Leah Smith doesn’t know why it always happens that the only times she sees sexy professional baseball player and her neighbor, Marcus Slade, is when she is a mess. While jogging may be good for you, an old sweat suit after a long run isn’t how you want the man of your dreams to see you. Leah almost made it to the elevator and to her condo when she is called over to pick up a package by the man Marcus is talking to. Marcus, being a gentleman, offers to carry her box which is filled with Leah’s latest historical romance novel.
Instead of making fun of Leah, Marcus asks for an autographed copy for his mother, not telling Leah that he also reads her novels as do several of his teammates. To celebrate her new book, he offers to take her out to dinner where his past as a playboy comes to haunt him as model like women stop by and essentially ignore Leah who they look at as inferior and not a threat to them. Marcus tries to remove them from these women but they follow Marcus and Leah.
Though they are attracted to each other, will they ever be able to actually get to know each other or will other people keep getting in the way? Will Marcus get around to telling Leah how much he enjoys her books? And Leah’s had a crush on Marcus a lot longer than he’s lived in her building. Will the real Marcus match the one in her head or will she be disappointed?
While this book isn’t very long, it’s long enough for you to get to know Marcus and Leah. Their pasts are intertwined into the story in a natural way just as two people meeting start learning about each other. As they work their way through their relationship, you can understand the stresses each has and why certain decisions are made. While the other characters in the book are barely mentioned, these while not felling developed offer enough depth to be real.
This book is a Christmas story. That is to say, it’s set during the Christmas season. Because this is off baseball season, you do not see any of the stresses of difficulties that this relationship may have during that time. You do see how they deal with other things and it gives you the feeling and hope that this couple will have a happily ever after. What else can you expect from a romantic Christmas?
Author Leah Smith has fantasized about her neighbor, Houston’s pro baseball player Marcus Slade, for years, but thinks it’s unlikely she’d catch the cowboy’s interest since her IQ is bigger than her bra size. Having already been hurt by a man who wanted size over substance, she’s not in a hurry to play in that ball field again.
When an unexpected opportunity gets Marcus inside his favorite author’s apartment, he’s not about to let a second chance at love pass him by. Their attraction is quick and electric and has him instantly thinking about something more long-term. But when a woman from his past intrudes, his hopes of a cozy Christmas with Leah are buried beneath her cold shoulder.
Risking a strikeout, Marcus has one chance left...go for the grand slam of his life and crash Leah's annual Christmas Eve party in hopes of convincing her she’s this Cowboy’s Dream.
Miniature
50 Pages