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Bad Boys Redemption #1
Second Chance Hero
Meet bad boy pitcher, Zach Pritchett...
Two things I love: baseball and Lacey Stark. Back in college, I had them both. But after graduation, I made the biggest mistake of my life. I let Lacey go.
Five years later, I can't complain. A Cy Young winner, I've achieved what I set out to do--pitching in the Major Leagues. Life is great.
Until it's not.
And the day it all went south? The day Lacey Stark appeared at my post press conference. The reality of not having her slams against my chest. Lacey's still sexy as hell, sporting more curves and a little more sass. Pitching in the Majors isn't the only thing I want anymore.
Now, it's time to go after what I've denied myself all these years. I want Lacey and will stop at nothing until I make her mine.
Lacey seems determined to stay away, but we belong together. I know this. I just need to convince her to give me another chance. Because one thing is guaranteed, I won't stop until she's back in my arms.
Second Chance Hero is book one in this new standalone sports romance series. If you like sexy, alpha baseball players, click to download Zach in this hot, new series.
Two things I love: baseball and Lacey Stark. Back in college, I had them both. But after graduation, I made the biggest mistake of my life. I let Lacey go.
Five years later, I can't complain. A Cy Young winner, I've achieved what I set out to do--pitching in the Major Leagues. Life is great.
Until it's not.
And the day it all went south? The day Lacey Stark appeared at my post press conference. The reality of not having her slams against my chest. Lacey's still sexy as hell, sporting more curves and a little more sass. Pitching in the Majors isn't the only thing I want anymore.
Now, it's time to go after what I've denied myself all these years. I want Lacey and will stop at nothing until I make her mine.
Lacey seems determined to stay away, but we belong together. I know this. I just need to convince her to give me another chance. Because one thing is guaranteed, I won't stop until she's back in my arms.
Second Chance Hero is book one in this new standalone sports romance series. If you like sexy, alpha baseball players, click to download Zach in this hot, new series.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2017
1368 people are currently reading
2341 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Readnour
33 books904 followersKimberly Readnour lives in the Midwest with her husband and a very snuggly cat.
Having a true passion for romance and HEAs, she took the leap from the young adult genre to romance and never looked back.
Unexpected Love, book two of the Unforeseen Destiny Series, is a #1 Amazon Kindle bestseller in the Medical Romance. Her series, the Bad Boys Redemption, has spent many weeks on Amazon's sports fiction bestseller list.
Kimberly worked as a Registered Nurse for fifteen years before hanging up her stethoscope. When she isn't running her own business, you can find her tucked away writing.
You can follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kimberlyrea...
Having a true passion for romance and HEAs, she took the leap from the young adult genre to romance and never looked back.
Unexpected Love, book two of the Unforeseen Destiny Series, is a #1 Amazon Kindle bestseller in the Medical Romance. Her series, the Bad Boys Redemption, has spent many weeks on Amazon's sports fiction bestseller list.
Kimberly worked as a Registered Nurse for fifteen years before hanging up her stethoscope. When she isn't running her own business, you can find her tucked away writing.
You can follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kimberlyrea...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
October 23, 2017
Second Chance Hero is the first book that I've read by this author, and I'm HOOKED 100%! I absolutely LOVED every minute of this story, and if I had one complaint, it would be that it wasn't long enough, as I didn't want leave this world! Lacey Stark & Zach Pritchett had a thing in college, and rather than admit their true feelings, they parted in order for Zach to go off to the Majors. But neither ever forgot the other. Five years later, Zach is a Cy Young winning pitcher, with the perfect life or so he believes. See their paths cross when Lacey is at one of his post press conferences, and Zach realizes that he never got over her. So he decides to pursue her again, only this time, Lacey's very determined to stay away. Will Zach get what he wants or will Lacey finally deny him something?! This book pushed all my dramatic emotions, as I wanted to junk punch the very mouth watering Zach more than once. I loved Lacey, and while there were moments where I didn't agree with her decisions necessarily, I had her back as she had her reasons. There's no doubt they belonged together, but Zach had a few douchey moments himself, and I still haven't quite forgiven him. Thankfully, there's a colorful cast of secondaries that gave me some very well placed humor to make me laugh throughout the push & pull angsty moments. I freakin LOVED Kimberly Readnour's very talented writing style, and she's now my newest addiction. I CANNOT WAIT to read more by her, and HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND Second Chance Hero to ALL!
August 2, 2023
2 ⭐⭐ - Meh!
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I wonder why the hero only bothers looking for the heroine when his career has gone to shit. In every one of the books I've read about second chances our heroine is always dumped for his career, he has multiple women and success, while she struggles to move on. The formula is always the same.
And the lack of a condom when not seeing each other for 5 years? Since she saw him in magazines with a different woman on his arm. How irresponsible.
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I wonder why the hero only bothers looking for the heroine when his career has gone to shit. In every one of the books I've read about second chances our heroine is always dumped for his career, he has multiple women and success, while she struggles to move on. The formula is always the same.
And the lack of a condom when not seeing each other for 5 years? Since she saw him in magazines with a different woman on his arm. How irresponsible.
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November 13, 2024🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/7/2019)! 🎁
October 16, 2017
Surprise surprise a second chance novel that I like..... Not!what can I say? I like second chances :)
Second Chance hero was a cute read... If you are searching for a quick read that isn't going to keep you up at night rather it's going to make you smile Cause everything turned ok..Then this book is it. Give it a try. The storyline was interesting but I do have to say this... Zach.. He got on my nerves sometimes, I mean "Dude! I get it! You're a hot shot sportsman but geez.. get your head out of your ass and look at the bigger picture! you narcissistic fool!" hahaha
on a brighter note, I loved Zoe! I love when "small" children have such an impact even when there aren't that many scenes in the book.
October 27, 2017
The beginning of this book was so awesome cool and really good written.Till fifty 50% I loved the story,H and h but then I literally feel it going in a bad way down....what a disappointment.To this point it was a 4 star for sure read for me.Who ever wrote the last 45% ruined this story IMO.I read a lot second chance books but it’s always that the girl is the one whose left behind for some reasons bla bla bla and it’s always the girl who finds the way back again....ugh The H here never ever seeking her out or trying to contact her in 5 years.Yes he claimed he never stopped loving or thinking about her buuuuut he has no problem after 3 months of their separation f....OW?!? Yes he’s an asshole.And he was so cute at the beginning what a shame
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2017
Oh man. This book is the perfect read for sports and romance fans. SECOND CHANCE HERO is a book about redemption and winning back the person you love.
When Zach thinks his baseball career is crumbling, he doesn't except to see Lacey at his press conference in the middle of it all. She isn't as happy to see him though. They didn't end things on the best terms, but he still has an affect on Lacey and she can't stand it. That doesn't stop him from trying though. The only thing Zach doesn't prepare for is Lacey's big secret.
Zach had my heart from the moment he's introduced and I couldn't stop turning the pages to see what happens next. I was cheering Zach on the whole way through and Kimberly Readnour never ceases to amaze me with her writing. I can't wait for the next in this Bad Boy Series.
When Zach thinks his baseball career is crumbling, he doesn't except to see Lacey at his press conference in the middle of it all. She isn't as happy to see him though. They didn't end things on the best terms, but he still has an affect on Lacey and she can't stand it. That doesn't stop him from trying though. The only thing Zach doesn't prepare for is Lacey's big secret.
Zach had my heart from the moment he's introduced and I couldn't stop turning the pages to see what happens next. I was cheering Zach on the whole way through and Kimberly Readnour never ceases to amaze me with her writing. I can't wait for the next in this Bad Boy Series.
October 15, 2017
Sweet story of second chance love. Typical book one in a series: clear plot with introduction of possible characters for more books. The hero lacked depth and the miscommunication was frustrating. Although, the writing style made up for it. This was the kind of book that you don't realize how far you've read until it's too late. The author's storytelling flowed well and kept your attention. The plot worked, but I wanted more. Will I keep going with the series: yes. Will I try another book from this author: yes. In fact, I think her writing style was my favorite part of this read.
avoid
January 17, 2023H dumps her for his sports career, and doesn’t look back.
The h tries to get him back 3 months later but sees him with ow.
H goes after her 5 years later when his career starts to crumbles, and only wanted her back because he saw her by accident.
He never tried going after her before this.
Romance every girl wants to read about.🙄
Doormat h.
Manwhore H before and after h.
People kept talking about her secret at 55% .. but a lame ass book always has the stupid secret child trope, I bet it’s this 🙄🙄.
The h tries to get him back 3 months later but sees him with ow.
H goes after her 5 years later when his career starts to crumbles, and only wanted her back because he saw her by accident.
He never tried going after her before this.
Romance every girl wants to read about.🙄
Doormat h.
Manwhore H before and after h.
People kept talking about her secret at 55% .. but a lame ass book always has the stupid secret child trope, I bet it’s this 🙄🙄.
October 24, 2017
DNF at 55%
That twist was the breaking point for me. I don’t want to spoil anything ‘cause you’ll never see it coming, but I just didn’t like where the story was going. It was not for me.
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
That twist was the breaking point for me. I don’t want to spoil anything ‘cause you’ll never see it coming, but I just didn’t like where the story was going. It was not for me.
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2022
1½. ⭐💫
maybe
October 22, 2017Might read this one depending on whether or not he turned into a manwhore and the heroine stayed celibate. Huge pet peeve of mine so I’ll skip if that’s the case.
September 11, 2020
CR. I've been in the mood for baseball romances.
This story was mostly breezy+ sexy. But the MCs
Zack+ Lacey needed to communicate and prioritize
better and let go of the past. Zack seemed too selfish
for much of the story. His birth family seemed takers
more than givers: maybe he learned from them?
This story was mostly breezy+ sexy. But the MCs
Zack+ Lacey needed to communicate and prioritize
better and let go of the past. Zack seemed too selfish
for much of the story. His birth family seemed takers
more than givers: maybe he learned from them?
October 21, 2017
This was a sweet second chance at love novel. It was light and fun and was really easy to read. I have read this author before but she hit a triple with me on the sports mark and the relationship between the two main characters.
This is the story of Lacey Stark and Zach Pritchett. Lacey gets sent by her boss to cover the story of her ex-boyfriend. She hasn't seen him since he walked out on her after their graduation. So, five years later color him surprised when she shows up at his press conference and throws the gauntlet down about his shoulder. Zach hears that voice and that is all it takes. He made the worst choice of his life but he thought he was doing what was best for the both of them. You know that goes always think they what is better for the other person. Now she is back and his choice is made, he wants her back and what they had.
Lacey wants to do her job and get back home. She is shocked that when she returns and turns in her story that she is told she has to fly to San Diego and follow Zach’s game again. This is where the push and pull come in but is not bad. I want to say I didn't know what was coming but that would be a lie. I could sense it. I even had a feeling about her best friend. That subsided. I like the shock factor, I got some of it.
The flow of this book was good as was the writing. The people were likable even though they do stupid things. I like when there are kids involved even if they are background, they give it more life. I loved the sports element of the book, at times when I read sports romance, the sport is lacking, not in this one. You get all of it. When he is on the field and when he is recovering. Well worth the read. I just wish I had gotten to spend a little bit more time with these two since this is a series maybe we can see a bit into their future.
I liked Jax a lot and would love to read a book about him. Like I said the author hit a triple with me.
This is the story of Lacey Stark and Zach Pritchett. Lacey gets sent by her boss to cover the story of her ex-boyfriend. She hasn't seen him since he walked out on her after their graduation. So, five years later color him surprised when she shows up at his press conference and throws the gauntlet down about his shoulder. Zach hears that voice and that is all it takes. He made the worst choice of his life but he thought he was doing what was best for the both of them. You know that goes always think they what is better for the other person. Now she is back and his choice is made, he wants her back and what they had.
Lacey wants to do her job and get back home. She is shocked that when she returns and turns in her story that she is told she has to fly to San Diego and follow Zach’s game again. This is where the push and pull come in but is not bad. I want to say I didn't know what was coming but that would be a lie. I could sense it. I even had a feeling about her best friend. That subsided. I like the shock factor, I got some of it.
The flow of this book was good as was the writing. The people were likable even though they do stupid things. I like when there are kids involved even if they are background, they give it more life. I loved the sports element of the book, at times when I read sports romance, the sport is lacking, not in this one. You get all of it. When he is on the field and when he is recovering. Well worth the read. I just wish I had gotten to spend a little bit more time with these two since this is a series maybe we can see a bit into their future.
I liked Jax a lot and would love to read a book about him. Like I said the author hit a triple with me.
October 19, 2017
Gah, who doesn't love a second-chance romance? I know it's one of my most favorite tropes to read. Add in a sports element and I am hooked. In a good way. Sigh.
In Second Chance Hero we meet Zach and Lacey. Zach is a big deal in Major League Baseball. He's worked very hard--singularly focused upon his baseball career--to achieve his dreams. He loves his baseball life, and doesn't quite realize how empty his life is until he sees Lacey again.
Lacey and Zach were college sweethearts until Zach left to pursue his baseball dream--there was no room in his life for anything but baseball. And after five years, they've both thought they moved on. Thought they were over each other. But once they're face-to-face again, all those long buried feelings rise to the surface. But is now the time for them to seize their chance at love again?
Man. Zach and Lacey have a really complicated history. I loved them together, and actually loved them apart because they were able to grow up, make their dream (on Zach's part anyway) come true and now, hopefully find a way back to each other. Their banter was fun, flirty and smart. And their sexy times, whoa, so smokin' hot. It was fun watching them try to figure out how they could fit into each other's life again. How to make it work this time. And to really give it a try when so much between them was on the line.
A great start to this new Bad Boys Redemption series. I look forward to more! ~ Missy, 4 stars
In Second Chance Hero we meet Zach and Lacey. Zach is a big deal in Major League Baseball. He's worked very hard--singularly focused upon his baseball career--to achieve his dreams. He loves his baseball life, and doesn't quite realize how empty his life is until he sees Lacey again.
Lacey and Zach were college sweethearts until Zach left to pursue his baseball dream--there was no room in his life for anything but baseball. And after five years, they've both thought they moved on. Thought they were over each other. But once they're face-to-face again, all those long buried feelings rise to the surface. But is now the time for them to seize their chance at love again?
Man. Zach and Lacey have a really complicated history. I loved them together, and actually loved them apart because they were able to grow up, make their dream (on Zach's part anyway) come true and now, hopefully find a way back to each other. Their banter was fun, flirty and smart. And their sexy times, whoa, so smokin' hot. It was fun watching them try to figure out how they could fit into each other's life again. How to make it work this time. And to really give it a try when so much between them was on the line.
A great start to this new Bad Boys Redemption series. I look forward to more! ~ Missy, 4 stars
October 23, 2017
Entertaining and bittersweet..
Sports hero, single mother and a second chance this was a skilfully written romance that drew me in right from the start
The story is told from the twin perspectives of the two main characters...Lacey and Zach have ‘history’ ; I loved reading their different point of views of the same events...all the angst and misunderstandings which could have been avoided....Zach is in no uncertain terms a ‘player’ on and off the sports field and in truth I found him a little too arrogant and confident about his ability to get what he wants..I think if I had been the intelligent, beautiful Lacey I would have found him intensely irritating at times but Lacey also commits a rather heinous act when she puts his career at risk on an apparent whim....
The story oscillates to and fro between the past and present...I am not a great fan of this type of narrative as it tends to affect the rhythm and flow of the story but in fact it worked well for this book slowly but surely revealing tantalising aspects of the past and present....
An entertaining bittersweet sports romance...This book was reviewed for Summer's Eve Reads..
Sports hero, single mother and a second chance this was a skilfully written romance that drew me in right from the start
The story is told from the twin perspectives of the two main characters...Lacey and Zach have ‘history’ ; I loved reading their different point of views of the same events...all the angst and misunderstandings which could have been avoided....Zach is in no uncertain terms a ‘player’ on and off the sports field and in truth I found him a little too arrogant and confident about his ability to get what he wants..I think if I had been the intelligent, beautiful Lacey I would have found him intensely irritating at times but Lacey also commits a rather heinous act when she puts his career at risk on an apparent whim....
The story oscillates to and fro between the past and present...I am not a great fan of this type of narrative as it tends to affect the rhythm and flow of the story but in fact it worked well for this book slowly but surely revealing tantalising aspects of the past and present....
An entertaining bittersweet sports romance...This book was reviewed for Summer's Eve Reads..
February 26, 2022
Trigger warnings: infidelity, abandonment.
This was a great novel.
I absolutely loved spending time with Lacey and Zach.
How they come together. How their wit banter and chemistry come through and the emotional understanding just sings throughout the novel.
Yes they make a whole lotta stupid choices but in your 20s you do usually end up making a lot of stupid choices anyway. It’s a cursed thing about this age I suppose.
I loved the side characters and the little surprises that keep popping up throughout the pages. They were all so understanding and kind and caring - made my heart dance a lot.
Only problem was that maybe there were too many surprises popping up and sometimes proper communication was pushed to the side cause of them. Regardless Lacey and Zach proved through Kimberly’s fast paced and addictive writing that they are still gonna stand tall and nobody is gonna get in the way of them becoming a couple again.
Gosh I loved this so much. I definitely look forward to the next story in line - Jax and Jocelyne’s story soon - which is already released - Saint For the fences.
Until the next read,
-TMR
This was a great novel.
I absolutely loved spending time with Lacey and Zach.
How they come together. How their wit banter and chemistry come through and the emotional understanding just sings throughout the novel.
Yes they make a whole lotta stupid choices but in your 20s you do usually end up making a lot of stupid choices anyway. It’s a cursed thing about this age I suppose.
I loved the side characters and the little surprises that keep popping up throughout the pages. They were all so understanding and kind and caring - made my heart dance a lot.
Only problem was that maybe there were too many surprises popping up and sometimes proper communication was pushed to the side cause of them. Regardless Lacey and Zach proved through Kimberly’s fast paced and addictive writing that they are still gonna stand tall and nobody is gonna get in the way of them becoming a couple again.
Gosh I loved this so much. I definitely look forward to the next story in line - Jax and Jocelyne’s story soon - which is already released - Saint For the fences.
Until the next read,
-TMR
September 26, 2017
Is it true that inside every bad boy is a cuddly teddy bear just waiting to get out?
Well, when we first meet Zach, a Cy Young Award-winning pitcher for the Phillies, he's pretty much what we expect: he's a star athlete, with as many notches on his belt as he has major league wins. Then we have Lacey, a sports journalist who knows more about Zach than most people do, thanks to a fling they had back when both of them were still in college.
What starts as a juicy story turned into something else as Zach and Lacey reconnect. But everything has changed in five years, and picking up the pieces is not as easy as that.
Kimberly Readnour, whom I originally lauded as a fantastic YA author, has found a new niche in the sports romance genre. Her love of baseball shines through in this book, and her portrayal of Zach is truly terrific as he realizes - FINALLY - that he's not the center of his own universe.
This is the first in a series, and I find myself in high anticipation of the next chapter!
Well, when we first meet Zach, a Cy Young Award-winning pitcher for the Phillies, he's pretty much what we expect: he's a star athlete, with as many notches on his belt as he has major league wins. Then we have Lacey, a sports journalist who knows more about Zach than most people do, thanks to a fling they had back when both of them were still in college.
What starts as a juicy story turned into something else as Zach and Lacey reconnect. But everything has changed in five years, and picking up the pieces is not as easy as that.
Kimberly Readnour, whom I originally lauded as a fantastic YA author, has found a new niche in the sports romance genre. Her love of baseball shines through in this book, and her portrayal of Zach is truly terrific as he realizes - FINALLY - that he's not the center of his own universe.
This is the first in a series, and I find myself in high anticipation of the next chapter!
October 24, 2017
Apart from the secret Lacey kept from Zach, everything else was okay. I won't spoiled you the secret but, I hate it when things like that was not told to the second party.
So, what's new about the book? I have to say, nothing. I've read a book with practically the same story-line except the hero played rugby.
What would work better? Lacey's pov should started with '5 years ago' so we could better grasped her anger towards Zach. And Zach's pov should started from the moment he met Lacey in the present. I think the reason the writer wrote it otherwise was so that we could sympathize with Zach and the decision he made. But in doing so, she's making Lacey a bit unlikable especially after the secret came out.
So, what's new about the book? I have to say, nothing. I've read a book with practically the same story-line except the hero played rugby.
What would work better? Lacey's pov should started with '5 years ago' so we could better grasped her anger towards Zach. And Zach's pov should started from the moment he met Lacey in the present. I think the reason the writer wrote it otherwise was so that we could sympathize with Zach and the decision he made. But in doing so, she's making Lacey a bit unlikable especially after the secret came out.
March 4, 2018
I hate secret baby drama, so it is a DNF for me. A man has every right to know that he has a child. He may not want you anymore, but that does not mean he does not want the child.
In this situation...just because he was in a hotel room with another woman when the heroine wanted to tell the hero that she was having a baby does not give her the right to not tell him. She said that she wanted him to follow his dream and not worry about a child or some made up garbage in her head, but that was ridiculous. She was upset about his one night stand with the OW.
I am not a fan of back and forth flashbacks.
In this situation...just because he was in a hotel room with another woman when the heroine wanted to tell the hero that she was having a baby does not give her the right to not tell him. She said that she wanted him to follow his dream and not worry about a child or some made up garbage in her head, but that was ridiculous. She was upset about his one night stand with the OW.
I am not a fan of back and forth flashbacks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2022
DNF’d at about 50%…
Both characters were irritating and childish - I wish I liked it more because it started off okay.
Both characters were irritating and childish - I wish I liked it more because it started off okay.
October 17, 2017
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
You see, I've got this new obsession that developed over the last year. And that obsession is... sports romances! So when I saw an opportunity to read and review Kimberly Readnour's new novel, I jumped at it. Especially with baseball season coming to a close. I needed one last baseball fix! And I wasn't disappointed.
When I say that I've been obsessed, I mean I've read probably 30 or more sports romance novels in the span of 6-9 months. With that many stories in the same genre, you start to notice trends. There is a formula they all follow, and storylines that repeat. So much so that I sometimes get mixed up on which characters did what in which books. It's rare to find originality, but I feel like Second Chance Hero delivered that! That's not to say it wasn't still predictable because, well, it IS still a romance novel. But it was just different enough from other stories within this genre to hook me in and hopefully make this story stand out for me even after my next 30 books.
Second Chance Hero follows the story of Lacey Stark and Zach Pritchett. They fell in love in college and then split after graduation so he could focus on his pro baseball career. 5 years later they find themselves back in each other's lives and those feelings they once had are still very present. Sounds pretty typical, but there's a lot more to this story than what meets the eye. I caught on pretty quick to what was actually going on, probably too quick. To the point that the "hints" became frustrating to me because I just wanted them to come right out and address it. I can't say too much without giving it away, but I will say that the primary conflict of this book is one of my least favorites. Secrets and "I did this for you" excuses frustrate me to no end! Which is annoying, because they are par for the course when it comes to romance novels. Luckily, these characters were likable enough, and the scenes between them sweet enough, that I was able to overlook my frustrations.
My only complaint I could really have with this book is that I think it could have been longer. I feel like the characters' change of hearts with each other happen too quickly at times. One minute they'll never forgive the other person, the next they are moving past it and wanting to be with them. If there could have been a little more substance in there to help those transitions seem more natural, then I think I would have liked it just a tad bit more.
Overall, it was a solid book for this genre. I enjoyed Kimberly's writing and will definitely read the next book in this series, and probably all the ones after that. Because, hello, addicted to sports romances! Plus, I'm already intrigued by the characters introduced in this first novel, so I'm looking forward to learning more about their story. :-)
You see, I've got this new obsession that developed over the last year. And that obsession is... sports romances! So when I saw an opportunity to read and review Kimberly Readnour's new novel, I jumped at it. Especially with baseball season coming to a close. I needed one last baseball fix! And I wasn't disappointed.
When I say that I've been obsessed, I mean I've read probably 30 or more sports romance novels in the span of 6-9 months. With that many stories in the same genre, you start to notice trends. There is a formula they all follow, and storylines that repeat. So much so that I sometimes get mixed up on which characters did what in which books. It's rare to find originality, but I feel like Second Chance Hero delivered that! That's not to say it wasn't still predictable because, well, it IS still a romance novel. But it was just different enough from other stories within this genre to hook me in and hopefully make this story stand out for me even after my next 30 books.
Second Chance Hero follows the story of Lacey Stark and Zach Pritchett. They fell in love in college and then split after graduation so he could focus on his pro baseball career. 5 years later they find themselves back in each other's lives and those feelings they once had are still very present. Sounds pretty typical, but there's a lot more to this story than what meets the eye. I caught on pretty quick to what was actually going on, probably too quick. To the point that the "hints" became frustrating to me because I just wanted them to come right out and address it. I can't say too much without giving it away, but I will say that the primary conflict of this book is one of my least favorites. Secrets and "I did this for you" excuses frustrate me to no end! Which is annoying, because they are par for the course when it comes to romance novels. Luckily, these characters were likable enough, and the scenes between them sweet enough, that I was able to overlook my frustrations.
My only complaint I could really have with this book is that I think it could have been longer. I feel like the characters' change of hearts with each other happen too quickly at times. One minute they'll never forgive the other person, the next they are moving past it and wanting to be with them. If there could have been a little more substance in there to help those transitions seem more natural, then I think I would have liked it just a tad bit more.
Overall, it was a solid book for this genre. I enjoyed Kimberly's writing and will definitely read the next book in this series, and probably all the ones after that. Because, hello, addicted to sports romances! Plus, I'm already intrigued by the characters introduced in this first novel, so I'm looking forward to learning more about their story. :-)
January 23, 2018
DISCLAIMER TO MY FELLOW GOODREADER
This review is my personal opinion and may contain: spoilers, quotes, rants and swearing.
27 year old Zach Pritchett is at the prime of his major league career with the Philadelphia Phillies. On the heels of a no hitter, he hears a voice from his past in the press conference. His eyes snap to the source. There she is. The one he pushed away.
27 year old Lacey Stark works for the Yew York Times and recently was given the opportunity to write on sports. Her latest assignment has her covering the Mets Phillies game. What should be routine turns train wreck on her emotions. A no hitter was thrown by the man who broke her heart five years ago.
Taking a chance sometimes comes with a backfire. I have a rule that I finish everything I choose to read. Whether I enjoy any of it is the question. The storyline seemed to have promise. Sort of that second chance popular trope, BUT the hero and heroine were kind of terrible. They both made really stupid selfish decisions and that had lasting consequences. The plot was super predictable and certainly never drew me in.
Cliffhanger – no (book #1 of series)
POV - Lacey & Zach
This review is my personal opinion and may contain: spoilers, quotes, rants and swearing.
27 year old Zach Pritchett is at the prime of his major league career with the Philadelphia Phillies. On the heels of a no hitter, he hears a voice from his past in the press conference. His eyes snap to the source. There she is. The one he pushed away.
27 year old Lacey Stark works for the Yew York Times and recently was given the opportunity to write on sports. Her latest assignment has her covering the Mets Phillies game. What should be routine turns train wreck on her emotions. A no hitter was thrown by the man who broke her heart five years ago.
Taking a chance sometimes comes with a backfire. I have a rule that I finish everything I choose to read. Whether I enjoy any of it is the question. The storyline seemed to have promise. Sort of that second chance popular trope, BUT the hero and heroine were kind of terrible. They both made really stupid selfish decisions and that had lasting consequences. The plot was super predictable and certainly never drew me in.
Cliffhanger – no (book #1 of series)
POV - Lacey & Zach
October 18, 2017
: Summary :
Lacey Stark is a sport reporter who was sent to interview a professional baseball player who pitched a no-hitter. That baseball player happens to be her ex-boyfriend Zach Pritchett. He broke up with her so he can concentrate on his career but he didn’t realize that he also broke Lacey’s heart as well. She tried to reconnect with him after a few month after the break up but instead of seeing him she found out something and started to think he was using her only for sex. During the interview Lacey pointed out in front of everyone that Zach’s shoulder might be injured. She noticed because of a subtle habit he does ever since she met him in college. Zach after seeing Lacey again after five years knew he can’t let her slip away for a second time and try to win her heart back.
: My Thoughts :
I enjoyed this arc of Second Chance Hero by Kimberly Readnour a lot. There was moment that it was a bit predictable but again there was a few plot twist as well. I loved the characters and also the story line. I’m a huge fan of dual point of view which this books has. This book had me a bit emotional at points but over all it was a good read for me. The only thing I had a slight problem with was how the chapters were setup. I rather it been the past then 5 years later that would been easier to follow then switch per chapter. I still have a few question after finishing this book but I’m sure it be answer in the next since it has to do with the next couple in this series or at least I’m assuming. I’m looking forward to the next book.
Lacey Stark is a sport reporter who was sent to interview a professional baseball player who pitched a no-hitter. That baseball player happens to be her ex-boyfriend Zach Pritchett. He broke up with her so he can concentrate on his career but he didn’t realize that he also broke Lacey’s heart as well. She tried to reconnect with him after a few month after the break up but instead of seeing him she found out something and started to think he was using her only for sex. During the interview Lacey pointed out in front of everyone that Zach’s shoulder might be injured. She noticed because of a subtle habit he does ever since she met him in college. Zach after seeing Lacey again after five years knew he can’t let her slip away for a second time and try to win her heart back.
: My Thoughts :
I enjoyed this arc of Second Chance Hero by Kimberly Readnour a lot. There was moment that it was a bit predictable but again there was a few plot twist as well. I loved the characters and also the story line. I’m a huge fan of dual point of view which this books has. This book had me a bit emotional at points but over all it was a good read for me. The only thing I had a slight problem with was how the chapters were setup. I rather it been the past then 5 years later that would been easier to follow then switch per chapter. I still have a few question after finishing this book but I’m sure it be answer in the next since it has to do with the next couple in this series or at least I’m assuming. I’m looking forward to the next book.
October 13, 2017
3.5 stars for me.
Lacey and Zach's story is definitely a complicated one with history all the way back to college. Secrets are kept & misunderstandings are left to grow. I enjoyed the chemistry between the two main characters and the action of him being a major league player. Things were a little convoluted at times fir me but overall it was a good read. I am intrigued to read Jax's story.
I received an ARC of this book.
Lacey and Zach's story is definitely a complicated one with history all the way back to college. Secrets are kept & misunderstandings are left to grow. I enjoyed the chemistry between the two main characters and the action of him being a major league player. Things were a little convoluted at times fir me but overall it was a good read. I am intrigued to read Jax's story.
I received an ARC of this book.
April 30, 2018
He had everything baseball and her, she left him when he went pro. He loved his life and achieved everything until he saw her again. Now he knew he needed her in his life but she was determined not to let him into her life. He will do anything to get her, will he
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 2, 2018
I'm hooked on baseball romances! This is my fourth in five days -- and could be the reason why this one didn't thrill me. It was a good story with a twist and I did really like the main characters. It was just so much like so many others. A fun-to-read trip around the bases but fell short of a homerun.
October 15, 2017
**An ARC was exchanged in favor of an honest review**
3.5 Stars
What can I say, this was a pretty good book. I'm a sucker for second chance romance stories, and this one was just okay.
PROS:
1. The main female lead, Lacey, was likable. Sometimes the female is whiny, needy, and is a jerk to the male, but this female took some of the responsibility for the breakup and tried her hardest to make their new relationship work.
2. Zach is likable. I appreciated how he wasn't always fawning over other women, nor did he try to make Lacey jealous (I hate when characters do that). He had maybe one or two little blips where I thought he was being unreasonable or a jerk, but the author quickly made him change his tune and he was very likable by the end.
3. I liked how Zoe was included. Sometimes in stories when the characters have small children they aren't really included, just referenced a bunch. I enjoyed learning more about her character.
4. Jax was awesome. Enough said. Can't wait for his book next!
CONS:
1. I knew that Lacey was probably keeping a child secret from the moment she didn't want Zach to come over to her house to pick her up for their date. I thought this could have either been hidden better or it could have never been a secret to the reader. I also didn't believe the interaction between Zach and Lacey when he found out. You would think Lacey wouldn't have let Zach in the house in the first place, and perhaps she would have denied he was the father. I also didn't believe how Zoe acted when she found out Zach was her father. When I was a child, I was super shy at 4 (even if it was a relative). I think she should have been a bit more scared of a strange man.
2. The second pregnancy was a bit confusing to me. I didn't think it needed to be so complicated. First she was worried about being pregnant, then sad that she wasn't, and then to pages later she discovered that she was pregnant. Why couldn't she have just been pregnant the first time she thought she was? It just seemed a bit over dramatic. And why was she so focused on keeping it a secret? I would have been worried Zach would find out somehow and then would be even more mad.
3. I suppose in general there were small aspects that were hard to believe, but they were minor.
Regardless, this was a good read. I would recommend reading this book if you love second chance romance and baseball.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2017
I honestly really wanted to enjoy this book because I was given the opportunity to read it before its release. This was my first time reading a book by Kimberly Readnour and to be completely honest it will be hard for me to give any of her other books a chance in the future.
First off I would like to say I love sports romance novels. They're probably some of my favorites if written properly. I didn't like the female or male main character in this book. Lacey was a mess and grated on me continuously as the story progressed. I couldn't sympathize with her even when I knew the author expected the audience to feel invested in her. Zach was a douche. I wish I counted how many times the words "cocky" and "confident" were used in relation to his character. SERIOUSLY???? I understood the cutesy dialogue once even twice....but this happened WAY too often. Eventually Zach became some what less "douchey" but by the end of the book when a pivotal moment happens I went back to disliking him. Both Lacey and Zach are flippant and just messy characters--prone to making decisions on whims and not thinking things through. This story is beyond unrealistic.
Everything about the plot was frustrating. I'm refraining from hinting at spoilers but I severely disliked this book and had I not felt an obligation to finish I probably would not have.
There was also a messy arc that I assume was setting up the sequel...and it was not only ridiculous but also incredibly obvious.
WORST OF ALL THERE WERE SO MANY EDITORIAL MISTAKES! I can't handle this amount of grammatical errors in one book. I especially can't handle this amount of paragraphs, turn-of-phrases and dialogue that would do better with at least two or three more edits.
First off I would like to say I love sports romance novels. They're probably some of my favorites if written properly. I didn't like the female or male main character in this book. Lacey was a mess and grated on me continuously as the story progressed. I couldn't sympathize with her even when I knew the author expected the audience to feel invested in her. Zach was a douche. I wish I counted how many times the words "cocky" and "confident" were used in relation to his character. SERIOUSLY???? I understood the cutesy dialogue once even twice....but this happened WAY too often. Eventually Zach became some what less "douchey" but by the end of the book when a pivotal moment happens I went back to disliking him. Both Lacey and Zach are flippant and just messy characters--prone to making decisions on whims and not thinking things through. This story is beyond unrealistic.
Everything about the plot was frustrating. I'm refraining from hinting at spoilers but I severely disliked this book and had I not felt an obligation to finish I probably would not have.
There was also a messy arc that I assume was setting up the sequel...and it was not only ridiculous but also incredibly obvious.
WORST OF ALL THERE WERE SO MANY EDITORIAL MISTAKES! I can't handle this amount of grammatical errors in one book. I especially can't handle this amount of paragraphs, turn-of-phrases and dialogue that would do better with at least two or three more edits.
October 17, 2017
A really good sports romance. It had the right amount of baseball: not too much to make it boring but enough to highlight Zach's character as a successful baseball player. Lacey and Zach have great chemistry and they are rather good together. But how they get together and never really completely talk everything through and enter a new relationship with more thought, that's something that took away from their romance. There is one twist we could have easily known earlier and should have - you'll already know it when you read a certain line. It's good and interesting it's just how Lacey and Zach behave at some points... especially at their age... Lacey has a wonderful friend in Jocelyn and Derek in Jax. Jax might be a terrible womanizer but he hates cheating and he is mostly thoughtful and smart. It's quite captivating and despite its length you can easily read it in a day or two.
October 13, 2017
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I loved Lacey and Zach and I loved their story so much. I liked that they were humans who made mistakes, and that it was not the perfect romance where everything happens perfectly and the heroes and heroines are put on a pedestal.
I would have loved it if there was a resolution of sorts with Lacey’s family. But all in all, this book was not a bad way to spend an afternoon.
I loved Lacey and Zach and I loved their story so much. I liked that they were humans who made mistakes, and that it was not the perfect romance where everything happens perfectly and the heroes and heroines are put on a pedestal.
I would have loved it if there was a resolution of sorts with Lacey’s family. But all in all, this book was not a bad way to spend an afternoon.
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