Playing Fastball, page 32
Bad Boys for Hire: Liam, The unluckiest woman in America heads for Ireland and gets caught between a bad boy and a black cat. Audiobook link.
Bad Boys for Hire: Gage, Sherelle’s bestie turns into a bad guy when he catches her snowed in alone at a mountain cabin.
Bad Boys for Hire: Axe, Leanna encounters danger and love when she searches for a daughter she gave away in Mexico.
[Sweet] Bad Boys for Hire: Roni, Roni ordered hits for the cartel, but can she kill the disabled firefighter whose ex hires her?
Sports Romances (Steamy)
Played by Love, A soccer star dons nerd glasses to score a anime fangirl who won't date jocks. Audiobook link.
Roaring Hot! A playboy motorcycle racer hires an aspiring actress when he is challenged by his grandmother to bring a real girlfriend to her birthday party. Audiobook link.
Intercepted by Love, A quarterback hiding from his Super Bowl losing interception meets a small town librarian with an active fantasy life. Audiobook link.
Club Cockburn (Steamy)
From the Heart of the Big Apple, a series of high-octane romances—not safe for work or play.
Leap, Laugh, Love, A pro surfer on holiday after being attacked by a shark gets tangled up with an Army Ranger on leave with a mission.
Triggered by Love, After her fiancé was shot, all Avery Cockburn has between her shattered heart and death is a cocky detective, Jason Burnett.
Blush of Love, A hot New Year’s Eve date with bad boy quarterback Matt Swanson leaves Safire wondering if it’s love at first blush.
Men of Spring Baseball Series (Steamy)
Playing the Rookie, A rookie pitcher and a sports intern on the rebound connect to get over their exes. Audiobook link.
Playing Without Rules, A pro ballplayer comes home to the girl he left behind and discovers a shockingly cute secret. Audiobook link.
Playing Catch, A baseball catcher meets his match with a troubled bartender who can’t seem to keep her panties on. Audiobook link.
[Sassy] Playing for the Save, A veteran relief pitcher is attracted to a single mother with an autistic son while hiding a secret of his own. [Gold Award Winner, 2017 Readers’ Favorite]
Playing Fastball, An unusual friendship between a female ex-con and a billionaire widower divides family and friends, especially his son who is determined to split them up.
Love and Trouble: Romantic Suspense
[Sweet] Hide My Heart, Single mother Amber McKay must hide her baby from danger, and there’s only one man she trusts. Audiobook link.
[Sassy] Preying Heart, He’s a reclusive survivalist. She’s on the run for her life. He takes her in on one condition: that she never leaves his property.
Jingle Belles Christmas Series [Steamy]
Christmas Flirt, Bad girl Lacy Reed gets more than she bargained for when her naked selfies turn up on her boss’s phone. Audiobook link.
Santa’s Pet, Girl genius Brittney Reed plays elf to a substitute Santa and turns both their lives upside down when he is charged with a sex crime and she loses her company to hackers.
[Sassy] Christmas Con,Two ex-cons pose as stellar success stories to swindle a grandfather to change his will for Christmas.
Paranormal Romance [Sweet]
Black Tied: Love Charmed Romance When ordinary you and the Son of the Kitchen God stand up to a playboy apocalypse.
The Fae Legacy [Sassy]
Lucky Like Love, Clare Hart finds it hard to separate fantasy from reality when she swipes a piece of Fae magic from a stranger who claims to be a thousand years old.
Contemporary Romances: Sánchez Sisters [Steamy]
Taming Romeo, Medical student Evie Sánchez is recovering from heartbreak when she runs into the boy she left behind.
Claiming Carlos, Restaurant manager Choco Sanchez finds herself caught between two hot men, an epic food fight, and a war to save the restaurant.
Jewells in Love [Steamy]
Whole Latte Love, What’s a business-minded woman to do when she finds herself rooming with a hot, delectable barista with a heart for the homeless?
Romantic Suspense: Chance for Love Series
[Sassy] Broken Build, Build engineer Jen Jones falls in love with the man whose life she ruined. Audiobook link.
[Sweet] Hidden Under Her Heart, A young nurse, Maryanne Torres, struggles with a difficult decision over an unwanted pregnancy. Audiobook link.
[Steamy] Knowing Vera, Playgirl Vera Custodio belatedly discovers that her father might have killed her boyfriend’s mother many years ago. [2015 Angie Ovation Award Winner]
Historical Romance
[Sassy] Michal’s Window, The young Princess Michal loves her father's enemy, the upstart David who becomes king.
Non-Fiction
Your Daily Bible Verse Bible verses organized by Month and Day, for example, the verse for August 28 is Romans 8:28. Good for looking up birthday verses or verses of the day.
Romance In A Month Consistent method of writing a romance in a month or on a regular basis.
366 Ways to Know Your Character Character insights through asking and answering questions. Helps with brainstorming, busting through writer’s block, and taking surprising directions.
Love Stories Guide to writing a romance novella. Step-by-step method, schedule, tips and tricks.
Writing Asian Romance Characters Guidebook for writing Asian romantic characters: covering history, culture, stereotypes, harmful tropes, and multicultural romance.
Dangerous Love: Writing Romantic Suspense How to write thrilling romantic suspense novels. Includes eight popular plot types, how to pants and write a series, and more!
Smart Woman’s Guide to Bitcoin Understanding Bitcoin for financial freedom and security.
RACHELLE AYALA BOOKS IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Spanish
The Hart Family: Los Hart
Christmas Lovebirds: Tortolitos Navideños
Valentine Hound Dog: Sabueso de San Valentín
Spring Fling Kitty: Gatito de Aventura Primaveral
Blue Chow Christmas: Navidad Chow Chow
Valentine Wedding Hound: Sabueso Nupcial de San Valentín
Summer Love Puppy: Cachorro de Amor de Verano
Dog Days of Love: Días de Perros de Amor
Valentine Puppies and Kisses: Cachorros y Besos de San Valentín
Happy Goose Year: Feliz Año del Ganso
Veterans Christmas: Navidades Veteranas
A Father for Christmas: Un Padre para Navidad
A Pet for Christmas: Una Mascota para Navidad
A Wedding for Christmas: Una Boda para Navidad
Romances Navideños
Christmas Stray: Aislada Navidad
Romances Deportivos
Playing the Rookie: Jugando con el Novato
Playing Without Rules: Jugar Sin Reglas
Playing Catch: Jugando a Atrapar
Playing for the Save: Jugar para Salvar
Intercepted by Love Part 1: Interceptado por el Amor - Parte 1
Intercepted by Love Part 2: Interceptado por el Amor – Parte 2
Played by Love: Jugando al Amor
Chicos Malos de Alquiler
Bad Boys for Hire: Ryker: Chicos Malos de Alquiler: Ryker
Bad Boys for Hire: Ken: Chicos Malos de Alquiler: Ken
Libros de Escritura
Romance In A Month: Escribir una novela romántica en 1 mes
366 Ways to Know a Character: 366 maneras de conocer a tu personaje
Love Stories: Writing a Romance Novella: Historias de amor: Cómo escribir una novela romántica
Dangerous Love: Writing a Romantic Suspense: Amor Peligroso: Escribiendo un Suspenso Romántico
Italian
A Father for Christmas: Un Padre per Natale
A Pet for Christmas: Un Cucciolo per Natale
Christmas Stray: Fuga di Natale
Playing without Rules: Gioco Senza Regole
Playing the Rookie: Il Gioco dell'Esordiente
Bad Boys for Hire: Ryker: Ribelli in Affitto - Ryker
Portuguese
Christmas Stray: Um Rafeiro de Natal
Played by Love: Jogado pelo Amor
Bad Boys for Hire: Ken : Meninos Maus para Locação: Ken
Playing Without Rules: Jogando Sem Regras
A Father for Christmas: Um Papai para o Natal
A Pet for Christmas: Um Cachorrinho Para o Natal
Romance in a Month: Romance Em Um Mês
366 Ways to Know Your Character: 366 Maneiras de Conhecer Seu Personagem
German
A Father for Christmas: Ein Vater zu Weihnachten
Bad Boys for Hire: Ryker: Ryker: Bad Boys Verleih
Bad Boys for Hire: Ken: Ken: Bad Boys Verleih
French
Christmas Stray: Les égarés de Noël
Romance in a Month: Écrire une romance en un mois
366 Ways to Know Your Character: 366 façons de connaître votre personnage
MANY THANKS
We met Tina Lee as the waif Jeanine Jewell took in in Playing Catch. She’d obviously been abused, although in a different way from how Jeanine was abused, and in that book, she wasn’t a very likeable character.
However, I always felt there was more to Tina. She did what she had to do to survive. She had to live by her own wits, and she made some bad choices. She’d also never known a mother or father’s love.
Meanwhile, Timmy Li was the hot shot pitcher from Taiwan who had loving and supporting parents. He was well loved and cocky, never suffering disappointments or loneliness. He showed up in Playing Without Rules as the brash young pitcher who cared only about his stats and his game—oh, and picking up chicks.
Timmy’s father, Yan, moved in with him in Playing for the Save. He made friends with Tina, and the two of them bonded over the dogs Tina took care of for a dog rescue. Timmy didn’t approve of their friendship, but I knew there was more to his overreaction than it seemed.
This book is the love story between two people from the opposite sides: one beloved, the other rejected. One wealthy, the other poor. One coddled and supported by the best education and coaches. The other surviving on the streets in the School of Hard Knocks.
There was so much story to tell, and when Tina and Timmy came to life, their relationship was difficult and explosive, but ultimately redeeming and the sweetest revelation.
This story was also about family and the love that can heal rifts even in the most trying circumstances. I’m very happy with the way it turned out, and I hope you enjoyed it, too.
Many thanks and appreciation to my two early readers, Amber McCallister and Frances Hampton. Their encouragement and comments drive me forward to enrich the story and paint in the details and feels.
Thanks also go to my beta readers: Amber McCallister, Chantel Rhondeau, Elizabeth Kemper, Emily Nord, Pam Evans, Sherelle Ellis, Frances Hampton, and Charlene Burlison for their careful reading and insightful comments and suggestions.
Appreciation also goes to Kimberly Dawn for her editing and proofreading skills. Thanks also to my Super Readers group for cheering me on while I write.
Finally, I’m grateful for you, the reader, who make my story come to life in your minds as you read and experience the characters I’ve come to know and love.
Play ball!
MEET RACHELLE
Rachelle Ayala is a USA Today bestselling author of dramatic romantic suspense and humorous contemporary romances. Her heroines are feisty and her heroes big-hearted. She writes sweet and funny stories, and believes in the power of love and hope. She is the winner of multiple awards, including the 2015 Angie Ovation Award for best Multicultural Romance with Knowing Vera and the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Gold Award for best Christian Romance with A Father for Christmas. In 2016, Christmas Stray won a Readers’ Favorite Gold Award and A Pet for Christmas got an Honorable Mention. Another gold award came in 2017, with Playing for the Save, in Realistic Fiction.
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Also by Rachelle Ayala
A Christmas Creek Romance
Deck the Hearts
Her Christmas Chance
A Christmas Creek Carol
Kitty, It's Cold Outside
A Christmas Creek Caper
A Veteran's Christmas
A Father for Christmas
A Pet for Christmas
A Wedding for Christmas
Bad Boys for Hire
Bad Boys for Hire: Ryker
Bad Boys for Hire: Ken
Bad Boys for Hire: Nick
Bad Boys for Hire: Liam
Bad Boys for Hire: Gage
Bad Girl Brides
Bride for Breakfast
Chance for Love
Broken Build
Hidden Under Her Heart
Knowing Vera
Have A Hart Romance
Christmas Lovebirds
Valentine Hound Dog
Spring Fling Kitty
Blue Chow Christmas
Valentine Wedding Hound
Summer Love Puppy
Dog Days of Love
Valentine Puppies and Kisses
Happy Goose Year
Jingle Belles
Christmas Flirt
Santa's Pet
Love Charmed Romance
Black Tied: Sapphire
Red Hexed: Ruby
Men of Spring Baseball
Playing Without Rules
Playing Catch
Playing for the Save
Playing Fastball
Playing the Rookie
My Country Heart
Going Haywire
Going Toe to Mistletoe
Going Hearts Over Heels
Going Gets Hot
Sanchez Sisters
Taming Romeo
Claiming Carlos
Smart Woman's Guide
Smart Woman's Guide to Bitcoin
Sweet Country Hearts
Longer Than: American Heartland
The Fae Legacy
Lucky Like Love
The Quarterback's Heart
Intercepted By Love: Part One
Intercepted by Love: Part Two
Intercepted by Love: Part Three
Intercepted by Love: Part Four
Intercepted by Love: Part Five
Intercepted by Love: Part Six
Standalone
Chance for Love: Dangerous Desires
Romance In A Month: How To Write A Romance
Christmas Stray
Love Stories: Writing a Romance Novella
Michal's Window
Your Daily Bible Verse
Played by Love
Roaring Hot!
Whole Latte Love
Leap, Laugh, Love
Writing Asian Romance Characters
Dangerous Love: Writing Romantic Suspense
366 Ways to Know Your Character
Jade: Perfect Match
Seashells & Mistletoe
Watch for more at Rachelle Ayala’s site.
Rachelle Ayala, Playing Fastball
