We pick back up with the Renegades in Spring Training. Rookie Cooper Bailey is all business. That is until he's taken by the loveliness of zoo front office manager Ainsley Burke.

The build up and cat and mouse chase of the athlete and the object of his desire was really fast paced and kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. It was sweet and loving. They made a great couple and were spending time to get to know each other. 

Ainsley's world gets turned upside down. I have to say that I really did not like the turns that both main characters took in being hurtful to each other as a defense mechanism. It really slowed the pace and hurt the momentum of the relationship. By 75 percent of the book they were practically apart more than they were together. 

Events lead up to a reunion that was tense to start. I feel like they jumped back into a loving relationship way too quickly. I missed the build up and romantic feel to the end. It felt too rushed. Overall the book was an ok read. There was such a great start to the book that I feel confident at giving it 3-3.5 stars. The middle of the story really brought it down for me. 

I really loved the first book in this series and I will definitely check out the next book.

I have always loved Heidi McLaughlin's words, and I love baseball, so this was a perfect combination!  A great read that kept me turning the pages! A definite must read!

Cooper is a rookie for the Boston Renegades, called up from the minors in time for spring training. He’s used to being a star as he was in college, however he is competing with seasoned veterans and younger guys who were drafted straight out of high school. If that pressure wasn’t enough, he has an overbearing father that still likes to call the shots in Cooper’s life. When Cooper meets Ainsley while at a community outreach program at the local zoo, he’s done for. He knows he’s got something special.

But when his relationship starts to affect his game play, he needs to decide if he wants the distraction. Ainsley has her own hurdles, namely a sick mother. A sick mother that insists that getting involved with athletes is a mistake Ainsley shouldn’t make. Besides, he’ll be going back to Boston when spring training is over, what’s the point of making the investment in a relationship that isn’t meant to be?

The plot of this second book is awfully similar to the first one, however I think it was executed a bit better than the last book. I think that is due, in large part, to the dual POV narration. The last book was a single POV from the heroine’s perspective and it just fell flat. There was far more chemistry between the main characters and the storyline was more interesting than the first installment.

Fans of sports romance, baseball in particular, will love this book. It’s a bit of a slow burn, but when things heat up, they certainly do! This book definitely sold me a lot more for this series, I’m looking forward to the next!

I'm not a huge fan of baseball but this was a cute story.  The hero of the story sometimes was a little too harsh for my liking. All and all the story was ok.

Normally I'm a huge fan of Heidi McLaughlin but this series hasn't been my favorite so far. After Third Base I was left with the meh feeling and wasn't super stoked, but since I am a fan of Heidi's I decided to try book two in this series.

I did like it especially compared to third base but it had some elements that I'm never a fan of:
1) Martyr heroine with it being her burden to bear so why ask for help
2) Over dramatic - He kept coming around, even after I'd rejected him. It showed me his strength and character, . .. (however it was only a week that he kept coming around I'm not sure how much strength and character that shows. If it was longer I could see the perseverance.

Home Run is about Cooper Bailey the new Rookie with the Brooklyn Renegades. Here he falls for Ainsley Burke whom doesn't want to date a player because once burnt and all but Cooper slowly wins her over. It was cute and I did end up liking it in the end but like I said previously it isn't my favorite series of Heidi's thus far.

I really enjoyed the first book in The Boys of Summer series by Heidi McLaughlin, however I think I enjoyed this one even more.  How is that possible you ask?  I will tell you.

I totally fell in love with Ainsley.  Totally girl crushing on her.  I love that with the life she has lived, she is so strong and caring.  She is a total sweetheart.  I just love her.

Now Cooper…how can you not fall head over heals for that sexy man!!  I loved the chemistry between him and Ainsley.  He is just absolute perfection!!

Home Run was exactly that….a HOME RUN!!  Heidi did an amazing job with this wonderful story!!  I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next.

Heidi really hit it out of the park with this one. Cooper and Ainsley have a connection from the very beginning, although she tries to fight it. I loved that she worked at a zoo and had such a close relationship with the animals, especially the giraffes. As a rookie for the Boston Renegades, Cooper has a lot to prove, especially since it's his first year in the major leagues. It was very obvious the author is familiar with the subject of baseball as it showed in the specifics and stats of the players and the game. I highly recommend Home Run.

This is a sweet, fun, and somewhat emotional sports romance.  I enjoyed reading it and can not wait to see more from this series.  When fate decides to toss you into what could be a home run pitch you have a decision to make when you step up to the plate.  What you do in that split second will determine what happens next.  This is exactly what happens with this book.  Perfect timing for those of you whole love baseball.

I am such a huge fan of Heidi McLaughlin! She is an instant one click for me when she has a new release. So I was really excited to get my hands on Home Run. 

Cooper Bailey’s time has finally come and he’s being called up to the major league. He is extremely focused on baseball and is not willing to let anything get in the way. He is working hard trying to prove himself to the team that he belongs there. 

Ainsley comes out of nowhere and Cooper didn’t expect to meet her. She is a zookeeper in Florida who has a lot on her plate right now. She is the caregiver for her sick mother and doesn’t have time for much else. 

The relationship between these wasn’t rushed and they took the time to really get to know one another. I loved their relationship it was sweet and pure from the texts and they way they were with each other. Looking forward to next book in this series.

4 Stars!

This happens every single time I read a book by Heidi McLaughlin…I get completely sucked in and end up in a book hangover. Which is a good thing, people!

This second book in the Boys of Summer series about some sexy baseball players was good, really good. McLaughlin seems to have added depth to these characters that wasn’t necessarily there in the first book. Plus there was humor and I like some humor in my romances. Sometimes too deep is just too deep, but McLaughlin has done a great job of balancing out the deep with some fun. There real stars of the book are Cooper and Ainsley. Cooper is relatable with big goals and realistic worries trying to deal with making big decisions. Ainsley is dealing with some major baggage, but still manages to be this likable girl with a kind heart.

I think this book will appeal to anyone who is a romance fan and especially those who love sports romances. You can’t lose with these characters and the depth of the writing is spot on!

If you like your sports romances to be both sweet and sexy, then Home Run is the one for you. Cooper is a rookie in town for summer training when he meets Ainsley at the local zoo while he and his team are there having a fun day with some under privileged children. Ainsley is a zoo keeper, well, she is normally, but she's taken a step back while dealing with her mom's cancer, and is instead doing media and administrative work for the zoo. Cooper sees Ainsley and is immediately attracted, but she's got walls up and rules about dating athletes, meaning, she does NOT date them. Thanks to Ainsley's friend, Stella, though, Cooper is able to obtain Ainsley's number, and the next thing you know, they're talking on the phone and then, dating, after Ainsley runs out of excuses to keep saying no to him.

There were a lot of things I really like about Home Run, one of them being how sweet both Cooper and Ainsley are. Cooper, especially, isn't the typical brash, arrogant playboy usually featured in sports romances. Instead, he's down to earth and has a big heart. Instead of whiling his way into Ainsley's heart by force of sheer arrogance and bad boy sexiness, he does it by being sweet and gentlemanly. Honestly, I wish more authors would take this route with their sports heroes, because Cooper is a breath of fresh air! And Ainsley, damn, she's amazing. So strong and kind, giving up her life, basically, to care for her mom.

Their relationship is sweet, sexy and emotional. They both have father issues, he because his father is a controlling creep, and she because she doesn't even know who her father is, at least, not until her mom leaves a tell all letter for her to read. It's part of what bonds the two together, but their biggest bond is their connection, not just physical, but emotional. Their intimate scenes weren't overly hot, just perfect, but it's clear that their emotional bond is what draws them together and keeps them together. It's a nice change of pace from some of the more erotic romances I've been reading lately.

I haven't read the first book in this series, but I plan to now that I know just how great Heidi is at writing a sports romance. It's most definitely a home run!

I’m really in love with this series by Heidi McLaughlin. Cooper and Ainsley’s story was just as good as Ethan and Daisy’s if not better. This was an emotionally packed story that will grab a hold of your heart. It had emotion, angst and heart. Heidi’s knowledge of the game only made this story that much exciting and better. The way she weaved the baseball action into an emotional journey was perfection at it’s best. I loved the dynamic of these characters. While Cooper and Ainsley had blistering chemistry and were great together, the secondary characters just added depth to the story. 

Heidi absolutely hit a home run with this book and I look forward to more in the series. Kidd's story is next and I can feel it will be epic.

Home Run from Heidi McLaughlin is definitely a Home Run! What a great sports romance which really focuses more on the couple and their story than the sport-- Ainsley and Cooper were the perfect match. Cooper Bailey is on his way to living his dream finally – which is becoming a professional baseball player then he meets Ainsley Burke. The chemistry between them is electric. Ainsley spends her time taking care of her sick mother & working at the zoo caring for her animals. She really doesn’t have time for a relationship but something about Cooper makes her want to make the time for a relationship. God I loved Ainsley-= she had such a big heart and she was so caring and sweet. Oh and she was sassy- she found something special in Cooper which made her make time to see him when she didn’t have time. Cooper was in town to prove himself to this professional sports team yet when he met Ainsley, all he could think about was her smile and her big heart. Yet there were things in their past that was causing them issues in the present and causing angst in their relationship and there were twists and turns that occurred which kept me glued to this story. What an exciting read , especially when at some point these two are separated and I was dying , praying to know if they would ever get back together. Do they or will they stay apart? Only will you find out if you read this fantastic book 2 in the Boys of Summer Series by Heidi McLaughlin .

My Rating: 4.6 stars *****
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

4 stars

I really enjoyed reading Home Run by Heidi McLaughlin.
From the first few pages I knew this was going to be my kind of read. 

The writing is well done, the storyline held my interest throughout the book and I found myself connecting with both lead characters.
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Cooper and Ainsley, they had great chemistry and both were likable/entertaining characters.

I'm a big fan of sports romances and Home Run turned out to be a great read.
Looking forward to reading more from this talented author.

Purchase Links ~
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/…/dp/B01LYO4N6...…
Barnes & Noble - http://bit.ly/28MMWZv
Kobo - http://bit.ly/2hB0P2R
iBooks - http://apple.co/28Sqspv

*Thank you to the publisher/author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts*

I received this for an honest review!!!

I have to say I just loved Cooper bring on the boys of summer!!! Ainsley and Cooper were pretty great together.. I just fell head over heels for this book!!

I dont know what it is but I fall for Heidi and her writing skills everytime!!! Ainsley and Cooper I just loved them and the conflicts that they faced to find that one true love!!! Hot baseball players YES PLEASE!!!

Baseball has always been my favorite sport, so any chance I get to read a baseball romance - well, you can bet that I'm going to take it! And while I was a little nervous to read Home Run, I was also excited because it's been such a long time since I've read one. It was so good seeing my favorite sport and romance combined together - I just completely loved this book!

I loved Ainsley - she's strong and brave and sweet. She's kind and she's just nice, you know? Ainsley is one of the people who you feel comfortable with. She's warm and of course, she doesn't do everything perfectly, but she really is wonderful. I'm sure you'll love Ainsley - I know I do!

And I know without a doubt that you will love Cooper! He's sweet and understanding and sensitive. He's thoughtful and protective and you never really have to worry about how he feels about Ainsley. Cooper's not one of those guys who parties too much - he's responsible and he's got his head on straight. Cooper is every bit as wonderful as Ainsley and I positively loved him!

I was worried that Home Run was going to be really angsty and while it had a few heartbreaking moments and brought tears to my eyes, most of my worrying was for nothing. I actually had a great time reading Home Run! It was exciting hearing about the baseball and the team and I loved how cute Cooper and Ainsley were together. It was just an excellent, entertaining read full of passion, sweetness, beauty, and love and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

Home Run is the second book in The Boys of Summer series, but it can be read as a standalone. It's told from Cooper and Ainsley's POV that and they get their happily-ever-after.

~ A Hopeless Romantic's Booklandia, 4 Stars

HOME RUN by Heidi McLaughlin was my first foray into Heidi's writing. Unfortunately, I had a difficult time connecting to the characters, really feeling them. I think it was because the writing gave away too much, told me too much, rather than showing me and allowing me experience it on my own. It didn't give me many chances to imagine without telling me what I should feel or see. Because of this, I wasn't able to connect or finish the story.

Home Run, the second book in the Boys of Summer series, by Heidi McLaughlin has released.  The Renegades are back and looking to make their mark this season.

Cooper Bailey has prepared for this moment his entire life.  He has finally moved up from the minor leagues to the major leagues.  It’s his rookie season with the Renegades and he’s feeling the pressure.  He has to prove that he is a valuable asset to the team.  He’s challenging a legendary player, trying to take his starting position.  Everything rides on the spring training season in Florida. He has to stay focused because he is finally chasing his dream.

Cooper Bailey never dreamed he’d meet a woman that could affect how he plays the game.  Nor did he dream a woman could capture his heart completely.  Ainsley Burke is an unexpected pleasure as well as his possible downfall.

Zookeeper Ainsley Burke has put her personal life on hold after she found out her mother is battling cancer.  She has changed her job position so that her schedule can work around her mother’s medical needs.  When she meets rookie Cooper Bailey at a community service event, she foresees the possibility of having something fun in her life for a few weeks.  After all he is only in Florida for spring training.

Life has a way of rearing it’s ugly head when things seem to be going well.  Cooper and Ainsley are both going to experience these obstacles and be tested beyond their limits.  It’s how they move forward that counts.  It could be the greatest season of their lives or it could be the season that destroys them both.

This book ran hot and cold for me.  I liked this book better than the first book in the series and felt a little more connected to the Renegades world.  Home Run started out with a bang but stalled throughout the middle of the book and the ending seemed a bit rushed.  At times I had a hard time connecting Cooper’s and Ainsley’s struggling relationship.  There were also other factors that seemed too coincidental in their story. I struggled with those coincidences. Overall I did enjoy the book but was hoping for a little more swoon worthy romance.

I am looking forward to what comes next in the Boys of Summer series.  Hopefully the Renegades will be chasing the pennant.

A rookie baseball player and a beautiful zoo keeper start dating during spring training. The young couple hit a few fouls during their relationship. The newbie center fielder makes a rookie move and forgets to put on a "batting glove" and causes a life-changing play. Whoops. Will these two end up making a perfect team or will outside influences cause them to strike out? I'll never tell. Check out Home Run by Heidi McLaughlin. Home Run is a standalone is the Boys of Summer sports series.

This was a great book about finding love when you least expect it. 

Cooper is an up and coming rookie baseball player trying to secure a place on the Boston Renegades team. He grew up with just his father who always pushed him to be his best, Cooper was so focused and dedicated that he didn't have time for much else. During training camp in Florida he meets Ainsley at an event for underprivileged children held at the zoo where she works. He is captivated by her and is determined to date her. 

Ainsley is struggling with her own issues at home and feels she does not have time for a relationship, but Cooper breaks through the barrier she has built, but can it last with only a few weeks left of training camp? 

There are lots of twists and turns in this book that make you want to keep reading, I had a hard time putting it down! I will now keep watch for Grand Slam.

*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review.***