Joanne Rock - Sliding Into Home

Praise for Joanne Rock

Any book by Joanne Rock is guaranteed to be a winner!

CataRomance on She Thinks Her Ex Is Sexy

Joanne Rock writes them hot and scorching.

Fallen Angel Reviews

Hot sex, a spooky mystery, an isolated island cut off by a storm, ghosts, danger, and romancenot to mention the perfect ending.

Romantic Times BOOK reviews on Getting Lucky

Grabs you by the throat and leaves you breathless.

Romance Junkies on Up Close and Personal

For frolicking, sexy fun, Joanne Rock always delivers!

New York Times bestselling author Julie Leto

Sensual stories, sexy heroes and sassy heroinesfabulous Joanne Rock delivers keeper-shelf reads!

RITA Award-winning author Catherine Mann

Blaze

Dear Reader,

Its difficult to pinpoint when I first became enamored with sports heroes. From high school football games to college basketball, I always enjoyed whooping it up for the home team. Its a joy that only grew after marrying a pitcher on my colleges baseball teama pitcher who went on to be a sports editor for a variety of newspapers around the country. During those years I had the pleasure of learning about sports from the inside outthe human dramas underlying the plays on the field.

And while my husband was always more interested in the forces that shaped an athlete for greatness, Ill admit I occasionally speculated on a players love life. What can I say? We were each called to our professions for a reason! I hope you will enjoy the inside peek into four players romantic journeys during pivotal moments in their careers, in Sliding into Home.

Its always a pleasure to hear from readers. You can reach me at joanne@joannerock.com.

Happy reading!

Joanne Rock

Sliding Into Home

JOANNE ROCK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Three-time RITA Award nominee Joanne Rock turned a passion for writing into a career after imaginary characters kept her awake at night, demanding she tell their stories. The author of more than thirty romances in a variety of subgenres, she has been an avid fan of romance since stumbling upon a Silhouette First Love novel as a preteen. After moving around the country for her husbands career, she now calls the gorgeous Adirondack Mountains homeat least until lifes next adventure. Learn more about Joanne and her work by visiting her at joannerock.com or myspace.com/joanne_rock.

Books by Joanne Rock

HARLEQUIN BLAZE

139DATE WITH A DIVA

171SILK CONFESSIONS*

182HIS WICKED WAYS*

240UP ALL NIGHT

256HIDDEN OBSESSION

305DONT LOOK BACK**

311JUST ONE LOOK**

363A BLAZING LITTLE CHRISTMAS His for the Holidays

381GETTING LUCKY

395UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

450SHE THINKS HER EX IS SEXY

457ALWAYS READY

HARLEQUIN HISTORICAL

749THE BETROTHAL Highland Handfast

758MY LADYS FAVOR

769THE LAIRDS LADY

812THE KNIGHTS COURTSHIP

890A KNIGHT MOST WICKED

To my three sons, whose athletic prowess is

always fun to watch.

And to Dean, the template for each of them.

Thank you for your great genes and for

teaching me all about swinging for the fences.

BRODY DAVIS IS AT IT AGAIN, folks. Big Apple Sports Radio disc jockey Brian Marshall launched into his morning topic without prelude as he sat down at a microphone for the drive time show. Having little tolerance for punks who disrespect the hallowed game of baseball, the Boston Aces catcher body slammed one of the National Leagues top players, Chicago Flames Javier Velasquez in last nights action.

Brians color commentator was still buttering his bagel and hadnt taken the chair beside him yet, but Brian never needed a lot of help beefing up the sports news. With antics like this to talk about, baseballs stars made his job easy. He settled deeper into his rolling chair behind the blinking red studio light that told the rest of the world he was on the air.

And on his game. Brian lived for this stuff.

Velasquez, who hit his league-leading 32nd homer earlier in the game, he continued, warming to the subject, appeared to boast about his titanic blast while digging in for his second at bat. Davis then called for a high heater, which Boston pitcher Dane Kroc delivered under the chin of Velasquez, who dropped his bat and started toward the mound. Only, Davis would have none of ithe ripped off his mask, grabbed Velasquez, and drove him into the turf, an action sure to draw some sort of suspension.

Ozzie, his color man, was at the ready by now, his bagel dripping butter on the Styrofoam plate as he wheeled his chair closer to his mike.

The kid definitely needs some grooming from the older players. Ozzie downplayed the story just as Brian had been getting good and revved up. Why did he always have to be Mr. Smooth and Mellow, especially with good dirt like this? Its the third time this season Davis will get some unwanted time offonce the commissioners office reviews the tapesand both he and Velasquez are sure to be fined heavily.

Last nights incident was just one of many this year involving some of the games most recognized names. And despite the countless replays ESPN was sure to show of Daviss knuckles digging into Velasquezs rib cage, this was not a case where any publicity was good publicity.

But this was the stuff listeners tuned in for.

So what do you think, Oz? Is baseball in more trouble than usual? Weve seen a lot of tabloid-ready escapades from some of the sports premier players.

Ozzie pressed a button for a track of the seventh inning stretch sound effect to fill some space while he finished chewing, then chimed in.

At the end of the day, they can drive a ninety-five-mile-per-hour fastball five hundred feet. Or flash some of the finest leather in the league. Thats what brings the fans out and in my opinion, thats what will drive the big money contracts at the end of the season.

Geez. Could this guy be any more of a buzz kill?

Well see about that, Oz. But since some of todays top defensive players are dominating the headlines, I think we need to talk about Gold Gloves or Bold Thugs. These guys are sure-handed and smooth, rarely dropping the ball on the field, but routinely doing so off it. Listeners, we want to hear what you think.

Oz cracked a grin and shook his head. So whos on the thug list?

While the switchboard started lighting up in response to the topic, Brian reeled off a few of the guys they were highlighting to keep the comments focused.

First up is Brody Davis, one of the brawlers in last nights melee. He was the hope of his franchise last year when the team called him up from the minors. But the moves that dazzled fans in Triple A wont cut it in the majors if Davis cant put a lid on his temper. This is one slugger who might find himself without a contract next spring, even if he manages to capture the fielding recognition his stats deserve.

Oz was juggling calls, but he piped up as he put someone on hold.

Weve already got some votes for our tarnished hometown hero, too. Oz laid in a track of the chant used at the stadium when New Yorks big hitter came to the plate. Lance Montero seems to be making the list, but I have to warn our listeners that I dont think being popular with the ladies is the same as being a thug.