. .
Party planner Colin Brightman doesn’t drink or dance, preferring to go to bed early with his spreadsheets and lists. All he wants is to forget the singles weekend his friends sent him on, but he’s stuck with a suitcase filled with condoms and skimpy Speedos that don’t belong to him.
He doesn’t expect his luggage thief to be ex-baseball superstar Walker “Walk-Off” Scanlon. Or that Walker has hired his firm to put on a charity event at his bar. Colin can’t deny the mixed emotions the annoyingly flirty man stirs in him, but he refuses to fall for someone who racks up lovers as easily as he once hit home runs.
No matter how much he might want to.
Walker Scanlon likes his men easygoing with no complications. He’s had enough of those in his life. So why is he drawn to tense and straitlaced Colin and his frosty scowl? Even his corny one-liners and jokes don’t get him a smile. But the sparks between them are undeniable. And that unexpected kiss? Amazin’.
Now if only Colin would stop running away. Good thing Walker is fast on his feet, because he has no intention of letting Colin go.
When Colin and Walker come face to face with past hurts and betrayals, they’ll need to trust themselves and each other to learn that heartbreak and love don’t go hand in hand. It’s the bottom of the ninth and if they swing for the stars, they just might hit the grand slam of a lifetime.
Title: Unexpected
Author: Felice Stevens
Release: June 23, 2022
Genre: M/M Romance (stand alone)
Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions
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I have to admit. I am a sucker for a baseball player. And one that is past 30? Even better! The older I get, the more I appreciate “mature” characters finding love.
Walker is retired from the game after a career ending injury. He has always been out, never hiding his sexuality. He is also Jewish and wouldn’t play on religious holidays. Two strikes against him in the macho world of professional sports. But he made it through fairly unscathed, except for the career ending injury that was definitely caused on purpose. So now he owns a high end sports bar and is surrounded by guys from his baseball days. He is a really good guy, basically.
But when Colin first sees him, they are at a gay singles resort and he is in the middle of the dance floor doing the limbo. In a Speedo. Super straight laced Colin thinks he is ridiculous. Super hot, but ridiculous.
The universe brings them together in two different ways. So you know it was meant to be. But Colin was hurt by his ex husband and Walker was hurt by his parents and they both have some walls to get through.
Walker is fun. He is a SHAMELESS flirt. He sees what he wants and goes after it. Everyone loves him-friends, customers, employees. His flirting can be so cheesy but at the same time, you just have to smile.
Colin is the complete opposite. Couldn’t flirt if he tried. Very introverted. Has 2 friends. But he and Walker are drawn to each other, as much as Colin doesn’t want to admit it.
So two things I really loved, I already mentioned. The main characters are a bit older. I think 38 and 44? AND they are both Jewish. How often does that happen? I loved it.
The author obviously has a love of Brooklyn and knows it well. The borough is almost a third main character.
There was a lot of misunderstandings between the two men. A few too many, in my opinion. They did always get past it by talking to each other and a long time didn’t pass before they figured things out.
There could have been a lot of angst. Both men had trauma. But it was dealt with in a way that the tone of the story didn’t bring you down.
Fun story, mature characters, great setting and side characters who added to the story.
4 pieces of eye candy 
Felice Stevens has always been a romantic at heart. She believes that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending just around the corner. Her characters have to work for it, however. Like life in NYC, nothing comes easy, and that includes love.
She lives in New York City and has way too much black in her wardrobe yet can’t stop buying “just one more pair” of black pants. Felice is a happily addicted Bravo and Say Yes to the Dress addict and proud of it. And let’s not get started on House Hunters. Her dream day starts out with iced coffee and ends with Prosecco, because…why shouldn’t it? You can find her procrastinating on FB in her reader group, Felice’s Breakfast Club.
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