Adriana Locke has hit "the sweet spot" with this small-town, single mom, low-angst, PERFECT love story between Cole and Parker (and Parker's son, Ethan, is ABSOLUTELY adorable!)

Parker is the sassy, knows-what-she-DOESN'T-want, feisty Momma bear who protects her son as much as she can....even though he knows exactly what's going on with his so-called "father" The heart wrenching scenes with Ethan tore my heart out, but Ethan is one terrific kid who is being raised the right way! As for Cole, the recently retired (due to a career-ending injury) baseball God, there's definitely something going on with him....he's visiting his parents while trying to figure out what his next steps should be and he KNOWS he'll be going back to Cali when he figures it out (or so he thinks!) He's not in a position to get involved with anyone, let alone a single mom with a son who has already grabbed his heart!

The path to Parker and Cole's HEA is a complicated jumble of emotions, what-if's, chemistry and fate! I LOVED this book and these characters HARD! I didn't want to put this one down!

Swoony, emotional and utterly consuming, The Sweet Spot is the kind of love story that stays with you, long after you’ve read the final word. Cole and Palmer were beautifully matched in every regard, and Ethan was the perfect foil to their developing relationship. I absolutely adored this book and highly recommend you give it a read!

This is a standalone book in a new world for AL. Palmer and Cole are in very different places in life, yet they meet up at just the right time.

Cole is a retired baseball player with a secret even he doesn’t know. Palmer is a single mom, carrying the load of too many people. They fit together even though they shouldn’t.

Loved:
* Each character separately, and their growth in learning to share their burdens.
* As always Mrs. Locke writes side characters worth caring about.

Overall enjoyable read.

I laughed, I cried, I fell in love. What more could I ask for? Pulled in from the first chapter, I adored the instant chemistry Cole and Palmer had and the way Palmer fought and fought against it. Lol. The characters in this book made the story work for me. Palmer’s resilience and the positivity that she maintained for her son, made it impossible for me to not root for her to finally get that happy ending, specifically with Cole. Cole was exactly the kind of guy I dreamed about coming into my life - kind, attentive, sexy, and charming with eyes only for Palmer - and when he showed his vulnerable side, I melted.

Cole is just starting his new and sudden retirement from the MBA and is visiting his parents in small town Ohio when he runs into the woman of his dreams. Cole has plans to head back to Cali soon but everything is paused now that Palmer is in his sights. And when her son, Ethan’s baseball team is going to be cut due to lack of coaching, Cole seizes the opportunity to stick around a little longer.

Palmer can’t catch a break when it comes to men. From her alcoholic father, to her absent baby daddy and her most recent commitment phobe of a boyfriend she is running out of optimism when it comes to the opposite sex. When Cole expresses interest she’s more than a little bit skeptical especially given his plans to leave. She wants it all the white picket fence and a male role model for her son and Cole has no interest in staying and slipping into the family man role. Can she keep her heart closed for a fling or will she and Ethan both end up with broken hearts this time?

I have been a long time fan of Adriana. She writes my fave small town romances and she always nails this fantastic big family dynamics but while this one is small town it’s such a different vibe from her usual. This is easily my new favorite book from her. Palmer is such an instantly likable and relatable heroine and even when she refuses to give into what she wants you can feel why she’s resistant. I love for strong female main characters and Palmer has strength and independence in spades.

Guy falls first is one of the greatest tropes of all time and Adriana did this one so right. Prepare your hearts for Cole Beck because he is Adriana’s most swoon worthy hero to date. His own personal struggles tugged at my heartstrings all while he loved and supported his girl and made her son feel valued and important for the first time. And the man could teach a master class in grovel

If you love small town, single mom, guy falls first, sports romance that is light on the steam but strong on heart then you’ll love this one.

Thanks so much to Adriana and Kandi Cane PR for providing me with an early copy to review!

Adriana did it again...this story is perfection. The depth of the characters is beyond.

Palmer is a single mom just trying to make it day by day...and waiting for her knight in shining armor to come and love her. She has past trauma that she is trying to navigate through and not let it hold her back...but also trying not to make the same mistakes over again and again.

Cole is a newly retired baseball player...and he's got secrets. Maybe it's self preservation but he's living in a world of denial. He goes to Bloomfield to spend time with his parents and ends up meeting Palmer.

Their attraction to each other is instant...but it's a slow process for Palmer to accept that maybe she should do something for herself for once...

Cole is the most swoon worthy MMC I've come across in a while...and he does it without even trying and just being his naturally charming self.

These two have the weight of the world on their shoulders...can they handle it together or ultimately go their separate ways?

READ THIS BOOK!

This book got me in the feels. I was alternating between smiles and tears. I loved the characters. The storyline was amazing. This was just a great read for me overall. Palmer and Cole just clicked for me.

Oh my sweetness!! I can’t say enough good things about this book!! The Sweet Spot was the latest perfection from Adriana Locke. It was both heartwarming and heartbreaking!!

Palmer was a single mom who didn’t have the greatest track record in dating. So when she met Cole, he couldn’t be as perfect as he seemed, right?

Cole was just supposed to be in town visiting but when he met Palmer something clicked. Would he be able to get the girl or would he end up going back home empty handed?

These two!! Gah!! I absolutely adored their relationship. It was so much fun to watch Cole try his hardest but also shy away since everything was up in the air. I loved the epilogue but was so sad to say goodbye to them!

Note: I received a digital review copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.

Palmer and Cole have a great (cheesy lines galore) meet cute and this is just the beginning of their charming tale.

In small town Bloomfield, Ohio, single mom Palmer is just trying to keep it together and give the best life she can to her 12 year old son, Ethan. Enter Cole, a retired baseball star who is visiting his parents in the area. Cole is also dealing with a lot with retirement and not knowing “what’s next.”

Their relationship was a slow-burn due to issues with trust, and their personal growth throughout the story was satisfying to read. It was a little spicy, too!

Ethan was the star of the book - what a great kid.

Solid small town, sports romance from an author who writes these tales so well!

🚌 ALC/ ARC ⚾️
Review: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Steam: 2/5 🔥
Audio: 4.5/5 🎧

#thesweetspot is an all new standalone from @authoradrianalocke.

Cole needs to figure out what the hell he’s doing with his life since retiring from baseball. It was as if he left the game overnight at the height of his career. But he was plagued with a nagging injury. He’s now visiting his parents in a small town to regroup. As much as he thought it would be a quick trip and go back to California, he never expected a single mom to turn his world upside down. He didn’t just wanted to spend time with her, but also her son. As much as he misses the game, he’s also realizing there’s more to life than just baseball. Can he figure out a way to be happy in this small town, or does he need to get out before he gets in any deeper?

Palmer is a single mom who’s working her tail off to make a good life for her and her son. Not having many people who will help her, other than her best friend and boss, she’s constantly running on fumes. That’s until Cole. This man seems perfect in every way that she wants and deserves. But can she let herself fall for a guy who never planned to set down roots or will she swing for the fence and let fate guide her way?

@narratedbyteddyhamilton and @stellahunternarrator did a great job with this narration. They were able to capture the feelings of all the characters, not just Cole and Palmer, which was huge because Val and Ethan were essential in this story. I’d definitely recommend this audiobook.

I loved Cole. He was such a cinnamon roll who was just about perfect in every way. The way that he helped Palmer and Ethan, spent time with his parents and the kids in the community was amazing. Palmer was so strong for being a single parent. She wanted Ethan to have the life she never did while doing everything in her power to make it the best. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend the book to read or listen to.

The Sweet Spot is a small town romance that hits all the right notes.

Cole Beck arrives in town to visit his parents after he retires from professional baseball. He's a bit at loose ends and not sure where he wants to be or what he wants to be doing, so visiting Mom and Dad felt like the right thing.

Palmer Clark is a single mother who will do anything for her son. She has put men on the back burner to focus on Ethan and what he needs to flourish. When his Dad signs him up for baseball, Palmer isn't thrilled as she knows it's another thing she'll have to keep up with given her ex's penchant for being an absent father.

When Cole sees Palmer for the first time, he makes a play for her. Palmer being her strong self tries to pawn him off on her best friend, Val, but Cole isn't having it. He remains persistent and eventually they get together for an outing. Both of them know what the deal is and they have adult conversations about the fact that Cole will be leaving. Will that really be how it all plays out in the end though?

I'm a sucker for sports romances and I very much enjoyed this one. The connection between Cole and Palmer was evident early on, but I did appreciate how they handled Ethan and the other complexities that their relationship would present. I'm really glad I picked this one up!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

I was provided an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. all opinions are my own. Thank you to Montlake and Candi Kane PR for providing me with an ARC for review.

Palmer is a hardworking single mom, who will do anything to protect her 12 year old son and provide him the stable home she never had growing up. She has an awesome best friend to help her out, but she doesn't have a big support network. Enter Cole, a retired baseball player who is staying with his parents in small town Ohio while he does some soul searching. He is immediately drawn to the small town life and when he meets Palmer he can't deny that there is something about her that screams for him to stay and start something a little more permanent. Not one for long term relationships, Cole doesn't want to mislead Palmer but he wants what she is willing to give him while he sticks around town.

This got pretty emotional at times. Palmer had a pretty rough childhood. Trigger warnings for an alcoholic and abusive parent. She also had some pretty questionable relationships with men who let her down. Despite all that she came out the other side a great person and a wonderful mom who raised an awesome kid. I liked that we got to see many sides of Palmer from the vulnerable mom and woman to the strong employee and boss that was trying to hold everything together for everyone else. We also get to see her speak up for herself and do what is best for her and her son. Cole has some stuff he is dealing with, and while it takes him quite a while for the reveal and for him to come to terms with it. I'm happy with the way the conflict was resolved. This was relatively low angst, there is some but it is short lived. There are some steamy parts, but not over the top.

Overall I loved this sweet small town romance.

Even if I liked the style of writing I didn't care for the characters and the story fell flat.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Sweet, small town story with some decent steam. Palmer has had her fill of men. She is done playing around and the next guy will be IT. No friends with benefits, no overlooking all the read flags. Cole is just in town to visit his parents and make some life altering decisions regarding his career. There are secrets being kept and while Cole has never had a serious relationship and isn't looking for one now, there is something about Palmer he can't stay away from. Will either of them be willing to move a little toward the middle in order to find out if there is something lasting in their future?

Small town, single parent. sports romance? Check. Check. Check. Something about books with these tropes that hook me in. Palmer did everything for her son Ethan. Hooking up with Cole was not on her to do list. But fate had a different agenda. Cole ends up coaching Ethan’s baseball team and the sport fast becomes a part of their lives. Palmer wanted up to Cole eventually. It didn’t hurt that he knew Palmer was a package deal. This was no insta-love, but they do get their HEA. Cole had to work for it and figure out a bunch of things along the way. In the end nothing else mattered except for Palmer and Ethan.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

The Sweet Spot is an amazing story of finding home and happiness with the love of your life. It's light hearted but will have you feeling all the emotions!

Cole is such a sweetheart! He's kind and confident, sexy and attentive. Palmer is witty, smart, and beautiful. She's a wonderful mother and so selfless. I love how Cole kept pursuing Palmer, even though she kept turning him down. He was patient with her and showed her that not all men are bad. She helps him to feel happier in a hard time in his life. They both bring each other peace. Cole and Palmer go through so much together and separately. Cole is in a transition part of life and unsure what his future holds. Palmer is a single mom with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Seeing them come together so seamlessly was perfect. Their story has some up and downs, but it's so beautiful. I love them, Ethan, and all the secondary characters in this wonderful book! True, unconditional love wins!

I received an ARC for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book. I loved reading Palmer and Cole’s story and seeing Palmer slowly fall for Cole. There’s chemistry right off the bat with these two and I loved seeing how it all played out for them.

Cole immediately feels a connection with Palmer and wants to know more about her. I love that he immediately wants to be friends with Ethan (Palmers son). Cole really shows up for Palmer and Ethan which is a great change of pace for them.

Read if you like:
⚾️single moms
⚾️retired baseball player
⚾️he falls first
⚾️forced proximity
⚾️small towns
⚾️a heartfelt story
⚾️dual POV

I hope you pick this one up! Please read TW and CW before reading this book💕

I was given an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Palmer Clark is a single mother who finds herself charmed by the sweet-talking charm of a baseball legend. Cole is in town to see his parents and has not had many long-term relationships. When he meets Palmer, is thrown but finds himself rethinking his future.
Both characters bring a spark to this book. Palmer is so witty and despite her struggles, she is determined to do the best thing by her son. I enjoyed reading of Cole, acting appropriately around Ethan (Palmer’s son), and how the two, bonded. A sweet read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love sports romance, I love small towns, and I generally enjoy Adriana's books. However, unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. I was unable to engage with the characters, and while I did like some of the interactions (mostly between Cole and Ethan) it wasn't enough for me to engage with the characters or the connection between Cole and Palmer. Moreover, I felt that some of the inner monologues were too repetitive and didn't serve the story well. Unfortunately, this book was a miss for me, but I'll still try her other books in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was sweet, but unfortunately I didn’t click with it. It just didn’t really hold my attention most of the time and I skimmed most of the second half, but there were parts that were lovely and also some sad ones and did make me feel feelings haha so I liked when that happened at least!