Mirrigold: Mutterings & Musings

Line Drive by E.M. Lindsey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

That’s two for two on my EM Lindsey experience so far.

This baseball series is shaping up to be an absolutely fantastic one with incredible disability representation.

Here it’s Cerebral Palsy, one of the MCs’ son has it as a consequence of a difficult birth and the way his disability and difficulties are written is exceptional. I have a friend with two children who have CP because of premature birth and their experiences are so similar.

There’s also some fabulous trans representation too as Phoenix is FtM and a typical bolshy teenager.

I really loved the way that this complexity was written, and I loved the sass and conviction that Phoenix had about living his best life.

This is obviously James’ story, aka Scooter, and when you find out more about how he grew up, well I reckon your heart will break just like mine did.

He’s such a sweetheart but he’s also vulnerable and he’s so deserving of being loved even though he doesn’t feel himself capable.

When he crosses paths with Phoenix’s dad Ridley, it becomes very clear there might be a wonderful kind of future there if both men can weather their doubts and insecurity.

What I enjoyed the most about this book, same as with book one, is that these doubts and insecurity issues are utterly realistic and familiar.

You don’t get any unnecessary drama thrown in just for the sake of raising a tension point. The worries, the fears which bring wobbles into the relationship development are genuine.

As James falls head over heels, he’s stymied by not only his own concerns but also because Ridley’s coming to terms with his bisexuality and all the extra complications from being a single dad with a disabled transgender son.

I was cheering these two along their unsteady path with great gusto and as they reached towards happiness I was full of joy for them all

The Epilogue is truly lovely and I’m intrigued now to see what happens next.

#ARC kindly received from the author via Grey’s Promotions in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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