DECEMBER 2017 - AudioFile
Ever since the night they spent together, Boston baseball hero Travis Kidd has been yearning to make Saylor Blackwell more than his publicist. When he’s accused of a crime he didn’t commit, she is his alibi—but will she risk losing her career and daughter to help him? Narrators Alastair Haynesbridge and Athena Pappas interpret alternating chapters with compelling precision. Travis, a popular, softhearted jock, and Saylor, a smart, serious publicist, sizzle as they struggle to clear Travis. Haynesbridge pulls in the listener with easy drawls, Boston accents, and balanced presentations of men and woman. Pappas ensures the story’s authenticity with her interpretation of Saylor’s daughter, Lucy, and their bond. Haynesbridge and Pappas make Heidi McLaughlin’s sexy romance a fantastic listen. S.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
06/26/2017
Readers who don’t object to the premise of McLaughlin’s third Boys of Summer baseball contemporary (after Home Run) will enjoy its handling of thorny legal and ethical conflicts. The Boston Renegades are shocked when left fielder Travis Kidd, who’s known for being a playboy, is accused of rape by a spurned fan named Blue. Travis’s publicist, single mother Saylor Blackwell, knows the story’s a fake: she was in the bar that night, reeling after a threatening letter from her ex, and heard Blue’s threat to damage Travis’s reputation after he rejected her advances. If Saylor comes forward, she will admit to violating her probation for drunk driving two years earlier, and could go to jail and lose custody of her daughter; if she admits that she and Travis had a one-night stand, she might lose her job because of her boss’s strict anti-fraternization rules. Still, can she let Travis be convicted of a crime he didn’t commit? Saylor fights her attraction to Travis but finally caves in—and is immediately charmed by his ease with five-year-old Lucy, not to mention his sense of humor and genuine caring for others. When other women make baseless accusations against Travis and Saylor’s ex tries to get custody of Lucy, the obstacles to happiness seem insurmountable. McLaughlin is careful not to downplay actual assault or imply that false rape claims are common, but the focus on them may nevertheless put some readers off. A first-rate cast of secondary characters bolsters this tale of how lies can destroy lives. Agent: Marisa Corvisiero, Corvisiero Literary. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
"Top Pick! 4 1/2 Stars! McLaughlin has hit the mark with her third Boys of Summer novel. There's more than one great storyline to capture the imagination."—RTBookReviews.com
"Perfect for those of you who love a dreamy, steamy romance with a baseball twist."—FreshFiction.com
"Heidi McLaughlin has done it again! Sexy, sweet and full of heart, Third Base is a winner!"—Melissa Brown, author of Wife Number Seven
"If you're looking for a book with a baseball playing bad boy with a reputation for living outside the box, and a love story to melt even the coldest of hearts, Third Base is going to be your ticket."—Ashley Suzanne, author of the Destined Series
"Third Base hits the reading sweet spot. A must read for any baseball and romance fans."—Carey Heywood, author of Him
"Third Base is sexy, witty and pulls you in from the first page. You'll get lost in Ethan and Daisy, and never want their story to end."—S. Moose, author of Offbeat
