Sliding
into Second
Kingston Heat # 2
Kingston Heat # 2
By: Ella Jade
Releasing February 16th, 2015
Beachwalk Press
Blurb
Jilted once before, now it’s her
turn to level the playing field.
Hotshot
sports reporter Sage Millan has been busy making a name for herself in the male
dominated world of baseball. She’s just landed her dream job, and her first
assignment is covering the newly crowned World Series champions, The Kingston
Crushers. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. The only problem...her
ex-boyfriend, and the only man she’s ever loved, is the team’s second baseman.
Things ended badly between them, and she’s not sure she can put those demons to
rest.
Professional
baseball player Nicolas Cordova is having the time of his life. His team has
just won the World Series, and with the victory comes more fame, women, and
exposure than he ever could have imagined. But things are about to change for
the sexy, charismatic athlete. He never expected his ex-girlfriend to walk back
into his life, much less the locker room.
These days
Sage is smarter, more mature, and doesn’t plan on being played a second time.
Her appearance stirs old memories for Nic. She’s the one he let get away in the
name of his career. He vows he can be the man she needs this time around. Will
that be enough to mend her broken heart?
*Content
Warning: contains explicit sex and adult content
Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/01/sliding-into-second-kingston-heat-2-by.html
Goodreads
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24687662-sliding-into-second
Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/139886-kingston-heat
**Limited time price just
.99 cents to celebrate the release!
**Buy Links coming on or
about release day (Feb 17th) Please use the Book Seller author pages
in the meantime.
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Ella-Jade/e/B005DAHK2I
B&N Author Page: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/ella-jade
iTunes Author Page: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/ella-jade/id574821330?mt=11
Publisher: http://beachwalkpress.com/sliding-into-second/
Excerpt
“I’ll admit
I’ve had many women in the past, and I can’t apologize for living. But as the
years went by, my feelings for you were always someplace deep in my heart. I
know that’s why I can’t settle down. Why I can’t find the peace I’ve been
searching for. It doesn’t exist without you.”
“How can you say things like that? You don’t even know the woman I’ve become. I’m not that girl who relied on you, the one who would’ve followed you anywhere. I’m not her anymore, Nic. I can’t ever be her again.”
“Maybe I’m not asking for her.” He leaned closer to her face. “Maybe I want to know the woman you are today. I want another shot at this.”
“No,” she whispered.
“If you remember anything about me, I have a hard time with that word.” He tipped her chin, focusing on her lips. “I am going to kiss you. Right here and right now.”
Her knees buckled as a cool tremor swept through her. She wanted to say no. It was the only logical word to mutter, but her heart didn’t want her to say it. Her body wasn’t on board with turning him down either. The warmth that built in her stomach had moved lower, and now all she could think about was his lips on hers.
“It doesn’t sound like you’re asking,” she breathed out.
“I’m not.”
Before she could say anything else, his mouth was on hers, eager, but slow and soft. His stubble grazed along her chin as he tilted his head and deepened their bond. The sound throughout the crowded lobby seemed to fade into the background, and soon, all she could hear was her heart pumping loud between her ears. Why did he have to be such a freakin’ good kisser?
After the incredibly long connection, he pulled away, but not before stopping to kiss the bottom corner of her mouth like he used to.
“I’ve waited a long time to do that,” he said. “It was worth every lonely minute.”
“I... Nic...” She’d always had the gift of words. It was what she did for a living, but in that moment, all of her thoughts were jumbled and senseless.
“It’s okay.” He grinned as he stroked her cheek. “Let’s get something to eat and maybe figure this out. Whatever this is.”
“No.” She ran her hands along his strong chest, resting them on his shoulders.
“Don’t over analyze this, baby.” He glanced down at her hands on his body. “Let’s just go with it.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you.” She took a breath and continued before she lost her nerve. “Take me upstairs to your room. I know how we can figure this out.”
“What are you asking?” He placed his hand on the small of her back, drawing her closer to him. “You need to be real clear.”
“I want to go upstairs with you.”
“That’s not why I kissed you.”
“Isn’t it?” She smirked. “We’re adults now, Nicky. Let’s settle this like adults.”
“I’m not looking to settle anything. That usually means it’s over, and we’re nowhere near over.” He motioned for Joe. “I’ll take care of the bar tab and then we’ll get dinner.”
“No.” She draped her arms around his neck, intoxicated by the idea of being so close to him again. He may be older now, and may have lost those boyish looks, but the man he had become suited him and drove her wild with need.
“What did I tell you about that word?”
“I can guarantee I won’t be using it once we’re in your bedroom.” She ran her tongue along her top lip. “I’m going to the ladies room. When I come out, if you’re not by the elevators waiting for me, I’ll know that kiss was nothing more than the heat of the moment and we can go on with our lives.”
“Sage?”
“Shh.” She pressed her lips to his. “Now who’s over analyzing?” She reached for her purse and coat hanging on the back of the stool. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.” I hope.
“How can you say things like that? You don’t even know the woman I’ve become. I’m not that girl who relied on you, the one who would’ve followed you anywhere. I’m not her anymore, Nic. I can’t ever be her again.”
“Maybe I’m not asking for her.” He leaned closer to her face. “Maybe I want to know the woman you are today. I want another shot at this.”
“No,” she whispered.
“If you remember anything about me, I have a hard time with that word.” He tipped her chin, focusing on her lips. “I am going to kiss you. Right here and right now.”
Her knees buckled as a cool tremor swept through her. She wanted to say no. It was the only logical word to mutter, but her heart didn’t want her to say it. Her body wasn’t on board with turning him down either. The warmth that built in her stomach had moved lower, and now all she could think about was his lips on hers.
“It doesn’t sound like you’re asking,” she breathed out.
“I’m not.”
Before she could say anything else, his mouth was on hers, eager, but slow and soft. His stubble grazed along her chin as he tilted his head and deepened their bond. The sound throughout the crowded lobby seemed to fade into the background, and soon, all she could hear was her heart pumping loud between her ears. Why did he have to be such a freakin’ good kisser?
After the incredibly long connection, he pulled away, but not before stopping to kiss the bottom corner of her mouth like he used to.
“I’ve waited a long time to do that,” he said. “It was worth every lonely minute.”
“I... Nic...” She’d always had the gift of words. It was what she did for a living, but in that moment, all of her thoughts were jumbled and senseless.
“It’s okay.” He grinned as he stroked her cheek. “Let’s get something to eat and maybe figure this out. Whatever this is.”
“No.” She ran her hands along his strong chest, resting them on his shoulders.
“Don’t over analyze this, baby.” He glanced down at her hands on his body. “Let’s just go with it.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you.” She took a breath and continued before she lost her nerve. “Take me upstairs to your room. I know how we can figure this out.”
“What are you asking?” He placed his hand on the small of her back, drawing her closer to him. “You need to be real clear.”
“I want to go upstairs with you.”
“That’s not why I kissed you.”
“Isn’t it?” She smirked. “We’re adults now, Nicky. Let’s settle this like adults.”
“I’m not looking to settle anything. That usually means it’s over, and we’re nowhere near over.” He motioned for Joe. “I’ll take care of the bar tab and then we’ll get dinner.”
“No.” She draped her arms around his neck, intoxicated by the idea of being so close to him again. He may be older now, and may have lost those boyish looks, but the man he had become suited him and drove her wild with need.
“What did I tell you about that word?”
“I can guarantee I won’t be using it once we’re in your bedroom.” She ran her tongue along her top lip. “I’m going to the ladies room. When I come out, if you’re not by the elevators waiting for me, I’ll know that kiss was nothing more than the heat of the moment and we can go on with our lives.”
“Sage?”
“Shh.” She pressed her lips to his. “Now who’s over analyzing?” She reached for her purse and coat hanging on the back of the stool. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.” I hope.
I liked this story, it was entertaining to see what lengths Nic was going through just to reconnect with Sage and what her sister was doing to help. But I will say that I wasn't especially keen on Sage; I understand what it's like to have your heart broken, but holding on to that anger and hurt for years doesn't do anyone good, and before you know, you'll wake up and look back at your life and wonder why you spent all that time being miserable. Did she really believe that she would be able to have just sex with Nic without catching feelings? Not sure why she thought that if she was still mad after 7 years apart. That situation could only work if she truly had no feelings for him at all.
I will say that the sexy times with Sage and Nic are pretty damn hot! And once Sage came to her senses about her feelings, that made the story even more enjoyable. What I couldn't get with though is how come her sister didn't ever tell Sage what she overheard? It didn't make sense to me; she knew how much Sage was devastated at the time, but still, her sister never said anything for 7 years? And Sage's father, don't even get me started on him! Even when the truth comes out, he still acts like a jackass. But once Sage tells him what's what, his attitude changes quicker than a teenage girl's attitude (and that my friends happens faster than you can blink).
ARC provided in exchange for honest review.
Will the bad-boy pitcher strike out when it comes to love?
Shy music teacher Sophia Ballis has sworn off men. After a bad experience with a college jock she decided it was better to be alone than to get burned again. She focused on her education and now her new job at a local private school.
Professional baseball pitcher Paxton Hughes is a player both on and off the field. He's signed to the Kingston Crushers to bring home the coveted championship title. Nothing can get in his way. Serious relationships don't mix with a life on the road and he never loses focus on the game. One-night stands are his specialty for a reason.
While out jogging one spring morning, the two collide, setting their course in motion. Pax is immediately drawn to the unassuming beauty. Sophia is aware of his reputation and decides one night of meaningless sex with the attractive Texas charmer is just what she needs to get over her self-imposed dry spell. Pax has more than a one-night stand on his mind, but will his bad-boy persona and demanding schedule ruin any chances of a happily ever after?
Content Warning: contains explicit sex and adult content.
Shy music teacher Sophia Ballis has sworn off men. After a bad experience with a college jock she decided it was better to be alone than to get burned again. She focused on her education and now her new job at a local private school.
Professional baseball pitcher Paxton Hughes is a player both on and off the field. He's signed to the Kingston Crushers to bring home the coveted championship title. Nothing can get in his way. Serious relationships don't mix with a life on the road and he never loses focus on the game. One-night stands are his specialty for a reason.
While out jogging one spring morning, the two collide, setting their course in motion. Pax is immediately drawn to the unassuming beauty. Sophia is aware of his reputation and decides one night of meaningless sex with the attractive Texas charmer is just what she needs to get over her self-imposed dry spell. Pax has more than a one-night stand on his mind, but will his bad-boy persona and demanding schedule ruin any chances of a happily ever after?
Content Warning: contains explicit sex and adult content.
This is such a cute story! I love Paxton and Sophia together; of course he's a wizard on the pitching mound and true ladies man, but once he gets into Sophia, he is the epitome of a true southern gentleman. I liked watching their relationship develop and with the problems they were facing it felt like a realistic storyline.
Book provided in exchange for honest review.
Author Info
Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember.
As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her, and now as an adult, the
laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in her head,
but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed when she discovered
the eBook industry. She started penning novels at a rapid pace and now she
can't be stopped.
Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two boys.
When she's not chasing after her kids, she's busy creating sexy, domineering
men and the strong women who know how to challenge them in and out of the
bedroom. She hopes you'll get lost in her words.
She loves connecting with readers.
Website: http://authorellajade.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ella-Jade-Author/186959391390708
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellajade1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4911377.Ella_Jade
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