Called Up by Jen Doyle

After really enjoying Calling It, I was excited to jump right into Called Up! I'm not a huge fan of sports romances (or sports, period), but Calling It worked for me! So did this one! Plus, this is a friends to lovers romance, which is always a win for me. Deke and Fitz grew up friends, but there's always been some extra feelings lying under the surface that they can't act on because of her brother, Nate (nice to see you again, Nate!). Deke is such a great character. I love that this macho playboy gets all mushy and vulnerable when he finds the one he wants to be with. And he coaches the little kids, which made me swoon. A man who likes kids? YES. Jen's writing is great, and even though I don't like baseball I really loved this book!

Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

I do love a small town romance...and a friends to lovers trope? Yes please. Watching Deke and Fitz realize that they're perfect for each other as they come to terms with the fact that maybe things aren't as wonderful as they were led to believe was such fun. I love the protective older brother vibes and the love scenes were fun. Watching them finally realize how perfect they were together was just a blast.

I will say that, although it's a stand alone, I was pretty lost at first with all of the names. It took me until almost 1/3 of the way through to figure out who was who and what the relationships were, just because there were so many additional side characters.

Baseball romances always and forever amen. (But really, give them all to me!)

When I read Jen Doyle’s Calling It, I knew we’d have a long author/reader relationship. There was purestdelightawardsomething so fresh, exciting and comfortable about her writing that she drew me immediately in and she’s done it again with Called Up. Maximillian “Deke” Deacon and Angelica “Fitz” Wade Hawkins are the best of friends and one night that changes when they both begin to see each other in a new light and that light burns brightly, no matter how hard they try to turn it off it just keeps on shining and guiding them through their ups and downs and all the complications that arise as their friends and family begin to realize their relationship has changed and as they try to adapt to their new normal.

The thing is the heroine is neurotic as hell and why she has every reason to be, it could have been too much if she also wasn’t such a strong and selfless person. That balance is what made her likeable, but the hero, OMG the hero is so totally my kind of guy even though he has man whorish tendencies. He’s such a great guy that even the women he’s been with (and there are many) never say anything bad about him. He’s selfless as well and one of those people everyone wants to be around because of his personality. This author’s ability to round out these characters who have a lot of flaws, hang-ups, and baggage really amazed me and watching them go from best of friends to more (with a lot of neurosis in between) was riveting. I loved these two together, they balanced each other, they helped each other and yes, they drove each other crazy in more than one way but the LOVE between them was easy to see even before they wanted to admit they went from loving one another to being IN love with one another.

There are so many great characters in this book and it was entertaining watching the friends and family of these two catch on to the fact their relationship had changed. It was interesting watching Deke who has always loved his hometown and his perfect life to realize that not everything and not everyone’s life was as easy as he thought it was. For a man like Deke, this was a bitter pill to swallow and letting it all go was very difficult for him. For Fitz, confronting her past and putting to rest all the hurt and learning to trust proved to almost be more than she could handle and it took her a long time, a lot of soul searching and tackling her worst fear to help her see the light.

I loved this story, this group of characters and the little town of Inspiration and with each book I get more drawn in and I can’t wait to see who is next in line for their happily ever after!

Friends to Lovers is one of my favorite Troupe and this one takes the cake as one of my favorites.

Fitz and Deke have been friends forever. Deke was one of the only people that made her feel as if she wasn't the outcast in their tiny little town - although she totally was. Even her own half sister couldn't stand to be around her.

Now 17 years later, things are starting to change between the two. Deke is starting to notice more things about Fitz that he never felt before. I mean come on! She's practically his sister, with her being his best friends little half sister. But for some reason, he just can't get that out of his head.

But Fitz has a secret... one that kept her as an outcast still. At least in her own eyes.

This was a great story and I loved every minute of their journey. A fun and sexy read.

I absolutely adored Calling It when I read it over a year ago. Jen's writing was a breath of fresh air and I loved her take on baseball romance. (Which isn't always my favorite because baseball isn't my favorite sport.) I blew through the first book and was so excited to learn it was not, in fact, a standalone, but the first in a new series. I couldn't wait to read this one when I got my hands on it. Unfortunately, I struggled a bit when I first tried, so it got reshelved for a few months. I'm glad I gave it a second chance, however, because I did wind up thoroughly enjoying Deke and Fitz's story.

With it's mix of friends to lovers and best friend's sister tropes, this pretty much had my name written all over it from the moment I read the blurb. Both Deke and Fitz were wonderful. I especially liked that Fitz was the one who was more locked down and less interested in a relationship, regardless of how attracted she was to Deke. Of course, she has a good reason to keep her walls up high and tight... especially with Deke. Fortunately, he's persistent and their chemistry and attraction is no match for her reservations. I smiled and swooned my way through this one, enjoying the humor, romance and sexy times.

FAVORITE QUOTES

"You'd be amazed at all the bits and pieces I can warm up with my tongue."

"Sometimes I want you so much I can't even breathe."

I really liked this book was good an well written with good characters cant wait for more from this series. would recommend

I always like a friends to lovers romance. CALLED UP gives up just that.

Fitz and Deke have been best friends for a long time. The hang out and understand each other. But when they both start feeling something other than friendship “love”, both of their worlds get turned upside down.

Fitz hasn’t had the easiest life. Her parents died in a tornado and she found herself being raised by the one woman who should hate her….life most of the town. She’s worked her butt off to atone for the sins of her father, but a small town never forget or lets you, leaving Fitz to feel like she needs to find someplace else to spread her wings. She also realizes that spreading her wings might mean leaving behind the one person she doesn’t want to be without. Her best friend.

Deke is the easy going guy. The one who’s a lot of fun but doesn’t really pay attention to what’s going on around him. That’s how he missed all the things Fitz went through in high school. And continues to miss how she’s still treated by certain residents of their hometown. Once her understands that what he feels for Fitz is more than just friendship, his eyes are suddenly opened to everything. He’s hurt and frustrated to know that he missed all of this while at the same time mad that Fitz never confided in him.

Fitz and Deke don’t make it easy on themselves when it comes to their romance. It takes an act of nature for them to get over the past and look to their future. But when they do, this fun romance leaves you with a smile on your face.