In Reading the Signs by Keira Andrews, Nico is a hot headed rookie pitcher who needs a little discipline on AND off the field.  And veteran catcher Jake Fitzgerald is just the guy for the job! I received one copy of this book at no charge in exchange for my honest reviews but all opinions expressed here are my own.  This post contains affiliate links.

Reading the Signs by Keira Andrews

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Title: Reading the Signs

Series:   N/A

Author:      Keira Andrews

Publisher:  KA Books (September 23, 2016)

ASIN:  B01M16ZAY0

Genre:  M/M, Contemporary, BDSM

Length/Format:  734 KB/295 pages

Heat Rating:   3

Star Rating:   4 1/2

 

About Keira Andrews the author: Learn more about Keira Andrews by checking out her website or following along onFacebook and Twitter.

 

Reading the Signs Blurb:  

Pitcher Nico Agresta is desperate to live up to his family’s baseball legacy. Since he was a teenager crushing on his big brother’s teammate, he’s known he can’t act on his desires. His father’s made it clear there should be no queers on the field, but if Nico can win Rookie of the Year like his dad and brother did, maybe he can prove he’s worthy after all.

At 34, veteran catcher Jake Fitzgerald just wants to finish out his contract and retire. His team doesn’t have a prayer of making the playoffs, but who needs the stress? Jake lost his passion for the game—and life—after driving away the man he loved, and he swore he’d never risk his heart again.

Then he’s traded to a team that wants a vet behind the plate to tame their new star pitcher. Jake is shocked to find the gangly kid he once knew has grown into a gorgeous young man. But tightly wound Nico’s having trouble controlling his temper in his quest for perfection, and Jake needs to teach him patience and restraint on the mound.

When their push and pull explodes into the bedroom, Nico and Jake will both learn how much they’ll risk for love.

 

Reading the Signs Review:

Reading the Signs by Keira Andrews is another stellar book by one of my favorite authors.  Honestly, I would have given it a full 5 star rating but I was annoyed by a turn in the story line that I didn’t care for.  It was still a phenomenal story, I just wanted a slightly different ending…I still got a happily ever after but I think it could have been an even happier ever after but I’m not going to spoil it for you.

So, Jake is a veteran baseball catcher.  He has lost his love of the game and just wants to retire and get on with life.  He is rather ho-hum about baseball at this point and is a bit broody.  He is mightily annoyed when he gets traded but is determined to just keep his head down and suffer through his last 2 years.  Then he gets paired up with Nico, a rookie pitcher that Jake knew years ago.

Nico is both overjoyed and slightly horrified when Jake turns out to be their next catcher.  Jake was the man of his dreams when he was 13 and he knows he won’t be able to keep his sexuality under wraps around this guy.  He has a bit of an attitude both on off the field but just can’t seem to keep his temper under control.  Sleeping with one woman after another in an attempt to be ‘normal’ isn’t really helping.

The tension between these two guys is explosive but also amazingly tender.  There is a distinct age difference.  Jake brings maturity and control and Nico brings passion and a zest for life and baseball that Jake has lost.  I really loved the balance between these two guys and could tell how much they really cared about each other.

There is a ton of baseball in this story.  Not so much that it overwhelms the romance but enough so that you know you are reading a sports romance and that the author did a ton of research.

The sexual tension is really high in this book.  There is some very light BDSM….mainly giving up control and some light spanking.  A touch of bondage and just enough kinky to keep it interesting without it being unrealistic.  I loved the chemistry between these two guys and Nico really benefited from giving up his iron control!

In addition to great sex and tons of baseball,  you get an amazing emotional depth to this story.  Nico is so incredibly stressed out.  He is trying to prove to his family and himself that he is the best baseball player ever.  He needs to prove it to himself…that being gay doesn’t make him a bad player.  It just overwhelms him and I just can’t even imagine the stress he is dealing with.

You can feel how lonely Jake is through the beginning of the story.  He has a bit of a sad romantic history and he just doesn’t want to put his heart out on the line again.  But his lack of passion for baseball is turning into a lack of passion for everything and he needs Nico to help him bring that joy back into his life and onto the field.

The secondary characters were wonderful.  I loved Jake’s mom and Nico’s family members were well thought out, even if I didn’t really LIKE one or two of them all the time. They added a nice balance to the baseball and romance in the story.

I will say I wasn’t hugely fond of the end of the book, only because I really wanted a slightly different ending.  It made sense.  The guys got their happily ever after, but it still left me wanting a different turn of events.

Reading the Signs by Keira Andrews is truly an amazing story with romance, baseball, a tiny bit of angst and a whole lot of passion.  Definitely going into my ‘read again’ pile!

 

Want another book by Keira Andrews?  Try this one!

Fight the Tide by Keira Andrews
Purchase Links: Amazon

Fight the Tide Review