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!

4.5⭐

The Sweet Spot is a small-town romance. That delivers all the feels. When recently retired baseball player Cole Beck arrives in town to visit his parents and meets sassy, sweet single mum Palmer.

Who he's immediately smitten with. But Palmer has no time for men, especially charming ones who look like Cole, and so she tries to pass him off to her best friend Val. But Cole's not having any of it and insists on getting Palmers number. Which leads to a date and so much more.

However, Palmer and Cole are in two very different places in their lives. With Palmer focused on her son Ethan and looking for forever and Cole well he's still looking at what's next after ending his baseball career.

But the connection between the pair can't be denied. As for Ethan he lights up anytime Cole is around. But is that enough to keep them together? Or are they destined to walk different paths?

And with a heartwarming and at times emotional romance and great characters, this truly was a delightful read. That I devoured in just a couple of sittings and it's a story I would happily recommend to romance readers everywhere.

4.5 stars

When one of my favorite authors writes about baseball, I will be reading it. Once again, Ms. Locke has knocked another winner out of the park. I love Parker; she grows up in a less than ideal situation, and makes some bad decisions, but continues to grow. She loves her son and wants to give him the best she can.

Cole has decisions to make, so he goes home to regroup. He does not count on meeting Parker, who throws his whole plan off its axis. Will the small town grow on him?

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
SPICE: 🔥🔥.5

Palmer Clark has a lot on her plate. She is trying to be the best mom to her 12-year-old son Ethan, even though Ethan's father -- and Palmer's ex -- continues to disappoint them at every turn. She seems to be the only one working hard (other than her boss) at her job. The last thing Palmer needs in her life is another man.

Too bad retired baseball hotshot Cole Beck didn't quite get that memo and has been trying to charm his way into Palmer's life. When an opportunity falls into his lap to get closer to her and her son, can Cole convince Palmer that he is more than just a fleeting presence in her life?

This read has good elements that I adore about Adriana Locke's books: A strong small-town community that rallies around the main characters, charismatic family members, and great chemistry between the main characters.

I love Palmer. She is strong and resilient. We totally understand why she is so wary about being vulnerable in relationships, especially with men. And while Cole is adorable, her story dominated this book.

Don't get me wrong. I like Cole, too. He is a good alpha-roll who embraces being at the mercy of Palmer's boundaries and Ethan's place in her life. I just did not feel like his arc was completely developed, and with incredibly charming predecessors like the Landry and Carmichael men, he definitely had huge shoes to fill.

This book is a standalone apart from all of Adriana Locke's wonderful book universes.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Adriana Locke, Montlake, and NetGalley for providing an ARC. **

A sweet small town romance about a single mom that is used to doing it all on her own with a past full of men that only disappoint her and a retired baseball player trying to figure out his future whilst visiting his parents in her little town. Her son is a sweet kid that's been dealt a careless father and a devoted mother and Cole is like the sun parting behind the clouds. He treats him with respect and adores him. Life however is hard and trust is not something to be given lightly. It's hard won and Cole struggles to find the future he wants. The passion is there, they just need to trust in each other and love will guide them. Small town romance at It's finest. I don't want to spoil it so I will stop there!

I’ve read a handful of Adriana Locke’s books at this point, and really enjoyed the, but The Sweet Spot took the top spot for me. I laughed and cried and fell in love with all the characters.
We meet Palmer in a disheveled and stressed state in her local diner, speaking with her best friend Val. Instantly, I love their banter. You can tell they have a strong friendship that’s solidified over the years through difficult times.
Enter Cole, our main male character. Charming and crazy attractive. Instantly both characters have chemistry and have a comical conversation to try and get her number, to win a bet against his friend Fish. Palmer doesn’t think going on a date is a good idea. She’s a single mother of a 12 year old and works a lot to support herself and her son. It’s clear Jared, the father of their child, is useless and unreliable.
Cole is a retired baseball star, temporarily moving in with his parents to figure out what’s next for him. There seems to be an underlying reason for his break but this is only hinted at throughout. As far as his family knows, he retired due to a shoulder injury and stopped before his career deteriorated too much.
Cole and Palmer have this will-they-won’t-they vibe for a long time, Palmer isn’t emotionally available for a friends with benefits style relationship and Cole doesn’t want to settle. Of course this causes issues further down the line but his perspectives shift.
I don’t want to discuss the plot further as it’ll spoil the book but I loved their dynamic and even their conflict was powerful to read, and let to tears.
It was a beautiful book to read and I love that I got to review it! Thank you

The Sweet Spot by Adriana Locke is a small town, single parent romance. Tropes that are some of my favorites. This book is about Palmer who‘s an amazing mother to her young son and Cole who is a retired baseball player who moves to town to help out his parents.

I’ve been so excited to read this book by Adriana Locke. It started of pretty good but for me it just dragged out halfway through the book. Sadly this story didn‘t quite grab me as I hoped. I loved previous books from Adriana and had hoped to love this one too. Especially since it‘s filled with my fave tropes and the cover is super pretty.

I did enjoy the relationship between Cole and Palmer and her son alot though! I could totally understand Palmers hesitance and the last few chapters where super heartbreaking.


3.75⭐️

The Sweet Spot is an overall light and sweet romance about Palmer a single mother doing her best to raise her son with a limited support system, and Cole, a retired baseball player who returns to the area to visit with his parents while figuring out what he should do next with his life.

I highly enjoyed these characters. Cole was perfection and I especially loved how he was with Ethan. I loved the relationship between Ethan and Palmer and how close they were. Palmer had been through a lot and life was not always kind to her, but she persevered and she was an amazing mother.

I found the story line to be interesting and engaging, though I also found it to be predictable. This didn't necessarily take away from my enjoyment and I did very much enjoy the ending/epilogue.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have never met and Adriana Locke book that I didn’t love, but this one is extra special. I don't even know how to explain it, this is just a magnificent love story!

Cole is the perfect book boyfriend, seriously, the freaking best. He's a retired baseball player and comes to small Bloomfield, Ohio to spend time with his parents who have relocated there. This California boy doesn't quite know where to go next, but he sure hopes it involves Palmer. He's drawn to her from the second they meet and is persistent as hell. Does he stay in Bloomfield or head back home to San Diego?

Palmer's entire world revolves around her 12-year-old son, Ethan. She's been burned by men in the past and is focused on her son and herself. She's hard working, driven, honest, just an all around bad@$$ single mom! She's not looking for a good time, she's looking to build a life and grow her family.

Their story made me laugh and it made me cry...and don't get me started on Ethan...I absolutely love that kid! This story is witty, emotional, real and full of love. Dual POV, low spice, amazing characters and fun banter. I can't recommend this enough, loved every word!

Favorite Spoiler Free Quotes:
I wonder when someone is going to make a movie about a life like mine. A tired woman with no ball gown at her disposal, just a monotonous life—sleep, work, cook, mother, rinse, and repeat—and an empty social calendar that would preclude her from meeting an available, handsome prince if one actually existed.

“I also want something more for me—something real and tangible. Something that I can believe in and just . . . I don’t know. Rest, I guess, knowing it’ll be there tomorrow.”

“I’m saying that when you’re with me, here, or anywhere else we are, I want you to trust me. You can relax.” His fingers reach for mine and toy with them at my side. “I admire how strong you are and how much you love Ethan. But I want you to know that I’m on your side, okay?”

“The sweet spot is the area on the barrel where it’s most effective to hit the ball. It’s the power source—the key to everything."

3.5 stars

This is my first book I’ve read by this author. It was enjoyable, but it was lacking something. I will definitely try another book by her, though.

Palmer Clark is a 32 year old single mother to twelve year old Ethan. Her son is her whole world and she will do anything to protect him. Palmer hasn’t been in a relationship in awhile for fear of hurting her son when it inevitably ends and the men leave.

Cole Beck is a newly and suddenly retired baseball player in town visiting his parents. His meet cute with Palmer is immediately in the first chapter of the book. He asks her out. She says no.

It’s a small town so they see each other again. Plus, Ethan’s deadbeat dad signs him up to play baseball. Cole decides to stay in town a little longer to help coach the team. Cole is also struggling with something as it is dual POV, but we don’t know what it is. It’s a mystery to everyone why he suddenly retired from baseball.

What I loved: Palmer’s relationship with her son. It was great how Ethan told his mom that he is not a little boy anymore and that he understands more than she realizes about his father.

What I didn’t love: Cole’s mystery reveal diagnosis. He learns what it is at almost the 80% point in the book. It just felt rushed at the end. When the third act break up happened, it was because he didn’t want her to have to deal with it on top of everything else she was dealing with. He didn’t give her a choice and then left like every other man in her life. But, when he did tell Palmer, I was expecting more of a reaction from her. It was like she didn’t understand the seriousness of it and she made it about how all she ever wanted was “someone to do life with.”

Thank you to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cole, a retired professional baseball player, has come to Bloomfield to visit his parents and figure out the next phase of his life. Palmer, a single mother of a 12 year old boy, has learned that the only person she can depend on is herself. It seems that fate keeps putting them in one another’s paths. Palmer is desperately trying to deny the pull she has to Cole in order to protect herself and her son. When life throws a few unexpected curve balls their way will they strike our or knock it out of the park?

This book was a small town, single-mom, sports romance that I loved. As usual, Adriana writes characters that you just can’t help but fall in love with. Cole was a cinnamon roll and Palmer made him work for every single inch. I love that Ethan was written realistically for his age. There was cute banter, a nice burn and mild spice.

“The Sweet Spot” is a sweet and hit me with a homerun of all the emotions with this amazing single mom/small town romance.

Palmer is a single mom with her son Ethan in a small town and trying to be the best mom she can be. Palmer wants forever and to truly have a life partner who will always be there. When she meets retired baseball player Cole, she thinks that she’s another conquest but Cole doesn’t see her that way. Cole is newly retired and trying to figure out his next move but there’s something about Palmer that he’s drawn to.

Oh my gosh, this story is so much more than what the blurb reveals. I love a single parent romance, add in a small town and/or sports and I’m in heaven. Cole is dreamy and perfect book boyfriend material. He comes off confident, which he is, but he’s also humble and grateful for all that he has accomplished in the baseball world. I wasn’t expecting to fall for him so hard but he pulled me right in and never let go. Palmer was an instant like for me because of how independent she was. Her need to provide everything for her son, including a stable home environment, hit me right in the feels. Ethan really is one of her best friends and I loved their relationship. The little extra thing between Cole and Palmer I did not see it coming and made me gasp as I read it. The ending was perfect and I’m always going to hope for updates from Cole and Palmer

Palmer has had some bad luck when it comes to relationships and now she is determined only to spend time with someone who she can see a future with. It's what both she and her son deserve and it's more than either of them have really had. So when Cole, retired baseball extraordinaire enters the picture, it's a hard no for Palmer. He's not staying in Ohio, he'll be going back to California soon enough, even if he did extend his stay to coach her son's baseball team, that means nothing, right? Like Cole says about baseball, hitting a home run is all about finding the sweet spot on the bat. Maybe the same can be said about life and relationships? You just have to find the sweet spot.

This was a great story. It was a little slow at first, but quickly picked up. It was a well developed story with some great characters, both main and side. I loved the way Cole cared for both Palmer and Ethan and I loved that Ethan was never an after thought throughout the story. His character was as integral to the story as everyone else. At times his character felt a little unrealistic for a twelve-year-old, but I also liked the maturity he had, which would be understandable considering his backstory.

It was a very enjoyable story, one I would easily recommend to anyone who enjoys the following.

✔️ Single Mom
✔️ Fling to More
✔️ Sports (Baseball)
✔️ Meet Cute
✔️ Small Town
✔️ First Person Dual POV

Palmer Clark is a single mother who was raised by an alcoholic father. Her choices in men haven’t been the best, and her son's dad is basically worthless. His one constant is being a disappointment and letting down his son. Life in a small town isn’t easy, especially when Palmer carries every burden alone for herself and her twelve-year-old son, Ethan. Just once, she would love to have another person on her team to help carry the load.

Enter, newly retired baseball player Cole Beck, who is visiting his parents in the small town where they've retired. Cue hilarious meet-cute, where Cole asks for Palmer's phone number when he sees her at the local diner. Palmer resists, and why not? The only man she’s ever been able to trust is her pre-teen son. But Cole won’t take no for an answer and eventually wears her down. Volunteering to coach her son's baseball team certainly scores Cole some points with Palmer.

Locke does what she does best, giving us a humorous, steamy, small-town romance that hits all the right heart notes. I love these characters so much, despite Cole's doing the wrong thing for the right reason. And Ethan, this awesome young man with a wise old soul manages to help the adults in his life cut through the confusion and conflict in their minds so their hearts can fully embrace the love waiting right in front of them.

This sweet story epitomizes everything I love about a good romance that keeps me coming back for more. Authentic, flawed, endearing characters who learn and grow on their road to forever, and a heartfelt story that kept me reading long into the night make for an epic reading escape guaranteed to make your romantic heart blissfully happy. Run to the 1-Click and start reading this charming, heartwarming, phenomenal story today!

It's been a long time since a book kept me up all night, but The Sweet Spot did! Palmer and Cole's story broke me it the sweetest of ways. Ethan, Palmer's son, was such an amazing character and I remember a few times I just wanted to crawl through the book and give that kid a hug! Cole's retirement from baseball wasn't going his way and Palmer was the exact distraction he needed. Palmer didn't want anything to do with Cole, standing her ground on no longer dating men not worth her time, but somehow Cole knocked down her walls in the sweetest of ways. This book has so much to it with the small town feels, family, friends, and at the very heart of it the things people will do for the ones they love!

Adriana Locke delivers the warm, cozy and adorable feels of small town romance in The Sweet Spot. And she combined it with the soul deep feels and slow burn goodness. Cole and Palmer will steal your heart for sure.

Palmer has a lot in her plate. Her demanding job. Her responsibility as a single parent. And she absolutely should not give into the temptation when a suddenly retired baseball celebrity player visiting his home town asks for her number. But this is a small town and their paths keep on crossing and Cole is so charming. Can she really open her heart? What about the secrets Cole has in his closet?

Palmer is a great heroine. She is witty, bada##, sassy and has a big heart. She has literally brought up herself. And men have only disappointed her. She is used to do everything on her own. And she can take on the world for her boy Ethan. Ethan is her priority and she didn’t easily take her walls down for Cole. She needs stability and trust and the guarantee that no man will hurt her kid's heart. And Cole was everything..till he had to break her heart to protect her. Oh it is always a tough decision. Cole was a bit lost after his sudden retirement and he was feeling empty. He didn’t expect his parents can be enough to make him stay here but Palmer and Ethan invaded his heart. He had a dark cloud hanging over his head and when he found out the heartbreaking truth..he had to run. Because he is a good man and he would never ever be anyone's regret. He is so charming and kind and of course, gorgeous. This was a sweet slow burn. Cole and Palmer went back and forth with their flirty banter till the sizzling hot chemistry became too hot to handle. And Ethan is an incredible kid. I love this guy so much. The Beginning was a bit slow for me and the last 30% was pure beauty!

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

The Sweet Spot is so good!

Palmer Clark knew she didn’t always make the best choices about the men in her life but she would do anything for her son Ethan especially when his father signed him up for baseball.

Cole Beck was trying to figure what to do with his life now that he was retired from baseball so a visit to his parents was the first on his list but meeting single parent Palmer Clark wasn’t what he was expecting. But maybe it was meant to be when Ethan’s team needs a coach and he has the time now that he’s retired.

The Sweet Spot is a small town romance but it is not a simple story between Palmer and Cole because it will surprise you and that is what it makes it worth reading.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Palmer is quite a woman and hasn’t had an easy life. Her life is her son. And she always does what is best for him. Cole comes into her life but she’s so protective of herself and Ethan. She’s not sure how to let Cole in or if she should. Cole has just retired from baseball and is figuring himself out too.
Adriana Locke tells a story of these 2 lost people struggling. And how they get to happily ever after pulls at the heart strings!

I always love reading an Adriana Locke book because she does small town romance like no one else. Her stories are always heartfelt and they always make me feel good, even when there's angst or strife occurring in the storyline, because she always brings the story full circle and it ends happily.

I did enjoy Palmer and Cole's story. It had that same small town feel she's known for. I just never connected with the characters. A large part of this story dealt with Palmer being a single mother, and really, all that she has gone through in her life from the time she was a small child. So now she's a single mom with a LOSER ex who can't be bothered with his own kid. That to me felt like the central storyline of this book, not the developing relationship between Palmer and Cole. Don't get me wrong, I truly loved Ethan, I thought he was an amazing kid, but I needed more of the meat of the story to be about Palmer and Cole, and sadly that didn't happen.

Cole seemed like a really great guy. His attraction to Palmer was immediate, as was hers to him. He worked to pursue something with Palmer and based on her past, she laid it out for him exactly what she was looking for. And Cole ends up doing the exact thing she warned him to never do to her. That didn't sit well with me in the storyline, it just felt inconsistent. And once we finally got the resolution, the book was over. There really was not enough time for me, spent on Palmer and Cole together.

I'm sad this story wasn't a favorite for me of Adriana's because she is an amazing author and I've loved reading her. I'm just chalking this one up as that one off that tends to occur with an author. You can't love them all. It is a well written story and I know it will be hugely popular with her readers, it just wasn't a win for me.