This one has so much going for it, y'all, for me to love it right off the bat. Baseball player, check. Baseball player whose hubris is getting him in trouble, check check. Sassy lady who ain't taking none of his shit, check. Sassy lady who is super good at her job, check check. Tribe of characters who round it all out, check. Add to that Lori Wilde's wonderful writing and way of bringing characters to life - LOVE OF THE GAME is absolutely one to check out.

For anyone who has read the Stardust, Texas novels - this is Kasha's story. She's been working with the Dallas Gunslingers as a physical therapist when their leading relief pitcher can no longer play through the injuries he's fighting. She's given one week to do a radical therapeutic approach which wouldn't involve surgery to get him back on the mound. Said radical approach? Dragging him to Stardust and making him get back in tune with his own body.

Axel, aforementioned pitcher, is not super on board with this whole slow-down-and-reconnect model of treatment, but he's not given a choice. Plus, Kasha isn't the worst lady to look at and he's game for a jaunt to the country. Little does he know that this trip will change his life.

Besides their love story - Kasha's life is the other major plot point. She recently found out that she has a biological half-sister, who is special needs and living in a group home. Kasha is determined to get custody of Emily come hell or high water. However, that may not be what is best for Emily and watching Kasha learn that is so lovely and fascinating. The bits of her life that have been in other books are riveting. I've not read any of the other Stardust novels and didn't feel lost at all. Wilde strikes the balance really well.

Overall, LOVE OF THE GAME is recommended to baseball fans, fans of books about small towns and families, and books about strong women learning how to be vulnerable in order to find their truest selves.