The Boys of Summer

Sara Carpenter grew up as the daughter of jet setting parents, and they owned several homes all over the world.  At the age of twenty-five, Sara has never had a real home, until now.  Her friend, Ruby convinced Sara to buy a house in the Foothills of Tucson, which Sara decorated herself and finally she feels like she belongs somewhere.  With it being summertime, baseball takes center stage to everything since Ruby’s husband coaches the local minor league team - the Sidewinders.  With the Sidewinders doing well, Ruby and Sara are discussing the team when Ruby lets Sara in on the fact that the weak pitching staff of the team will soon be fixed. But all she said was that “it’s gonna be one helluva summer”, just before Jesse Matthews showed up on his Harley.

Jesse Matthews has spent the last six years as a starting pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Every time he’s been injured and doing a stint in the minor leagues. While doing rehab after various surgeries, Sara and Jesse had hook up.  They had only been together as long as he had been in rehab and then he’d be off again to his major league team, leaving Sara behind.  It’s been two years this time since they’d last been together.  Sara debates the wisdom of seeing Jesse but knows her heart's involved and even when he goes back to the major league leaving her behind again, he’ll take her heart with him.  This boy of summer is back and he may be playing for keeps this time.

Ava McKnight combines the love of baseball with a long distance love affair and writes a story that is sure to touch your heart while indulging your fantasies about hunky baseball players.  I particularly enjoyed the fact that Sara has finally found a place to belong.  As a child of a military parent, I was easily able to associate with her need to have a home and a feeling of belonging.  Jesse’s obvious love of baseball shines through the pages, even as he debates his options, you can feel his enjoyment of the sport.  Sara and Jesse’s passion for each other is so hot they practically result in spontaneous combustion.  The Boys of Summer is the perfect short story to heat up what’s left of summer and keep you warm through the fall.