by Clay Cormany
Genre: YA Romance
Release Date: November 4th 2014
Clean Reads
What does a high school boy do if he thinks the girl of his dreams will be an assistant for the softball team his mother coaches? Easy! He volunteers to be an assistant, too. That's what Jace Waldron does in Fast-Pitch Love. It might be his only chance to make a move on Stephanie Thornapple while her boyfriend is away. But Jace's plans go awry, and soon he faces the double challenge of coaching a team of mischievous preteen girls and learning there is more to romance than physical attraction.
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Praise:
"The
books has some unexpected twists and turns as the likeable but somewhat hapless
Jace grows into a young man who takes responsibility for his life and his
choices. Softball aficionados will have a particular affinity for this book
because its game descriptions are extensive and detailed. Those who don't know
softball will come to like and admire the young protagonist." Gretchen Hirsch, author and book doctor
"I
enjoyed this young adult novel by Clay Cormany. The story told from a guy's
perspective made it especially interesting. I think a lot of young women would
enjoy seeing romance from a guy's point of view. I also liked that the novel
was innocent without gratuitous sex or swear words." Paulita Kincer,
author of The Summer of France and Trail Mix
"Like the spin on a fastball, Fast-Pitch Love puts a new spin on the age old
boy meets girl phenomenon. And what a wonderful spin it is. Clay Cormany weaves
together the twin themes of teenage infatuation and a girls’ softball team.
Along the way he does a wonderful job of mixing the excitement of youth sports
with the impending showdown between two suitors of the same pretty girl."
The
Dane
The skinny student recoiled from the push, his back thumping into the
wall behind him. His books fell to the floor as he raised his hands to guard
against the punch that seemed imminent.
“Don't hit me, Carson,” the
student pleaded.“I didn't mean anything by it.”
Carson Ealy, all two hundred thirty pounds of him, loomed over the
frightened student like a hungry bear. “How can you say you 'didn't mean
anything by it,'?” he snarled. “You asked her out, didn't you?”
“Not … not really. I just
thought Stephanie might like to stop by my house to … to see my tropical fish.
She … she … she lives just around the corner from me and now that school's out
–”
“Shut up!” Carson yelled. He
grabbed the quivering boy under the armpits and lifted him until his shoes
dangled at least a foot off the floor. “Stephanie doesn't want to see your
stupid fish or your Barbie dolls or your beanie baby collection. She doesn't
even want you to ask her the time of day. And you know something else?”
The student, his face whiter than paste, shook his head.
“I don't want you to either
cause if you do, I'm going to twist your head off. Capisce?
The student nodded frantically. “Yeah, yeah, sure, I cap –”
Carson dropped the kid like an unwanted toy and watched him slink away.
The handful of students who witnessed the encounter also began to walk on. Some
of them might not have known what it was all about, but Jace Waldron did. He
knew the skinny student made the near-fatal mistake of putting a move on
Stephanie Thornapple. Jace had never made that mistake – but he sure thought
about it.
A new student at
Ridgeview High, Stephanie joined Jace's American history class right after
Christmas break. She sat a little ahead of him and one row to the right, giving
him a near-perfect position to admire her near-perfect beauty. Only minutes
before watching Carson bully the student with tropical fish, Jace had gazed at
Stephanie while working on his history final. In the midst of answering
questions about the Great Depression and the Cold War, he imagined himself
making out with her.
About the Author
Before writing Fast-Pitch Love, Clay Cormany spent over 20 years as a writer and editor for Ohio's State Board of Education. His creative work has appeared in numerous central Ohio publications, including the Columbus Dispatch and Spring Street, Columbus State Community College's literary magazine. He has also edited numerous books, including a three-volume biography of Christopher Columbus and A Death Prolonged by Dr. Jeff Gordon, which received coverage in the New York Times and on PBS. Fast-Pitch Love reflects the two years Cormany spent interacting with softball players and coaches both in practice and competition. He contributes the earnings from sale of the book to girls softball programs in central Ohio and elsewhere.
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This book sounds like something I'd really enjoy reading, thank you for sharing!
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