Author Angie Cantinnini’s agent convinces her she must use a pseudonym if she hopes to land a contract with a mainstream publishing company— especially since the protagonist of Angie’s novels is a hard-boiled male detective. Neither Angie nor her agent anticipate the raging success of the series of books or the mountain of wealth that accompanies each new release. As a best-selling author, Angie should be delighted with her Bohemian life in Key West, but happiness is elusive because it’s her alter-ego, Zach England, who’s receiving the accolades, while Angie is relegated to anonymity.

Meryl McClain, the recently hired book review editor at the prestigious New York Banner, wants to make a strong first impression with her readers, so she picks Zach England’s latest novel for her debut column. She offers a scathing critique, unaware the real author behind the pseudonym is her long-lost true love, Angie. Heartrending choices separated the lovers eleven years earlier.

Seeing Meryl’s review overwhelms Angie with feelings she thought she’d laid to rest years ago. This stroke of fate beckons them to reunite, but Angie’s secret identity and Meryl’s struggle with a childhood trauma conspire to keep them apart.

Torn from a shared moment in their past, the words Come Back to Me have haunted the two women for more than a decade. Is it too late for Angie and Meryl to choose love again?

Playing for First

Lisa Collins feels she has it all as an Indianapolis sportswriter covering the city’s minor league baseball team and as a freelancer for the newspaper. Her best friend, bar owner Frankie Dunkin, helps keep her grounded and sane. Her life is uncomplicated—that is until Amy Perry enters her world. Amy, the all-star first baseman for a professional women’s baseball team, dreams the dream most boys do—to play in the major leagues. The Cincinnati Reds are about to give her that chance. While covering Amy’s ascent through the minor

league system, out-and-proud Lisa finds herself falling for the closeted first baseman. But as they begin a relationship, something unexpected happens: Lisa realizes her feelings for Frankie run much deeper than friendship.

With Amy facing harassment from her male teammates in her quest to break through the gender barrier, Lisa is torn between supporting her and exploring her feelings toward Frankie. Frankie has her own demons to face as painful physical and emotional scars from her past haunt her.

Despite the myriad conflicting emotions raging in Lisa’s life, one thing is clear—Frankie and Amy are Playing for First in her heart.

 

Chris Paynter's Biography

Chris was born in a British hospital and happily lived the nomadic life of an Air Force brat until her father retired from the service. She’s resided in New York, Montana, and Ohio. She received a Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University with a minor in her true first love, history. She worked as a general assignment reporter and sports reporter before settling into her current position as editorial specialist for a law journal.

She lives in Indianapolis with her wife and their beagle, Buddy the Wonder Dog. She is a voracious reader and continues to work on her own writing, including the continuing saga of Amy Perry and Lisa Collins in the Playing for First series.

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