Review: Whatever Happened to...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 26, 2013
Class reunions. Love them or hate them. When you're a star athlete returning home, they can put you back in touch with the one girl who still resides in your heart. To Be, Or Not by Margo Hoornstra is part of the Class of '85 Reunion Series. I enjoy stories about older heroes and heroines. Their life experiences often make them more interesting. In this novella, baseball star Barry Carlson has returned home to coach the local Triple A team after a career-ending injury. Amanda Marsh, the "girl who got away", has also returned home after a disastrous marriage involving abuse. She's leery of men, even though she's still in love with Barry, and she also works for the Hornets, putting her in almost daily contact with him. Barry's life in the big leagues turned out to be a series of one-night stands and he really wants to settle down with the woman of his dreams, Amanda. As their 25th Class Reunion approaches, Barry woos the skittish Amanda and a big misunderstanding the first night of the reunion threatens their growing relationship.In a side plot, Riley, one of Barry's players is accused by the town sleezebag of assaulting his daughter, who is over 18. This incident created some tension between Barry and Amanda, who automatically assumed Riley was guilty.I've enjoyed this series and Ms. Hoonstra's addition is a worthy read. My one "ding" is on the timing. I'm a huge baseball fan and the team would have been in Florida for spring training for part of the book. I could overlook the oops because I liked the characters, the plot, and the HEA.