Caught Stealing by M. J. Padgett: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

The Book

Charlotte Clarke’s life revolves around numbers and facts. But when life throws her a curveball, will she rely on her brain or her heart to guide her?

Love is the last thing on Charlotte’s mind. She’s too busy teaching uninterested high school students mathematics to make time for dating, despite her best friends’ protests that she needs a man. They seem to forget that the breakup with her long-time boyfriend shattered her heart.

When Charlotte’s friends discover a new dating app, they sign her up, surprising her with a list of men interested in stealing her heart. Not wanting to disappoint them, Charlotte chooses the first name on the list, preparing herself for utter humiliation and rejection. What she doesn’t know is the app is a cover for athletes looking for serious love. And one thing Charlotte doesn’t need is another athlete breaking her heart.

Andrew Rossi is sitting out with his second injury of the season. At his age, he’s beginning to worry his career with the Savannah Sharks might be coming to a close. What’s worse is he has no one to share the rest of his life with. Sick of superficial dating and flimsy relationships, Andrew decides to sign up on an elite, super secret athlete dating app. The second his eyes land on a gorgeous, brainy redhead with a deep love for dogs, his heart leaps in with cautious optimism.

The only problem? His sunshiny, sweet date despises athletes.

Keeping his athletic stardom a secret gives Andrew the chance to get to know Charlotte. As the two grow closer, he knows it’s only a matter of time before he has to come clean. But how do you tell a woman you’re falling for that you’re the one thing she hates?

Caught Stealing is a sweet, secret identity baseball romance with light faith elements, a side of comedy, and two show-stealing pups!

This is the first book in the Southern Sports Sweethearts series and the first in the Savannah Sharks baseball mini-series! The books in this series can be read in any order, mixed and matched, and moved around!

The Author

M. J. Padgett is first and foremost a mom. Her free-spirited daughter has quite a vivid imagination, and her antics sometimes find their way into her mommy’s work. She is a lover of all things chocolate, a Grimm and Dickens addict, a self-proclaimed smarty-pants, and an introvert to the core.

Writing is her true passion (after raising her daughter, of course), and she writes as often as possible. One of her favorite things about writing is creating a world where people can escape reality for a little while, maybe even walk away feeling hopeful about the real world around them. When it comes to reading, she loves a book that can make her forget where she is no matter the genre. If she can get lost and feel like the characters are her real friends, she’s a happy reader.

Book Review

Oh my goodness... this book! I'm not saying that baseball romance is the new hockey romance (it's no secret how much I love those!), but with books like this...? Well, it certainly could be! I absolutely adored Andrew and Charlotte (Lottie) together. Both were forced into joining an exclusive dating app and rather apprehensive about it, but the chemistry between them upon meeting was immediate and undeniable. The problem? She'd been burned by her hockey player ex and as such had a strict 'no dating athletes' policy. I loved how Andrew was so very patient with her as she had to work through all of his issues... not backing down in his interest, but also not pushing her past where she was comfortable. Seriously, he was the absolute sweetest.  There was also such a playfulness between the two of them that kept me smiling throughout.  And that first REAL kiss... wow! Throw in some fabulous teammates and other side characters and a beautiful message of God's plan and forgiveness and there truly was just so much to love about this story... and I definitely loved it! 

Caught Stealing is a closed-door romance with nothing beyond swoony kisses and no language and light faith content. 

You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/3WKuqsy