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Life's a Pitch

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Until quite recently, Ben Parker was considered, by many, one of the finest bakers on the Isle of Man.

Indeed, his wife was once the first to concur with that accolade, directly attributing his culinary skills to her expanding waistline, in fact. So it was ironic, Ben couldn’t help but consider, that she ran off with the dietician he’d hired at her behest.

And soon, despite having his wonderful daughter Ruby, whom he adored, by his side, he struggled to adjust to life being suddenly and unceremoniously single. As such, it wasn’t long until his once-thriving bakery business started falling apart faster than an overly flaky pastry.

So, with no job to speak of and a dwindling bank balance, Ben needed to sort himself out and get things back on track. And his salvation presented itself in an unexpected form, an ailing campsite he felt confident he could rescue.

Sure, taking over another business would be a challenge, but it was one he was keen to embrace. After all, it wouldn’t be that difficult, would it…?

Well, yes, as it should happen. And it didn’t help matters that certain people were so desperate to see Ben fall at the first hurdle that they’d stop at nothing to derail his plans for his next adventure at Life’s a Pitch.

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 11, 2022

90 people are currently reading
75 people want to read

About the author

J.C. Williams

22 books65 followers
J C Williams is an author from the Isle of Man.

He's delighted to advise his hilarious new book, the Crafternoon Sewcial Club is now available on Amazon.

His books are for those who don’t take life too seriously and are funny, poignant and ultimately uplifting.

He writes books both for the little ankle-biters and also the older audience. They're written with delightful humour and will leave you with a huge smile on your face.

He presently has seventeen titles and all are available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle with some now also available in Audio format.

He'd love to hear from you!

Email - authorjcwilliams@gmail.com

You can follow him on Facebook at @jcwilliamsauthor

You can also subscribe to his newsletter by visiting his website www.authorjcwilliams.com

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Community Reviews

5 stars
131 (47%)
4 stars
83 (30%)
3 stars
51 (18%)
2 stars
7 (2%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for Miriam Knot.
219 reviews20 followers
January 19, 2026
4 stars. Listened tot the audiobook narrated by Chis Devon. This book is comedy. The situations are very funny and the characters are a bit extreme but overall it was very enjoyable and the narration very good.
36 reviews1 follower
August 26, 2022
Everyone should read this book. The feel
Good factor is way above 100%
I holidayed on the Isle of Man when my children were small. Brought back lovely memories. Thank you
Profile Image for Sarah Bennett.
88 reviews
September 25, 2022
Good Read

A really easy, nice read. Having known a few campsite owners, this book really caught my eye. Enjoyed it. Not my usual type but hope there is a follow up. After everything Ben was put through, we need to hear that he’s finally having fun living his dream alongside Ruby.
36 reviews2 followers
November 9, 2025
Life’s a Pitch by J.C. Williams is a charming, laugh-out-loud story about Ben Parker, a baker-turned-campsite-owner on the Isle of Man. He juggles ex-wife drama, financial woes, and a chaotic country music festival. Think a heartwarming rom-com meets a festival survival guide, with a side of Manx charm.

*The Good:*
Williams’ humor is witty and heartfelt. The bond between Ben and his daughter Ruby shines—their banter is adorable, and Ruby’s resilience adds depth. The absurdity of Ben’s ex-wife leaving him for a *dietician* is a highlight. The setting is picturesque, and the characters feel like friends.

*The Not-So-Good:*
Plot twists feel convenient (the ex-wife’s absence is oddly unimpactful). Some subplots lack detail, and the pacing dips mid-book. Ben’s self-pity can drag.

*Verdict:*
A lighthearted, uplifting read perfect for cozy moments. Not literary magic, but a warm, feel-good escape. Grab it for beach days or chill evenings.
Profile Image for Julie.
716 reviews15 followers
October 25, 2023
4 ⭐ = Good.
Paperback.

Now I'm not a camper, nor have I been to the Isle of Man...but I enjoyed this.
A little slow to get going and admittedly, there were no great surprises, but I enjoyed this gentle, realistic tale.
457 reviews4 followers
November 25, 2022
Amusing but a tad on the cute side. You knew the good guy had to win, it was just a matter of what golden horseshoe would appear.
Profile Image for Linda Van roo.
74 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2023
Read this as an audiobook. Unfortunately the voiceover wasn't particularly good. Story line quite predictable but a reasonable read if you don't want anything taxing.
Profile Image for Karen  Langlois.
102 reviews1 follower
February 4, 2024
Loved this book. Easy to read, great characters, great storyline! I’m reading the next book now! Good lighthearted read!
Profile Image for Sam Cann.
24 reviews
May 29, 2024
Easy read. Took a while to get into BUT once I persisted and was into it that was it I was in!
4 reviews
July 21, 2025
kept me interested

Thought at first it was a bit slow but then got more and more interested and towards the end I couldn’t put it down
22 reviews
January 10, 2026
Life’s a Pitch is a fun, feel-good read that leaves you smiling. Perfect for fans of lighthearted fiction, it’s a book that proves not every story needs to be intense to be memorable.
Profile Image for Jackie Welcel.
469 reviews5 followers
July 29, 2023
Ben's life is going downhill, he owned a popular bakery and lost it after his wife left him. Thank goodness he has his teenage daughter Ruby to help him. He thinks he has found his second calling, running a local campground. He is so good at fixing it up and running it but unfortunately, he is being set up to fail. I almost had to stop reading it because I really liked Ben and Ruby and hated to see what was being done to them but I'm glad I kept reading. It was a good story and I recommend it.
Profile Image for Renee Putman.
74 reviews1 follower
July 9, 2023
Life's A Pitch is about Ben a father recently single with a Daughter Ruby and trying to find himself. He was a business owner of a bakery and no desire to open another bakery. Ben's only option was a complete change of direction and a new adventure. After a night of camping and a land lease made with a farmer Ben is running a campground. His neighbor Austin a realtor has his sights on this land. Cecil is the farmers hand and is to help Ben with the campground. Will Cecil help Ben or be loyal to Austin? Is Cecil and Austin men of integrity or are they wolves in sheeps clothing? Will Ben see they plot thats been concocked against him by Austin? Wait there is a plot twist and its a good one !!! Can Ben and Ruby make this campground work after all the woe's they have been through to make the campground successful.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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