Out in the Field [Kindle Edition]

Kate McMurray (Author)

Book Description

Genre: LGBT Multicultural

Matt Blanco has had a Hall-of-Fame-worthy career as the first baseman for the legendary Brooklyn Eagles, but age and a knee injury are threatening to end it. That's when rookie Ignacio Rodriguez walks into his life. Matt has a policy of not getting involved with anyone for fear that they might share his secret with the world: that he's a gay professional athlete. But this new rookie has him wanting to throw that policy out the window.

Iggy Rodriguez just got everything he ever wanted: a position in the starting lineup of the Brooklyn Eagles, his favorite team since he was a kid. Even better, he's playing alongside his idol Matt Blanco. A locker room encounter one day reveals that he and Matt have even more in common than he would have guessed.

When Matt and Iggy fall for each other, they have a hard road ahead, their path to happiness blocked by injuries, trades, and the New York media hungry for a scandal. Fate has pitched them a game-winning run, but will the choice between love and baseball make them with a no-hitter instead?

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: male/male sexual practices.

Product Details

• File Size: 644 KB
• Print Length: 214 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Loose Id LLC (April 23, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007X09GNM
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,220 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it! April 27, 2012

By Peter Todd

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The baseball novel has a proud tradition in American literature, and in the best of those novels the game of baseball becomes almost a character in itself. This is one of those novels where the author's love of the game shines through clearly, providing a wonderful backdrop for the story of two men falling in love under difficult circumstances.

Inevitably there will be comparisons between this book and Peter Lefcourt's The Dreyfus Affair: A Love Story which was recently released for the Kindle. I loved that book; I love this book. Each tells a story of love and coming out in baseball, though in two different eras. I always thought Lefcourt's story was a fairy tale, you should pardon the expression. Very unlikely to have happened in that way at that time. I think McMurray's present day scenario much more likely.

You don't have to care about baseball to enjoy this book, but if you do, that love will add an extra dimension to your enjoyment.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow April 26, 2012

By divalcious

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I just finished reading this and immediately decided to write a review. This was such a good book. It was well written and realistic seeming and I loved the relationship between Matt and Iggy, which was so well done. They seemed like a real couple going through real challenges, instead of the unrealistic almost-married-at first-sight deal that most M/M romances seem to portray. There was no overwrought angst, but real problems that any gay couple might have to face if they were in Matt and Iggy's situation. In fact, they seemed like they could just walk right off the page. The sex even was so well done and realistic seeming...I think the author has been doing her research, which is awesome.

It was also edited well and I didn't find any typos, the opposite of which seems to be a standard in most M/M romances that I've read (a lot). I'm just extremely excited about this book and would recommend it to anyone that likes a really good story.

Enjoy!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars wonderful romance, just wish it had been longer July 1, 2012

By Center

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This was a nice story. It was believable and I loved both characters so much I wanted more of them. I thought the author did a good job with character development and the plot was great. My only complaint is that I thought the book was too short for the time span it tackles. It takes place over 4 years, which I loved and found it added a lot of believability to the story, but I found myself a bit frustrated a number of times as it was clear we'd jumped many months between chapters. I'd have liked a little more about how they fell for each other, the months long lead up to their temporary separation, etc. But story wise, it was really great, and I'd recommend it. 4 1/2 stars.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great baseball romance April 25, 2012

By Kimbermcfar

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I REALLY ENJOYED THIS STORY.. Matt was a famous Italian first baseman with a bum knee..looking retirement in the face when Iggy was traded in to his ball team. Iggy was a hotshot rookie of Dominican descent. There was also almost 15 years differece in their ages.. the only thing they had in common was baseball and being gay...But it was enough! This was a lovely believable romance.Their HEA did not come easily.. But they did have their family and friends behind them.. It did take them awhile to decide what they had was worth fighting for..but when they did they refused to back down.
3508 locations..a good read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good smutty story but lacks in character development August 16, 2012

By Nikyta Jenkins

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

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. Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully written relationship June 5, 2012

By Dianne

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'll start by saying I stayed up until 2am to finish this book. The main characters of Iggy and Matt faced a whole host of issues, any one of which could have been spun into endless angst, let alone the combination of them all. The 13 year age difference;Iggy being the star rookie and Matt being the aging, injured future hall of famer; having a relationship as co-workers; ultimately having a long distance relationship; "work" being playing on a major league baseball team, and oh yes... being closeted gay men playing a major league sport. Thankfully,rather than an angst-fest, the author takes us on a realistic, emotional journey over several years in the lives of these two men.

When I started this book I wasn't sure if the focus was going to be on how the aforementioned issues were handled in the relationship between Iggy and Matt, or on the fallout from the public upon learning of the gay players. While it was a combination, I was pleased that it focused mainly on the relationship. The author gives us full insight into what both characters are feeling and I love that they worked through the difficulties they faced together, rather than Matt pushing Iggy away as he originally thought would be best. It's really especially nice to see a younger character such as Iggy portrayed as sensitive, patient, wise and loving. Both men also had great supportive friends who played important roles.

I love how their issues were resolved by the end of the book, including how supportive their ball team was in the end. What the author didn't explore in much depth was reaction from media and fans, however some negative and quite a bit of positive was evident. I have a feeling that the climate is swinging quite a bit to the positive in real life. I certainly hope so. Thanks for the great read Kate!

More About the Author

Kate is a nonfiction editor. Also, she is crafty (mostly knitting and sewing, but she also wields power tools), she plays the violin, and she dabbles in various other pursuits. She's maybe a tiny bit obsessed with baseball. She lives in Brooklyn, NY, with a presumptuous cat.