Lisa Renee Jones Hard and Fast

Hard and Fast

Lisa Renee Jones

Harlequin Blaze, Aug 2007, $4.99

ISBN: 9780373793433

Sports reporter Amanda Wright looks forward to covering the baseball season. Especially enticing is seeing Los Angeles Rays star pitcher, Brad Rogers in the locker room. Brad and Amanda are attracted to one another, but as she sees desire in his eyes, she detects a wariness to act upon it. She refuses to act on her feelings so as not to jeopardize her job.

Brad hides the fact that his pitching arm, which underwent surgery, has not fully healed. However, Amanda knows something is not quite right with his arm as she is the daughter of a sports doctor and has seen the signs before. Still she decides not to report the story that would affirm she is a legitimate sports reporter; however rumors of Brad's use of steroids make her reconsider her moral stand.

This entertaining baseball romance stars two likable characters whose attraction for one another interferes with their professional relationship. Amanda wonders if someone besides Brad had the injury would she report it while Brad would not even consider an exclusive with anyone else, but is tempted to tell her the truth. Fans will wonder whether this will end with a walk off homerun or a strikeout, as Amanda's rule of survival is don't play ball with the players and Brad's rule of survival is don't play ball with the reporters.

Harriet Klausner