Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Terrific book full of humor, love, family, and friendship. In the previous book, All of Me, Donna and Mike met when Mike stepped up to protect her during a bar fight. What followed was several months of back-and-forth flirting that culminated in a scorching kiss in a library closet, guaranteeing that neither forgot the other during the off-season. But when Mike returns to Kilby in the spring, the fun and feisty Donna has changed so much that Mike barely recognizes her.
Donna has a reputation as a fun-loving party girl until her ex and his fiancée decide they want full custody of Donna's son, Zack. His paternal grandparents have raised four-year-old Zack for heartbreaking reasons. Donna has visitation, adores her little Zack-ster, and wants to get him back. However, Harvey and Bonita have wealth and power on their side. When her lawyer tells Donna she must clean up her act, she takes it to heart and reinvents herself with a new job, clothes, and attitude.
But the sparks of attraction between Mike and Donna can't be denied and flare up whenever they are near each other. Mike has a unique method of self-control during baseball season, but being around Donna puts a strain on it. When his actions jeopardize Donna's custody quest, he devises the perfect fix - ask Donna to marry him.
Mike is a good man. He's a great example to his fellow ballplayers and protective of those he cares about. I love his relationship with his brother Joey and the impact that relationship has on his life. However, he avoids anything related to love, having been burned several years earlier. I ached for him because of the story behind that relationship.
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Mike and Donna develop. The flirting and banter between them are fun, and it's easy to see how right they are for each other. I loved how they trusted each other, sharing things no one else knew about them. As they grow closer, Mike refuses to see that what he feels for Donna is love, not just protectiveness. When the custody battle gets vicious, and Mike realizes he may be doing more harm than good, he sets her free, even though he doesn't want to let her go.
Many times, Mike, Donna, or both get involved in situations that complicate their lives. Many of these situations are laugh-out-loud funny, while a few are deeply emotional. I loved the fight on the baseball field and Donna's method of ending it. I adored Mike's big moment when he went to bat for Donna in the custody battle.
The changes Mike and Donna experienced throughout the book show how they learned about who they were and what was important to them. I especially liked how Mike helped Donna see what a warm, wonderful, and outstanding mother she was.
Secondary characters in the book played essential parts in the story. I loved getting to know other Catfish players like Trevor, Dwight, and Jim. Their support of Mike after his return from Chicago was heartwarming. I also like the team owner, Crush, and his love for his team. Donna's ex, Harvey, is a wimp throughout the book. His fiancée, Bonita, is a nasty piece of work who needs to be taken down a peg or two. The power family in town, the Wades, have far too much influence, and it's always fun to see someone go up against them and win. I loved Mike's brother Joey and his belief in Mike. His story was inspiring and heartbreaking and had a profound effect on Mike.
Donna has a reputation as a fun-loving party girl until her ex and his fiancée decide they want full custody of Donna's son, Zack. His paternal grandparents have raised four-year-old Zack for heartbreaking reasons. Donna has visitation, adores her little Zack-ster, and wants to get him back. However, Harvey and Bonita have wealth and power on their side. When her lawyer tells Donna she must clean up her act, she takes it to heart and reinvents herself with a new job, clothes, and attitude.
But the sparks of attraction between Mike and Donna can't be denied and flare up whenever they are near each other. Mike has a unique method of self-control during baseball season, but being around Donna puts a strain on it. When his actions jeopardize Donna's custody quest, he devises the perfect fix - ask Donna to marry him.
Mike is a good man. He's a great example to his fellow ballplayers and protective of those he cares about. I love his relationship with his brother Joey and the impact that relationship has on his life. However, he avoids anything related to love, having been burned several years earlier. I ached for him because of the story behind that relationship.
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Mike and Donna develop. The flirting and banter between them are fun, and it's easy to see how right they are for each other. I loved how they trusted each other, sharing things no one else knew about them. As they grow closer, Mike refuses to see that what he feels for Donna is love, not just protectiveness. When the custody battle gets vicious, and Mike realizes he may be doing more harm than good, he sets her free, even though he doesn't want to let her go.
Many times, Mike, Donna, or both get involved in situations that complicate their lives. Many of these situations are laugh-out-loud funny, while a few are deeply emotional. I loved the fight on the baseball field and Donna's method of ending it. I adored Mike's big moment when he went to bat for Donna in the custody battle.
The changes Mike and Donna experienced throughout the book show how they learned about who they were and what was important to them. I especially liked how Mike helped Donna see what a warm, wonderful, and outstanding mother she was.
Secondary characters in the book played essential parts in the story. I loved getting to know other Catfish players like Trevor, Dwight, and Jim. Their support of Mike after his return from Chicago was heartwarming. I also like the team owner, Crush, and his love for his team. Donna's ex, Harvey, is a wimp throughout the book. His fiancée, Bonita, is a nasty piece of work who needs to be taken down a peg or two. The power family in town, the Wades, have far too much influence, and it's always fun to see someone go up against them and win. I loved Mike's brother Joey and his belief in Mike. His story was inspiring and heartbreaking and had a profound effect on Mike.
