Called Out by Jen Doyle

AHHHH I am enjoying Jen Doyle's Calling It series so much that I've binged them all in less than a month! It's currently snowing outside, and I love the feeling of a warm summer day these books give me. I loved Jack's and Lola's story. Lola is a strong female character, and I loved her. She tells it like it is, but is also so sweet and understanding. I love that she's the pursuer in this relationship. as we so rarely see that. I was concerned about how I would feel about Jack, but I loved him too! This is more than just a romance, Nate and Jack are also given time to sort through their falling out and I really enjoyed that part of the story. I really felt for Jack, and loved seeing him process his past. What a nice ending to the series. I'm keeping my eye on Jen Doyle!

Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

This is what I'm talking about. When Jack has to come to his best friend, the man whose fiancee he slept with, to ask for a second chance, he knows there's an almost zero chance of it actually happening. But Inspiration surprises him in more ways than one when Nate agrees and then again when he meets Lola, widowed mom of 4 boys. What starts as an almost antagonistic relationship quickly becomes hot and the chemistry overtakes them. But there's a lot to consider including the damage his own parents did to his psyche and the overprotective men in town.

I loved the relationship that formed between the two of them, but even more, I loved how he was with her boys (both children and adult). The way he just took charge but was easy going and the way she fought for him to realize the goodness in him. I enjoyed this one.

“It could be, it might be… It is, A home run!” Harry Caray

It might be cliché, but I felt like I needed that quote to describe Called Out by Jen Doyle and being that her fictional baseball team calls Chicago home, I also felt it was appropriate. I have loved this series from the start, but Called Out is simply phenomenal. Given that the “hero” would probably call himself an anti-hero, and the heroine is a widow who is a single mom to four young boys, I was skeptical when I started this book, but Ms. Doyle expertly crafted this book and allowed her characters to go through many changes as the story unfolded giving the readers a unique and fantastic romance.

After sleeping with his friend and teammate’s fiancée and not even remembering it, Jack “Ox” Oxford is a baseball pariah, add to that his worst season ever in the majors and his career is tanking fast, his only hope to get the friend who he betrayed to vouch for him which means heading to Nate’s small hometown to apologize, eat crow, and beg if he has to. What he doesn’t expect is to help a stranded woman and her four children with a flat tire on his way into town or the impact they have on his life.

From their first meeting it was evident that widow and single mom, Lola McIntire, wasn’t going to cut Jack any slack. A close friend of Nate, Lola was firmly in Nate’s corner and was disappointed in Jack’s behavior mainly because he is her seven year old son, Silas’ baseball hero, but also because of how he hurt her friend. Despite the fact that Nate came home and found the true love of his life, Lola’s holding a grudge, but the feelings Jack stirs in her body are something entirely different than hate.

Jack has some big time issues stemming from the way he was raised, despite being a confident man he lacks self esteem and truly believes he’s not a good guy or worthy of anyone’s love or time. The more time he spends in Inspiration and with Nate, his inner circle, and Lola and her sons we see positive changes in him. I especially respected Nate for being able to put the incident behind them and help Jack realize his value. Lola became a fierce supporter of Jack and while she worried constantly that she or her son’s hearts would be broken by him since he firmly stated he was not worth of love or a relationship, she could not stop spending time with him when able. I admired Jack for being upfront and honest about what he thought was his inability to love, but in actions showed a much different man especially with Lola and her kids.

I loved watching the relationship between Jack and Lola grow and evolve during this book and I appreciated that in front of her children they were friends despite being more when they had time alone. The fact that they both shared things with one another that they hadn’t shared with anyone else, not even their closest friends was testament to their growing bond even when they both felt it had an end date to it.

There was so much I loved about this story including the way it was laced with humor, the mature way conflict was handled most of the time, and while this was a busy book with a lot going on, this couple’s relationship was still the focus in this book, everything else in it revolved around it.

Simply put, Jen Doyle hit this one over the wall, out of the park, and probably broke a windshield in the parking lot because Called Out is a home run of epic proportions.

entertaining and mostly well written story overall.
I just wish that net galley would mark more clearly that this book was the third on in a series since then i would have never requested it!
Still not a bad read and all in all entertains and good enough.

I adore Jen Doyle and I have been dearly missing her on my reader! She writes sweet, sexy romance that I can count on for a few laughs and so many relatable moments!

I can't wait for more from her!

Thank you for sharing this with me early!

Called Out is the 3rd in a series and this book follows Ox and Lola. In October 2016 I had read Called Up, which follows Fitz and Deke. Some backstory: Ox slept with his friend Nate's fiance and got her pregnant. Oz is heading to Nate's to ask him permission to be hired by his boss so the two can be on the same baseball team. He ends up coming across Lola who has a flat tire. Nate ends up oking Ox getting a job with him and tells him that he has to help him fix up a house in the morning - which is going to be given to Lola. Ox ends up moving into Lola's basement with his dog and Lola's oldest son Silas gets very attached to him. He ends up falling for Lola but they try to keep their relationship under wraps so that her kids or their friends don't find out until they know how they want to proceed. Ox ends up having to leave to go to Spring Training so he can prove himself and get a spot on the team - he ends up getting and offer - but does he take it? Or will love win out instead?

I really love reading the baseball romance books and this one did not disappoint. I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review, I was not otherwise compensated.

The Calling It series has quickly become a favourite and an easy recommendation for me. I particularly liked this one as Jack and Lola are so different from previous characters. Jack had a lot to learn, and those kids of Lola cracked me up. I really enjoyed how Jack had to figure out his own problems and grow as a person a little in order to become better overall.

Warning do not read this book unless you want to ignore anything and everything around you because you won't be able to put it down. If you have not already figured it out i loved this book it was fast paced, funny sad and everything in between.

Jack betrayed his best friend Nick in the worst way. Lola is a widow with 2 boys who is also friends with Nick. So when Jack stops to help her with a flat tire she is not very nice to him, but who can blame her.

I highly recommend this book, you will not regret it.

Thank you netgalley and Carina Press for allowing me to read this title for an honest review.

Probably my least favorite of the series so far. I wasn't invested in the relationship.

I totally loved this book, the emotions were so overwhelming at times, I ran through the gamut of them. When first meeting Jack, I wasn't really impressed with him & I kind of thought he deserved everything that was happening to him. As the story went on though I enjoyed seeing the totally different person that he was & why he actually did what he did. It was surprising & unexpected. I loved Lola from the very first sounds out of her mouth, she was so funny, headstrong, pushy, loyal & totally loveable. The back & forth between her & Jack in the beginning was interesting to see who would win out, but it turned out they both did. I truly loved Lola's boys, they were so cute & Silas the oldest with his old soul speaking the truth every time he pointed out why Jack & Lola should be more than friends. I totally loved Jack with the boys & giggled every time he called the triplets by 1, 2, 3 or 1A, 1B, 1C just to get Lola's goat. Seeing the group of family & friends from the other books was wonderful too. I can't wait to see who the next book is going to be about. Definitely recommend.

I received this book as an ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and the publisher. Jack is the man who slept with his teammate Nate’s fiancée. Jack also wants to sign with Nate’s team, but first has to mend things him. Lola is a good friend of Nate, a widow and the mother of triplet boys and Silas, for whom Jack is a baseball hero. So the fun begins. I loved this book starting with Jack and Lola’s first encounter over a flat tire. While she doesn’t want to be attracted to Jack, she is. Jack begins to mend things with Nate and tried to get closer to Lola. Nate is willing to try. Jacks wants to get closer to Lola, but doesn’t believe he deserves happiness. Lola keeps pushing Jack away, though she really doesn’t want to. Lola’s brother and friends want to warn Jack away, but she is not having any of that. She can do that herself. But can she keep it up? Author Jen Doyle keeps us guessing as to what will happen throughout the story. This book provided lots of entertainment. I laughed and maybe shed a few tears too. The characters are people I want to know and learn more about.

This is the third in this series and much like the previous two, I really enjoyed it. It could be read as a stand alone, but it works better if you’ve read the previous ones and fully understand the damage that Jack has done.

Lola is a single mother of three small kids. Her husband died a few years back. She has an incredibly strong support network and isn’t on the hunt for a new husband/dad. I love a good single parent trope, especially when the other MC isn’t all that thrilled with kids and then they love the kids and the parent. It worked pretty well here, my biggest quibble in relation to the children is that Jack definitely connects better with the older son, Silas, and never really with the twins.

Jack is kind of a jerk. At least he was a jerk to Nate, hero from book one. They played on the same baseball team and Jack slept with Nate’s then girlfriend/fiancee. So needless to say Jack and Nate are not on good terms.

Anyway, Jack doesn’t believe he is worthy of love. He knows he ruined the friendship that he and Nate had, but he felt somewhat justified in his reasons for being involved with Courtney. Jack has shitty parents and never learned he was worth love and that he could give love. I love a hero that learns about love with the heroine.

One of my favorite things about all of these books are the way that Doyle brings together a community of friends. It isn’t overpowering and doesn’t take over this couple’s story, but it is definitely there. It’s clear they all love each other and that is fun to read. I love when the MCs have relationships with friends/family. Because Jack is a bit of a pariah, it isn’t all great, but he does know the people of the town and that makes for some fun exchanges.

Of the three books, I think may have been the sexiest. Lola has agency over her body and sex life and I enjoyed that. There wasn’t a ton of the back and forth, should I or shouldn’t I about the sex. And any guilt she may have had seemed like it came from a place of “I don’t need to get involved with an available man” and not so much guilt or shame over the sex itself. There is a scene where Lola’s brother finds out there is a thing between Lola and Jack and isn’t happy and Lola basically tells him she’s a grown ass woman and she’ll have sex with whomever she pleases. I was cheering for her!

Overall this was a solid read. I really enjoy the community in these books. I love that the heroine has agency over her body and sexuality. I love a hero that believes himself unworthy of love and then learns from time, patience, and others loving him that he is in fact worthy of being loved and loving others. I believed in their love story. Jack redeemed himself, but still remained flawed.
Favorite quote:
“I think it’s time for you to go,” she whispered. He didn’t want to. Not because he hadn’t had the chance to touch her yet in the way he wanted to. It was worse than that. He wanted to hold her and let her cry, or be angry, or not even do anything at all. And he didn’t want to leave. Ever. “Yeah,” he said, folding the towel and placing it on a hook. “I know I should.” He threaded his fingers through her hair, and tilted her head up to him. “But I’m not going to.”

My main quibbles were the twins didn’t have an active role in the story and I felt like they bordered on plot moppets. Additionally there was a subplot about this house that Lola wanted and Jack was doing the work on. It kind of disappeared for a while and then popped back up at the end. I don’t know if there will be more in this series, but I definitely look forward to reading more books by this author.

Grade: B-

I absolutely loved this book. As I said in my Goodreads review, this made me laugh out loud at times. The last third of the book, I found myself tearing up. I want more Jen Doyle!

Kids do the darnedest things. This was no different when it came to this read with Lola and Jack and of course Lola’s boys. This was the first read this year that show a real single parent that had the resposiblitlies of truly taking on a family. Lola was the single mother to four boys. She was doing it and let nothing get in her way. She was determined not to allow for some ball player to change any of that. Being a single parent is hard. Being a single parent of four boys in this world could be considered a monumental task. Lola tackled it like a champ.

Jack was a man on a mission. He had done something wrong that he cannot remember doing but has been told that he did in fact do it. He needs to apologize for the incident and regain his friendship and respect in his profession. Taking this journey for him was more than just about apologizing. It was his chance to redeem himself to himself. He has never thought much about who or what he did. His actions had consequences. He learned on his journey that there are more ways to make an impact on one’s life. He becomes a man in more ways that just being the man of the moment, to the ladies or the fans. He becomes a man that he could be proud of.

There are many things that occur during this read that shows you the evolution of Jack when he comes to town and in the end. Lola, her boys, and Nate all play an impactful part in helping Jack learn more about himself. This for me was a romance for a single mother and her boys. While at the same time being the opportune read for a man learning more about himself.

I very much enjoyed this read. I found it to be the perfect addition to the series. It progressed in a manner that allowed for you to read it as a stand along but still had you wanting to know more about Nate and his journey towards Dorie. If you have had the pleasure of reading just one book in this series, pick up this one. If you need a place to start, then start right here.

I really loved how this story kept me on my toes. The humor, the love for family-which doesn't have to be blood, and small towns. This is book 3 in the Calling it series and probably my favorite, since it is a chance at second chance love. Jack is worth being loved, he just wasn't expecting it to be Lola and her 4 boys. How can you not love a second chance at love?! Lola lost her love years ago and now she is worried that her heart is falling for the one man, Jack. Jack is needing some redemption and he needs it from his best friend, Nate- yes he slept with Nate's fiance but he needs his support to play baseball with him.

This book not only gave Lola and Jack a story it allowed Lola's boys to have a part of it. Lola was not afraid to tell you how it is and I think this is what made Jack fall for her, he just wasn't ready to fall.

Rest of my review is on my YouTube channel- A Day With Ethel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC90d8blEE-K73bKClgkPrDQ

OMG I think this one is my favorite in the series so far. I absolutely loved Jack and Lola!

The last place that Jack Oxford thought he would ever find himself was in Iowa looking for his ex-best friend Nate. But after the year he just had, he would do anything to be back on the field and even more to have his friend back, even though he knows he's not worthy of him. So when he runs into Lola McIntire on his way into town, along with her kids and gets the cold shoulder from the beautiful woman, he knows that he has a long road ahead of him.

After being stuck on the side of the road with her four boys and the sexy man she knows as Jack - the Iceman - Oxford pulls up behind her, she knows she should be loyal to her friend Nate, but there are definitely some sparks that are flying between herself and Jack. She can't help it if her body lights on fire every time he looks at her. I mean it's been almost 3 years since her husband died and a girl can have a fantasy right? What she never expected was to come face to face with the sexy pitcher again at the house she bought from Nate and finds herself in a battle of the wills - trying to keep herself from giving in to the sexy seductive man who for some reason finds her attractive. He knows she has 4 kids right?

Jack and Lola are explosive together. Their story is full of heart and heartache. Because of Jack's past, he feels he's unworthy of love and after Lola's husband's death, she feels she'll never find a love again. These two broken souls heal each other in ways they never thought possible. I loved Jack and his sexy, sultry way of getting under Lola's skin.

Jen has a way of pulling you in and wrapping you up in characters that make you feel and cheer for them. An absolute favorite series of mine and I can't wait for more of the Boys of Summer. <3

Have you ever had a book sit in your library and when you finally get to it and read it, you're angry at yourself for waiting so long?!? That was me with Called Out.

I freaking loved this book. I started reading it at 8 at night and was up until 2 am to finish it. I simply never found a point where I wanted to put Jack and Lola's story down. Hell, if I could go back and experience it again for the first time right now - I would do immediately.

Jack screwed up. Big time. You don't need me to tell you how, but if you've read the previous books you know that he made a poor choice and has been paying for it for the last year. He wants to fix things in his life - especially his baseball career but to do so he needs the person he hurt most to be gracious toward him.

His journey toward finding his way brings him directly into Lola's life. A widow with four young boys. Neither one is what the other thought they wanted but their friendship and budding relationship is exactly what they needed.

It's an incredible book. The storyline not only exceeded all of my expectations but Jack and Lola truly gave me all the feels you could ask for in romance book. One moment I was laughing, another page I was breathing heavy or yet another I was left with a heavy heart - feeling overly emotional. I loved it.

Don't make my mistake. Pick this book up as well as the other ones in the series. I promise you will not regret it.

I read the first book, Calling It, and fell in love with Doyle’s writing.  She delivers down to earth, regular people who are engaging and interesting but not too full of drama.  Their problems seem normal and relatable, and you finish the book feeling like you just made friends.  In Called Out she once again givers her readers characters that they can fall for and a story that captivates. 

If you read Calling It you remember Jack because he was Nate’s best friend … until Jack slept with Nate’s fiancé … and got her pregnant.  If you haven’t read it, don’t worry – Doyle makes sure you know all about it  :)  But what we didn’t get before were a lot of details and no we get Jack’s side of the story! 

And I feel so bad for the guy.  His childhood, while privileged, was awful.  His parents were (and still are) emotionally abusive, so Jack has a hard time truly valuing his worth off the baseball field.  He’s never really let himself get involved, with anyone.  Until Nate.  And he screwed it up, publicly and big time.  Now he’s going to do what he can to at least salvage his career because he doesn’t feel like he can really expect anything more. 

Lola is struggling to raise four boys on her own but she has a great support system of friends and family.  And that includes Nate.  So being attracted to the man who treated him so terribly is definitely not something she wants.  But as she spends time with Jack it gets harder and harder to resist him.  Especially when she finds out there is more to the man that the cold demeanor he’s shown the world. 

Mouthy, flirty, sexy Jack is so much fun.  And he just loves getting under Lola’s skin, which is such a hoot.  She’s not afraid to give back, though, which is fun as well.  But it's when Jack’s secrets and fears start coming out that we truly start to understand the man.  That’s when he steals our hearts.

Emotionally-driven but humorous and fun, Doyle delivers a powerhouse romance that's the perfect summer read.

When Jen Doyle tells a story, it is filled with charming characters you want to get to know personally, it has humor that makes the drama and troubles of the protagonists lives bearable, it has adoration and admiration, sexy scenes that nearly melt the pages, it has friends and family, it has life, loving, and living, even death. There are few authors whose voice as they tell a story mesmerizes my mind, every single time, and I get lost in the pages, in the story, in the lives of characters of the book. Called Out I pretty much inhaled one rainy afternoon, all 100 000 words of it. It is a compelling story of forgiveness, redemption, new chances in life, friendship, parenthood, and most of all it is about learning to love.
Lola Deacon McIntire is a widow, a mother of four, a sister, a friend, a business owner. She wears all her hats admirably, she has spunk, attitude, and temper. She would do anything for her family and friends, and she is not afraid to stand up for herself or for her loved ones when the need arises. It was impossible not to admire her, and the fire for life she has. A smart, passionate lady with a beautiful soul.
Jack "Ox" Oxford has mastered the ice cool cover image he hides behind. He learned at the early age that to show emotion leads to trouble, to have personal expectations will lead to disappointments. He was made to believe he is not worthy since he was a young boy, and the message was honed in at every opportunity through his life. Yet inside there is a deeply feeling, vulnerable, kind man with a big heart. I felt for Jack. The more I got to know him and about him the more I liked him. He really is an honest, solid man.
I loved his moments with One, Two, Three, and Si, the kids, talk about swoon worthy hero! And I adored Jack and Lola together, the way they center each other, the connection so palpable it was obvious to everyone around them, the feelings that were growing and taking a strong root, the newness of it all for Jack, it was sweet, it was ardent, and it made me smile.
The foundation of the story is one event, a mistake Jack made, that had a tsunami kind of ripple-effect on everyone's lives on a very large scale. While I absolutely loved the story I kept expecting more information, details, of the life-changing moment and the results of it. Because if I was to believe that Jack is the man that I saw behind the walls, the man he developed to be through the story, he would have been dealing with the results of the devastation he left behind. I am trying not to give out anything away and still say why I had so many questions in my mind as I finished this story and why did it not have a perfect score at the end - I felt a major issue was nearly ignored and left hanging.
Called out hit all the emotions while I was reading it. There was laughter, sighs, smiles, triumph, tears, pleasure, frustration, grief, and heartache. It is an entertaining and captivating story, well written with a fluent flow and witty dialog.
~ Four Spoons

4.5 Stars

I highly enjoyed this book. Jack is looking to make a comeback in his baseball career and find some forgiveness/redemption for the horrible thing he did to his best friend. Lola is just looking to survive single motherhood, but Jack calls to her. A more unlikely pair Lola and Jack, but when you see them together it's not so strange as it seems. Lola sees in Jack what others overlook. When Jack is with Lola's boys total swoon worthy material. I thought it was beautiful the way Jack grows as a person in this book. I highly recommend this book.