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    Center Stage: Diamond Brides, #8
    Center Stage: Diamond Brides, #8
    Center Stage: Diamond Brides, #8
    Ebook185 pages3 hours

    Center Stage: Diamond Brides, #8

    By Mindy Klasky

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    A cocky baseball player shows his best friend's little sister a good time after she's jilted in this sexy stand-alone baseball romance! 

     

    Rockets center fielder Ryan Green keeps life simple—play ball, have fun, and keep an eye on his recently widowed father. Lindsey Ormond isn't on his radar—she's the sister of his teammate. Nothing more.

     

    But when Ryan attends Lindsey's disaster of a wedding, another sizzling task hits his to-do list: help the jilted bride learn how to break the rules. Before long, Ryan is showing Lindsey how much fun she's been missing—in the bedroom and beyond.

     

    Alas, Lindsey's brother is now part of the Rockets' management team, and he disapproves of their new relationship.  And Zach just offered Ryan's father the job of a lifetime. How will Ryan balance his relationship with Lindsey, his love for his father, and his duty to his team?

     

    The Diamond Brides Baseball Series:

     

    Each volume can be read on its own, and the series can be read in any order.

     

    Perfect Pitch (DJ Thomas and Samantha Winger)
    Catching Hell (Zach Ormond and Anna Benson)
    Reaching First (Tyler Brock and Emily Holt)
    Second Thoughts (Nick Durban and Jamie Martin)
    Third Degree (Josh Cantor and Ashley Harris)
    Stopping Short (Drew Marshall and Jessica Barnes)
    From Left Field (Adam Sartain and Haley Thurman)
    Center Stage (Ryan Green and Lindsey Ormond)
    Always Right (Kyle Norton and Amanda Carter)

     

    122022mfm

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBook View Cafe
    Release dateFeb 26, 2015
    ISBN9781611384420
    Center Stage: Diamond Brides, #8
    Author

    Mindy Klasky

    Mindy Klasky learned to read when her parents shoved a book in her hands and told her that she could travel anywhere in the world through stories. She never forgot that advice. When Mindy isn't "traveling" through writing books, she quilts, cooks and tries to tame the endless to-be-read shelf in her home library. You can visit Mindy at her Web site, www.mindyklasky.com.

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    Reviews for Center Stage

    3.5/5

    12 ratings23 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Lindsey's love life is truly a mess. She's left at the altar by her boyfriend -again-, the second incident in just two years. Ryan, Lyndsey's brother's friend just follows her home to see she's ok, but almost accidentally gets Lindsey thinking what she really wants out of her life.I have read quite a few books of the series so far and this installment wasn't at all bad. I thought the romance between Ryan and Lyndsey was really sweet. I really liked them both. However, the drama at the end felt forced and I think the whole book would have been a lot better if the whole thing had played out differently.
    • 4/5
      Ryan and Lindsey are now my second favorite couple!! Drew and Jessica is still my most favorite!! I really enjoyed this book. This series is fantastic! You really need to read them beginning to end! Ms. Klasky is just a wonderful writer. Keeps my interest and I always look forward to the next book.
    • 1/5
      I received this book from librarything in exchange for a fair & honest review. It was a quick read - one evening after kids activities is all it took. I liked that and I felt inspired to keep reading until it all kind of fell apart. The tension between Zach and Ryan was weird. Yes, I get the overprotective brother bit but yep, we can be friends until you are with my sister then we can't until you want to marry her then we can. Whiplash! Too quick are those feelings thrown about in my opinion.And I liked the relationship until they stopped talking. Really? He gets hurt and no word from her? And he loves her so completely but messes up everything to protect his dad? Unless his dad is incapable of living alone and being responsible for himself, you would never do this. So if you don't mind a frustrating read, by all means proceed. Just not believable at all.
    • 3/5
      Mindy Klasky's Diamond Brides series has become like an old friend I run into once a month. Warm, comforting, uncomplicated. These books are all quick, enjoyable reads.mit does, however, feel like each book gets a bit shorter, the relationships a bit more rushed than the last.
    • 3/5
      The premise of the book was inviting, the dialogue was interesting enough, and the writing was good. However, the brevity of the book was rather disappointing. I wished the relationship had taken longer to develop. As is, it was hard for me to gain any excitement about the characters finally getting together. Considering what the heroine had been through, I think there should've been more between the first "I need to try to get over what's happened" kiss vs. the real deal. I understand it's a novella, but I needed more in order to connect to her and root for her to finally have her happily ever after. Also, the conflict itself was too brief. They weren't apart long enough for me to start wishing for the reconnection. It seemed to happen too quickly; just like the acceptance of the overprotective brother. Overall, I was not disappointed in the book. It has great potential, but was missing something for my personal taste. I think this would've been much better if it had been written as a novel. The situation the bride was in, and her past, was too critical to be written as a novella.
    • 3/5
      I really like the Diamond Brides series, but I feel like they have dropped back off after Left Field. They have become shallow and repetitive again, which is sad because some of the installments have been really great. This was definitely not a favorite.
    • 3/5
      It's fluffy, light and hot. Exactly as advertised. Easy to read, some conflict and excitement to spice it up, characters aren't that deep, but if you want a fast read, where you don't know the outcome and just want to escape into baseball and romance, you have it all here. Not amazing, but not terrible either.
    • 3/5
      Center Stage is a contemporary romance that was quick and fun to read, though not terribly original. The book starts out at a wedding, with the main male character Ryan at his best friend's sister's (the main female character Lindsey) wedding, and we learn that Ryan is hardly the commitment type. Lindsey's fiance leaves her at the alter and Ryan, out of concern for his friend's sister, takes it upon himself to watch over Lindsey. Romance develops, complete with some steamy scenes, though other than a few genital descriptions, nothing 'R' rated. It was fun to see how good girl Lindsey forced herself out of her comfort zone, not only in the aspect of dating, but with her life and career plans in general.This book is part of a series, but having not read any of the previous books, I'm not sure if it's important to read them in order. I get the impression that some back story that is mentioned in this book is what previous books' plots were, but I didn't feel as though I was missing out on any vital pieces of information.I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
    • 4/5
      I have been lucky enough to read all of the Diamond Brides Series so far and I have really enjoyed them. In this book I loved the fun interaction between Ryan and Lindsay. I also felt that the ending did get rushed a little in this one. I wish there had been a little bit more between the two of them. I cannot wait for the next one!
    • 4/5
      I have enjoyed getting to know the characters in the Diamond Brides series, and Center Stage was no different. I liked that Lindsey wanted to live life on the wild side, and I was glad that Ryan was willing to help her. Since the two have known each other for several years, it was not difficult to believe that they had chemistry. (What woman wouldn't want Ryan?) I rated this one lower because I had a hard time with Zach butting into their relationship, and I certainly didn't enjoy Ryan and Lindsey not speaking to each other. Overall, a decent addition to this series.
    • 4/5
      I received a free copy of this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review. A quick but enjoyable read - love this series.
    • 4/5
      This was my first book by this author but it won't be my last. She really helped you get to know her characters so you truly cared whether they ended up together. I don't love quick, 'tie it all up in a pretty bow' endings but accepted it with this one. A fun, sweet read.
    • 4/5
      I received this ebook for the purpose of a review. I finished it in one setting. It's a quick easy ready. Set in NC, you watch as a Lindsey deals with her 2nd time being left at the alter. Ryan is there to help her be the bad girl she's never been. I loved the story, even though I hated to see it end. I would have been happier if it'd lasted a few more chapters. The ending did feel a bit rushed but overall it's a very enjoyable quick read. I am eager to read more from this author and more in this series. While this is book #8 in the Diamond Brides series I did not feel lost. If you are looking a fun, fast, read then Center Stage is the perfect story for you! Fans of baseball romances will want to add this series to their reading list, I know I'm eager to find out more about the whole team.
    • 3/5
      So I was really enjoying this story until the end. Lindsey had just been left at the alter weeks earlier and she's already able to jump into a committed relationship with Ryan? It was just too unbelievable. I get that they've known each other for awhile, but it was still hard to buy.My second issue is the conflict between Zach and Ryan. Zach, being the overprotective older brother, disapproves of Lindsey jumping into another relationship. Then all of a sudden he approves? After having a conversation with Ryan that we, the readers, weren't privy to? What would have resolved that was if we got to read about their conversation. What was said to change Zach's mind? But we're not shown this, and I found it disappointing.I'm used to the rushed endings in this series, but in this case, it just ruined the book for me.
    • 3/5
      I just didn't love it. It's a sweet, low angst, baseball themed romance set in NC. Not much more to say about it that the book summary doesn't already describe. Not really a Bad read just missing the hook that reels you in. It is a part of a series but can be read as a standalone.
    • 4/5
      This was a quick, fun read. I loved how Lindsey was able to start letting go of the rules and start to go after what she wanted. Ryan supported her through this process. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely read more in the series.
    • 4/5
      I have read this entire series and each book is good in its own right. But I think tjis one is my favorite
    • 4/5
      Another Diamond Brides book. This one was okay. I didn't enjoy it as much as the other ones I have read. Center Stage is about the Rockets Center Fielder Ryan Greene and Zach Ormond's little sister Lindsey who is an aspiring actress. It all starts after Lindsey is left at the altar again. Ryan sees how she is driving and decides to follow her to make sure she is okay. The story is not as great as the first couple of books. It was a very quick read.
    • 4/5
      This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

      Loved the rapport between Ryan and Lindsay. Just don't understand stand how he can start out being so wonderfully understanding and supportive and end up being such a wuss before he grows a pair once again. Lindsay you should have given him a bit more of a tough time before giving in. Should have made him work for it a bit more. But all in all a good read.
    • 3/5
      Baseball romance: I never knewThis book has been my first experience with the “baseball romance” genre. I was previously unaware this genre existed and have been quite amused by this fact throughout the book. What I liked best:* The characters were likeable – not too perfect, but not too real. * The pace and flow of the story was just right. There were challenges for the protagonists to overcome, but these challenges were not too difficult. Nowhere did the story get “stuck” or bogged down in detail.* There was a good amount of humour. The main character’s internal dialogue was cute and at times laugh-out-loud (especially when trying to think like a “bad girl”). I hope this was intentional!What kind of bugged me:I was confused by the time period that the book was set in, and although this didn’t impact on the telling of the story in any way, it was enough to distract me all the way through. Some of the details of the story read like the characters were teenagers during the late 80s or early 90s (talk of “pinball arcades” and “TP-ing”), but they are too young for that to have been the case.Verdict:Am I now hooked on “baseball romance”? Nah. But I will definitely keep this author in mind the next time I want a fun, unchallenging and “guilty pleasure” read.DisclaimerI received a free copy of this e-book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      Although rather brief, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In fact, after reading all the books in the series, I have decided this one is my favorite. Things happen quickly and issues are resolved fast, but that is the nature of a short book, and this book is not very long. I wish it could have gone on longer, but most of the books in the series are short and are meant to be read quickly. In this story, Lindsey Ormond has been left a second time at the altar by another scared guy. Ryan Green, of the Raleigh Rockets, attended the wedding because he is good friends with Lindsey’s brother Zach, part of the Rockets management team. Every team member knows Lindsey is off limits to them, but Ryan and Lindsey hit it off wonderfully after Lindsey second botched wedding. This is their story—and the story of how Zach and everyone else came to accept them as a couple. I enjoyed watching the chemistry between Lindsey and Ryan develop and how their relationship grew and flourished. I did find it confusing to watch just how quickly Zach dropped his anger and frustration at seeing the couple together but figured the author had to quickly get over this or hold up the story. I like the fact that the story was short and definitely sweet, and could almost be read in one sitting. Still, despite the brevity, the author managed to pack a big punch into the tale. I think any reader who enjoys a good romance will like this one. I know I did. I received this from Library Thing to read and review.
    • 4/5
      What a fun read! Lindsey Ormond is a good girl finally deciding to stretch her bad girl wings after being dumped for the second time at the altar on her wedding day and she finds the perfect person to help her do so in center fielder, Ryan Green, who just happens to follow her home from the wedding that never happened. Ryan and Lindsey’s story is fun and warm and filled with entertaining experiences and dialogue for the reader to enjoy. Lindsey has career troubles to deal with while Ryan tries to find a way for his father to find purpose again. Lindsey’s brother causes a kink in their relationship for awhile but eventually the two end up in a happily ever after situation as they so deserve to!
    • 4/5
      This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

      Loved the rapport between Ryan and Lindsay. Just don't understand stand how he can start out being so wonderfully understanding and supportive and end up being such a wuss before he grows a pair once again. Lindsay you should have given him a bit more of a tough time before giving in. Should have made him work for it a bit more. But all in all a good read.

    Book preview

    Center Stage - Mindy Klasky

    1

    Marry in haste, repent at leisure…

    Ryan Green looked at his watch again. At least the bride and groom weren’t in danger of repenting any time soon. It seemed like this wedding was never going to happen—and the sweltering church had just reached a temperature that felt a lot closer to Hell than to Heaven. The ceremony should have started an hour earlier, and there was still no sign of the groom. For that matter, the best man, the matron of honor, and Brother Mike had made themselves pretty scarce for the past thirty minutes.

    Figuring he’d make the most of the delay, Ryan stood up from the rock-hard pew on the left side of the church. After spending the last twelve days on the Raleigh Rockets’ disabled list, Ryan barely felt the lingering tightness in his strained right hamstring, but there was no reason to let the muscle seize up by spending extra time on the unyielding wooden bench.

    That was his story anyway, and he was sticking with it.

    As he reached the back of the church, Ryan realized he wasn’t the only ballplayer with the same idea. Braden Hart, one of the Rockets’ pitchers, nodded a greeting, automatically shifting over like he was making room for the center fielder in the dugout. But this little gathering was woefully short on sunflower seeds and Gatorade, and they didn’t have a fistful of bubble gum between them.

    Hart nodded toward the pews. Hell of a night off, isn’t it? If we have to spend hours on a wooden bench, we might as well get a game out of it.

    Ryan shrugged. There aren’t any women in a dugout.

    As if in response, a tide of feminine voices rose. Ryan had caught sight of the women when he’d first arrived at the church, right before an usher asked him, Friend of the bride or friend of the groom? He’d almost said groom just so he’d have a chance with one of them. During the long delay, he’d learned that they’d all gone to college with the groom. Each was prettier than the last, with her hair done up and her fingernails painted and a tight little dress that showed off a hell of a lot more than it covered up. Ryan couldn’t have told one from another, not if he’d been offered a five-year contract and a roster with every one of their names.

    Hart followed Ryan’s gaze, but he shook his head in disgust. Never f— He seemed to remember he was standing in the back of a church, because he caught himself and started over again. Never pick up a girl at a wedding. They put out easy enough, but they want a ring on their finger in the morning.

    Ryan shook his head. Spoken like a real poet, man.

    Hey, I call ’em like I see ’em. It’s a social disease, this getting married thing. Look around the clubhouse tomorrow night, buddy. You know I’m right. Guys are dropping like flies.

    Hart had a point. Half the guys on the team had proposed to their girlfriends before the end of last season.

    Hart went on. "We shower with those guys, man. If it’s contagious, you know we’re coming down with it. And I, for one, have no plans on settling down any time soon."

    Ryan rolled his eyes. Keep talking about women like they’re served up on some buffet, and you won’t be settling down ever.

    Hart looked real serious. What do you think that would be like? he asked. Getting one of those debutantes in the middle of a buffet table? Play my cards right, I could have a beer in one hand, a roast beef sandwich in the other, and dessert spread out in front of me, ready and willing. He flicked his tongue like a lizard, just in case Ryan didn’t get the joke.

    You’re disgusting, Ryan said, but he was laughing.

    Come on, Hart said. We single guys have to say it, because those whipped dudes sure won’t.

    Ryan mockingly bumped fists with the pitcher. Long live the single man, he intoned. "Someone’s got to do what’s right—treat weddings like the excuse they are for warm beer, bad food, and good men lost forever."

    Hart winced before the words were out of Ryan’s mouth. Without turning around, Ryan knew someone was standing behind him. And from the way Hart was shaking his head, it wasn’t just any old teammate.

    Taking a deep breath to steel himself, Ryan pasted on a smile and turned around. Zach, he said, holding out a hand, like he hadn’t just taken first place in the competition for Asshole of the Week.

    Zach Ormond was the Rockets’ former catcher. More to the point in this little church where the air conditioner was obviously on the fritz and the temperature was nudging eighty-five degrees, Ormond was the brother of the bride-to-be, Lindsey. He’d been Ryan’s closest friend on the team for years.

    That had all changed, though, last season, when a string of craziness led to Zach’s hanging up his spikes and his getting engaged—to none other than the granddaughter of the Rockets’ owner. Zach had left playing the sport he loved, taking up a job in the Rockets’ front office. The whole time that crap was happening, Ormond had kept to himself, never once confiding in Ryan. The gulf between them had carried through the rest of the season, but Ryan had thought—had hoped—that the wedding invitation had been a sign that he and Zach were past their differences.

    Fat chance of that, with Ryan cracking stupid jokes.

    You got a problem with weddings? Zach’s question was deceptively mild.

    None, Ryan said, forcing himself to meet his friend’s eyes. Not for the right guy.

    Shit. Why did Ormond have to catch him being a jackass? And here, Ryan had been fooling himself that Lindsey’s wedding would be a perfect chance to talk to the guy about some front office business. Ryan had thought the whole thing through as he knotted his tie that afternoon. Show up at the wedding. Shake hands with the groom, kiss the bride in the receiving line. Wait until the reception, after the toasts. Then, when Zach was looking for a break from champagne and photographs and everyone telling him his sister made a beautiful bride, Ryan could talk to him, man to man.

    There’d never be a perfect time to ask Zach Ormond for the biggest favor of Ryan’s professional career. But the wedding should have put Zach in a decent mood, and Ryan couldn’t wait much longer. Not when he’d promised his mother he’d take care of Dad. Not when his father was getting crazier every day, spending more and more time in front of his television, watching reruns of reality shows after the baseball games ended each night, watching infomercials when the reality shows ran out. Truth be told, Dad was halfway to batshit crazy in the little house he’d lived in for thirty-five years, lost like a little kid now that Mom was gone.

    Ryan could drive down to Chester Beach during the offseason. He could call the old man every couple of days. But Dad needed a hell of a lot more than that—he needed a job. A reason to get up in the morning. And for an old baseball guy like Dad, the best possible job would be working for the Satellites, the Rockets’ farm team based right there in Chester Beach.

    But that was never going to happen if Ormond thought Ryan was crapping all over his sister’s wedding—old friendship or no old friendship. As the guests’ murmuring rose another notch, Ryan cleared his throat and pretended he was innocent. Hey, he said. What’s up?

    What’s up, Zach spat, is that the groom must be caught in traffic, the A/C in this place died yesterday, and I’m pretty sure we’re going to have people collapsing from heatstroke in the next five minutes.

    Hart, the coward, shrank away. But Ryan said, Dinner’s set up downstairs, right?

    Ormond nodded. The caterers have been ready for a while. We’re supposed to be eating by now.

    No problem, then. They have to have water. Ryan jutted his chin toward the pitcher. Come on, Hart. Let’s do something useful. He headed toward the vestibule and stairs that had to lead down to the reception hall.

    Ormond barked out an order. Hold up, Green. Ryan turned back. I don’t want you going up and down those stairs. Not with that bad hammie.

    My leg’s fine. It felt strange for Ryan to hear commands coming out of Zach’s mouth. They were buddies. Teammates. Friends.

    Nevertheless, Ormond shook his head. Hart can get it.

    The pitcher shrugged and hit the stairs while Ryan stood there, feeling like an invalid. He was tempted to say something to Ormond, to explain that he hadn’t meant to say anything bad about all weddings, that he obviously hadn’t been talking about this wedding, that…

    Yeah. He’d already stepped in it. No reason to smear the shit around.

    Before Ryan could think of something else to say, Ormond took out his phone, but he scowled at the screen instead of placing a call.

    No signal? Ryan asked.

    No battery. I’ve been trying to reach Will for the last three hours.

    Three hours. That sounded like more than crappy Raleigh traffic on a Monday evening. Ryan dug out his own phone and passed it over. Go ahead, he said. It’s got a full charge.

    Ormond thanked him and stalked over to the church’s front doors. Ryan waited until some of the caterers came upstairs with cases of water, and then he ducked back into the church to help distribute the bottles. As he stared at the sweaty, bored, impatient guests, he asked himself again why anyone would ever want to get married.

    In the church’s stifling coatroom, Lindsey Ormond watched bleakly as her brother managed the disaster. Thank you, Brother Mike, Zach said as the kindly man headed toward the door. We’re just fine. Once the preacher was gone, Zach turned back to her. Come on, Linds. Drink some of that water.

    But Lindsey didn’t want to drink any water. She was pretty sure she’d be on her knees in front of the toilet in the tiny bathroom off the vestibule if she drank any water. If she drank any water, or if she ate one of the tiny sandwiches Grace had brought her, or if she took a single step away from the folding chair where she sat with her arms folded tight around her belly.

    Come on, Sweetie, Grace said. Zach’s right. Everything’s fine, but you need to drink something. Lindsey could read the lies on her sister’s face. She could hear them as loudly as if her matron of honor was shouting from the church’s steeple.

    Swallowing thick acid at the back of her throat, Lindsey reminded herself that she was a trained actor. She could pretend to be anything from Alice in Wonderland to the Velveteen Rabbit. She made a career out of acting every night of her life and twice on Sundays, and she wasn’t about to let all that practice go to waste. You know what, Grace? she said, finding the perfect tone of surprised wonder. "I would kill for a Popsicle right now."

    Grace laughed, but then she asked, You’re serious?

    Lindsey nodded, letting the idea grow with the confidence she layered into her voice. I know the caterers won’t have any. But there’s a 7-11 just down Martin Street…

    Grace looked down at her pink dress, at her matching peau de soie shoes and her wristlet of sweetheart roses. "I guess I could go."

    Lindsey made herself laugh, bright and easy, just like she was reciting lines from the very back of the stage. Tell them it’s for Bridezilla. Maybe you can get Rachel to drive you? Or Beth? She didn’t care which of her sisters drove. She just wanted all of them out of the church, away from her, away from the disaster that was unfolding in horrifying slow motion.

    Zach smiled his thanks to Grace as he fished in his pocket for his wallet and handed over a twenty-dollar bill. Lindsey barely waited until her sister was out of the room before she dropped the character of Brave Bride, opting instead for Doomed Lindsey. It’s happening again, she said, every syllable trembling.

    At least Zach didn’t pretend to misunderstand her. It’s a Monday night. Traffic is terrible. There’s a reason most people get married on weekends.

    Lindsey shook her head, biting her lip to keep from screaming. When the bride was an actor and the brother who was supposed to give her away played professional baseball, Monday night was the logical choice for a wedding. Only when she was certain her words could come out sounding remotely sane did she try to respond. "Give me some credit here, Zach. If I had to get jilted two years ago, at least I learned something from the experience. I can tell when it’s happening again. Will Braden Templeton isn’t coming to this church tonight."

    Zach protested automatically. Don’t say that, honey. Jilted makes it sound like it was your fault.

    It’s the truth! Lindsey shouted. From the look on Zach’s face, he was every bit as surprised as she was by her volume. She hurried on, though, before he could offer her more pat words, more false comfort. It’s the truth, she repeated. Two years ago, Doug jilted me. He let me stand there in my wedding dress, with two hundred of our family’s closest friends in the Claibourne ballroom, with a sit-down dinner and a band and a wedding cake waiting in the next room! She was appalled by the words spilling out of her mouth, by the flood of ugly memories. But she couldn’t stop herself, couldn’t keep from saying, He did all that because he was too afraid to tell me about his affairs, about three other women who I only found out about online, after the fact, after the most embarrassing night of my life.

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