Stealing Home

Seventeen-year-old Ryan Russell works at her family's baseball stadium concession business while pursuing her dream of becoming a sports reporter. Her path intersects with Nate Hawkins, the son of a competing business owner who has proposed taking over management of the ballpark's concessions. Ryan must balance her reporting ambitions, the intense competition for a summer internship at the local newspaper, and her efforts to protect her family's decades-old business legacy. The situation grows more complex as she navigates her conflicting feelings about Nate and questions what it means to stay loyal to her family. Baseball culture and business operations serve as the backdrop for a story about ambition, family expectations, and first love. The novel explores themes of legacy versus progress, and how young people forge their own paths while honoring their roots.

Readers describe this YA romance as a light, quick read that balances baseball with relationship drama. Positive feedback focuses on: - Chemistry between main characters - Authentic baseball scenes and terminology - Family dynamics and friendships - Fast pacing - Clean content appropriate for younger teens Common criticisms include: - Predictable plot points - Underdeveloped secondary characters - Romance moves too quickly - Some baseball scenes slow the pacing Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (230+ ratings) BookBub: 4.3/5 (150+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Perfect blend of sports and swoony moments" - Goodreads reviewer "Would have liked more depth to the side characters" - Amazon reviewer "The baseball terminology might be confusing for non-fans" - BookBub reviewer "Sweet romance but follows a familiar formula" - Goodreads reviewer

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🏆 Author Becky Wallace worked in sports broadcasting for six years, including time with ESPN, giving her unique insight into the baseball world she writes about in the novel. ⚾ The book's protagonist, Ryder, faces the real challenge many female sports journalists encounter of proving their knowledge and credibility in a male-dominated field. 💕 While the novel features baseball prominently, it was written to appeal to both sports fans and romance readers, blending athletic competition with young love. 🎯 The story takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home of the Pirates MLB team, and incorporates authentic details about the city's baseball culture. 👥 Several characters in the book were inspired by actual baseball players and sports journalists Wallace met during her broadcasting career, though she has never revealed specific identities.