From Left Field: Diamond Brides, #7

By Mindy Klasky

A cocky baseball player and the girl next door move from friends to lovers in this sexy stand-alone baseball romance!

 

Adam Sartain is the face of the Rockets baseball franchise, a long-time left fielder with an easy-going attitude and a reputation for helping out in the community.

 

Haley Thurman and Adam grew up like siblings, raising hell and sneaking out for late-night hijinks at the neighboring Reeves Farm.  Now, Haley dreams of buying the farm for her no-kill animal shelter.

 

But Adam has other plans. His unscrupulous manager cleaned out his bank account, and the only way he can regain his fortune, save his reputation, and continue to fund a charity for underserved kids is to buy the farm and develop it as high-end condos. 

 

Sparks fly as Haley and Adam fight over the farm—and neither is prepared for the heat when they realize the girl next door has turned into something more.

 

The Diamond Brides Baseball Series:

 

Each volume can be read on its own, and the series can be read in any order.

 

Perfect Pitch (DJ Thomas and Samantha Winger)
Catching Hell (Zach Ormond and Anna Benson)
Reaching First (Tyler Brock and Emily Holt)
Second Thoughts (Nick Durban and Jamie Martin)
Third Degree (Josh Cantor and Ashley Harris)
Stopping Short (Drew Marshall and Jessica Barnes)
From Left Field (Adam Sartain and Haley Thurman)
Center Stage (Ryan Green and Lindsey Ormond)
Always Right (Kyle Norton and Amanda Carter)

 

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Book View Cafe
• Release date: Feb 26, 2015
• ISBN: 9781611384338

Mindy Klasky

Mindy Klasky learned to read when her parents shoved a book in her hands and told her that she could travel anywhere in the world through stories. She never forgot that advice. When Mindy isn't "traveling" through writing books, she quilts, cooks and tries to tame the endless to-be-read shelf in her home library. You can visit Mindy at her Web site, www.mindyklasky.com.

Book preview

1

After thirty-two years of Baseball Opening Day Barbecues, Haley Thurman should have been an expert.

It wasn’t all that tricky. Buy enough food for a full-scale deployment of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. Bring extra chairs into the living room while the game was on, so everyone could watch the Raleigh Rockets win their first game of the season. Make sure the beer stayed cold and the grill stayed hot.

And keep an eye on the dogs.

That’s where she screwed up. She should know better by now. But Killer, the toy-size mop of a mutt, had woven between her ankles, pressing against Haley’s shins to express undying canine love. Darcy, the three-legged beagle, began baying like his heart was about to break. And Heathcliff, the brains of the operation, used his height to snag an entire smoked pork shoulder from the counter.

She got it back from him. In a household that included three dogs, a grumpy cat, and a tank full of fish, chaos was the norm, and Haley was used to moving fast to avert disaster. But by the time she made her recovery, the pork was beyond salvaging. The human guests would have to make do with beef brisket, grilled chicken, links of sausage (hot and sweet), gallons of Brunswick stew, and a dozen assorted side dishes, all served at picnic tables in the back yard.

The dogs got locked in the laundry room—better late than never—and Haley rewarded herself with one of her ice-cold beers.

Careful, now. Toss ’em back like that on an empty stomach, and you’ll be staggering by sunset.

Of course, she recognized the voice before she turned around. Thirty-two years of being next-door neighbors did that to a person. The man of the hour, she said, grinning as Adam Sartain folded her into a bear hug.

Sorry I’m late, the Rockets’ left-fielder said, brushing a kiss against her cheek. The post-game press conference went on longer than I thought it would.

She laughed as he let her go, and she turned toward the fridge. You say that every year, she said, automatically reaching toward the back for his preferred Guinness.

Every year, I think I can slip out early.

Sure, the team would be fine with that. The face of the franchise, ducking out of a little Q and A because he’s got barbecue waiting across town.

A man should have priorities, Adam said, grinning easily. He accepted the beer and handed over a white pasteboard box in exchange.

For me? Haley asked, pretending surprise.

Adam chuckled. Like I could forget and dare to show my face around here? Happy spring training.

She eyed her annual treat of Florida salt water taffy longingly. I should eat dinner first.

I won’t tell on you, Adam said.

Not that she needed his permission… She pounced on a piece of cinnamon candy, tearing off the waxed paper and slipping the pink stuff into her mouth. She sucked hard on the spicy sweetness. The taffy was so soft that she moaned a little in pleasure.

He laughed. Huh. I’ve worked for years to perfect my sweet loving, and all I really needed to do was give a girl some of that candy.

She almost choked. There’d been a time, for about three days back in high school, when she would have swooned to hear the word loving come out of Adam Sartain’s mouth. But her brothers’ mocking had knocked that insanity out of her system fast. So she grinned and said, The truth hurts, doesn’t it, buddy?

Adam shook his head in pretend mourning. I thought you invited me every year because of my winning personality.

I invite you every year because my brothers would kill me if I didn’t. Let’s go. Michael and Billy are dying to talk about that suicide squeeze in the ninth.

Adam led the way. He knew the screen door as well as she did; he remembered to lift on the handle as he pushed it open. He should remember—he’d been running in and out of this kitchen since he was a skinny blond boy with summer shorts, a bare chest, and scabbed knees.

The hair had darkened over the years—it was chestnut brown now, with a hint of silver coming in at his temples. And he wore an anonymous navy polo shirt to cover his chest. She had no idea about the state of his knees, especially after that hard slide he’d taken into second, in the bottom of the fifth.

Adam Sartain might be the most popular player on the Raleigh Rockets, the steady left fielder who’d shown up day in, day out for nearly a decade of play. But first and foremost, he’d always be Haley’s next-door neighbor. That’s the way things had been for decades. And that’s the way Haley wanted them to stay forever.

Hours later, Adam whistled in admiration as Haley let loose with a string of profanity that would have made her a star in the Rockets’ locker room. Let me guess, he said when she had finished. Billy cleaned out the beer.

I should have known better than to trust my baby brother with putting away the leftover food. She slammed the refrigerator door.

He was honor bound to distract her from thoughts of bloody revenge. Any of that banana pudding left?

Aren’t you in training?

Sure. I’ll have a bowl now and run a few windsprints tomorrow.

A few hundred, maybe. She grumbled, but she dished up two gigantic servings of dessert. He followed her into the family room, gladly accepting his bowl and collapsing on his end of the old, familiar couch. The sweetness in the first bite made his teeth ache, and he leaned his head back in contentment. Man, it’s good to be home.

Come on, she said, kicking him with a bare foot. You love Florida. But now that you’re here, let’s go. Spring Swap. I went first last year.

Yeah, she had. But maybe he could distract her into forgetting their stupid tradition. He put his bowl on the coffee table and pulled her feet onto his lap. His fingers automatically started to work the arch of her right foot, finding the pressure points and releasing her tension.

Mmm, she sighed, and he wasn’t sure if that was a comment about his hands or the massive bite of banana pudding she’d just shoved into her mouth. God, she moaned. That feels amazing.

Sounds like someone hasn’t been getting any, he teased.

She opened one eye. Ante up, Sartain. I fed you, and I bought you Guinness. We all celebrated your win. Now it’s time for Spring Swap.

Jesus. But Haley would never give up without a fight so he swallowed hard and confessed, It was a dry season.

Haley raised her eyebrows. No one? Not all spring long?

He shrugged. I hooked up with one girl the first week, but she was out of there by the middle of February.

By Valentines Day, Haley teased. Don’t tell me you’ve lost that old Sartain charm.

I’m an old man down there. He kept his voice light, but he saw her measure the truth behind his words.

You’re thirty-two. I don’t think we need to drag out the wheelchair quite yet.

He shrugged. Half the guys are right out of college. Baseball is a young man’s game.

And that was the thing about Haley. She didn’t try to tell him he was an idiot, didn’t try to make up a million excuses to soothe his ego. Instead, she sat up and pulled her feet out of range. Hey, she said. Are you okay?

And he should be, right? He had a year left on a multi-million-dollar contract that had pretty much set him up to do whatever he wanted for the rest of his life. So what, if his shoulder ached when he got up in the morning? Who cared if his knees complained for the first half hour he walked around? Why should it matter that the opposing pitcher never threw over to first once he got on base because he was never a threat to steal, not any more?

He still loved playing the game. And the team still looked to him for guidance. Hell, he’d taken the first question at the presser that afternoon, feeding all the usual answers about how this was the strongest team the Rockets had ever seen. And he’d loved saying it, because it was true. This team actually had all the parts to win a championship. With their starting pitching and their lineup of hitters, half the sportswriters out there said they were a shoo-in for the World Series.

Adam, Haley said, and he realized he’d let a lot of time go by without saying a word.

Yeah, he said, and he made himself smile. I’m fine. But you’re not going to get any vicarious thrills from my wild exploits in the Sunshine State, not this year. So, your turn. How are things with computer genius Dylan?

She frowned.

Automatically, he started looking around. Nope, there were only three dogs snoring in the huge bed beneath the grand piano. You’re still together? he asked.

She shook her head. No. But I decided three dogs were enough for any girl. She hesitated, but then she admitted, There’s a cat around here somewhere. She’s probably curled up on my bed.

Haley adopted a new pet after each spectacular breakup with the guy she’d been convinced was The One. Darcy had been that asshole with the Jaguar, the lawyer who’d screwed around behind her back for a year before she found out and threatened to cut off his balls. Heathcliff was the artist, the one who’d sponged off her for ages before she finally gave him his walking papers. Killer was… who the hell was Killer? Some other clueless jerk Haley had thought she could save, just like she thought she could save every homeless animal in Wake County.

Let me guess, he said. The cat has three legs.

Haley shook her head and kicked his thigh. Nope, that’s Darcy.

Then she needed two thousand dollars’ worth of surgery before you brought her home.

You’re thinking of Heathcliff.

No one would adopt her because they thought she was a chupacabra.

That’s Killer, and she’s been over the mange for ages.

What’s wrong with the cat?

Nothing, Haley said. But then she gave him a sidelong glance. If you don’t count the fact she only has one eye.

Haley!

What? There’s nothing wrong with Emma! It’s not her fault she got into a fight before Paws saved her!

Paws for Love. Haley had built the damn thing from the ground up. She still wanted to drag home half the animals from the no-kill shelter. And she would, if she kept dating assholes who left her high and dry. So, he prompted. Dylan?

She grimaced. He had an … anger-management problem.

His gut tightened, and he sucked in air between his teeth. Shit, he said, and the word came out sounding like he was pissed with her.

She set her jaw. Yeah. But I wasn’t quite the punching bag he expected.

What happened? He wished Dylan was there, so he could beat the guy’s face in. He was glad the asshole wasn’t anywhere in sight because he wasn’t sure he’d know when to stop.

Haley squared her shoulders. "Turns out I learned something growing up with you and my brothers. My right hook’s as good as ever. I broke his nose, and he didn’t get a hand on me."

Dammit, Haley.

She met his eyes. Yeah. Well… Jesus. Sometimes I feel like I’m a million years old.

Don’t say that, he warned. Not when I’m six months older than you are.

"At least you still have a marketable skill. What am I going to do in my old age?"

Whoa! You’re getting way too close to a pity party. It’s a good thing Billy took the beer, or I’d have to cut you off. He pushed himself upright and dusted off his hands. Great Spring Swap. We really need to do this again soon. Not.

Yeah, well. She shrugged. Welcome home.

He nodded. Time for me to get back to my place. Through the dark. And the cold. All the way across both yards.

You poor thing. She was laughing, which had

Reviews for From Left Field

[jenniwindsor · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book and absolutely love this series by Mindy Klasky. I have read all of them and would love if more were available or another series similar to this one. Absolutely love sports themed romance books!

[nee223 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cute baseball love story. Loved the story of childhood friends growing up and realizing they were meant for each other. Wish it was a bit longer, but I enjoyed it.

[winkieunc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Overall, it was a good book. It was a typical romance story, but the writing was good. Since, I have been to Raleigh before, the fake locations threw me off a little bit, but it did not detract from the story. Good, fun, and quick read.

[riikkat_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Adam and Haley have been friends and neighbours forever. Just when they feel they might be something more, a dispute about their other neighbours property gets in the way. Both need it and neither are willing to back down on the challenge. Will they be able to find a solution or will the argument ruin everything?This is probably the sixth book in the series that I've read so far. I've really enjoyed the series, but I have to say that From Left Field isn't one of my favourites. I liked both Haley and Adam, but just couldn't feel the chemistry between them. Also some nasty things were said and I'm not sure whether the issue was quite addressed well enough in the end.

[rlatourell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like stories that explore relationships that have some history in friendship and for that reason I enjoyed this story. The two characters fighting over the same piece of land seemed a bit far fetched - was it really the only option for both of them? I thought this one wrapped up a bit too quickly and easily and could have been fleshed out a bit more at the end, but still a fine read.

[loribivens · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is absolutely my favorite so far of the Diamond Brides series! Although it still follows's Klasky's usual pattern of lust, love, and engagement, I thoroughly enjoyed the characters of Adam and Haley so much that it didn't matter. I could also easily overlook the slightly odd coincidence of their money issues. Seriously, this book was great, and it really stood apart from the pack for me. I would read more about these two in a heartbeat.

[conkie_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book... a lot! This story may be #7 in a series, but it stands alone very well. Don't be afraid to jump in and let this be your first Mindy Klasky book!

The story is a quick read, but the characters are fleshed out well. If there are corners cut, it probably has to do with day-to-day detail. This author doesn't make the mistake of needing to explain away the passing of time, and mostly this works well.

From Left Field is a perfect "book" to read on a commuter bus, train, or in a carpool... a winter-version of a good "beach read." I definitely will look for other stories written by Ms. Klasky.

[lms8esmith · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

From Left Field, book seven in the Diamond Brides series, was great. Adam and Haley have been friends since childhood, and I like a story where friends become lovers. :)Even though I believed in the story, I felt that Klasky could have developed more of the story involving Adam's crisis. I just wanted to see more of how he would actually handle things before he continued his relationship with Haley. Maybe the author will shed more light on this portion of the story with future books. I enjoyed Haley and the relationships she has with her animals. I wanted to see Adam interact with the animals a bit more, but there were a few sentences to explain why he had little interaction with them. Klasky always comes through with the hot and steamy scenes, and this story is not different. :)Overall, a nice addition to the series.

[stacey68-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is now the third book I read by this author. This one had better characters and story line. There is angst and friendly competition between main characters. It has a predictable but good ending.I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.

[ljtljtljt · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was selected to read and review Mindy Klasky's September's book release, From Left Field through LibraryThing. This is book seven in the Diamond Brides series and the eighth was just released on October 4th. Each book focuses upon one of the players from the Raleigh Rockets, a professional baseball team located in North Carolina. The two main characters of this story are Adam Sartain, the left-fielder for the Rockets and Haley Thurman, the executive director of a local animal rescue organization. Adam and Haley grew up together, and have been neighbors and friends for over 30 years.I am a huge fan of this series and look forward to each and every new book Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this installment as much as the others that I have read so far. To begin with, I did not feel a heated chemistry between Adam and Haley, just a meaningful, long-standing friendship. Secondly, Adam's actions caused me to stop caring about him both personally and professionally. And lastly, I found Haley's ability to forgive and forget to be completely out of character for her.I must mention that I love the way Ms. Klasky writes a story, with clear and well thought out scenes and descriptions. Her fluid writing style is easy to interpret. I am looking forward to reading Center Field, the next book in the series.Complimentary copy provided by LibraryThing.

[lulu150 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book from the Diamond Brides Series. At times I did think that Adam was a jerk but that just seemed to be part of his personality and thinking. I did like the whole story line between Haley and Adam and what each of them were trying to accomplish. I strongly suggest reading this whole series if you are looking for some quick romance reads!!! They have all been every entertaining and fun to read!

[stacejb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Out of all the books I've read in the series so far, this is not one of my favorites. The story itself wasn't bad but I didn't care for the actions of the hero, Adam.Haley and Adam had been friends since they were children. She's attempting to buy a neighboring farm for her animal rescue. Adam discovers his manager stole his money and he needs to get money to keep his own charitable foundation running. He overhears Haley speaking to the owner of the farm and what does he decide to do? Try to buy it for himself so he could develop the land and make a profit for it.I get it was for a good cause--to keep the foundation running--but it was underhanded and sneaky. With friends like that, who needs enemies? And despite it all, Haley hooks up with him. Then he implies that his foundation was more important than hers because his deals with children while hers deals with animals. As with most books I've read in the series, I felt the ending was rushed. Haley forgave him much too quickly for the way Adam treated her.If you've enjoyed the other books in the series, you'll most likely enjoy this one as well, even if Adam comes across as a jerk.

[aileen3403 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love Mindy Klasky's books, and From Left Field did not disappoint. I never recap a books' storyline because you can get a better synopsis from the writer than I can write, but all of her books are so easy to read and really get into the lives of the characters. She just makes you want to keep reading the other books InThe series and you don't want that book to end. Will continue to read more of Mindy Klasky books.

[blsfan68 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A quick, well written and easy to follow read. The story is good but could be great with more chemistry. The characters have the familiarity of growing up together but the build up of sexual tension/chemistry just wasn't there. I really like this series and hope future stories will be more exciting.

[ashpreads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

Adam is not one of my favorite heroes. I felt he was a tad bit mean and stealing someone's idea, someone's dream especially someone who you have known so long, if I were Haley's shoes I would probably never wanted to see or speak to them again. But Ms. Klasky managed to spin this love-hate dilemma situation in to a fairly humorous love tale. And that is where her magic lies.

[kmt01_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Haley and Adam have been neighbors and friends forever. Adam plays for the Rockets, while Haley runs an animal shelter for animals no one wants. Thins come to a head when both Haley and Adam want to buy the farm their neighbor is selling. Haley wants to expand her animal shelter. Adam wants to develop the land and sell it off to someone who can develop it as a residential sector, building lots of new homes for the town’s residents and would be residents. How these two go about raising money to achieve their goals is the crux of this story as well as is the growing attraction between them. I have read the other books in the series, and this one is my least favorite of all of them. In this particular book, I found the two main characters to have faults that detracted from their likability. In addition, I felt no chemistry between them. For example, Haley is angry with Adam for also going after the farm for his own goal, but nevertheless tries and succeeds in seducing him one any occasions. Adam is no better, as he obviously pines away for Haley and also goes after her as often as possible. Not the behavior I would have expected from two people who put forth that getting the farm for their own at odds purposes is their main goal in life and that they will stop at nothing to achieve the goal. In addition, the ending seemed to just suddenly occur, with no real solid build-up. It seemed as if the author suddenly decided she had to end the story, so did. However, there are some good things about the book. The author does know how to present a good look at interpersonal relationships. She also does a nice job of weaving the baseball scenario and dog rescue scenario into the story. The reader again realizes just how important the baseball team is to the town, as the reader realizes how committed the town is to animal rescues. I wonder if the author has reached a point where the series has covered just about everything it should and writing more is becoming a chore. The book is also shorter than many, so reads easily and quickly. Before I knew it, I had reached the end. At least, it did not drag. If you enjoyed the other books in the series, you will probably enjoy this one. Also, if you enjoy reading a book with a baseball backdrop or something that goes along quickly and smoothly, this will also appeal to you. I received this from Library Thing to read and provide an honest review.

[ash_p-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

Adam is not one of my favorite heroes. I felt he was a tad bit mean and stealing someone's idea, someone's dream especially someone who you have known so long, if I were Haley's shoes I would probably never wanted to see or speak to them again. But Ms. Klasky managed to spin this love-hate dilemma situation in to a fairly humorous love tale. And that is where her magic lies.