What a sweet small town romance. I absolutely loved Palmer- written as the ultimate good guy who came home after finishing out his baseball career and trying to figure out what to do now. Then he meets Palmer and her son and everything becomes even more- and less- clear. I thought that Adriana Locke put just enough push and pull to keep me enthralled with the romance and especially, with the small town and world that was created. What a fun way to spend a few hours!

The Sweet Spot was so different from Locke’s "normal," and I’m not even sure I can pinpoint the reason. It has the witty banter, a small-town setting, a loving family, and feels that Locke continuously delivers. The more comes from everything that’s woven between all of that; Palmer, Ethan, and Cole’s story isn’t an ordinary read; it’s nothing if not extraordinary.

Locke has such a way of creating fictional worlds that could be so easily read. Especially as someone who lives in a small town in Ohio, maybe that was what made this brand new fictional world feel like home in the first few words. I can tell you I had no intention of reading this in one day, but I will say it was more than any one thing that made this one of my top reads of the year. Maybe it was the hope it offered to a girl from a small town in Ohio who has been thrust into a similar situation that Cole finds himself in.

Palmer and Ethan’s relationship was everything. The love between a mother and son, and a parent putting their child and their happiness before anything and everyone else, is something I see lacking with some "parents." I suppose it was a reminder that this is something that every child should have, but from both parents. They immediately stole every piece of my heart.

Palmer was the essence of strength and unconditional love. It was clear that once she let you into her heart, it was forever. She was also sassy and incredibly witty, but I’m not sure any of those were as high on the chart as her stubbornness because it’s the only thing that would make sense when it came to continuously turning down the new man in town. Some of the thoughts that fluttered through her thoughts were ones that could have been taken from my very own. Of course, not for the same reasons, but close enough to make me feel a stronger connection to this fictional character than to most people in real life, though even that didn't compare to the connection I felt to Cole.

Cole was at the top of his game, but sometimes life tosses you a curveball. Life tossed him a curveball followed by a fastball, and it may not have been what he expected, but it led him to the greatest game he would ever play. His charm could cause a saint to be a sinner, but his heart was what sealed the deal. He’s got a swoony swagger, and he’s my new favorite Locke man. I know, nobody is as shocked by that statement as I am, and shockingly, it has nothing to do with baseball pants. It was the immediate bond with Ethan that infused this child's heart and soul. Ethan may not have been his biological child, but Cole immediately became a father to that child, even if he didn’t realize it at first.

You can’t mention the chemistry between Cole and Palmer without adding Ethan into the equation. Cole and Palmer were like a lightning strike, but Cole and Ethan were the thunderous boom that followed. I have no doubt that every moment they had lived had led them to this point. The three of them were meant to be.

My emotions were invested in the very first pages, but I never could have imagined the way these characters would inevitably become embedded in my soul. Palmer for her strength and her way of taking care of everyone around her. That was my entire life, until a heartbreaking medical diagnosis ended it took that me away. Now I spend more time living life alongside fictional characters because, the truth is, my diagnosis took a lot away, and more often than not, I feel like more of a "reader" in my real life than I do when I’m able to get lost in an imaginary world. I feel like I'm a part of it rather than on the outside looking in.

Locke delivers a brand new fictional world that feels like home within a few pages. The good and the bad life has to offer, and how sometimes the ordinary moments in life are what truly make the life we’re given extraordinary. Locke created so much more than a single mom romance; this was a fictional story that offers very real glimmers of hope. This is so much more than romance.

Sweet, heartfelt and insightful, The Sweet Spot is a wonderful read.

Full of sass, wit and strength, with great characters and an engaging plotline Cole and Palmer's story is charming to it's very core. Highlighting the importance of communication, support and strength, and showing that you never know what fate might have in store for you, this is a cozy, real life story bound to leave your heart satisfied.

4 stars and a dinger

***BOOK REVIEW****


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Title: The Sweet Spot
Author: Adriana Locke

If you love second chance, small town romance, or single mom this book is definitely for you.

The banter between Palmer and Cole was everything 😍 I found myself laughing throughout the entire book. And Ethan was the cutest kid ever!

My only issue was that the big problem reveal was close to the 80% mark. And then I felt the rest of the story was rushed.

Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for a copy of The Sweet Spot in exchange of an honest review.

This was a cute small town romance!

Palmer is a single mother who doesn’t have time for dating. Her job and her son both keep her busy, along with her dead-bead ex, so she certainly doesn’t have time to date, especially a guy who’s only in town temporarily to visit his parents. Cole is a recently retired baseball player, trying to figure out his next steps while facing an uncertain future. He’s immediately floored by Palmer, and I actually enjoyed his flirty persistence which is kind of rare for me. He was a great character, and I really liked his interactions with Palmer’s son.

It has all the hallmarks of an Adriana Locke book, but something didn’t quite click for me. It was cute, but I can’t say I genuinely enjoyed it. Some of the dialogue was corny, the second half was kind of slow, and there was a bit too much of the heroine’s job in it for me.

Overall, it was cute enough but not a new favorite.

5 Stars for this gut-wrenching story!

The Sweet Spot ... is absolutely the perfect title for this book! Cole and Palmer captured my heart from the beginning and never let it go ... not even at the end, as this is one of those books that is going to stay with me for a long time. Ms. Locke delves into sensitive subjects and somehow makes you feel their pain and frustration. Don't get me wrong, it's not all doom and gloom, there are lots of funny and heart-warming chapters as well. "The season of your life" is just so perfect for this book. I haven't come across a book that Ms. Locke has written that I don't love. I highly recommend this book ... actually, any of them.

Palmer was been dealt a bad hand her whole life. Her mother dies during childbirth, her father is an acholic, and her boyfriend gets her pregnant and never really grows up himself. And she is stronger for all her hardships, but my heart broke for her. Then there's Cole ... he is just every woman's dream guy. He's kind and thoughtful ... and it definitely helps that he's not arrogant, rich and a hunk. Cole was a pro baseball player who retired out of the blue and has everyone wondering why. He decides to go visit his parents and hopefully they will help centre him. He never expected the small spitfire with the messy hair and the fact that she has no clue who he is and turns him down flat. Neither Cole or Palmer knew what hit them and their lives will never be the same.

I received an early copy courtesy of Montlake through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

What a wonderful feel good romance. Small town romance is one of my favourite genres, add in a single mum and an ex baseball player, and it’s the complete package for me. Not only has single mum Palmer Clark got to protect her own heart from retired baseball player Cole Beck, she’s also got to do her best to protect her adorable 12 year old son Ethan from getting too attached to Cole, (not an easy feat considering he’s never had a decent male role model in his life). Cole is the perfect package, except for one thing - he doesn’t intend sticking around in her town, he’s only visiting his parents for a short time while he sorts out his own problems. I loved the relationship between Cole and Palmer, and the relationship between Cole and Ethan, and of course Palmer and Ethan also have the perfect mother son relationship. It was one of those stories where you just want to knock the main character’s heads together and shout at them to speak about their feelings. I did however love Palmer’s honesty about her long term plans. Small town romance at its very best. Some fun bits, some sexy bits, and a whole host of emotional moments, got to admit, I was in tears at various points. You know how it is, secrets always come out in the end. My heart broke for a short while. Perfect writing, wonderful story, and three great characters with mostly wonderful friends and family. I loved it. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

I enjoyed this story between Palmer who is a single mom and Cole who is a baseball supserstar when he comes home to rest after an injury. I felt it moved at a slower pace than I would have preferred but it also meant it was a slow burn and it gave the story the chance to build the back histry and make me fall in love with the characters.

What a mature and charming story. Loved the characters and the growth they showed throughout the tale. Ethan was a joy to discover and was written particularly well. This was my first read from this author and won’t be my last!

Thanks Montclair and Netgalley for the free copy.

Palmer is a hard working, caring single mom who looks after everyone, but no one really looks after her. When baseball star Cole comes to town to visit his parents he is instantly attracted to her, but she is looking for forever, not just a fling with the handsome millionaire so she turns down his advances. Palmer eventually decides to give herself a little break from reality and let herself have a fling with the kind and thoughtful man, even if he is leaving. They seem to get on like a house on fire and even Palmer’s adorable son Ethan can tell how good Cole is for his mum. The more time they spend together the more Palmer wonders (hopes) they could be more and Cole starts to think that way too. Unfortunately the real reason Cole retired from baseball rears it’s ugly head and makes him make some hard decisions and they part ways. It takes a lot of heartbreak and soul searching (and a little nudge) to get them back on track. This is definitely a sweet story with a nice little bit of heat. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I’ve read a few other books by this author. I’ve enjoyed some more than others.
Sacrifice is my favorite by her.
The Sweet Spot is a small town cute romance. I’m a big fan of single parent trope , so I was excited to read this one. I enjoyed it. It was a delightful read.

The Sweet Spot is a sweet and charming small-town sports romance from Adriana Locke that truly will leave you with a smile on your face. Palmer is a single mom and Cole is a retired baseball player, and while Palmer was trying to resist his charms, Cole had his sights set on her and luckily his persistence paid off. The story doesn't have as much angst as some of the author's other stories do, but these characters will truly hook you from the start - especially Palmer's son Ethan. Loved seeing the bond between mother and son - plus how Cole was with him - it truly was the sweetest.

This was a very good small town romance. Palmer is a single mom who has never been able to rely on any of the men in her life. When she meets Cole, a newly retired Major League Baseball player, she has no hopes that he is what she is looking for. Cole is also trying to figure out his new normal since he hadn’t planned on being retired at this point in his life. I loved watching Cole and Palmer get together, in addition to Cole’s relationship with Ethan develop through baseball. This book shows that no matter what is happening in your life, love is the most important thing.

The Sweet Spot is such an amazingly sweet read. I loved this one so much. You are just going to fall hard for Palmer and Cole. Palmer is a single mom holding everything together the best she can. She is a sweetheart willing to give that helping hand to everyone in town. Cole is a retired baseball player who is trying to figure out what is the next stage of life. You feel the chemistry from the very beginning. Once you get to know Palmer you understand why she is gun shy when it comes to getting involved with Cole. I love how Cole is with Palmer's son. I love how his family just pull them into the fold. Cole and Palmer have this something special that will put a smile on your face and have you grabbing for those tissues. I you love those small town reads then you are going to fall hard for this one. You need to meet Palmer and Cole today.

Oooh this book started out so strong for me! I adore sports romance, I adore single mom / single dad tropes, and I adore small town stories. On top of that, Palmer and Cole's meet cute was the exact sort of sparky, playful, understated sexy that I live for. I was so into them and that only blossomed when Cole turned out to be a <i>really good guy</i>.

I mean, Cole was <i>amazing</i>. The way he persistently but respectfully pursued Palmer - all sexy swagger and irresistible confidence. I loved how his relationship with Ethan, Palmer's son, also seemed to happen so naturally and heartwarmingly. I was completely consumed with the first half of this story.

The second half...seemed to slow down a bit for me? It felt a little repetitive and I could feel myself getting impatient. It likely didn't help that there were <i>secrets</i> because I am rarely patient with <i>secrets</i> and indeed, I did find myself very frustrated with the way some of the things played out. I skimmed through a bit of the second half.

In the end, I did enjoy this story - it was just a bit inconsistent and lopsided for me. I loved the happily ever after, and the way it left my heart feeling happy and satisfied. It won't go down as my favorite Adriana Locke book, but I'm still happy to have read it.

My new favorite book by this author! I know people say that frequently in reviews, and it’s off putting. I wholeheartedly mean it though. The heroine is a single mom, and I happen to love that trope. There were times that it felt like she was inside my head. I think every single mom dreams of a Cole to enter their lives. The conflict near the end had me all up in my feels. It was so easy to see both sides of the issue. I liked that her son was a little bit older, and not the typical age that we get in books. Kids of all ages need love.

Oh Cole Beck 😍
A loving heart warming story about a single mom.
Palmer is somewhat closed off, had her guard up but that won’t stop Cole.
They build a relationship and if two people are meant to be it’s then but can they come out the other side
when a crap hand is dealt.

The story as much as it’s heart warming it gets to a part that absolutely guts me and the emotions hit hard!

But the sweetest, most loving way back to happiness and HeA 💜

I fell in love with Cole from the get-go. He’s attractive, kind hearted, and he signs up to coach a youth baseball team when their coach has to back out. What’s not to love?!

Palmer is sassy, sarcastic, and the best momma bear to her son, Ethan. She knows what she wants and a fling with a retired baseball player who has no clue what's next for him is definitely not it, but Cole is making it difficult to walk away. He’s connecting with Ethan in a way his dad never has and making her feel things she wasn’t prepared to feel.

Should she continue to fight fate or take a risk and step up to the plate?

Locke hit this one out of the park (pun intended) and I couldn’t be happier with the way Cole and Palmer’s story played out. From their meet cute in the diner to those precious moments with Ethan, The Sweet Spot was a perfectly played nine innings.

I really enjoyed this small town feel storyline. The banter between Palmer and Cole is witty and filled with innuendos. Their chemistry is sizzling hot and I absolutely loved Ethan. Definitely worth the read.

I have read so many Adriana Locke books that I find it hard to pick a favorite because they’re all that good. Having said that, I must say that Sweet Spot was exactly that – the sweetest spot and maybe one of my favorites! This read was true Adriana Locke through and through – it’s a touching, emotional read that tugs at your heartstrings and has you pulling and praying for Cole and Palmer. And it wouldn’t be classic Ms. Locke if there weren’t fabulous and entertaining and deeply developed secondary characters. Every single character in this book has their own story to tell even though it’s Cole & Palmer & Ethan’s story. I fell in love with Ethan immediately – I have a feeling his character was somewhat developed from Ms. Locke’s own sons because he’s a sweetheart! This was more than just a love story – there’s so many lessons to be learned in this book and you’ll be really sorry if you don’t read it so buy it now! I recommend this 5-star read if you’re looking for an emotionally intense story that’s entertaining and enjoyable as well. I’m very grateful to have been given the opportunity to read an early copy of this book through NetGalley.