Stories that have the heroine under the watch of older female relatives are always a recipe for fun, and this one is certainly no exception. Emily gets all sorts of unwanted advice, grief, and commentary on every aspect of her life from her grandmother and two eccentric aunts. They're all so different but they play off each other really well, ultimately creating some humorously awkward conversations and scenarios.I thought it was fun how Carter took Emily to such non traditional places for their dates, such as the shooting range and bowling alley. Given the era these were somewhat odd choices, yet very much appropriate in light of Emily's suffrage work and her opinion that "women can do anything men can". Emily's clumsiness is slightly overdone and pops up at the most expected--and sometimes unexpected--times, but I really didn't mind because the resulting situations were just so amusing!The storyline in general is very unique, especially with the baseball angle thrown into the mix. I was really quite enthralled for a while, but when the age-old "required conflict to drive the characters apart" came along, I lost interest somewhat. I was disappointed that Emily didn't have more trust in Carter.... and as for Carter himself, I thought he gave up too easily after having so doggedly pursued Emily earlier on. I realize these sorts of conflicts are basically required for a story to work, but for some reason the peak of this conflict just didn't sit quite right with me.Overall, I did enjoy the story (especially the first half), but I was also ready to see the end when it eventually came. For me, it lost a bit of momentum when the conflict arose and it ultimately never quite found its way back. Nevertheless, the story really is a cute one and has a lot of unique elements. (I actually liked it better than the first book in the series!) The Lake Manawa setting is a good one, and it's a great place for a series--as the author has obviously realized. Despite my minor nit-picking, I'm looking forward to reading the final book in the series and seeing what it has to offer. A Great Catch is the second book in the Lake Manawa Summers’ series. The setting is an Iowa resort town in 1901. Emily Graham is a suffragette and a very independent spirit. In order to promote her suffrage cause, she tries to get the Bloomer Girls, a national female baseball team, to play against her boyfriend’s baseball team, the Manawa Owls. Her boyfriend, Carter Stockton, is the pitcher, a popular man with great leadership qualities. Will these two strong personalities work out their differences? A book that’s big on character, small town heart, and homegrown faith, with some humor sprinkled in, will have you reaching for the rest of the series.
What do You think about A Great Catch (2011)?
The book was a nice relaxing read.I enjoyed the bits of humor interlaced throughout the book.
—richardkapusta
Loved it! Very cute. A little "too perfect" ending though.
—little_stoots
This one just didn't pop as much as the first one for me.
—iceleaves143
