This started out better than it ended. I liked Caden and Murphy for awhile. But then, things just got weird between them.

At the start, we meet Caden. He's a major league baseball player and a self professed bachelor. He likes to be social and go out, but he also has a three date rule and a 'double wrap' policy. He's been burned in the past by women liking him only because he's a star and an unplanned pregnancy. He doesn't give women his number or take them to his home. All that changes when he meets Murphy.

Murphy is a small town girl from Iowa who moved to New York with dreams of becoming a model. She's about to get her big break and start working a campaign the next day. But to celebrate, her boyfriend Tony takes her to a baseball game. She's accidentally hit in the face by Caden's homerun ball and is rushed to the hospital. Her face is pretty damaged and she won't be able to model for awhile, if ever. Tony, however, is also sleeping with one of her model roommates and dumps her at the hospital.

Fortunately, Caden shows up with gifts for Murphy, guilty that it was his homerun ball that hit her. When he meets her, he feels the need to take care of her. And thus starts their friendship, which leads to other things even though neither of them are looking for a relationship. And when they finally decide to go for it, ghosts from both their pasts pop up and threaten their new found and still tentative bond.

So on the surface, this was a cute story. But the drama that pops up was SO over blown and was taken SO far out of proportion. Don't get me wrong, what happens is terrible and such a breach of trust that it's hard to even contemplate who could do such a thing. But the hate that developed was so misplaced and it made for such a contrived break up and an even more contrived reunion. Nevertheless, the HEA was cute and appreciated. ( )

I'm so disappointed with this book. I probably would have rated the first 75-80% at least 3.5-stars (except for the frequent and obnoxious slut-shaming and the freaking "double wrapping" of condoms - does this author truly not realize that this would actually increase friction and the likelihood of condom breakage and, therefore, also increase the risk of pregnancy and STIs??). The last 20-25% of the book, however, is what would get a 1-star review from me. The drama with the her ex is SO OTT but worse than that is her reaction. The entire book we're told how Murphy, the h, is cool and laid-back and doesn't overreact and then when Caden tries to protect her, she almost ruins their entire relationship? Thankfully it appears everyone else in the book realizes she's being an idiot but still! And then he tries to grovel?? Caden isn't the one who needs to beg to be taken back at that point. The last quarter of the book legitimately ruined the entire thing for me and I do not plan to read further from this author which is unfortunate because I enjoyed her writing style. I just can't take the unnecessary drama and overreaction, or the ridiculous slut-shaming and spreading of bad information. ( )