worker--the grumpy, wolf-daddy, much older high school baseball coach.

First problem? He's twenty years older than me. Second? I've never even been kissed. Third? When I ask him to teach me, he said yes.

In my defense, Grey Brooks is a great coach. As an elementary school librarian, I know more about books than swinging hammers or baseball bats. I thought I was a lost cause, but from showing me how to throw a baseball to fixing up my rickety old house, all he does is teach me. And somewhere between the lessons and the laughter, we become friends. So asking him to teach me to kiss...etc, just makes sense. Right? Right?

He makes rules. Keep it casual. Keep it secret. Keep the feels in check.

But in a small town where everyone's watching, nothing stays secret for long. Every rule we break blurs the line between lessons and love, the rumors are getting louder, and Grey thinks he's going to ruin me.

He might be right. But not for the reasons he thinks.

Because there's more than gossip hiding in Roseville. And by the time I see the danger coming, the only person who can save me is the one everyone says I should stay away from.

Genres: Workplace Romance, Sports Romance, Age Gap Romance, Small Town Romance, Friends To Lovers, Sports

Unknown Binding

Expected publication March 26, 2026

About the author

I was the kid who stayed inside to read.

As a four-eyed nerd with a bad perm, I was no one’s dodgeball pick, but I had a lot of friends. Frodo and Bilbo, for instance. Kristy, Stacey, Claudia and the gang (iykyk). Once, in the third grade, I wrote a teen murder mystery inspired by Christopher Pike. On solving my mystery in twelve pages, I decided I was a terrible writer and should never, ever do that again.

Fortunately, I didn’t take my own advice.

I write romance for that feeling you get at the end, like you’re standing on top of a mountain with a backpack full of hundred dollar bills. I write romcoms because is there anything better than banter and grand gestures? I write because I love to create and I love words. I love books, and I love stretching my imagination. I love love, and if you do too, bring your coffee and have a seat. I think we’re gonna be friends.

Stay connected!
Instagram: http://instagram.com/quirkybird
Facebook: http://facebook.com/stacihartnovels
Reader Group: http://facebook.com/groups/stacihart

Reviews

[Christy]

[Mary Sargent]

Coach & Peaches = perfection 🍑

[Courtney B · Rating 4 out of 5]

🍑 eARC Review: Sweet Spot by Staci Hart

“ I must look like I’m starving, I’m sure, and not for breakfast. I mean, not unless breakfast is kielbasa a’la Greyson Mchotbooty. Serve it with a side of fertilized eggs and my buttered up, toasted heart.”

Molly finally escapes the suffocating control of her parents and decides to move away to a small town and take the librarian job at the local elementary school. She quickly learns she has been missing out on so many things while under her parents thumb, and she decides it’s time to try all the things she never got to. She joins the Teacher’s Softball league, where it’s quickly made clear she’s never thrown a ball a day in her life, and Coach Grey decides he will give her some lessons. Although she isn’t running off to join a minor league, she realizes she CAN do this and she can do things she never thought she would. Then she gets this crazy idea that maybe Coach Grey can teach her other things like drinking, smoking, and maybe even teach her how to kiss, and etc. 😉 Coach Grey is the town favorite, a stand up guy, a local, and someone who has been through a lot and deeply adored. Molly trust him explicitly and she can’t think of anyone better to experience her first with. Doesn’t hurt they both got this hot smoking tension between them. 

As things are heating up between Molly and Grey, she is slowly getting the feeling that her parents are keeping something from her. Not only is she dealing with that, but the town finds out about their little romance and the rumors, side eyes and judgements start flying. As they are trying to deal with Molly’s parents, the looming secret, and the town trying to break them apart, they don’t see the real threat coming until it’s too late. After Grey rescues Molly, the town finally gives them a chance to breathe, hell bent on discovering more info in the latest scandal. Grey and Molly finally get to start living their life and building their new normal. 

💕 What I Loved:
• I was hooked from the first page of this book because Molly is just so lovable and had me giggling in my seat with her sunshine personality and can do attitude. I really loved being inside her head and hearing all her inner dialogue and how sometimes what she thought, also slipped out.

• This book literally had me rolling over laughing between the banter, the sass, the inner thoughts, the RACCOONS🦝, and all the other little moments between Molly and Grey.

• Wolf daddy Grey has my whole heart and the way he was written, I felt like I could visualize every inch of his body as Molly was looking at it. He gives off the typical alpha vibes but you can quickly see, he’s got a huge soft spot, especially when it comes to Molly. I DEVOUR the type of MMC who is grumpy with everyone else but the FMC. 

• You give me a slow burn, forbidden, can’t stay away type of romance, and I will grovel every single time. This book was written exceptionally well with making sure it kept me longing for more and more. I mean, I stayed up till 2am reading one night because I had to know what was going to happen next!

• Although I love a hot steamy romance, which this book gave, it got even better toward the end with the massive twist of events and the suspense! The threat that ends up coming, I NEVER SUSPECTED IT. My mouth DROPPED. I was sitting there for a few minutes thinking W T F.


📚Is it for you?
If you love a small town romance, with slow burn, teach me, touch her and be unalived type of vibes…you HAVE to read this book! The forbidden aspect and the age gap gives it that extra little spice that kept me turning every page. I can’t forget to mention THE SPICE this book has is TOP TIER. I wasn’t expecting so much going into it, but whewww, it DELIVERED 🥵

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ [4]


⚡️☀️Grumpy/sunshine
💕Forced proximity
🍻Alpha hero
🍑 Romance
👩‍🏫Teach me
🍑 Age gap
🥎Baseball
❤️‍🔥Slow burn
🏡Small town
👩‍❤️‍👨Friends to lovers
🍎Forbidden

Thank you so much to Good Girls PR and Staci Hart for this eARC! It’s one of my top favorites!

[PP's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I just read the hottest book Staci Hart has ever written? I think so! And what makes Sweet Spot even hotter is the slow burn that comes with the spice! This extremely sexy age gap forbidden romance hit the right feeling every single time. The latest emotional adventure in Roseville delivers heartache and angst so beautifully. I am obsessed with Coach Grey. So tortured, so grumpy, so alpha, so perfect. And I am equally in love with our sweet but sassy librarian, Molly.

⚾️ age gap ( he is 44, she is 24)
⚾️ workplace romance ( both works in the same school)
⚾️ found family
⚾️ super spicy
⚾️ forbidden romance
⚾️ put me in ,coach!
⚾️ small town romance

Molly has finally moved out of her overbearing parents' house ( and something similar to emotional control) and found her first job as a librarian in the cozy small town of Roseville. She has also bought a house in desperate need for renovation. Baseball coach Grey Brooks has a stellar reputation in the town as the perfect gentleman because he takes care of people. Molly thinks he will be the perfect coach. For her school softball team performance. But when he insists on helping her in her home renovation and they become friends .she proposed a different kind of coaching. In seduction. Grey knows he is going to hell but he wants her too. Will this be a scandal that will bring them down?

Roseville is such a pretty place with some awesome people but like any small town, it has nosey judgmental people. Grey and Molly are forbidden and it breaks my heart to see them getting attacked and disrespected just because they fell in love despite their age gap. Grey can be complicated because his past isn't wholesome. And he was afraid that his love will make people drag Molly through the proverbial mud. That made him run and hide too. But I am so glad that very soon he realised that he cannot live without her and he vowed to by her side. Their ordeal definitely didn't end there. But Molly won my heart with her silent strength and fierceness and determination. Grey could have been all epic level of protective and possessive but he couldn't win the battle if Molly didn’t stand her ground. Her parents tried to manipulate her in name of saving her and she fought valiantly for her rights and needs. Daddy Grey is just so delicious and their coaching sessions will set your kindle on fire. Staci Hart always brings out such intense emotions with her heartfelt writing. I am obsessed with Grey and Molly. With every single swoony, scorching hot, heartwarming and happily ever after moment.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

[KatReadsRomance · Rating 5 out of 5]

You hit the sweet spot every time girl... every time!

From the moment I read the dedication,

"To everyone who's ever wanted private lessons from a man with big hands and a filthy mouth. Same girl, same."

I knew I was going to LOVE this book. But how could I not love it... I'm not sure I've ever read a Staci Hart book I didn't give five stars. She's my first author crush and she's still got it, thirty+ books later. Plus, Sweet Spot, is book three in the Roseville Ramblers series and it is a series to love.

I didn't read Sweet Spot, as much as I inhaled it. I'm very grateful to be given an ARC copy to review, and in a very sad time in my life, this was exactly the escape I needed.

There were so many parts that I found myself giggling (so many dirty names in the construction industry!), guffawing (the racoons, the gummies!), and groaning (quietly, as I was on a plane while reading a good part of it) in. For all her innocence, Molly is a very strong young woman who knows exactly what she wants... and what she wants is Greyson, or as she calls him Coach Greyson Brooks McHotbooty, Wolf Daddy, Equire....

Hart writes baseball like a woman who actually loves the game. I love that both the Roseville Men's team and the teachers team are made up of ordinary ragtag folk who play ball for the fun of it. What wasn't fun was how mean-hearted so many of Roseville's town folk were. But, they came around. Still, I'm not sure I can forgive them quite yet.

In all honesty, the fact that that Grey and Molly have twenty years separating them... I didn't think it was such a big deal (could be my own string of older men I had relationships with in my younger years... yes girl, yes, there is much to be said about being schooled by experienced man). Oh and her parents, particularly her father... so controlling! Through it all though, Molly maintains her genuine kindness and wonder at life. She is sunshine in human form.

I don't want to spoil the book for you, but there are a couple of big surprises in the book, one sweet and lovely, the other, not so much. This book was so worth the read, and as soon as the book is released (yes, it's a given I must own all of Staci's books and have read them all at least twice) I feel the need to read it again, so I can savour the taste of this divine story again, instead of inhaling it in a feeding frenzy. Well done Ms. Hart!

[Michelle Brashars · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Spot by Staci Hart is the third book in her Roseville Ramblers series and I’m SO EXCITED that it’s Molly and Grey’s book!!! Molly is newer to town and works as the school librarian, also best friends with Cass from the last book! We have our friend group that consists of Jessa, Remy, Cass, Wilder, Molly, Greyson, Shelby, and Tate. They’re such a fun group and I love them all being there for eachother!!! Grey is the oldest of them all and he also works at the school teaching shop and being the baseball coach. These two cuties are attracted to each other from the jump, but Grey stays away because he’s 20 years older and Molly has been sheltered and never had a relationship, or even been kissed, so she’s out of her depth. When the teachers at the school start a baseball group, Molly joins up despite not having experience. Grey agrees to give her extra help and the find they really like spending time together and get closer. Then Molly enlists his help in “coaching” her through other things, which leads to coaching her in kissing and other sexy times. Their chemistry is absolute FIRE 🔥 in and out of the bedroom. Their personalities mesh so well. Grey is gruff, but kind and sweet and protective. Molly is super sweet and funny. Their relationship flows and changes so naturally, thanks to wonderful writing. Grey literally cannot say no to Molly so he’s up for everything she asks. It’s so hot. THEY ARE SO HOT. The spice is spicing in this book 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵
I laughed my ass off while reading this one AND cried because their love is sweet and tender. Molly is living life for the first time and Grey being there helping her and standing in awe is just too much 🥹🥹🥹Guys, I just love this series so much. I am so so excited for the next book!!!!!
Infinity stars for McHotbooty!!!!

[mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sweet Spot had a really cute premise. It had the small town vibes, a big cast of characters and a romance that should’ve been sweet and easy to fall into. Unfortunately, it ended up being one of those books where I kept waiting for the spark to show up and it never really did.

Molly and Grey had potential. But most of the time their chemistry felt more told than shown and I never fully bought into the romance. Their banter had moments but nothing that made me sit up and go okay fine, I ship it.

Another issue for me was that this is book three in a series and you can definitely feel it. There are a lot of side characters and existing relationships floating around and if you haven’t read the earlier books it can feel like you’ve walked into the middle of a group conversation where everyone already knows each other. Instead of adding richness to the story, the constant cameos and references just made things feel cluttered.

The story moves but not in a way that builds tension, it's more in a things are happening but I’m not emotionally invested kind of way. For a romance, that’s a bit of a problem because by the time the relationship deepens, I still felt like I barely knew why these two people were supposed to be each other’s person.

All that said, the writing itself is easy to read and the small town setting is cosy. If you’re already invested in the Roseville Ramblers world, you might enjoy revisiting the characters. The cover is really pretty too!

(Thank you to the author for the eARC in exchange for a review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)

[Carly Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Spot is book three in the Roseville Ramblers series by Staci Hart, and when I say ‘you are going to want to read this book’, I am not exaggerating!

Cassie is new to town, and enjoying the feeling of being independent from her parents. All her life she has been made to feel like she needs to follow their rules, live like they ask, and it's been smothering. So she purchases a doer-upper, and is determined to fix it up to be her home.

Grey is the school and local team coach, he is moody, stubborn and much older than Cassie. He oozes a vibe that intrigues her, and despite the age-gap, she is very much drawn in. (Like little Red Riding Hood to the wolf! But Grey is a total silver fox!) 😉

Cassie joins the teachers team to push herself out of her confort zone, and Grey gives her some additional coaching. Cassie then offers him a proposal to coach her in other areas of her life; drinking, kissing etc. And what starts out innocent soon turns to pure fire.

Grey is reserved, hesitant, too afraid to be the talk of the town and bring shame to his name and Cassie. But there's something about the young beauty that has him hooked and refusing to let go.

The story is pure spice, with lots of fun and light-hearted moments. Their romance and love scenes are cute, and I was completely smitten with Grey.

If you haven't read the first two books, you don't have to, but they do create the full effect, and I cannot wait to see what Hart writes next.

This book is perfect for those who love small-town romances, age-gaps and books which are fun and flirty. You won't want to put it down. Grey is something else, and like Cassie you cannot help but be completely drawn to him.

[Ann-marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Spot is the third in the Roseville Rambler series. Molly has finally been able to move out of her parents home and get her own place. She not only moved out but moved to a new town bought a home and started a new job at the town's elementary school as a librarian. She becomes friendly and close to the teacher Cass(heroine from book two #Hot Shot).
Cass encourages Molly to join the teachers softball team where she can get to know others. Molly is as innocent as they come, at twenty four years old she is a virgin and has never been kissed.
Enters Grey an older man who is the coach of high school baseball team and is also the coach of this new team been put together. We hear Molly inner dialogue been fascinated with Grey although she acknowledges to herself of the age gap. As Molly is trying out for the team she confesses to them she never played softball and it showed. Grey tells her he will give her private lessons to get her up to speed. As they begin to spend time together and she get's more comfortable with him she proposition to give her lessons in romance/how to kiss. He agrees to help her out if they stick to rules and that they will not fall for each other but as we know with these tropes/story the couple do fall for each other. We get to catch up with Cass Remy and the gang. We not only get a rom com but we also get a twist of mystery/adventure all wrapped up in one.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Spot is the third book in author Staci Hart’s Roseville Ramblers Series. The book stars Molly Lane, young and new to Roseville. The ray of sunshine, elementary school librarian has led a sheltered life. Her newfound friend, Cass,invites her to join the teachers softball team who is coached by another teacher in their friend circle, Grey Brooks. Grey is older and more experienced than Molly. He’s protective and she trusts him implicitly. He helps with her softball skills because she has never played and he’s been coaching for 20 years. She asks him to coach her through her first time drinking alcohol, first kiss…. You see where this is going. Their relationship gets complicated quickly and catches unwanted attention from the town and gossip spreads like wildfire threatening their jobs and reputation. Can their relationship survive?
Give me all of the Staci Hart books to devour. Her character development paints a picture and transports you into the story. Her witty writing gives good banter. I’m hooked.

[cmk.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review•Sweet Spot•Staci Hart

Pub Date: March 26th

[4.5⭐️]

Thank you so much to @good.girls.pr and @quirkybird for the eARC!! 🫶🏻

This was my first big age gap book and it was SO GOOD!! I am fully obsessed with Coach McHotbooty and Molly 😍 Molly is new to town and is the elementary school librarian, and Grey is the longtime shop teacher/baseball coach. They’ve been curious about each other since Molly first got to town but their age gap kept them from wanting to explore things more. Molly joins the teacher league baseball team and needs a little extra help since she has never played before, and Coach Grey decided to step up and help her for the good of the team, and the rest is history 😉 This book was full of spice 🌶️, had me laughing out loud, and I was not ready for the different twists and turns along the way! Overall this was such a fun read and I can’t wait to read more of Staci Hart’s books. Check out the full list of tropes below and make sure to add this to your tbr ⬇️

TROPES:
⚾️ baseball romance
✨age gap
❣️forced proximity
☀️grumpy/sunshine

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Molly and Grey were the age-gap romance I live for! Molly, 24 and on her own for the first time after moving away from her very suffocating parents is starting to discover who she is. After buying an old fixer-upper and joining the teacher softball team she realizes she has a lot to learn. Enter Grey, or coach, the 44 year old high school baseball coach who offers to teach her how to play…and ends up being so much more.

This was sweet and spicy and then took a mysterious turn that I didn’t see coming at all!

I love a Staci Hart story and this one was just perfect.

[Judy25 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grey & Molly

Baseball coach Grey (44) meets the new librarian Molly (24) and attraction appears in both of them, but he tries to fight it because he is too old for her. She is completely inexperienced (never even been kissed), so she doesn't exactly understand all the feelings she is experiencing. This is a fabulous book of firsts for Molly. She is brave enough to know what she wants and asks for it. Grey is too smitten to refuse her. You will love this book.

[Ashlee Duval · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to go to bed 3 hours ago, but couldn’t put it down. The romance was so sweet. He built her a library, people! The spice was spicing.

I loved the twist ending. I suspected Carlin was a creep, but was blindsided by the parents’ secret.

Can’t wait for the next trip to Roseville!

P. S. I’m really intrigued by shark shifter romance and would like some recs.

[Books, Booze & Bon Voyage (Krista Webster) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age gap romance in a small town with consequences neither of them saw coming.
Full review to follow

[Nicole Deraleau · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was perfect! the way he call her peaches, the reason behind it, "put me in coach", "batter up", ugh chefs kiss