SOS Aloha Book Reviews and More: Aloha to Rhonda Shaw and CAUGHT

To Catch or Not to Catch a Foul Ball?

Go to a baseball game in any venue and you’ll notice fans with gloves. Every one of them is hoping for one chance, that one perfect foul off a bat, which will send the ball in their direction. Everyone stands, some even come racing down the stairs or down the aisles from who knows where, each one of them vying for the same chance to make the catch. With a triumphant grin on his face, the winner thrusts his arm in the air for the entire stadium to see, presenting the ball as if it were a priceless treasure.

I find this particular pastime humorous. Not sure why, but I do. It’s interesting the extreme to which some fans will go to secure a game-played ball. Unless the ball is of some significance—a walk off sending the team into the World Series, a home run to break the record for most homes runs, or the last at-bat for a beloved player, just something—I don’t understand the frenzy. People tackle each other, kids are tripped, beer poured all over the place…fights even break out sometimes.

In fact, I go out of my way to avoid being in the vicinity of any ball hit in my direction. Once while attending at Tiger’s game at old Tiger’s stadium, we were sitting in the first row, right smack next to the Tiger’s dugout. They were great seats, as close as you get without actually being ON the field. Because of their location, often times balls would come in our direction, usually tall, towering pop flies off bats of right-handed hitters that would stay on the field or land a few rows behind us. That night, however, one was hit directly above our heads. I was sitting next to my sister and we both looked up, and then proceeded to run in the opposite direction down the row. People around our seats all started to clamor, staking their position, when at the last second, the catcher leaned over the rail with his glove and half his body resting on MY seat to snag the ball. He smirked and shook his head at us (as to say, “Women!”), and fans around us laughed, but whatever. It was better than being tackled by raucous men, having a beer poured over me or smacked by the catcher’s mitt. I’m all about self-preservation.

So how about you? Do you go for the catch or save yourself?

Baseball history at the University of Tampa
(my Alma mater)

Book three of Men of the Show

Shannon Morrison’s dreams of becoming a lawyer are finally coming true. After landing a job at a prestigious law firm in Chicago, she’s willing to sacrifice everything, including putting her personal life on hold, as nothing will stand in her way of making partner. Nothing except perhaps the gorgeous Detroit Rockets’ All-Star catcher, Matt Buck.

Just when he didn’t think his luck would turn around, life finally throws Matt a fastball right down the middle, reconnecting him with the one girl who has always intrigued him. As before, the timing isn’t right, but Matt refuses to let this opportunity pass him by again. He knows Shannon’s career leaves little room for anything else in her life, but he’s unwilling to give in and will do whatever he can to make them work.

Together, Matt and Shannon struggle through one hurdle after another, determined to find a way to have everything they want. Just when they’ve finally figured it out, someone from Matt’s past shatters everything, and leaves them both grappling to pick up the pieces…

Amazon US: link
Amazon CA: link
Amazon AU: link
Amazon UK: link
Kobo: link
Google Play: link
iBooks: link

Rhonda owes her love of reading to her mother who would read to her each night before bed and sometimes give into her pleads for more than one chapter. These days, if Rhonda doesn't have a book in her hands, it feels like something is missing. While romance is her true passion, Rhonda enjoys reading multiple genres.

Born in California, but transplanted to the Midwest, Rhonda is warm weather girl to the bone (even years later, winter and her are not on speaking terms) and loves nothing more than a balmy, summer evening. She and her husband are diehard fans of pretty much all sports, but especially for their hometown Detroit teams. Rhonda received a bachelor's in Human Resources Development and continued onto a master's in Marriage and Family Counseling before making a drastic career switch into computer technology. She started out as a website developer and made her way up into management where she now spends most of her days in meetings. Rhonda was a life-long dancer before her body told her she needed to come down off her toes and wrap it up. She also loves all animals--especially moose. She is a proud member of Romance Writers of America.

Rhonda loves to hear from readers, so please visit her website. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.