tragedy in humor.
to be with the man I loved. The one who was supposed to love and cherish me in
return.
blind dates was an ongoing tragedy.
situations.
dates.
son, Hayden. But when Hayden had a life-threatening allergic reaction, the man
who came to help my little boy became my own savior. His laugh, his smile, and
the way his eyes lit up when he spoke to my son made him a beacon of light in
both our lives.
friend had fallen for, I knew following my heart would once again lead to a fresh
round of heartbreak.
“I don’t watch TV at night…” Her voice drifts off, and I know it’s because she realizes I’m going to ask why.And I do.
“You’re going to laugh.”
“Probably.”
“It’s because I can’t hear things.”
“What kinds of things are you trying to hear?”
“I don’t know. Strange noises and things…”
“Strange noises?”
“Do I need to spell it out for you?” She’s trying to sound annoyed, but I can hear the smile in her voice.
“Apparently, because I have no idea what you’re talking about. What kinds of strange noises are you going to hear? I usually turn my TV up to block out all the strange sounds like the neighbor’s kids and the lady behind me that sounds like Fran fucking Drescher.”
“You know who Fran Drescher is?”
“My mother was a big fan of that stupid show she was in. Stop changing the subject. What are you listening for? Hayden won’t sneak out.”
“What if someone breaks in?”
“You’re not serious.”
“Of course I’m serious!”
“What do you do all night?” I ask.
“Work,” she admits. “Well, usually I clean, and then I work.”
“I’m coming over.”
“You can’t.”
The panic in her voice doesn’t make her sound upset about the idea, but afraid.
Is it because she likes me?
“Why not?” I ask.
“It’s like nine o’clock.”
“Are you about to turn orange and sprout a stem?”
“That and I’m not wearing a bra, if you must know.”
“So put it back on.”
“You don’t understand. That’s like saying put your jeans back on.”
“I am in jeans,” I lie just to get a reaction out of her.
“What is wrong with you?” she cries.
“What’s wrong with jeans?”
“They’re stiff and uncomfortable. Wearing jeans all day is basically equivalent to walking on sandpaper. But at least you guys have pockets that will actually hold something larger than a thimble and don’t ride up your ass.”
Curveball is the first book I have read by author Mariah Deitz. I was drawn to this book because of the intriguing blurb. While the book wasn’t what I expected and hoped for, it was non the less captivating. I was quite impressed with the solid writing, the easy flow of the story, and the heartwarming romance that blossomed into a soul deep love.
In a small southern town, life can be hard if you are an outsider or the pariah of their close knit community. Elle is a hard working single mom doing the best she can for her nine year old son. She came to this town when she was eighteen hoping to build a life with the father of her son. What she got was a hard slap of reality. Her prince charming was a married man. Rather than tucking tail and running, she stayed for her son’s sake. Thus it made her the Hester Prynne in a town that resembled the Stepford Wives. For nine years she has raised her son by herself.
When she meets her best friend’s neighbor Coen, her life begins to change. Coen has become an important person in her son’s life. He has offered his friendship to them both. She’s deeply attracted to him but like her past relationship, he’s off limits. Her best friend has laid claim on him. It doesn’t matter that Coen wants her and her son. She can’t betray the one person who always had her back.
As the story plays out and their romance begins to bloom, many different obstacles will try to hinder their budding relationship. They will have to make hard choices, put their reputations on the line, and their moral codes as well as ethics will be tested to the limits. In the end, all is not what it seems, the hard truths will only make their love stronger.
Curveball was a sweet, mature romance that had the right amount angst and right amount of romance to keep the reader turning the pages.
Author Bio
with her husband, two sons, and two four-legged children who are the axis of
her crazy and wonderful world. Mariah grew up in a
tiny town outside of Portland, Oregon where she spent most of her time immersed
in the pages of books that she both read and created. She has a love for
all things that include her family, good coffee, books, traveling, and dark
chocolate. She’s also obsessed with Christmas ornaments and all things Disney.
Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.
About Kristen Ashley:
Debbie Mason is the bestselling author of the Christmas, Colorado and Harmony Harbor series. Her books have been praised for their “likable characters, clever dialogue and juicy plots” (RT Book Reviews). When she isn’t writing or reading, Debbie enjoys spending time with her very own real-life hero, three wonderful children, two adorable grandbabies, and a yappy Yorkie named Bella in Ontario, Canada.
Saucy Southern Readers 