The Curveball by Julia Jarrett
The Cedar Creek Thunder #2
Sports Romance
Release: May 19, 2026
I’ve thrown some curveballs in my life, but none hit as hard as my one night stand showing up, telling me she’s pregnant.
After losing my parents and spending eight years being “bro-dad” to my younger siblings, I’m ready for the chance to focus on myself again. And that starts with getting back on the baseball field, playing for the Cedar Creek Thunder.
But I didn’t count on Sage McCallister, the gorgeous brunette who made me laugh with just one line, showing up in my small town, half a country away from where we met. We had one unforgettable night two months ago, and now she’s pregnant.
With my baby.
She’s fiercely independent, and expects nothing from me, but there’s no chance I’m walking away from the woman I can’t stop thinking about, or my unborn child.
Now she’s staying in my apartment, and even if she thinks it’s only temporary, I’ll stop at nothing to prove to her that what we have is more than just a joint responsibility for the child growing inside of her.
We’ve both lost too much to believe in fairy tales, but somehow, we’ve found each other. She’s not just carrying our baby, she’s carrying the future we both deserve.
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Audio narrated by Andi Eloise & Brandon Francis
⇒ https://geni.us/Thunder_TCB
EXCERPT
There are things no one ever tells you about having a baby. Things like, you will never have a clean shirt at the end of the day, or that you’ll develop a sixth sense for hearing the slightest noise your baby makes, or you’ll desperately want to have a caffeine IV inserted permanently. If such a thing existed.
Then there’s the good stuff. The addiction to the scent of your baby when she’s cuddled on your chest, the obsession with the sweet little noises she makes, and my personal favourite, the sight of your partner asleep on the couch, shirtless, with your baby held protectively in his arms.
I’ve been lucky to witness a lot of beautiful moments in life, but nothing beats watching Brady be a father. The tenderness he shows Ivy echoes the tenderness he shows me. And I know I couldn’t ask for a better man for me or my daughter.
“Are you planning on staring at me like a perv all day, or can you come and get out a fresh pack of wipes? This one is empty.”
I startle, pushing off the doorway to Ivy’s nursery where, yes, I was ogling him as he changed our daughter’s clothes following an epic poop-splosion.
“How did you know I was watching?” I ask, moving to the closet to grab a new pack of wipes. I open it and hand them to him before stooping down to kiss Ivy’s head. “And how the heck do you keep her so calm during diaper changes? She screams like a banshee with me.”
“She’s a daddy’s girl. We have a deal,” he replies before shifting into a soft, babyish voice. “Isn’t that right, Ivy? You’re my mini-hurricane, aren’t you?”
“What kind of deal?” I laugh as he scoops her up and cradles her, turning to face me.
“The kind where I agree to let her stay awake until midnight if she doesn’t fight me on diaper changes.”
It’s impossible not to grin. “Really. So, you’re telling me she screams during diaper changes with her mother in exchange for sleeping solidly for five hours?”
“Are you or are you not getting some sleep each night?”
I nod and he smirks.
“Well, there you go. It’s a trade-off, little mama. Sleep or screams.”
“I’ll take the sleep.” I hold my hands out, but he turns away, adopting a protective stance. “Hey, come on, she’s going to need to nurse soon.”
“Nope. We’re gonna read first. I’ll bring her to you when she’s hungry. This is my time.”
“You’re ridiculous.” I put my hands down as he moves to the rocking chair in the corner, next to the small table where he has a stack of books. Some are baby books, and some are his that he reads at night when Ivy just wants to be held.
“And yet, you still love me.” He sits down, carefully shifting Ivy’s position so he’s holding her with one arm as he picks up his glasses with the other and puts them on. “If you don’t interrupt, you can join us.”
“Nah, I’ll leave you two alone. I should shower now, since Ivy and I have to go to our last midwife appointment later, anyway.”
“Oh right. Sorry I can’t come with you.” Brady grimaces. “But it’s the last team workout before we officially break for the season.”
“It’s fine.” I step closer and kiss Ivy’s head before kissing Brady’s upturned lips. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
As I leave the nursery, I hear him say softly, “Okay, Ives. Are we gonna start with farm animals or baseball? Of course. Baseball. Good choice.”
The Curveball by Julia Jarrett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Brady and Sage spend a wonderful night together and think they’ll have see each other again. But faith has other plans for our lovers and soon Sage is trying to find Brady to tell him about her pregnancy. Their second encounter was a shock for the both of them especially when she tell him her news.
Brady can’t believe his luck. Sage is back in his life with a gift he never thought would receive. Now he’s on a mission to let her see that the connection they felt that night is strong as ever and they are perfect for each other.
Sage has a few hangups from her past that are preventing her to really let go, but with every little detail Brady see and does, she soon realizes that he’s the perfect man for her.
I loved his siblings and all the found family for her. They both need a break and i’m so happy they found HEA in each other.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
The Curveball by Julia Jarrett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
ARC/ALC Review
GAH! OUTSTANDING!
But also … I have to say to things that are book related but not about the story.
1. When the cover of a book sells you on a book, you gotta give props. When the cover is illustrated and no detail is left in the wind and looks as real as illustrated can get, you gotta give props.
2. When the title of a book matches a story from every angle, YOU GOTTA GIVE PROPS.
This is me, 👏👏👏MAD PROPPING👏👏👏
MEET THE AUTHOR: Julia Jarrett has a passion for writing sexy, sweet, contemporary romance novels that are full of relatable heroines, and the swoon-worthy men who fall in love with them.
Julia is a busy mother of two boys, a happy wife to her real-life book boyfriend, and the owner of two rescue dogs. If you’re looking for her, she’s probably sitting in a comfy chair somewhere, drinking tea and dreaming of a sunny vacation.
www.authorjuliajarrett.com
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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20173508.Julia_Jarrett
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/julia-jarrett
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