I don't usually read Harlequin Superromances. They're too long and don't have nearly enough sex. But I make exceptions for uncommon stories, and I'm glad I read Out of His League. The sports romance isn't uncommon, of course, but the prickly, antisocial heroine is, and I really liked this exploration of an introvert figuring out how to open herself up to another person - a very public person at that. I really liked how long it took for the couple to admit their attraction to each other, and then how it took a few false starts to get on the same page once they did. All the family stuff was extraneous for me, but I get that's what SRs are about, so I won't criticize the book for working within its category. That being said, I wish there was more after the final chapter, and after 300 pages, I probably shouldn't. So a bit less family, and a bit more relationship detail after the resolution, and this would have been a big hit for me. As it was, I'd give it 3.75/5, but I'm rounding up because I love prickly heroines and the nice guys that fall in love with them. Parry got that dynamic just right. A couple of things rankled me, but they're nitpicky, and not about the story:* The cover photo - his hair is WRONG - and this isn't the first time I've made this complaint about a Harlequin Superromance. Their cover art department needs a talking to. In this case, the hero's hair is referenced repeatedly throughout the story, it's a plot point. GET IT RIGHT. * At one point the hero talks about playing ball across the U.S. and in "Toronto, Canada". Harlequin is a Canadian company. Their style guide should ban such references. It's a world-class city. Enough to reference it as "Toronto". Or not, and just say "Canada". But not both. It's weird.
What do You think about Out Of His League (2013)?
I gave this a B+ at AAR and wrote, "I’ve reviewed two other books by Ms. Parry, and her books continue to interest me; this is no exception. At its bare bones, the story seems trite: a successful woman doctor meets a star baseball player in a hospital. I thought I knew where this was going: she’s all brains, he’s all brawn, but somehow they get together. I was completely wrong. These are two complex characters with numerous issues and problems. Their mutual attraction is only part of the story.Unlike some romance readers, the most important character for me is the heroine, and Dr. Elizabeth LaValley is difficult to like. Elizabeth’s an anesthesiologist at a major hospital. She chose anesthesiology because it involves only minimal interactions with patients. Elizabeth wants nothing to do with most people. She’s spent her adulthood building an ordered, peaceful, quiet life with no room for complications and messy people."http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookRev...
—Linniegayl
