Review: ‘Taking First’ by M.J. Fields

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Taking First
by M.J. FieldsSeries: Rounding the Bases #1
Published by Self-Published on March 14, 2024
SubGenres: Contemporary Romance
Format: eBook
Pages: 290
Source: Kobo Plus
Audience: 18+/Adult
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Whitley
When Pope left our hometown my life changed. When he came back and saw his nemesis’ ring on my finger, I knew he would be angry, but people change, right?
When he found out I had a little girl he demanded I call things off with Kal. He says he refuses to let a man like him raise his child.
I told him she wasn’t his, but he still won’t back down.
Pope
The last thing I expected when I finally came home was to find out my best friend was a single mother to a four-year-old little beauty. Especially since that best friend asked me to rid her of her virtue before I left to play in the minors, nearly five years ago.
She says she’s not mine, but I know she belongs to me.
They say all is fair in love and baseball, but when secrets are revealed and truths are finally told, will he fight for a love he never expected or the game he was born to play?
I’ve been in the mood for Baseball Romances and came across Taking First by M.J. Fields, the first installment in her Rounding the Bases series on Kobo Plus, and decided to read it. I love always finding new authors to read their books.
I enjoyed Taking First, but I found myself putting my Kobo down to pick up other books because the storyline was all over the place and didn’t keep my attention. The book starts off with the MMC, Pope, with OW before he returns home to his small town to take care of his childhood home, and that is when he’s reunited with the FMC, Whitley. She’s now engaged and has a child, but he’s determined to be back in her life, especially after he finds out who she’s engaged to. Drama starts when the fiancé feels threatened by Pope, which is understandable since Pope and Whitley have a history. The man Whitley is engaged to is not a good guy, and that’s revealed in the story. I won’t spoil it. By the end, the story had a lot to unpack, especially when everything was thrown at once. I was tempted to put the book down for good, but I am kind of glad I pushed through. The book did eventually get entertaining, but it just won’t be a favorite.
I enjoyed getting to know both characters, Pope and Whitley, and how these two were best friends when they were younger, and how they ended up not together due to Pope’s baseball career. They get a second chance, but that’s after some secrets are revealed and the fiancé is dealt with, too. I liked how Pope was determined to be with Whitley and her daughter, and they do eventually get their HEA.
I just wish the story had gripped me more. Overall, I give it 3 stars, and I would still recommend it to readers who enjoy Second Chance and Childhood Best Friends storylines.
What to Expect:
⚾️Sports/Baseball Romance
⚾️Small Town Romance
⚾️Single Mother Romance
⚾️Second Chance
⚾️Childhood Best Friends
⚾️Found Family

About M.J. Fields
MJ Fields is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance novels. She lives in New York with her daughter Miss A, smoochie faced Newfie, Theo and the newest member to the 'fields crew, rescue diva / holy terror Eleanor.
When she’s not locked away in the cave, she enjoys doing home improvement projects, spending time with her family, attending live music and sporting events, the theatre, singing off key, dancing to her own beat, listening to audio books, and reading of course.
Forever Steel!
Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram | Newsletter | X(formerly Twitter)
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