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Not for a Million Dollars: A Highly Improbable Tale of a Baseball What-If
Gil Major owns a major-league baseball club. And Gil Major has a problem. Several of them, in fact. His field manager has had a nervous breakdown. The Fairway Flyers are demanding ridiculous amounts of money. Fans are calling the team the Butterflies. And Gil is sick of it. So, two weeks before opening day, he makes a move that rocks Fairway's baseball world like a fastball to the ribs...
43 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 20, 2020
About the author
Jayna Baas
3 books176 followersGet a free short story when you join Jayna’s email list!
Jayna Baas, pronounced as in “baa, baa, black sheep,” is the author of Preacher on the Run and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network. She lives in northern Michigan with a great family of real people and the family of pretend people who live in her head. (Yes, she does know her characters are not real. No, she does not want you to tell them she said so.) Although she enjoys multiple genres, her favorite story is this: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Learn more and sign up for a free short story at www.booksbyjayna.com.
Jayna Baas, pronounced as in “baa, baa, black sheep,” is the author of Preacher on the Run and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network. She lives in northern Michigan with a great family of real people and the family of pretend people who live in her head. (Yes, she does know her characters are not real. No, she does not want you to tell them she said so.) Although she enjoys multiple genres, her favorite story is this: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Learn more and sign up for a free short story at www.booksbyjayna.com.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 6, 2022
4.5 stars
Not being a baseball fan, I came into this novella a little clueless. I still don't really understand baseball, but you don't have to enjoy the sport to enjoy this story!
Characters: Since this was a novella, there wasn't a lot of focus on only one or two characters, but several emphases on a few characters. Gil Major, the owner of the team, definitely was a good leader, and I loved how he really "put his money behind his mouth" in regards to running his team. Freckles was such a great guy - I loved how his faithfulness, along with a couple of the other guys', helped change the whole team! And the villains ... yeah, they were nasty guys, but I'm so glad Max got a good ending! Overall, the characters weren't massively fleshed out (because of the length), but we saw enough of them to get to know them somewhat.
Plot/Writing: The plot was definitely an interesting one - and altogether impossible, as the author attests! But hey, what-if situations are fascinating. I really enjoyed the team's emphasis on the love of the sport over the love of money. Their tenacity in the face of challenges was great to watch, and the ending kind of caught me off-guard! I wasn't expecting that kind of climax. The writing fit the story well, and for some reason, it gave off 1950s vibes to the story. I'm not really sure why I felt this way, but I thought it worked great.
Moral/Theme: Obviously, a big one here is avoiding the love of money. But I also loved the other morals - how obedience can reap great rewards, and the beauty and simplicity of the Gospel. I loved how gently and simply the Gospel was given to Gil - because, amen, all of the work has already been done by Jesus. Also, watching the whole team grow closer to the Lord was amazing. There's so much more than just the enjoyment of a sport in this story!
So, to sum it up, you don't have to love baseball to read this book. I didn't understand a little bit of the lingo (yep, I'm that clueless), but I enjoyed the story nonetheless. Check this one out if you'd like to read a bit of what-if scenarios filled with real-life truths!
Not being a baseball fan, I came into this novella a little clueless. I still don't really understand baseball, but you don't have to enjoy the sport to enjoy this story!
Characters: Since this was a novella, there wasn't a lot of focus on only one or two characters, but several emphases on a few characters. Gil Major, the owner of the team, definitely was a good leader, and I loved how he really "put his money behind his mouth" in regards to running his team. Freckles was such a great guy - I loved how his faithfulness, along with a couple of the other guys', helped change the whole team! And the villains ... yeah, they were nasty guys, but I'm so glad Max got a good ending! Overall, the characters weren't massively fleshed out (because of the length), but we saw enough of them to get to know them somewhat.
Plot/Writing: The plot was definitely an interesting one - and altogether impossible, as the author attests! But hey, what-if situations are fascinating. I really enjoyed the team's emphasis on the love of the sport over the love of money. Their tenacity in the face of challenges was great to watch, and the ending kind of caught me off-guard! I wasn't expecting that kind of climax. The writing fit the story well, and for some reason, it gave off 1950s vibes to the story. I'm not really sure why I felt this way, but I thought it worked great.
Moral/Theme: Obviously, a big one here is avoiding the love of money. But I also loved the other morals - how obedience can reap great rewards, and the beauty and simplicity of the Gospel. I loved how gently and simply the Gospel was given to Gil - because, amen, all of the work has already been done by Jesus. Also, watching the whole team grow closer to the Lord was amazing. There's so much more than just the enjoyment of a sport in this story!
So, to sum it up, you don't have to love baseball to read this book. I didn't understand a little bit of the lingo (yep, I'm that clueless), but I enjoyed the story nonetheless. Check this one out if you'd like to read a bit of what-if scenarios filled with real-life truths!
January 4, 2022
I'm going to come right out and say I'm not a sporty person. I don't think I've ever read a Baseball story so this is a first for me.
After devouring Preacher on the Run, and it's prequel, Promise of Refuge, (highly recommend both) I was very intrigued to read this one as well. I purchased it during a Thanksgiving sale and was excited to finally check it out.
While it's not on the same level as the For Liberty and Conscience series, Not for a Million Dollars definitely carries it's own style and charm.
Gil Major, manager of a baseball team, is sick and tired of the over-payed, narcissistic players and takes drastic measures to weed out the ones who are just in it for fame and fortune from the real players who are there for the love of the game. This concept was most intriguing and drew me in from the start. Jayna has created a team of no-nonsense, down-to-earth players that worked very well together. The Christian elements were all on point- salvation, forgiveness, mercy. These verses often came to mind while reading:
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:36-37
As for the baseball stuff, I had no trouble following or keeping up during the games.
My only real complaint was that the big action scene near the end happened a bit too fast and was described in such a way that lost me. This cleared itself up as the story progressed though.
Overall, this was a sweet and short, squeaky clean read with fun characters and a true to life message.
After devouring Preacher on the Run, and it's prequel, Promise of Refuge, (highly recommend both) I was very intrigued to read this one as well. I purchased it during a Thanksgiving sale and was excited to finally check it out.
While it's not on the same level as the For Liberty and Conscience series, Not for a Million Dollars definitely carries it's own style and charm.
Gil Major, manager of a baseball team, is sick and tired of the over-payed, narcissistic players and takes drastic measures to weed out the ones who are just in it for fame and fortune from the real players who are there for the love of the game. This concept was most intriguing and drew me in from the start. Jayna has created a team of no-nonsense, down-to-earth players that worked very well together. The Christian elements were all on point- salvation, forgiveness, mercy. These verses often came to mind while reading:
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:36-37
As for the baseball stuff, I had no trouble following or keeping up during the games.
My only real complaint was that the big action scene near the end happened a bit too fast and was described in such a way that lost me. This cleared itself up as the story progressed though.
Overall, this was a sweet and short, squeaky clean read with fun characters and a true to life message.
December 25, 2022
Rating: 4.75 stars
Wow... I just loved this shorter story! Jayna Baas is an amazing author, and I love her writing style. I looked forward to this story even though I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was even better than I hoped!
I know very very little about baseball, so some statements and comments were kind of lost on me. But it's the kind of story that even if you know next to nothing about the sport, you can still enjoy it for the story. And the story was so good!
I loved the characters - all of them, including the bad guys to an extent, because they made the story funny! In fact there were several parts that had me laughing out loud. One is the reasons I love Jayna Baas' style so much is the humour that is always interspersed in even the most exciting/intense scenes.
The theme of this story was so so good, and the premise unique. There were a few statements I didn't agree with, but nothing major. The characters are what really drew me in, but the whole thing was just so good. I love the way it all wrapped up, too!
A fun, enjoyable, quick read for just about anyone! I look forward to reading other stories by this author!
Wow... I just loved this shorter story! Jayna Baas is an amazing author, and I love her writing style. I looked forward to this story even though I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was even better than I hoped!
I know very very little about baseball, so some statements and comments were kind of lost on me. But it's the kind of story that even if you know next to nothing about the sport, you can still enjoy it for the story. And the story was so good!
I loved the characters - all of them, including the bad guys to an extent, because they made the story funny! In fact there were several parts that had me laughing out loud. One is the reasons I love Jayna Baas' style so much is the humour that is always interspersed in even the most exciting/intense scenes.
The theme of this story was so so good, and the premise unique. There were a few statements I didn't agree with, but nothing major. The characters are what really drew me in, but the whole thing was just so good. I love the way it all wrapped up, too!
A fun, enjoyable, quick read for just about anyone! I look forward to reading other stories by this author!
November 12, 2020
Enjoyed it
Obviously, as it says on the front of the book, this is not something that would happen in real life, but that doesn't make it less interesting. I'm not a baseball fan, but I still thought the book was enjoyable for a quick read.
Obviously, as it says on the front of the book, this is not something that would happen in real life, but that doesn't make it less interesting. I'm not a baseball fan, but I still thought the book was enjoyable for a quick read.
January 7, 2022
3 stars & 3/10 hearts. This is an all-American story, my first book by this author, and I enjoyed it. Improbable as it was, it was the type of story you wish happened in real life! I felt like the story was a little stilted, the writing a little weak, especially on the salvation scene, which felt a little forced; but I particularly liked the characters, especially Freckles, Bucky, Mickey, & Max. Carl was a hilarious addition, even if I despised him. The plot was enjoyable, and I appreciated how much humour there was, even in the tense scenes. As for the message, it was great, and I liked how the characters lived out their faith! I look forwards to reading more by this author.
A Favourite Quote: “Don’t you wish now you’d taken me up on it?”
“No,” Freckles said. “I don’t. Why would I want to become what you’ve become?”
“Money doesn’t do to everyone what it’s done to Carl,” Max said. “I know men who are millionaires and are really nice guys.”
“So do I—that’s not the point,” Freckles said. “Money isn’t the issue. It’s what you’re willing to do for money. The love of money is the root of all evil—even fixing games and hijacking.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “You boys handled it all like champs,” Gil said.
“We won’t be champs for real until we win today,” Bucky said.
“Notice the ‘until,’ not ‘unless,’” Freckles grinned. “Cocky as always.”
“I’m all nerves,” Bucky sighed. “I hope I can concentrate.”
“You’ll concentrate,” Mickey growled. “You’ll concentrate!”
“All right,” Bucky said obediently. “I’ll concentrate. But man! I’m still all nerves.”
A Favourite Quote: “Don’t you wish now you’d taken me up on it?”
“No,” Freckles said. “I don’t. Why would I want to become what you’ve become?”
“Money doesn’t do to everyone what it’s done to Carl,” Max said. “I know men who are millionaires and are really nice guys.”
“So do I—that’s not the point,” Freckles said. “Money isn’t the issue. It’s what you’re willing to do for money. The love of money is the root of all evil—even fixing games and hijacking.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “You boys handled it all like champs,” Gil said.
“We won’t be champs for real until we win today,” Bucky said.
“Notice the ‘until,’ not ‘unless,’” Freckles grinned. “Cocky as always.”
“I’m all nerves,” Bucky sighed. “I hope I can concentrate.”
“You’ll concentrate,” Mickey growled. “You’ll concentrate!”
“All right,” Bucky said obediently. “I’ll concentrate. But man! I’m still all nerves.”
June 30, 2021
Not that I know much at all about baseball, but I love reading stories with a baseball theme. And this book definitely has that. 😄
It is a shorter story, but that doesn't mean that you don't get to know the characters. I really liked how each of the characters was unique. I didn't have any trouble mixing them up like I normally do with stories.
And the plot! Don't think that, because this is a shorter story, nothing happens. No spoilers, but stuff does happen. 😉
My favorite thing about this little book was the strong moral theme. I loved the moral theme! It's one that I rarely see in stories, but in my opinion, it should be shared a lot more often.
I should probably note that the author is Baptist, and her beliefs are shared in this story. So if the reader doesn't agree with Baptist teachings, then they will disagree with some things in this story.
All in all, I loved the theme of this story. It was very well written. I'd give it 4.5 stars (rounding up because of #goodreadsratings) and recommend it to readers 10+
It is a shorter story, but that doesn't mean that you don't get to know the characters. I really liked how each of the characters was unique. I didn't have any trouble mixing them up like I normally do with stories.
And the plot! Don't think that, because this is a shorter story, nothing happens. No spoilers, but stuff does happen. 😉
My favorite thing about this little book was the strong moral theme. I loved the moral theme! It's one that I rarely see in stories, but in my opinion, it should be shared a lot more often.
I should probably note that the author is Baptist, and her beliefs are shared in this story. So if the reader doesn't agree with Baptist teachings, then they will disagree with some things in this story.
All in all, I loved the theme of this story. It was very well written. I'd give it 4.5 stars (rounding up because of #goodreadsratings) and recommend it to readers 10+
February 20, 2022
In full disclosure, I know nothing about baseball and am not a sports fan, but this “what-if” story was excellent! Makes you wish something like this really could happen. :) Overall, the message was well presented although the salvation scenes felt perhaps a bit stilted. The characters were amazing; my favourites being Freckles and Bucky, who are simply precious!
February 15, 2022
Improbable, maybe, but I wish!
The writing wasn't my favorite, it felt a tad cheesy, especially Gil's salvation... but a good moral - something our athletes could stand to learn. 😉
The writing wasn't my favorite, it felt a tad cheesy, especially Gil's salvation... but a good moral - something our athletes could stand to learn. 😉
May 4, 2021
I so enjoyed this book. I read it in a couple of hours straight through. I was doing other things like answering the phone and helping customers while reading also. However, I was intrigued by the genre of baseball in that I was scouted by a Major League team while pitching in high school. And what got me after the first chapter was the character of the GM/manager deciding to prune his lineup from the previous year in order to get good, unselfish character players from other farm teams in their system. Then he allowed them to mesh as an unselfish team throughout the season. Yes, it was decidedly a Christian viewpoint, with certain team members outwardly following the teachings of Christ and truly caring about the other team members and the manager. What happened when the team jells, and certain past selfish team members decide to take things into their own hands in order to cause failure for the team, is the “what if” rest of the book. Got to know the characters, both good and bad ones, in a real way. I hope the author decides to go other novellas in the future.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews