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Out in the Field
Ignacio Rodriquez, Iggy to his friends, has been dreaming about playing baseball for the Brooklyn Eagles ever since he was a boy. His dream comes true and then some; he finds himself playing alongside his idol, first baseman Matt Blanco, who is everything he dreamed of and more.
Matt Blanco is entering the twilight of his career, plagued by injuries and two decades of lying about who and what he is, but he thinks he still has a few good years left in the major leagues. Then he meets Iggy and everything turns upside down. But carrying on an affair with a much younger man is one thing. Having an affair with his teammate introduces a whole new set of complications. When a trade and a career-ending injury threaten to keep them apart, both men have to figure out what they’re willing to risk for the love of baseball and each other.
Matt Blanco is entering the twilight of his career, plagued by injuries and two decades of lying about who and what he is, but he thinks he still has a few good years left in the major leagues. Then he meets Iggy and everything turns upside down. But carrying on an affair with a much younger man is one thing. Having an affair with his teammate introduces a whole new set of complications. When a trade and a career-ending injury threaten to keep them apart, both men have to figure out what they’re willing to risk for the love of baseball and each other.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 23, 2012
22 people are currently reading
1478 people want to read
About the author
Kate McMurray
55 books347 followersKate McMurray writes smart romantic fiction. She likes creating stories that are brainy, funny, and of course sexy, with regular guy characters and urban sensibilities. She advocates for romance stories by and for everyone. When she’s not writing, she edits textbooks, watches baseball, plays violin, crafts things out of yarn, and wears a lot of cute dresses. She lives in Brooklyn, NY, with a bossy cat and too many books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews
June 4, 2019
**Price drop to $0.99 at Amazon US, 6/4/19**
*4.5 stars*
Kate McMurray really shines with this story combining baseball and New York, two topics that she knows inside and out, with a HOT, compelling romance. She really hit this one out of the park! (<--- see what I did there??!)
I've read some Kate McMurray in the past, but I haven't been wowed by her until now. And I sort of didn't expect it. First of all, I'm not really a huge fan of sports romances, though I have to say, closeted men coming out for love is one of my favorite themes. But the whole "athlete worship" thing? Yeah, doesn't do much for me, so I wasn't expecting to adore this one.
Also, this book is a little more unconventional for me because I like my romance to wait. I prefer the two MCs to not even hook up or get romantic AT ALL until about 50% of the way through. What can I say, I just loooove the sexual tension to build and build.
Because of that, I also tend to read books that focus more on the beginnings of a romance. This book doesn't. The MCs get together almost as soon as they meet, and the whole book is really about exploring their relationship and navigating the sports world together, as a couple, over the course of YEARS. It is about their ups and downs, their struggles at being closeted, and what baseball means to them.
I liked the beginning of this book, but I didn't love it until 50% or so. These characters grew on me so much, and my relationship with them blossomed as I read. I got really attached to Matt and Iggy (love that name), and I was on the edge of my seat, emotionally speaking, as everything went down towards the end of the book. By 75%, I just couldn't put the book down, and I upgraded my review by a whole star.
That isn't to say that this book would be for everyone. There is a lot of sports content, so if you find sports-talk to be very boring, you might not love this one. However, even as a non-fan of baseball, I found it to be an exciting, nicely paced read. It never got too dry for me, which I wasn't expecting.
I also loved the New York setting. As someone who lives just 15 miles from NYC, I felt a lot of familiarity with this story. The characters and the setting felt like home to me, so it was easy for me to slide right into the story. (<--- I just can't stop!)
I really, really liked this story, which I don't usually say about sports romances. It was a journey through a long-term relationship from start to HEA, and I was more than happy to go on that ride with Iggy and Matt.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
*4.5 stars*
Kate McMurray really shines with this story combining baseball and New York, two topics that she knows inside and out, with a HOT, compelling romance. She really hit this one out of the park! (<--- see what I did there??!)
I've read some Kate McMurray in the past, but I haven't been wowed by her until now. And I sort of didn't expect it. First of all, I'm not really a huge fan of sports romances, though I have to say, closeted men coming out for love is one of my favorite themes. But the whole "athlete worship" thing? Yeah, doesn't do much for me, so I wasn't expecting to adore this one.
Also, this book is a little more unconventional for me because I like my romance to wait. I prefer the two MCs to not even hook up or get romantic AT ALL until about 50% of the way through. What can I say, I just loooove the sexual tension to build and build.
Because of that, I also tend to read books that focus more on the beginnings of a romance. This book doesn't. The MCs get together almost as soon as they meet, and the whole book is really about exploring their relationship and navigating the sports world together, as a couple, over the course of YEARS. It is about their ups and downs, their struggles at being closeted, and what baseball means to them.
I liked the beginning of this book, but I didn't love it until 50% or so. These characters grew on me so much, and my relationship with them blossomed as I read. I got really attached to Matt and Iggy (love that name), and I was on the edge of my seat, emotionally speaking, as everything went down towards the end of the book. By 75%, I just couldn't put the book down, and I upgraded my review by a whole star.
That isn't to say that this book would be for everyone. There is a lot of sports content, so if you find sports-talk to be very boring, you might not love this one. However, even as a non-fan of baseball, I found it to be an exciting, nicely paced read. It never got too dry for me, which I wasn't expecting.
I also loved the New York setting. As someone who lives just 15 miles from NYC, I felt a lot of familiarity with this story. The characters and the setting felt like home to me, so it was easy for me to slide right into the story. (<--- I just can't stop!)
I really, really liked this story, which I don't usually say about sports romances. It was a journey through a long-term relationship from start to HEA, and I was more than happy to go on that ride with Iggy and Matt.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
February 21, 2015
I love a good sports themed romance....
And I quite enjoyed the baseball aspects in this one!
Just for fun, here's some baseball eye candy...
The romance between Matt and Iggy was a bit on the forbidden side, with them being teammates. And Iggy was quite a bit younger than Matt.
But I really loved them together.
The angst in this one centers around them having to keep their relationship a secret. But it wasn't drama filled. There weren't a bunch of break-ups and fights.
There was some nice steam.
Overall, a really enjoyable read. I'll definitely be checking out more from this author!
And I quite enjoyed the baseball aspects in this one!
Just for fun, here's some baseball eye candy...
The romance between Matt and Iggy was a bit on the forbidden side, with them being teammates. And Iggy was quite a bit younger than Matt.
But I really loved them together.
The angst in this one centers around them having to keep their relationship a secret. But it wasn't drama filled. There weren't a bunch of break-ups and fights.
There was some nice steam.
Overall, a really enjoyable read. I'll definitely be checking out more from this author!
April 24, 2015
Out in the Field was one of those books that had languished on my get-your-ass-in-gear shelf for over a year. That is a shelf of books I am 90% sure I will love, but I just need to find the perfect time to read them, preferably when I can read them in one sitting since I have a super scattered brain and hate taking breaks in the middle of a good book because I always forget stuff. Well, I had that opportunity last night and after reading two books this week that had absolutely NO romance in them what-so-ever, Out in the Field seemed to fit my reading bill perfectly. This was a M/M romance lover's dream come true with two masculine but incredibly tender hearted MCs who, over the span of four years, explore their love of baseball and each other while handling their secret affair with their family, friends, fans and the press. It wasn't all wine and roses and smooth sailing for these two, as I had read in a few reviews. They dealt with some pretty heavy angst, but they dealt with it as a team and that made it so much easier to handle when all I really wanted was a feel-good romance. Iggy and Matt made my heart sing and were beautiful together. I literally cried tears of joy during the last 4 pages of the book. It made me ridiculously happy.
If you are looking for a lighter romance, with a touch of angst that our heroes deal with lovingly together, with loving emotional, brilliantly hot sex, that also includes four years of great baseball stories, I can absolutely recommend Out in the Field.
April 30, 2016
One of my favorite M/M romances and my ABSOLUTE favorite baseball M/M romance, Out in the Field, will be re-released on May 16! I was fortunate enough to get a copy to review and I can tell you that it tops the 2011 version with new scenes and updated to reflect the more progressive society we now live in. (Yes! And we'll keep fighting the good fight Tea Party assholes.)
Kate's own description of the differences:
I loved it all over again and it remains firmly on my absolute favorites shelf. Baseball romance perfection.
My original review from September, 2012:
Out in the Field was one of those books that had languished on my get-your-ass-in-gear shelf for over a year. That is a shelf of books I am 90% sure I will love, but I just need to find the perfect time to read them, preferably when I can read them in one sitting since I have a super scattered brain and hate taking breaks in the middle of a good book because I always forget stuff. Well, I had that opportunity last night and after reading two books this week that had absolutely NO romance in them what-so-ever, Out in the Field seemed to fit my reading bill perfectly. This was a M/M romance lover's dream come true with two masculine but incredibly tender hearted MCs who, over the span of four years, explore their love of baseball and each other while handling their secret affair with their family, friends, fans and the press. It wasn't all wine and roses and smooth sailing for these two, as I had read in a few reviews. They dealt with some pretty heavy angst, but they dealt with it as a team and that made it so much easier to handle when all I really wanted was a feel-good romance. Iggy and Matt made my heart sing and were beautiful together. I literally cried tears of joy during the last 4 pages of the book. It made me ridiculously happy.
If you are looking for a lighter romance, with a touch of angst that our heroes deal with lovingly together, with loving emotional, brilliantly hot sex, that also includes four years of great baseball stories, I can absolutely recommend Out in the Field.
This review is also posted at Gay Book Reviews
Galley copy of Out in the Field provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
Kate's own description of the differences:
This new edition has been thoroughly reedited. I’ve expanded some scenes and trimmed others—it’s got about 5,000 words of new material now, all told. I updated the book, too, for 2016. (No more flip phones, for one thing, but also to acknowledge the progress LGBT athletes have made in the 5 years since I wrote the first draft.)
I loved it all over again and it remains firmly on my absolute favorites shelf. Baseball romance perfection.
My original review from September, 2012:
Out in the Field was one of those books that had languished on my get-your-ass-in-gear shelf for over a year. That is a shelf of books I am 90% sure I will love, but I just need to find the perfect time to read them, preferably when I can read them in one sitting since I have a super scattered brain and hate taking breaks in the middle of a good book because I always forget stuff. Well, I had that opportunity last night and after reading two books this week that had absolutely NO romance in them what-so-ever, Out in the Field seemed to fit my reading bill perfectly. This was a M/M romance lover's dream come true with two masculine but incredibly tender hearted MCs who, over the span of four years, explore their love of baseball and each other while handling their secret affair with their family, friends, fans and the press. It wasn't all wine and roses and smooth sailing for these two, as I had read in a few reviews. They dealt with some pretty heavy angst, but they dealt with it as a team and that made it so much easier to handle when all I really wanted was a feel-good romance. Iggy and Matt made my heart sing and were beautiful together. I literally cried tears of joy during the last 4 pages of the book. It made me ridiculously happy.
If you are looking for a lighter romance, with a touch of angst that our heroes deal with lovingly together, with loving emotional, brilliantly hot sex, that also includes four years of great baseball stories, I can absolutely recommend Out in the Field.
This review is also posted at Gay Book Reviews
Galley copy of Out in the Field provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
May 11, 2012
I enjoy sport-related romance. Unfortunately, most titles I can recall are those from mainstream m/f genres. I like a balance when it comes to this trope. It should respect the sport, without being slightly too technical, but also gives space for character-built and interaction outside the field. Oh, and it shouldn't be overcrowded with sex scenes -- which is always an important thing.
In m/m genre, I can only remember a couple of titles that stand out, with Sean Kennedy's Tigers and Devils and Bill Konisgberg's young adult Out of the Pocket leading the list for published titles and salifiable's Heart in Hand for real life slash/online fiction.
I guess now, I can add Kate McMurray's Out in the Field to that list as well ... AND, this is where her story triumphs (and also different from those I mentioned above) ...
One
The story is being told from both Matt and Iggy's perspectives (those other titles focus on one of the MCs) with both men in a different phase of life, which result in different problems as well.
Matt is 38 years old, he's basically at the end of his baseball career, with knee problem that actually needs to be taken under surgery. Iggy, on the other hand, has just started, only 25 years old, he's ready to take the world.
Both are gay, both are closeted. But Matt can afford to out himself after he retires, while Iggy must still consider the outcome of outing himself. Even though they're in love with one another, the consequences are not the same. This makes the whole issue of coming out as athletes SO COMPELLING. And Ms. McMurray has written a very thoughtful story about it.
Two
There are also portrayals of the day-to-day life as result of being an athlete. We have Matt facing a life after baseball. Thinking about the options he have, whether coaching, or writing a book. We also get the part where he broods, getting slightly depressed. I assume this can happen to any athletes after their sport career is over, right? On the other hand, we also have Iggy, who wonders about which products he should endorse, what with the promise of money and such. I love it ...
Three
The love between the two guys is written perfectly. From that moment Matt and Iggy set eyes on each other, the way they realize their love, how they work out being in a relationship while in the closet especially when they also must experience long separation since Iggy is still active and Matt is not. There are a number of standout and heartfelt scenes, which manage to get me all choked up. The hospital scene, the vacation scene, the one where they finally . Their story here actually spans 4 years, and I can see that they will be in it for the long haul.
Four
The respect of the sport. Again, for me it is important. I think Ms. McMurray comes as a fan of the sport itself, she puts emphasis on both the positive and negative things that might come from an athlete that outs himself. While I'm not a baseball fan (hey, baseball is not popular here in Indonesia, okay), I come to appreciate the sport.
If I have a slight niggle, it will be near the end, because I wish there are more chapters after . Yeah, it's a sign of a great book, when I expect more chapters instead of asking the authors to cut it down *grin*.
The book is PERFECT, in every way. The emotion (angst and happiness), the character build, the journey to the end, and the love of the game. It gets me all teary eyed since I wish so hard for the two men to make it to the finish line.
With that in mind, I can only give the 5-star rating for it. Now, I want short story about their life after. Can I demand it? :D
In m/m genre, I can only remember a couple of titles that stand out, with Sean Kennedy's Tigers and Devils and Bill Konisgberg's young adult Out of the Pocket leading the list for published titles and salifiable's Heart in Hand for real life slash/online fiction.
I guess now, I can add Kate McMurray's Out in the Field to that list as well ... AND, this is where her story triumphs (and also different from those I mentioned above) ...
One
The story is being told from both Matt and Iggy's perspectives (those other titles focus on one of the MCs) with both men in a different phase of life, which result in different problems as well.
Matt is 38 years old, he's basically at the end of his baseball career, with knee problem that actually needs to be taken under surgery. Iggy, on the other hand, has just started, only 25 years old, he's ready to take the world.
Both are gay, both are closeted. But Matt can afford to out himself after he retires, while Iggy must still consider the outcome of outing himself. Even though they're in love with one another, the consequences are not the same. This makes the whole issue of coming out as athletes SO COMPELLING. And Ms. McMurray has written a very thoughtful story about it.
Two
There are also portrayals of the day-to-day life as result of being an athlete. We have Matt facing a life after baseball. Thinking about the options he have, whether coaching, or writing a book. We also get the part where he broods, getting slightly depressed. I assume this can happen to any athletes after their sport career is over, right? On the other hand, we also have Iggy, who wonders about which products he should endorse, what with the promise of money and such. I love it ...
Three
The love between the two guys is written perfectly. From that moment Matt and Iggy set eyes on each other, the way they realize their love, how they work out being in a relationship while in the closet especially when they also must experience long separation since Iggy is still active and Matt is not. There are a number of standout and heartfelt scenes, which manage to get me all choked up. The hospital scene, the vacation scene, the one where they finally . Their story here actually spans 4 years, and I can see that they will be in it for the long haul.
Four
The respect of the sport. Again, for me it is important. I think Ms. McMurray comes as a fan of the sport itself, she puts emphasis on both the positive and negative things that might come from an athlete that outs himself. While I'm not a baseball fan (hey, baseball is not popular here in Indonesia, okay), I come to appreciate the sport.
If I have a slight niggle, it will be near the end, because I wish there are more chapters after . Yeah, it's a sign of a great book, when I expect more chapters instead of asking the authors to cut it down *grin*.
The book is PERFECT, in every way. The emotion (angst and happiness), the character build, the journey to the end, and the love of the game. It gets me all teary eyed since I wish so hard for the two men to make it to the finish line.
With that in mind, I can only give the 5-star rating for it. Now, I want short story about their life after. Can I demand it? :D
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2012
Okay, it would be nice to have a big old academic and intelligent review, but mostly this book made me SO GODDAMN HAPPY and nervous and excited and sad and tense and euphoric and giddy and giggly and all the things books are supposed to do. It takes a real problem and puts it in very real terms, and you ride their ride through trying to be out players in the big leagues. Or majors or whatever it is. I don't know sports but who cares, they were dear darlings, and I just wanted to wrap them up and hug them forever. Well after I watched them make out, because daymn.
So much smart writing. Yeah, it's an HEA, but there are dark moments that would totally happen and not everything is completely okay with regards to the public gayness for the boys, but that's real and it makes the book richer. The best part was knowing it would all be okay in the end and yet not getting how. This book felt like a civil rights journey and a personal journey and so many damn things. I just loved it. I'll be reading it again soon and when I need to feel all rosy and euphoric and that everything will eventually be okay.
It fucking rocked. Just go buy it and have a good time.
So much smart writing. Yeah, it's an HEA, but there are dark moments that would totally happen and not everything is completely okay with regards to the public gayness for the boys, but that's real and it makes the book richer. The best part was knowing it would all be okay in the end and yet not getting how. This book felt like a civil rights journey and a personal journey and so many damn things. I just loved it. I'll be reading it again soon and when I need to feel all rosy and euphoric and that everything will eventually be okay.
It fucking rocked. Just go buy it and have a good time.
October 3, 2013
Swing Batta Batta Swing.
My annoyance with this built steadily from "a good editor would have fixed that" to "maybe they already did."
It began nicely; first lines are important, and of the three books I picked up last night, this one had the best.
Things progressed, and all was well—with an occasional niggle with repetition (they both taste metallic), or general tone (vaguely overwrought in some places, strangely lifeless in others).
To the 30 percent mark, I had a decent list of positives and negatives in mind—but once my annoyances with the mood, structure, and overall unoriginal feel of the book reached a critical mass, I gave up.
It's a shame. Seems to me there really were some good ideas and the potential for engaging drama.
But once characters started screeching into the phone like excitable Heathers or musing during sex (as you do) how totally hot they looked together*, I started getting grumpy.
Irritation was replaced by outright dislike once a key plot point was flubbed .
And when that happens, everything starts annoying the hell out of me.
Abandoned somewhere into chapter seven.
On the upside: some nice béisbol details (superstition) and a young Alex Rodriguez doppelgänger—Dominican, minus the steroids and the compound jealousy of Derek Jeter (viva la motherfuckin' patria).
On the downside: everything else.
Odd decisions with characterization and poor editorial stewardship would be my primary complaints.
Your mileage may most certainly vary; I'm in writer-mode—which means these things can make me extra-ragey.
____________
*Enough to "set the sheets on fire."
My annoyance with this built steadily from "a good editor would have fixed that" to "maybe they already did."
It began nicely; first lines are important, and of the three books I picked up last night, this one had the best.
Things progressed, and all was well—with an occasional niggle with repetition (they both taste metallic), or general tone (vaguely overwrought in some places, strangely lifeless in others).
To the 30 percent mark, I had a decent list of positives and negatives in mind—but once my annoyances with the mood, structure, and overall unoriginal feel of the book reached a critical mass, I gave up.
It's a shame. Seems to me there really were some good ideas and the potential for engaging drama.
But once characters started screeching into the phone like excitable Heathers or musing during sex (as you do) how totally hot they looked together*, I started getting grumpy.
Irritation was replaced by outright dislike once a key plot point was flubbed .
And when that happens, everything starts annoying the hell out of me.
Abandoned somewhere into chapter seven.
On the upside: some nice béisbol details (superstition) and a young Alex Rodriguez doppelgänger—Dominican, minus the steroids and the compound jealousy of Derek Jeter (viva la motherfuckin' patria).
On the downside: everything else.
Odd decisions with characterization and poor editorial stewardship would be my primary complaints.
Your mileage may most certainly vary; I'm in writer-mode—which means these things can make me extra-ragey.
____________
*Enough to "set the sheets on fire."
December 4, 2014
This is one of those books that came out of nowhere and pleasantly surprised me. This is the two story of two men who find each other at opposite ends of their baseball careers. Matt, is nearing the end of his successful one. Iggy, on the hand is just beginning his.
This book is a slice of life type of story. There's no villain or big twists- it's simply the story of two men who fall in love. It's about the dynamics of a relationship. I loved these two men together- they just fit.
Things I loved:
*Dual POV
*Steam
*Nice character development
*GREAT relationship development
*Awesome ending- it made me teary
What I didn't love too much:
*A teensy too much baseball talk but hey, it's a book about baseball players- I can't fault the author.
I definitely recommend this- especially to those who love age difference and sports romance story lines. 4.5 Stars.
**Thank you John and Eva for the recommendation.**
May 22, 2016
In the interest of full disclosure I'm just going to own up to being a sports junkie, for those who don't already know this.
I'm also a die hard Red Sox fan so of course I pounced on a baseball book. It took me about a minute to realize this was thinly veiled Jeter/A-Rod fic. Nothing but respect for Jeter, but A-Roid Rod? I've actually met him and he's a box of rocks so, I spent the majority of this read thinking Jeter a.k.a. Matt Blanco could do sooooooooooo much better.
But I pressed on, tried to put it out of my head. Didn't stop me from punching the air when the "Brooklyn Eagles" got pummeled by the Red Sox. What can I say? I'm only human and Red Sox loyalty runs deeeeep.
The mentions of sabermetrics, farm teams and the superstitions of baseball players made it clear McMurray is a baseball fan too. I appreciate that. Nothing annoys me more than reading a sports book wherein the sports knowledge is sketchy.
Out in the Field is a slice of life tale involving a seasoned baseball player at the end of his Hall of Fame career falling for the young rookie full of promise. Matt Blanco has spent his entire MLB career in the closet. A couple of close teammates know as well as his family, but he's a furtive one night usually in a rented room kind of guy. Ignacio Rodriguez has had a hero worship crush on Matt since forever, but he's also in the closet. One knowing look betwixt the two sets their romance in motion.
There are two things that diminished my enjoyment of this book.
First, the romance gets overshadowed by the agenda on the MLB's lack of support for gay players. It's common knowledge that professional sports aren't all that inclusive. One need not look any further than Michael Sam for proof of that or the sheer dearth of openly out athletes in any professional sport for that matter. I'm sympathetic to the need for change with more inclusion and acceptance as the next person, but it's not very romantic to read about. It read a little bit like an After School Special and was just as predictable-boy meets boy, they fight THE SYSTEM together and ride off into the sunset, or in this case buy a brownstone in Brooklyn.
Second, I've recent binge watched RuPaul's Drag Race and they have the perfect word for what this book needs-zhujing. This book needs some zhujing in the worst way. It needs some zest, some pizazz, some uumph, some vitality. ZHUJING, I tell ya. There's nothing wrong with the writing it's just... dull. I could quote and nitpick but honestly I don't have the energy for it.
ZHUJED!
GO KIM CHI GO!!!!
#TeamKimChi
I'm somewhere between 2.5-3 Hearts, but there are numerous other top-notch reviewers who completely disagree with me, so your mileage may vary.
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
I'm also a die hard Red Sox fan so of course I pounced on a baseball book. It took me about a minute to realize this was thinly veiled Jeter/A-Rod fic. Nothing but respect for Jeter, but A-
But I pressed on, tried to put it out of my head. Didn't stop me from punching the air when the "Brooklyn Eagles" got pummeled by the Red Sox. What can I say? I'm only human and Red Sox loyalty runs deeeeep.
The mentions of sabermetrics, farm teams and the superstitions of baseball players made it clear McMurray is a baseball fan too. I appreciate that. Nothing annoys me more than reading a sports book wherein the sports knowledge is sketchy.
Out in the Field is a slice of life tale involving a seasoned baseball player at the end of his Hall of Fame career falling for the young rookie full of promise. Matt Blanco has spent his entire MLB career in the closet. A couple of close teammates know as well as his family, but he's a furtive one night usually in a rented room kind of guy. Ignacio Rodriguez has had a hero worship crush on Matt since forever, but he's also in the closet. One knowing look betwixt the two sets their romance in motion.
There are two things that diminished my enjoyment of this book.
First, the romance gets overshadowed by the agenda on the MLB's lack of support for gay players. It's common knowledge that professional sports aren't all that inclusive. One need not look any further than Michael Sam for proof of that or the sheer dearth of openly out athletes in any professional sport for that matter. I'm sympathetic to the need for change with more inclusion and acceptance as the next person, but it's not very romantic to read about. It read a little bit like an After School Special and was just as predictable-boy meets boy, they fight THE SYSTEM together and ride off into the sunset, or in this case buy a brownstone in Brooklyn.
Second, I've recent binge watched RuPaul's Drag Race and they have the perfect word for what this book needs-zhujing. This book needs some zhujing in the worst way. It needs some zest, some pizazz, some uumph, some vitality. ZHUJING, I tell ya. There's nothing wrong with the writing it's just... dull. I could quote and nitpick but honestly I don't have the energy for it.
ZHUJED!
GO KIM CHI GO!!!!
#TeamKimChi
I'm somewhere between 2.5-3 Hearts, but there are numerous other top-notch reviewers who completely disagree with me, so your mileage may vary.
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2018
I liked it a lot.
-It was sweet, hot and feel good book.
- Easy, quick read about baseball.
- The Mc's were likable.
- No unnecessary drama, just two men in love trying to balance playing baseball and keeping their love for each other intact.
-It was sweet, hot and feel good book.
- Easy, quick read about baseball.
- The Mc's were likable.
- No unnecessary drama, just two men in love trying to balance playing baseball and keeping their love for each other intact.
December 29, 2024
Out in the Field by Kate McMurray
Contemporary sports related M-M romance. Coming out as adults. Age gap.
Iggy Rodriquez s living his dream playing professional baseball for the Brooklyn Eagles with his idol, first baseman Matt Blanco.
Matt is nearing the end of his baseball career with injuries and simply aging out. Meeting Iggy has been fulfilling but hiding their relationship on the same team has been difficult. Matt retires and the two need to decide now what their future will be. They love each other, but can they love together while Iggy is still an active player?
First their relationship. Then an emotional journey for Matt as he has to redefine who he is and what’s next. As well as their relationship.
Heartbreak caused tears from cruel fans and then tears again as the team totally showed their support.
Touching and beautiful.
Contemporary sports related M-M romance. Coming out as adults. Age gap.
Iggy Rodriquez s living his dream playing professional baseball for the Brooklyn Eagles with his idol, first baseman Matt Blanco.
Matt is nearing the end of his baseball career with injuries and simply aging out. Meeting Iggy has been fulfilling but hiding their relationship on the same team has been difficult. Matt retires and the two need to decide now what their future will be. They love each other, but can they love together while Iggy is still an active player?
First their relationship. Then an emotional journey for Matt as he has to redefine who he is and what’s next. As well as their relationship.
Heartbreak caused tears from cruel fans and then tears again as the team totally showed their support.
Touching and beautiful.
February 28, 2014
2.5 stars
Plenty sexy with two hot athletes, but: too much baseball, too much focus on the "outing" vs. the relationship, and too much angst. I would have preferred more build-up and sexual tension. I had envisioned these two dancing around each other a bit, lusting, questioning, but, no, they go at it almost immediately. I slogged through part 2 (I almost DNF); thankfully, part 3 provided closure.
Plenty sexy with two hot athletes, but: too much baseball, too much focus on the "outing" vs. the relationship, and too much angst. I would have preferred more build-up and sexual tension. I had envisioned these two dancing around each other a bit, lusting, questioning, but, no, they go at it almost immediately. I slogged through part 2 (I almost DNF); thankfully, part 3 provided closure.
June 6, 2013
Second Read - 6/4/13 to 6/6/13
Review posted at The Armchair Reader for Kate McMurray Week!
I can't help it -- this is still my favorite book from Kate McMurray!
Matt Blanco is a Brooklyn boy, born into a crazy Italian family and famous as a top professional baseball player, nearing the end of his long career with the Brooklyn Eagles. He is also gay. There's never even been a rumor of his sexuality, though he's a perennial bachelor, because of his complete dedication towards discretion. If baseball wasn't the true first love of his life, then he might be miserable. But things start to change when a rookie joins the Eagles out of the farm system.
Iggy Rodriguez is a magnificent player, the kind of player who will probably eclipse Matt's own fame and talent. And he's incredibly beautiful. Matt, normally the welcoming unofficial captain, is nervous around him because of his attraction to Iggy, no matter that he's thirteen years younger than him and his presence on the team shows that the Eagles are most likely slowly pushing out the older guys to make way for new, young talent.
Iggy has his own problems concerning Matt. The Great Matt Blanco is his all-time idol and crush -- a man who he fantasized about as a teenager as he looked down from the walls of Iggy's bedroom. Meeting his idol is one thing, but to find out that he's also gay and in the closet and that they have a mutual attraction? That blows his mind.
The two find a way to make it work, always putting discretion above all else. They manage to go years in love and playing together until the magic just can't last. Matt's having problems with his knee and it looks like it won't hold out much longer. Looking at retirement is like the end of his life. Navigating the world of professional baseball with such a secret is hard, but as their lives change around them and pressure mounts, both Matt and Iggy have to find a way to put their relationship above the sport they both love.
First, Kate's love of baseball really comes through in this book. I mean, the sport is shown from both positive and negative angles, but the love of the game is central in the book. It's what initially bring both Matt and Iggy together, and it is at times what keep them together as their common language. Second, Iggy and Matt are amazing characters. It is only in the first few pages of the book that we're shown the dichotomy between the young and old on the team, pitting both Matt and Iggy at different ends of their career. But it is a central theme. It's a bit obstacle, mostly to Matt who has a problem facing the end of his baseball career, but also in the sense that Matt, who already has a problem with change, doesn't want to rock the boat to sacrifice Iggy's career. But the dichotomy between the old and new as they're presented also works well for their relationship. Even though it means that they often clash, they're two sides of a coin also. Where Matt represents a more classic vision of the sport and the culture, Iggy is the idealist who breaks through his stagnancy, to show him that there is hope that there could be a real active out gay athlete.
And third is the main reason that I think this book is so successful. We already have a great setup story and background of professional sports. And we have two really wonderful characters with a great shifting dynamic. What makes them come together to work so well in this book is the pace of the story. The whole story covers roughly three to four years. We're given several major sections of the story in real time with transitions of quick narration to bring us forward. It moves at a quick pace which keeps the story in momentum, but which also allows the characters to grow farther than you might expect. I remember when I first read this, I kept feeling like I was probably getting toward the end, only to realize that I still had half the book left to read. The forward momentum brings the story into new times and into new shifting dynamics between Iggy and Matt, showing how they work around them, how they adapt to new times and how they, eventually, use that time to grow closer and carve a life for themselves.
The story really is beautiful. There's no needless angst, only what is appropriate for the situation and isn't long-lasting. And, after all that, the story ends beautifully. Every time, every damn time I cry when I read the last 7 to 8% of the book, from the 12 year old fan that comes up to Matt in the stands to the purple hats to Iggy playing in the game. The story ends on a high, very optimistically but not unrealistically, and with Iggy and Matt in a really good place. I couldn't be happier.
I think I appreciated this book more the second time around. And I know that I appreciated it more after reading all of Kate's books back to back. I can see where there are some sylistic differences between this book and some of the others. None of the others are formulaic, but something about this book just really works for me. It will always be a book that I'll come back to and read over again. And it's one that you should read as well!
First Read - 4/25/12 to 4/26/12
4.5 stars (rounded up to 5 because this book just had that... indefinable something that made it a truly wonderful read).
I honestly haven't read a book in a while that drew me in so well as this. It took me a while to get into the story, probably because I was going up against all my preconceived notions about m/m closeted athlete books, but around the quarter mark everything clicked, the setting, the narration, Ig and Matt together and the perfect amount and use of angst all rolled into one.
As far as the technical aspect, I thought it was played perfectly, not overhanded but enough to immerse the reader into the characters who speak baseball in a technical way and live it that way. That particular aspect of the book reminded me quite a bit of the Kyell Gold Out of Position books (though not football and not anthropomorphic characters, obviously).
The sense of change over time is a big part of this story, which is what really facilitated the talk of changing views of gay athletes in a successful way here. That also gave the story a more epic quality, as the time, experiences, and relationships grow and change, which added more layers to Ig and Matt, as well as their surrounding characters, though mostly the atmosphere of baseball. From the first paragraph about the OCD of baseball players and their longstanding rituals and traditions, to the ending where outline in a broader spectrum the changes that are being singled out here, within the relationships and personal lives of the characters, specifically the challenges that Iggy and Matt both face.
I ended this book just thinking that Kate McMurray must have been writing in the sweet spot, because I could definitely feel it when I was reading. There's a lot of love put in to this book and I felt like somehow, in a way that I can't describe, Kate McMurray wrote the first m/m book about closeted gay athletes that I felt really hit the mark, at least with me.
So bravo! I laughed, and cried.. yada yada. It was good :D
Review posted at The Armchair Reader for Kate McMurray Week!
I can't help it -- this is still my favorite book from Kate McMurray!
Matt Blanco is a Brooklyn boy, born into a crazy Italian family and famous as a top professional baseball player, nearing the end of his long career with the Brooklyn Eagles. He is also gay. There's never even been a rumor of his sexuality, though he's a perennial bachelor, because of his complete dedication towards discretion. If baseball wasn't the true first love of his life, then he might be miserable. But things start to change when a rookie joins the Eagles out of the farm system.
Iggy Rodriguez is a magnificent player, the kind of player who will probably eclipse Matt's own fame and talent. And he's incredibly beautiful. Matt, normally the welcoming unofficial captain, is nervous around him because of his attraction to Iggy, no matter that he's thirteen years younger than him and his presence on the team shows that the Eagles are most likely slowly pushing out the older guys to make way for new, young talent.
Iggy has his own problems concerning Matt. The Great Matt Blanco is his all-time idol and crush -- a man who he fantasized about as a teenager as he looked down from the walls of Iggy's bedroom. Meeting his idol is one thing, but to find out that he's also gay and in the closet and that they have a mutual attraction? That blows his mind.
The two find a way to make it work, always putting discretion above all else. They manage to go years in love and playing together until the magic just can't last. Matt's having problems with his knee and it looks like it won't hold out much longer. Looking at retirement is like the end of his life. Navigating the world of professional baseball with such a secret is hard, but as their lives change around them and pressure mounts, both Matt and Iggy have to find a way to put their relationship above the sport they both love.
First, Kate's love of baseball really comes through in this book. I mean, the sport is shown from both positive and negative angles, but the love of the game is central in the book. It's what initially bring both Matt and Iggy together, and it is at times what keep them together as their common language. Second, Iggy and Matt are amazing characters. It is only in the first few pages of the book that we're shown the dichotomy between the young and old on the team, pitting both Matt and Iggy at different ends of their career. But it is a central theme. It's a bit obstacle, mostly to Matt who has a problem facing the end of his baseball career, but also in the sense that Matt, who already has a problem with change, doesn't want to rock the boat to sacrifice Iggy's career. But the dichotomy between the old and new as they're presented also works well for their relationship. Even though it means that they often clash, they're two sides of a coin also. Where Matt represents a more classic vision of the sport and the culture, Iggy is the idealist who breaks through his stagnancy, to show him that there is hope that there could be a real active out gay athlete.
And third is the main reason that I think this book is so successful. We already have a great setup story and background of professional sports. And we have two really wonderful characters with a great shifting dynamic. What makes them come together to work so well in this book is the pace of the story. The whole story covers roughly three to four years. We're given several major sections of the story in real time with transitions of quick narration to bring us forward. It moves at a quick pace which keeps the story in momentum, but which also allows the characters to grow farther than you might expect. I remember when I first read this, I kept feeling like I was probably getting toward the end, only to realize that I still had half the book left to read. The forward momentum brings the story into new times and into new shifting dynamics between Iggy and Matt, showing how they work around them, how they adapt to new times and how they, eventually, use that time to grow closer and carve a life for themselves.
The story really is beautiful. There's no needless angst, only what is appropriate for the situation and isn't long-lasting. And, after all that, the story ends beautifully. Every time, every damn time I cry when I read the last 7 to 8% of the book, from the 12 year old fan that comes up to Matt in the stands to the purple hats to Iggy playing in the game. The story ends on a high, very optimistically but not unrealistically, and with Iggy and Matt in a really good place. I couldn't be happier.
I think I appreciated this book more the second time around. And I know that I appreciated it more after reading all of Kate's books back to back. I can see where there are some sylistic differences between this book and some of the others. None of the others are formulaic, but something about this book just really works for me. It will always be a book that I'll come back to and read over again. And it's one that you should read as well!
First Read - 4/25/12 to 4/26/12
4.5 stars (rounded up to 5 because this book just had that... indefinable something that made it a truly wonderful read).
I honestly haven't read a book in a while that drew me in so well as this. It took me a while to get into the story, probably because I was going up against all my preconceived notions about m/m closeted athlete books, but around the quarter mark everything clicked, the setting, the narration, Ig and Matt together and the perfect amount and use of angst all rolled into one.
As far as the technical aspect, I thought it was played perfectly, not overhanded but enough to immerse the reader into the characters who speak baseball in a technical way and live it that way. That particular aspect of the book reminded me quite a bit of the Kyell Gold Out of Position books (though not football and not anthropomorphic characters, obviously).
The sense of change over time is a big part of this story, which is what really facilitated the talk of changing views of gay athletes in a successful way here. That also gave the story a more epic quality, as the time, experiences, and relationships grow and change, which added more layers to Ig and Matt, as well as their surrounding characters, though mostly the atmosphere of baseball. From the first paragraph about the OCD of baseball players and their longstanding rituals and traditions, to the ending where outline in a broader spectrum the changes that are being singled out here, within the relationships and personal lives of the characters, specifically the challenges that Iggy and Matt both face.
I ended this book just thinking that Kate McMurray must have been writing in the sweet spot, because I could definitely feel it when I was reading. There's a lot of love put in to this book and I felt like somehow, in a way that I can't describe, Kate McMurray wrote the first m/m book about closeted gay athletes that I felt really hit the mark, at least with me.
So bravo! I laughed, and cried.. yada yada. It was good :D
May 11, 2012
I ♥ Matt and Iggy!
Why I loved it:
♥ It was sweet
♥ It was smexy
♥ It was honest
♥ It was real
♥ It had sexy athletes
♥ There was no ridiculous breakup
♥ It spans for several years
♥ It had a perfect balance between the baseball and the romance
♥ It wasn't too angsty
♥ Closet doors were opened
♥ There were some LOL moments
♥ A happy moment made me cry
♥ I couldn't put it down
5 Stars Recommended!
Why I loved it:
♥ It was sweet
♥ It was smexy
♥ It was honest
♥ It was real
♥ It had sexy athletes
♥ There was no ridiculous breakup
♥ It spans for several years
♥ It had a perfect balance between the baseball and the romance
♥ It wasn't too angsty
♥ Closet doors were opened
♥ There were some LOL moments
♥ A happy moment made me cry
♥ I couldn't put it down
5 Stars Recommended!
November 30, 2014
5 Encouraging Stars
What a story
Baseball
Amazing males
Friends
And hope and future and everything
Review to come...
What a story
Baseball
Amazing males
Friends
And hope and future and everything
Review to come...
April 25, 2012
4.5 oh what the hell 5. I loved everything about this book. There are those books that hit you just right in every way. That is what Out in the Field was for me. I could read about Iggy and Matt forever.
What I want to see now is a short of Matt and Iggy taking Tango lessons;)
What I want to see now is a short of Matt and Iggy taking Tango lessons;)
July 3, 2017
I Loved this book!! Just a feel good book with a HEA!!
Can I just say, I. Loved. This. Book! It hit all my buttons, Sports Romance, Check. Angst, Check. Romantic Couple, Check. Hot Sex, Double Check. Coming out, Check. Happily Ever After, Hell Yeah - Check. So yeah, it is no surprise to me that I cannot rate this book high enough - where is my option for 10 Stars? Kate McMurry hit this one way out of the park!
This is a book about baseball and love and the awesome story of Matt Blanco who is an all-star baseball player, obviously very well-known he has been through numerous World Series and while he has lived most of his life in the public eye -- he has hid his sexual orientation for his entire career. He is gay. Why does he hide it? Well, he fears his spot on the team roster for the Brooklyn Eagles Team. When he began his career he feared he would get no playing time and discriminated against, during his career highlights he feared the public wouldn't understand and his teammates would hate him, now as he is older and having knee troubles he fears coming out will give his team reason to take him out of the line up. Fear. It is powerful and it keeps people from being themselves, even famous baseball players.
After a trade, The Brooklyn Eagles get new player --hot rookie, Iggy Rodriguez. Iggy is young and just starting his career in baseball, he is so happy to be drafted to The Eagles where his idol Matt Blanco plays - he just cannot believe his luck. Imagine his surprise when the man he has looked up to for years suddenly is looking at him like he wants to eat him up. This leads to some very fun locker room scenes and some hot hook ups while rooming together in the road, but can they have anything more than a casual relationship? They are both closeted baseball players who have to watch everything they do for fear it ends up on the local sports network.
Things change quickly when The Eagles make a trade to get a hot new rookie and trade Matt to Texas. Matt knew it was a possibility, he hadn't been playing up to par his knee was always acting up ... But he hoped it never came true. Now what about Iggy? Are they through? Can they continue what relationship they have with thousands of miles between them? The two decide that they can make what they have last even with the distance and they make a go of it, then schedules align and The Eagles are in Texas playing Matt's new team. Iggy and Matt are finally able to see each other, after 4 months of separation and late night phone calls. However, Matt's knee doesn't make the entire game and Matt is carted off the field and to the hospital, while Iggy is forced to watch as just another teammate not a lover. Events that happen while Matt is in the hospital both shock and excite Matt and Iggy and it's at this point Matt decides he is going home to NY and hanging up his glove. It's a bittersweet moment in the book because you want Matt to be happy, and baseball is so much a part of him -- yet at the same time it's happy because Matt is going home and he can be with Iggy full time no more long distance relationship.
At this point in the story, it's pretty clear Matt and Iggy are way more than casual - they love each other after all, but they are both still in the closet and both still very much in the public. How long can they pull this charade off? How long do they want to continue like this? It is emotionally wearing to not be able to walk down the street and hold your boyfriend's hand or touch them in public.
"It’s about wanting the freedom to just stand there and say, ‘This is who I am.’ I never really got to do that. With my family, with you, yeah, but not with everyone. I have friends, close friends, guys I’ve known for years, and I’ve never told them I’m gay. They probably know, but I never said, and it….” He shook his head and put the book on the shelf." “I lie every day to people I care about. I see couples walking down the street—straight, gay, they’re all here in New York—and they’ll just… hold hands. And I think, ‘That’ll never be me. I’ll never get to do that.’ I’ll never be able to just walk down the street with my boyfriend and do something casual like take his hand, because then my life will end. And I hate that feeling, Iggy. I hate it. It eats at me. But I don’t have any fucking choice.”
Once Matt comes to terms with his way of coming out and starts that process he now has to worry about, how will Iggy deal with this? What if someone sees us together and puts two and two together? What if by me coming out I ruin his career? Matt worries a lot and he becomes a grump --Always worrying about how his coming out is going to affect Iggy.
“Will you still love me when I’m out of the closet?” “Of course.” “Forever, Iggy. You’re mine forever.” “Always.” “I love you,” Iggy said, warmth spreading through his chest. “Love you too. Forever, Iggy.” *Swoon*
This is an emotional roller coaster that will keep you enthralled and rapidly flipping pages until you reach the end! I absolutely loved everything about this story! It is realistic to the point that you feel like you could be reading about one of today's major baseball stars, it gets deep down into the feeling of what it's like to have to live in the closet as a public figure, and it has some harsh parts to it that make you empathize with the characters..ultimately allowing you to connect with them and enjoy their story all the more!
5 Stars!
P.S. "Dear Author, I would love to see a book two with these guys"
❥❥**´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`*Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club
Review Copy of Out In the Field provided by the Publisher, Dreamspinner Press for an honest Review.
Can I just say, I. Loved. This. Book! It hit all my buttons, Sports Romance, Check. Angst, Check. Romantic Couple, Check. Hot Sex, Double Check. Coming out, Check. Happily Ever After, Hell Yeah - Check. So yeah, it is no surprise to me that I cannot rate this book high enough - where is my option for 10 Stars? Kate McMurry hit this one way out of the park!
This is a book about baseball and love and the awesome story of Matt Blanco who is an all-star baseball player, obviously very well-known he has been through numerous World Series and while he has lived most of his life in the public eye -- he has hid his sexual orientation for his entire career. He is gay. Why does he hide it? Well, he fears his spot on the team roster for the Brooklyn Eagles Team. When he began his career he feared he would get no playing time and discriminated against, during his career highlights he feared the public wouldn't understand and his teammates would hate him, now as he is older and having knee troubles he fears coming out will give his team reason to take him out of the line up. Fear. It is powerful and it keeps people from being themselves, even famous baseball players.
After a trade, The Brooklyn Eagles get new player --hot rookie, Iggy Rodriguez. Iggy is young and just starting his career in baseball, he is so happy to be drafted to The Eagles where his idol Matt Blanco plays - he just cannot believe his luck. Imagine his surprise when the man he has looked up to for years suddenly is looking at him like he wants to eat him up. This leads to some very fun locker room scenes and some hot hook ups while rooming together in the road, but can they have anything more than a casual relationship? They are both closeted baseball players who have to watch everything they do for fear it ends up on the local sports network.
Things change quickly when The Eagles make a trade to get a hot new rookie and trade Matt to Texas. Matt knew it was a possibility, he hadn't been playing up to par his knee was always acting up ... But he hoped it never came true. Now what about Iggy? Are they through? Can they continue what relationship they have with thousands of miles between them? The two decide that they can make what they have last even with the distance and they make a go of it, then schedules align and The Eagles are in Texas playing Matt's new team. Iggy and Matt are finally able to see each other, after 4 months of separation and late night phone calls. However, Matt's knee doesn't make the entire game and Matt is carted off the field and to the hospital, while Iggy is forced to watch as just another teammate not a lover. Events that happen while Matt is in the hospital both shock and excite Matt and Iggy and it's at this point Matt decides he is going home to NY and hanging up his glove. It's a bittersweet moment in the book because you want Matt to be happy, and baseball is so much a part of him -- yet at the same time it's happy because Matt is going home and he can be with Iggy full time no more long distance relationship.
At this point in the story, it's pretty clear Matt and Iggy are way more than casual - they love each other after all, but they are both still in the closet and both still very much in the public. How long can they pull this charade off? How long do they want to continue like this? It is emotionally wearing to not be able to walk down the street and hold your boyfriend's hand or touch them in public.
"It’s about wanting the freedom to just stand there and say, ‘This is who I am.’ I never really got to do that. With my family, with you, yeah, but not with everyone. I have friends, close friends, guys I’ve known for years, and I’ve never told them I’m gay. They probably know, but I never said, and it….” He shook his head and put the book on the shelf." “I lie every day to people I care about. I see couples walking down the street—straight, gay, they’re all here in New York—and they’ll just… hold hands. And I think, ‘That’ll never be me. I’ll never get to do that.’ I’ll never be able to just walk down the street with my boyfriend and do something casual like take his hand, because then my life will end. And I hate that feeling, Iggy. I hate it. It eats at me. But I don’t have any fucking choice.”
Once Matt comes to terms with his way of coming out and starts that process he now has to worry about, how will Iggy deal with this? What if someone sees us together and puts two and two together? What if by me coming out I ruin his career? Matt worries a lot and he becomes a grump --Always worrying about how his coming out is going to affect Iggy.
“Will you still love me when I’m out of the closet?” “Of course.” “Forever, Iggy. You’re mine forever.” “Always.” “I love you,” Iggy said, warmth spreading through his chest. “Love you too. Forever, Iggy.” *Swoon*
This is an emotional roller coaster that will keep you enthralled and rapidly flipping pages until you reach the end! I absolutely loved everything about this story! It is realistic to the point that you feel like you could be reading about one of today's major baseball stars, it gets deep down into the feeling of what it's like to have to live in the closet as a public figure, and it has some harsh parts to it that make you empathize with the characters..ultimately allowing you to connect with them and enjoy their story all the more!
5 Stars!
P.S. "Dear Author, I would love to see a book two with these guys"
❥❥**´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`*Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club
Review Copy of Out In the Field provided by the Publisher, Dreamspinner Press for an honest Review.
June 9, 2012
This is a wonderful story about two men who are forced to be in the closet by the pressures of playing professional baseball. Matt is nearing the end of a highly successful career, and Iggy is the newly-acquired hot rookie, when they have their first moment of "I wonder if he's gay; I wonder if he can tell I am..." across the locker room. From that moment their relationship develops in a slow organic way that feels natural and believable and sweet.
The baseball in this story is just about perfect, enough to be the natural center of life for two professional players, but not enough to take away from the relationship at the heart of the book. The men are very appealing; the dilemmas they face about the balance of personal life, work, age differences, and the possible ramifications of coming out are painful and believable. The writing is smooth, and the conversations feel very natural. Recommended.
The baseball in this story is just about perfect, enough to be the natural center of life for two professional players, but not enough to take away from the relationship at the heart of the book. The men are very appealing; the dilemmas they face about the balance of personal life, work, age differences, and the possible ramifications of coming out are painful and believable. The writing is smooth, and the conversations feel very natural. Recommended.
December 8, 2014
I loved this book! Although I like sports, baseball is not a sport played in my country and I don't understand the rules properly. But it wasn't baseball that hooked me to this story! It was two baseball players! Both gay, both deep in the closet, but so in love with each other that my heart melted with these men!
Matt and Iggy are both famous baseball players and they have a secret relationship! Nobody knows and they try as much as they can to keep it hidden! But life circumstances lead on a different path, and they have to show their sports world that a gay man can be a good player, can be a good man, and can be the best partner!
Matt and Iggy are both famous baseball players and they have a secret relationship! Nobody knows and they try as much as they can to keep it hidden! But life circumstances lead on a different path, and they have to show their sports world that a gay man can be a good player, can be a good man, and can be the best partner!
November 1, 2013
An excellent m/m romance. The love story and characterization were all here, and very well done. But what raises this book above the noise for me was the very detailed and realistic depiction of both men actually coming out to their friends and the public. So many romance books reach the point where the 2 guys have committed to each other but never detail the fallout of that, or the difficult aspects of coming out. This book was never truly angsty but dealt with issues in a realistic way. Very nicely done.
May 6, 2012
3,5 stars
Unfamiliar with baseball the sports part was lost upon me but the touching how-it-should-be romance made it worth reading.
Unfamiliar with baseball the sports part was lost upon me but the touching how-it-should-be romance made it worth reading.
May 9, 2012
GAAAAH THIS WAS SO AMAZING !!! Iggy and Matt were so fucking perfect together! Actually, everything about this book was perfect; I loved it so, so much! I was so sad when it ended, cause I could've read 100 more pages about them. Honestly, I feel like nothing I could write here could do justice to how great this book is so I invite you to read Lauraadriana's review, a perfect review for a perfect book.
The only thing I want to add is, never in my life I've been interested in baseball (never even watched a game, actually), but this book made me want to start watching it.
The only thing I want to add is, never in my life I've been interested in baseball (never even watched a game, actually), but this book made me want to start watching it.
life-is-too-short
August 26, 2019There is no gel in this story. Wayyyyy off. Initial reaction to realizing they are attracted is just...boring.
DNF10% NOT RATING
DNF10% NOT RATING
August 16, 2012
I'm conflicted about my feelings for this book. On one hand, I liked it but on the other I was frustrated by the lack of everything else aside from sex.
What attracted me to this story was the different elements within it. Matt and Iggy have a fourteen year age difference and I've always been fond of age gap stories. I also loved the fact this is based around baseball because I am a (somewhat) baseball fan. Add into it that these boys were both hot and intense and it makes for a good read.
However, there were a lot of things that bugged me about this book. Matt and Iggy have this incredible connection between them but there was also something missing from their relationship that just felt off to me. Matt is also a pretty well fleshed out character but Iggy is very shallow. There wasn't much depth to him so the story felt off-balanced because Matt was talked about so much while Iggy felt more of a secondary character than the main character he was. I was also disappointed in the lack of baseball in the story. I was expecting the story to be completely around baseball and while it is to a point, it's not detailed on actual baseball. We get details about the locker room, how they have to go out of town for games, the hotels and such but only one or two scenes of them actually out in the field which I found extremely ironic. My biggest problem with the story, and I think the reason I felt like something was missing, is how much sex there is. Whenever the author had an opportunity to flesh out the characters, she tended to let them have sex instead. It grew frustrating because I wanted to know more about the characters. Instead, I learned more about their pleasure spots and I'm sorry but I prefer more depth to characters than more depth to sex.
In the end, I liked the book. The plot is great, the characters are interesting and even the conflict within the story is fascinating because of how Matt and Iggy deal with it. But the story wasn't able to grab my attention in the way it could have because it's a good part sex and lacks the necessary details to make the characters into seem like real people. Even with the connection between Iggy and Matt, there didn't feel like a general understanding of who the other person was deep down. What's there is more of a sexual connection than anything else. At least, that's what I got from the story.
What attracted me to this story was the different elements within it. Matt and Iggy have a fourteen year age difference and I've always been fond of age gap stories. I also loved the fact this is based around baseball because I am a (somewhat) baseball fan. Add into it that these boys were both hot and intense and it makes for a good read.
However, there were a lot of things that bugged me about this book. Matt and Iggy have this incredible connection between them but there was also something missing from their relationship that just felt off to me. Matt is also a pretty well fleshed out character but Iggy is very shallow. There wasn't much depth to him so the story felt off-balanced because Matt was talked about so much while Iggy felt more of a secondary character than the main character he was. I was also disappointed in the lack of baseball in the story. I was expecting the story to be completely around baseball and while it is to a point, it's not detailed on actual baseball. We get details about the locker room, how they have to go out of town for games, the hotels and such but only one or two scenes of them actually out in the field which I found extremely ironic. My biggest problem with the story, and I think the reason I felt like something was missing, is how much sex there is. Whenever the author had an opportunity to flesh out the characters, she tended to let them have sex instead. It grew frustrating because I wanted to know more about the characters. Instead, I learned more about their pleasure spots and I'm sorry but I prefer more depth to characters than more depth to sex.
In the end, I liked the book. The plot is great, the characters are interesting and even the conflict within the story is fascinating because of how Matt and Iggy deal with it. But the story wasn't able to grab my attention in the way it could have because it's a good part sex and lacks the necessary details to make the characters into seem like real people. Even with the connection between Iggy and Matt, there didn't feel like a general understanding of who the other person was deep down. What's there is more of a sexual connection than anything else. At least, that's what I got from the story.
May 16, 2016
Review originally posted at Sinfully.
4.5 stars
Matt Blanco is the ultimate aging baseball star. He’s loved by the Brooklyn Eagles’ fans and his teammates and is destined for the Hall of Fame. At almost 40 he’s had an amazing career, but he knows his stats aren’t what they were and his time is limited. He’s just hoping that his knee will hold out for a few more seasons.
Iggy Rodriguez is the hot young third baseman. Already expected to be Rookie of the Year he is living his dream of playing major league ball for the Eagles with his idol Matt Blanco. Not only is Iggy in awe of the man’s talent, he’s had a crush on him for years.
Attraction quickly sparks between the two and when they realize they’re both gay, the draw of regular sex and having an ally on the team with just as much to lose quickly trumps the potential for disaster if they are caught. The men think they’ve hit a home run but as it goes in the big leagues, injuries, trades and the business of baseball could change the game in the blink of an eye. The story follows Matt and Iggy over a four year period where their relationship is tested not just by the game they both love, but by all those pesky feelings that develop between them.
Considering baseball is my favorite sport, I’ve read relatively few m/m baseball stories. This is one that was recommended to me and had been on my TBR for ages and I’m glad I finally got the chance to read it. One thing that comes through quite clearly in this book is Kate McMurray’s love of the game. This second edition has been re-edited and updated to reflect the recent steps taken by Major League Baseball with regard to protecting players regardless of their sexual orientation, including the 2014 hiring of openly gay former player Billy Bean to work with teams on inclusion and education.
I don’t want to give any of the story away since I really enjoyed wondering how things would play out. The men face a lot of changes and a lot of ups and downs over the years. I loved having both their points of view and seeing things from the vantage point of the veteran as opposed to the rookie. Matt looks at things differently and fears for Iggy’s career if they are outed. He doesn’t want to be the one that holds Iggy back or drags him down. Iggy doesn’t have the experience yet with handling the media and fans and is a bit more aggressive in wanting more with Matt when it’s clear that “just sex” has morphed into something more.
Both men are in new territory as far as having a real relationship is concerned and it shows, but it is clear that they were made for each other. When Matt finally leaves the sport and realizes baseball is all he knows, that really changes things and throws up a whole new set of potential problems for the couple. The sex is hot, the characters are endearing and the story works well on both the sports angle and the love story. There is plenty of drama and emotion, most of it revolving around staying closeted in a sport not known for acceptance, but also just the everyday difficulties of making a relationship work. Even superstar sports figures get nervous when meeting their boyfriend’s mother for the first time or realizing that they do, in fact, have a boyfriend.
Being a fan of the game is definitely a bonus where the story is concerned, but even if you aren’t, I think you’ll be able to appreciate this as a wonderful romance between two sexy, sweet men who just want to be able to love who they want on their own terms and are willing to fight for it.
4.5 stars
Matt Blanco is the ultimate aging baseball star. He’s loved by the Brooklyn Eagles’ fans and his teammates and is destined for the Hall of Fame. At almost 40 he’s had an amazing career, but he knows his stats aren’t what they were and his time is limited. He’s just hoping that his knee will hold out for a few more seasons.
Iggy Rodriguez is the hot young third baseman. Already expected to be Rookie of the Year he is living his dream of playing major league ball for the Eagles with his idol Matt Blanco. Not only is Iggy in awe of the man’s talent, he’s had a crush on him for years.
Attraction quickly sparks between the two and when they realize they’re both gay, the draw of regular sex and having an ally on the team with just as much to lose quickly trumps the potential for disaster if they are caught. The men think they’ve hit a home run but as it goes in the big leagues, injuries, trades and the business of baseball could change the game in the blink of an eye. The story follows Matt and Iggy over a four year period where their relationship is tested not just by the game they both love, but by all those pesky feelings that develop between them.
Considering baseball is my favorite sport, I’ve read relatively few m/m baseball stories. This is one that was recommended to me and had been on my TBR for ages and I’m glad I finally got the chance to read it. One thing that comes through quite clearly in this book is Kate McMurray’s love of the game. This second edition has been re-edited and updated to reflect the recent steps taken by Major League Baseball with regard to protecting players regardless of their sexual orientation, including the 2014 hiring of openly gay former player Billy Bean to work with teams on inclusion and education.
I don’t want to give any of the story away since I really enjoyed wondering how things would play out. The men face a lot of changes and a lot of ups and downs over the years. I loved having both their points of view and seeing things from the vantage point of the veteran as opposed to the rookie. Matt looks at things differently and fears for Iggy’s career if they are outed. He doesn’t want to be the one that holds Iggy back or drags him down. Iggy doesn’t have the experience yet with handling the media and fans and is a bit more aggressive in wanting more with Matt when it’s clear that “just sex” has morphed into something more.
Both men are in new territory as far as having a real relationship is concerned and it shows, but it is clear that they were made for each other. When Matt finally leaves the sport and realizes baseball is all he knows, that really changes things and throws up a whole new set of potential problems for the couple. The sex is hot, the characters are endearing and the story works well on both the sports angle and the love story. There is plenty of drama and emotion, most of it revolving around staying closeted in a sport not known for acceptance, but also just the everyday difficulties of making a relationship work. Even superstar sports figures get nervous when meeting their boyfriend’s mother for the first time or realizing that they do, in fact, have a boyfriend.
Being a fan of the game is definitely a bonus where the story is concerned, but even if you aren’t, I think you’ll be able to appreciate this as a wonderful romance between two sexy, sweet men who just want to be able to love who they want on their own terms and are willing to fight for it.
May 20, 2016
4 Stars
To be completely honest, when I started reading this book I was thinking that it was going to be a miss for me. It took me awhile to connect with both of the MCs, and to be one invested in their journey. Matt is an All-Star baseball player who has played at the top of his sport for years, won just about every award but is aging fast and keeping a big secret. Iggy Is the new phenom on the scene, on track to make Rookie of the Year, and he too is keeping a secret.
This book is broken up into 4 sections, named aptly after the bases in baseball. In the first section these to hit it hot and heavy, and think this will be a convenient connection during the season, and a great way to keep their secrets and be discreet.
I really started to connect with to their story in the second section, when life thre them many challenges and obstacles. And as the story progressed I felt their challenges were huge and their fears were valid. It was heartfelt several times, and I really like the way their relationship was written, it felt real to me, in the end I really enjoyed where the story took me.
To be completely honest, when I started reading this book I was thinking that it was going to be a miss for me. It took me awhile to connect with both of the MCs, and to be one invested in their journey. Matt is an All-Star baseball player who has played at the top of his sport for years, won just about every award but is aging fast and keeping a big secret. Iggy Is the new phenom on the scene, on track to make Rookie of the Year, and he too is keeping a secret.
This book is broken up into 4 sections, named aptly after the bases in baseball. In the first section these to hit it hot and heavy, and think this will be a convenient connection during the season, and a great way to keep their secrets and be discreet.
I really started to connect with to their story in the second section, when life thre them many challenges and obstacles. And as the story progressed I felt their challenges were huge and their fears were valid. It was heartfelt several times, and I really like the way their relationship was written, it felt real to me, in the end I really enjoyed where the story took me.
July 27, 2016
Currently experiencing an Iggy & Matt withdrawal.
Perfect 5 stars!
Perfect 5 stars!
November 19, 2022
Kindle-Sort-ReRead
Dnf 20% (reread) Not feeling any chemistry between them just an odd vibe, the age difference feels pronounced; Iggy immature, idolising and running away. Plus baseball means nothing to me.
I think if I remember right it gets better, so could be just my current mood.
Dnf 20% (reread) Not feeling any chemistry between them just an odd vibe, the age difference feels pronounced; Iggy immature, idolising and running away. Plus baseball means nothing to me.
I think if I remember right it gets better, so could be just my current mood.
December 7, 2016
4,5 stars.
It was a very sweet book. There is a complex of themes that usually calls to my heart in sports m/m: having to stay in closet/choosing to come out, inside homophobia, potential backlash from fans. Also, the shortness of a professional sportsman carrier, and how all-consuming this kind of life is, and risk of traumas... the anguish of losses and the joy of victories. There is all this in Kate McMurray's 'Out In the Field', so it was completely satisfying this way.
It was also a pretty heartwarming romance. Both Matt and Iggy were extremely likable (I actually wasn't annoyed with either of them even once!) and at the same time they were strong and memorable personalities. I didn't connect with them immediately - but later I warmed up to them and cared for them a lot. It's actually what happens between them two - there is sexual attraction at first and they are convenient for each other. But later come real feelings. And I liked how realistically they had to get used to each other, had to overcome not just big problems but also small differences.
I don't think the book was perfect but it touched me and made me feel good, and I enjoyed it.
It was a very sweet book. There is a complex of themes that usually calls to my heart in sports m/m: having to stay in closet/choosing to come out, inside homophobia, potential backlash from fans. Also, the shortness of a professional sportsman carrier, and how all-consuming this kind of life is, and risk of traumas... the anguish of losses and the joy of victories. There is all this in Kate McMurray's 'Out In the Field', so it was completely satisfying this way.
It was also a pretty heartwarming romance. Both Matt and Iggy were extremely likable (I actually wasn't annoyed with either of them even once!) and at the same time they were strong and memorable personalities. I didn't connect with them immediately - but later I warmed up to them and cared for them a lot. It's actually what happens between them two - there is sexual attraction at first and they are convenient for each other. But later come real feelings. And I liked how realistically they had to get used to each other, had to overcome not just big problems but also small differences.
I don't think the book was perfect but it touched me and made me feel good, and I enjoyed it.
April 25, 2012
LOVED it. Looooooved it. Lauraadriana's review says it better than I can, but basically this is the sports romance I've always wanted. Kate McMurray clearly knows her baseball, and balances it beautifully with wonderful characters, a compelling coming-out plot, and great writing. Highly recommended.
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