Reading the Signs

This audiobook is soo good! Greg Boudreaux does an amazing job of bringing all these characters to life, and let me tell you, the EMOTIONS he brings forward in the listener is astounding. I honestly got choked up during some of the long overdue conversations Nico had with his family members. The characters, the spice, the emotions, it all pulls together to create an amazing story of love and acceptance of who you are. It’s sweet and steamy and I 100% recommend!

Another hit I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I love Keira Andrews. Her stories are unique, and the topics vary widely. And whatever she tackles – from historical to deserted island to a beach in Australia to Amish, I know she’ll do a great job. This book didn’t disappoint. I’m not a huge sports fan but I’m easily drawn in by a compelling romance and this book hit the sweet spot. Jake is Canadian (yay!). He grew up in Midland, Ontario and instead of being hockey-obsessed, he fell in love with baseball. It happens. Not all athletic Canucks are destined to spend their lives on the hockey rink. And Jake grew up in the shadows of the Toronto Blue Jays, so playing in Canada was a distant possibility. In recent years he’s been biding his time in San Fran, waiting for retirement. The game has lost some lustre since he lost his best friend to a stupid argument. Now he’s playing, but his heart isn’t in it. Until he suddenly gets traded to the Ottawa Capitols. And I’m like, sweet, Canada has two baseball teams again! (Because I do actually remember the Montreal Expos). I grew up in Ottawa so the whole vibe felt real to me. And we’ve got toonies and Crispy Crunch and if you’ve never had one of those, you are so missing out. But back to the story. Ottawa has a rookie pitcher with a storied baseball family legacy, a phenomenal arm, and a bit of an attitude problem. The reality is Nico’s older brother and father both played and Nico puts tremendous pressure on himself to perform and when things start to go sideways, he often loses focus and then games. The Capitols are in contention for a wild card spot, but Nico needs help to perform at his best. Enter Jake. The veteran catcher is like a pitcher whisperer and quickly the men are making beautiful strikes. But it’s not all easy going and one day Nico throws a temper tantrum. Jake is there to discipline him and suddenly things are looking very different. Nico’s had a crush on Jake since he was a young teenager and Jake’s always seen Nico as a teammate’s younger brother. Now, in an instant, the world looks very different. I love romances that have such high stakes. A playoff spot is on the line and the two men firmly in the closet. Because there are no gay players in the major leagues. Or at least out players. The dilemma is clear and I was on the edge of my recliner waiting to see what would happen. And…yeah, I was happy. A great ending to a lovely book. And I learned a ton about baseball although since Vancouver is never going to have a major league team, it’s unlikely I’ll see a game live. Although I might go down to Seattle next year… Finally, Greg Boudreaux. He does a wonderful job when narrating Keira’s books. Just magic. Can’t wait to see what’ll be up next.

I love all Keira Andrews books and this baseball themed age gap romance delivers with delicious chemistry between the two protagonists. Greg Boudreaux's narration adds to the enjoyment.