This book had potential, but I had trouble getting into it. I found myself getting really irritated with the main character. He was nothing but wonderful to her and he made it clear he wanted it be a real relationship, but through most of the book she wouldn't believe it. It was really frustrating. I also found the relationship between the three men to be confusing at time. I'm here for close male relationships, but it seemed at sometimes it was insinuated that they were more than friends, which as well is a plot I could get behind if that was the case, but it just want clear.
Also I felt like there were three/four major plots and it was 1 too many. I think I could have done with out the bio dad coming back because it just didn't really make sense to me and seemed out of place. I did like that it gave Linc a chance to claim her and Greer, but I think it could have been done in conjunction with some of the other plots.
I really wanted to like this book. And there were parts of it I did like. I like the way Linc liked her from the start and they way the fat representation as handled, but there was just too much other stuff.
I enjoyed it enough that I am excited to read the last book in the series, I'm just hoping I am able to follow it a little better.

A Sweet Spot for Love hit a sweet spot for me. Linc and Emma had great chemistry, and I loved the addition of having a kid around to complicate things but also show more on traditional relationships, which I would definitely like to see more of in publishing! The fake engagement had some funny moments and definitely a lot of swoon.

Thanks to Entangled Publishing, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

This book features a curvy, single mum and a ex-pro baseball player who collide in the best possible way, learn about each other and themselves and fall in lurve. It's racy and it's lots of fun to read. I just found that, towards the end Linc acted a little out of character (just for the extra drama) and that seemed a little off-base (excuse the pun) for me.

The rest was great fun to read and I am looking forward to Mitchell's story. The author's style is easy to read, there' plenty of other cameos to keep you entertained and the book is a great escape from reality.

I love books about sports and A sweet Spot for Love did not disappoint! I thought MMC along was the sweetest most genuine guy and he just made Emma feel so loved even despite her insecurities. Throw in baseball as the theme here and it was a Homerun for me!!

I’m a sucker for sports romance. It’s a combo I adore. This one was cute— single mom and baseball player. It’s a fun book to read.

Single parent
Curvy MFC
Sports romance
Fake relationship
Small town
Slow burn
Diverse/multicultural


Single mother, Emma and baseball player Linc start a fake relationship when Linc needs help convincing an investor that he is a settled family man. No surprises when playing pretend turns into something real.

Good dialogue , great characters, and a great friend/family circle make this an entertaining read.

"The Perfect Game" by Aliyah Burke is a steamy and heartwarming romance novel that will keep readers engaged from start to finish. The book follows former pro baseball player, Linc Conner, who is now focused on running his community center and helping kids in need. However, when he meets single mom Emma Henricksen, Linc finds himself struggling to resist her charms.

The chemistry between Linc and Emma is palpable from the very beginning, and it's clear that they are both fighting their attraction to each other. Emma is a strong, independent woman who has dedicated her life to raising her gifted daughter, and Linc is a charming and charismatic man who is used to getting what he wants. When Linc needs Emma's help to convince an investor they are engaged, Emma agrees to play along, but soon realizes that their pretend relationship is starting to feel all too real.

The author does an excellent job of building tension and creating a sense of anticipation throughout the story. Readers will find themselves rooting for Linc and Emma to overcome their differences and find happiness together. The dialogue is witty and engaging, and the secondary characters add depth and complexity to the story.

This was a good book - definitely on par with many of the books I have bought recently to read on the go.

This book had all the tropes I love!
Fake Dating
Sports Theme
And even, single mom( done right!)

I love the body diversity and the way that the MMC is just crazy about the FMC. As usually happens with fake dating the way that they start getting to know each other and falling for each other was just delicious.
I love a good slow burn with amazing steamy pay off and this book gives us just that!

This was a sweet sporty read about a former baseball star returning home, and finding love with someone he went to high school with. Linc was demanding and sweet, while Emma needed a take charge kind of man to ease her back into love. I liked their banter and flirtations, and the slow burn build up moved the story along. The premise of the story of having to fake date to win investors in Linc’s development of a youth center was a great recipe for forced proximity and love to brew. I also loved the plus size rep in the character, and how Linc instantly was smitten. What the story did well in telling was Emma’s love and relationship with her daughter Greer. You really felt the connection in their mother/daughter love.

While I found the story and characters enjoyable, it was missing a certain pull that would make me feel invested. There was some lacking chemistry, the conversations with friends and the two MCs felt lacking, and it started to feel like too many side characters and stories to keep track of. There was also some not stellar phrasing and word choices that could have used some finessing. Additionally, it can be difficult to write a character who is equal parts driven and sassy while also being self conscious. Emma was a bit too self deprecating throughout the story.

I have not read the first book in this series, but they are stand alone so you do not need to read in order.

Read if you enjoy
⚾️Sports Romance
⚾️Small town setting
⚾️Single mom
⚾️Dual POV
⚾️Slow burn
⚾️He falls first
⚾️Fake Dating

Thank you to Aliyah Burke, Entangled Publishing, and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my review.

This was the first book I've read from this author and I really enjoyed it. The story was different from anything I've read recently and really captured my attention. It was so well written and the characters were fantastic.

I enjoyed the sports romance trope. This was not my favorite romance, though. The chemistry between characters did not seem legitimate. I also am very sick of third act breakups :(

Aliyah Burke sure knows how to write a slow burn romance and turn it into a fun, quick read. I was given the pleasure of receiving an arc for the first book of the Rock Falls series, Tinkering With Love as well and book 2 had easily become my favorite!

The story follows ex pro baseball player Linc Conner and single mom Emma Hendrickson. Linc and Emma agree to a fake engagement scenario to satisfy an investor for Linc’s community center.

Emma is a single mother who does everything to make sure her daughter wants for nothing. She is a high school dropout and has such a low self esteem because of it and the fact that her father was the town drunk. On the other hand, Linc has a single father and understands the sacrifices that Emma willingly makes for her daughter, Greer. Linc is constantly giving Emma compliments, seeing past her insecurities.

Overall, I truly loved this book and I hope there will be a third installment in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publising LLC, and Aliyah Burke for the digital arc. I look forward to more from the author in the future.

A Sweet Spot is a sweet story between a former sports hero and the girl who had a high school crush on him. I struggled to connect with the characters, and felt that Linc's rapid obsession with Emma was a bit unrealistic. There were moments that felt a bit disconnected, such as when he said he didn't know her but somehow knew her full name. I didn't really feel connected to the cast of characters or able to distinguish them from each other quickly. I admit that I ended up not finishing this novel, so it may work better for those who are big fans of insta-love, obsessions, and / or sports.

If you are looking for a slow burn interracial romance then this book is for you!


Overview:
This book follows the romance of Emma and Linc. Emma is a high school dropout single-mother. Linc is an ex-baseball player and the owner of a community center. Linc and Emma attended school together but he doesn't remember her from high school. His first time noticing her is when he sees her hanging out with his friend's girlfriend and Emma is discussing her battery usage with certain items. After that, Linc is fully lusting after her. At his community center, he notices Emma's daughter is interested in Baseball and convinces her to join the team's he is building. This is where Emma and Linc's romance start!

This book was hard for me to read! I found Linc to be a bit much and that normally doesn’t bother me. Emma was truly stuck on the fact that she didn’t graduate and she was slightly overweight. This is why I wished they added a part where she went and got her GED, just something to show that she had growth in this book. The writing was also hard due to some odd phrases and wording throughout the book. My favo
rite part of the whole book is when Linc explains his reason for opening the community center. I also loved how protective he was of Greer, Emma’s daughter. She couldn’t have written a sweeter little girl.

In the end, I liked the story but I wished the characters developed more.

I received this book as an arc and I was unable to read it in time due to some personal issues.
Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for sending me this book.

I wanted to like this book more. I did like Link and Emma. They were interesting and good to watch interact. The interaction of family and friends, especially Emma's daughter and Linc's dad, was very good. The story however didn't work very well. Emma's contacting Linc's former teammates wasn't worked into the story well. Emma's daughter's father also suddenly is an issue and too quickly is taken care of. I just felt like the book was on the edge of being very good but didn't quite make it.

A Sweet Spot For Love by Aliyah Burke is a sweet and heartwarming tale of love and self-discovery that will leave a lasting impression. I'm always a sucker for any romance that has baseball in it. Linc is a retired baseball player so it still counts. Emma always had a crush on Linc and now their paths are crossing. I love how the author made Emma a curvy girl and still attracted the jock. This story is told from a duel point of view. I love this because you get both sides of the stories. Always a plus! Overall a good read! Would definitely recommend.

2.5 stars

This is a story about single mother Emma and former baseball star Linc. Emma has been in love with Linc forever, since high school, though he didn't know she even existed. She ended up dropping out of school when she got pregnant with her daughter, Greer, and works full time as a waitress to make ends meet. She desperately wants to give Greer a better life than she had. When Linc suffers from a career-ending injury, he returns home determined to give back. He opens a community center, a safe place for kids to come hang out and hopefully keep them out of trouble. Keeping the place funded and possibly turning it into a national chain of centers are his top goals.

Through friends, Linc has been introduced to Emma, and he can't stop thinking about the curvy, dedicated single mother. She ends up working as his secretary, and the sparks fly between them. Linc ends up claiming Emma as his fiancee in an attempt to get a rich Texan to support the center, but will she go along with his lie? As for Emma, to help secure funding, she looks to Linc's former teammates, not realizing that he doesn't speak to them anymore and wants nothing to do with them. She's taken the initiative to loop the team in on what Linc's been doing, but will it backfire on her?

This story hooked me with the blurb, so I requested it from NetGalley. Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. The writing was a little rough for me; there were several times where I felt I must have missed something so I went back to look, only to find that I hadn't missed anything at all, which made the story feel a bit spotty.

Linc wasn't entirely likeable - the man quit her job for her pretty much first thing in the book - and it is largely because he is so domineering and stubborn. I related to Emma, though she was quite unable to see anything good about herself. When everything hit the fan, I cried for her, since I understand a lot about her way of thinking. I wanted her to be kinder to herself, though. I also wanted more from the grand gesture at the end. There's a devastating 3rd act breakup, so there should have been a dramatic win-her-back, but Linc was really lackluster. I just think she deserved so much more from him.

As other reviewers have said, it had potential, but the negatives kept it from being a great book. It was too much tell, not enough show, especially when it came to the romance and the relationship. I really did enjoy some of the other characters, though. After the story wrapped up, there was a look into the previous book of the series - Tully's story - and I like those characters enough to be curious about reading it, though I'm not sure I'll actually seek it out.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

After his career as a baseball player ended Linc has redirected his focus to ensuring the ongoing success of the community center. He has an investor that is willing to provide the funds he wants to expand however he needs to show that he has a committed personal life and that is where Emma comes in.

Emma is trying to balance her career and being a single mother to Greer, her daughter. If that isn’t enough she finds herself at the community center watching her play baseball where circumstances unfold that find her pretending to be engaged to Linc and that is when the complications really begins!

At first glance you may wonder how Linc and Emma could work but they do in the best way. Not only do they draw you in but there is a great cast of secondary characters that enhance the story.

A Sweet Spot For Love is a captivating read told from a dual point of view in each chapter. This adds depth and complexity to the story, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the characters' thoughts and emotions. A Sweet Spot For Love is a sweet and heartwarming tale of love and self-discovery that will leave a lasting impression.