Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE: Home Plate

SERIES: Eastern U Pirates Book 2

AUTHOR: Christina Lee

NARRATOR:  Iggy Toma, Kale Williams

PUBLISHER: Tantor Audio

LENGTH: 7 hours

RELEASE DATE:  July 20, 2021

BLURB: 

Dominic Girard

My final baseball season with the Easton U Pirates feels bittersweet. I’d like to go out on a high note, graduate, and focus on the family business. But a certain pitcher is making senior year a challenge. Not only because Maclain is stubborn as hell, but because he makes me feel things I never have about another guy. With each snarky comment and hard-won grin, he reveals a little more of himself, and before I know it, I’m in over my head.

Mason Maclain

I’ll be graduating college this year, which also means the end of baseball, a sport I’ve played my entire life. It feels like a significant chapter is coming to a close, leaving behind a void I’m unwilling to face. Something else I don’t want to face? The impossibly charming Pirates catcher, whose quick wit and killer smirk poke holes in all my defenses. With each lingering look and quiet exchange, I want to push him away and pull him closer at the same time. I’ve never felt this intense draw before, and there’s no way I’ll ever admit it.

When Coach proposes a team-building activity to improve our chemistry on the field, little does he know things are heating up behind the scenes as well. A flicker of a connection sparks into a firestorm, and soon Girard and I are experiencing things for the first time — together. But outside the haven of our hotel room, reality infringes all too soon. I’m clinging to my fraying relationship with my dad, and for Girard, coming out is still scary, loving family or not. Resisting the pull to Girard seems futile, but I struggle at every turn. Any longer and I’ll lose the only person who makes my pulse thud quicker than a fastball over home plate.

There’s a pitcher-and-catcher joke in there somewhere.

REVIEW: 

Like its predecessor Bat Boy, Christina Lee’s Home Plate is a sexy, lighthearted, highly enjoyable college sports romance.  This installment in the diverting Easton U Pirates series focuses on Easton University’s baseball team pitcher, Mason Maclain, catcher Dominic Girard, and their enemies to lovers, mutual bisexual awakening, love story.

As demonstrated by their interactions in Bat Boy, Maclain and Girard have an acrimonious relationship.  This comes to a head in a pivotal, misunderstood confrontation at the bowling alley owned by Girard’s family.  On that point, you can read Home Plate as a standalone as this prior background is relayed.  However, I highly recommend you read Bat Boy first because it’s a terrific book, and it will give you more context.

Maclain is lonely and bitter, still mourning his mother’s death.  He’s also trying to hold onto a tenuous relationship with his stepfather, a man who (begrudgingly) agreed to raise him.  He treats Maclain like an afterthought, not a priority, while all Maclain wants is to have someone in his corner. He wants to look in the stands at a game and see someone cheering him on because they love and care about him.  The most heartbreaking part of this story is Maclain’s stepfather’s continual rejection through seemingly small slights.  It’s like death by a thousand paper cuts.  Every time his stepfather blows off a dinner, doesn’t show up at a game, makes excuses, or issues homophobic commentary, it chips away at Maclain’s soul.

In this context, you can’t blame Maclain for acting like a rattlesnake.  Girard has the loving, supportive family Maclain craves, so the jealousy and resentment are difficult for him to tamp down.  Nevertheless, Girard uses patience, understanding, and charm to get through Maclain’s defenses, resulting in a beautiful, touching HEA brimming with well-deserved love and acceptance for Maclain.

Iggy Toma and Kale Williams continue their narration of the audiobooks for the Easton U Pirates series, picking up here with invested, impressive vocal performances for Maclain and Girard, respectively.  Mr. Toma’s lower-toned raspiness suits Maclain and his unsettled, angry demeanor.  Maclain is a guy who’s hurting and confused, and Mr. Toma captures that through the edge in his voice and the intonations he uses.  

Mr. Williams, in contrast, gives a higher, brighter, smoother voice to Girard, which accurately reflects Girard’s persistence and optimism.  Where Maclain is like a walking ball of coiled tension, Girard has a much more balanced worldview and isn’t harboring the defensive negativity that inhabits Maclain.  There’s an equilibrium to Mr. Williams’ voice that captures Girard’s sincerity and commitment to his family, school, team, friends, and of course, Maclain.  Yet Mr. Williams is still able to convey Girard’s concerns about Maclain and about revealing his newly discovered bisexuality.

Overall, Home Plate provides a welcome escape into an absorbing love story with two endearing men who you can’t help but root for.  Mr. Toma and Mr. Williams create an immersive experience through their gorgeous voices and expressive portrayals.  I highly recommend you enjoy Home Plate through the audiobook or immersion reading (audio paired with book) as that will provide the most fulfilling experience, one you will undoubtedly enjoy.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Audible

Amazon

Publisher