Madden Donahue, the newest catcher for the Yankees, has been in love with Eve Mitchell since high school, but for some mysterious reason, the burlesque club owner always turns him down. That never stopped him from being her self-appointed protector. Case in point, now that Eve’s sister has left Eve with her two children indefinitely, Madden steps in with a proposition—marry him for the much needed health benefits.
Eve has secretly harbored feelings for Madden all along, but there’s one problem—her best friend Skylar called dibs on him when they were fourteen. Eve has always put their friendship above all else, and she’s not willing to risk losing Skylar over a man. Raised by the local strip club owner, Eve is woefully short on friends and treasures the ones she has. But with Skylar happily paired off, Eve finds herself accepting Madden’s proposal—on the condition that their marriage remains strictly private. She’s not about to let her unique profession and maligned reputation destroy Madden’s shiny new career.
Madden won’t let Eve get away that easily, though. What starts as a marriage of convenience soon ignites into something much hotter, and now it’s up to Madden to convince Eve that their connection is far more than a business arrangement. As the passion builds, can their fake marriage become the real deal?
PJ's Thoughts:
I've been looking forward to this pairing since meeting Eve and Madden in last year's Pitcher Perfect. I was hoping for the same perfect blend of humor and emotion that landed Robbie and Skylar's story on my 2025 favorites list. What I got didn't quite reach that level but was still enjoyable.
First, let's just put it out there: Madden is hero goals. There are so many layers to this guy that slowly reveal themselves during the course of this book - events that could have made him bitter and resentful. They don't, though they do add depth to his character. I loved his loyalty to his friends, his vulnerable heart, and his steadfast feelings for Eve that never changed...no matter how much she tried to drive him away.
So, let's talk about Eve. Growing up the town outcast (through no fault of her own), she values her friendship with Madden for the treasure it is. However, she's determined to keep the depth of her feelings hidden, both from Madden and from the people she's sure would hold it against him. She has always put his well being ahead of her own, even if he's unaware of it. She's a complex character. At times, I found myself cheering her on while at other times, I wanted to shake her out of frustration and tell her to stop sabotaging herself. But I also understood her actions considering her past. It was satisfying to see her finally accept all the parts of herself and, especially, accept that Madden loves her for everything she is.
Bailey has imbued Eve's and Madden's journey with humor, angst, a whole boatload of spice, growth, empowerment, yearning, emotional depth, and self-reckoning...on the way to a hard-earned happy ending. If that's your jam, give this one a try.
No comments:
Post a Comment