This special paperback features gorgeous sprayed edges with stenciled artwork.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey is back with an all-new marriage of convenience, friends-to-lovers sports romance about a baseball catcher and the burlesque club owner he can’t get out of his head.
Madden Donahue, the newest catcher for the Yankees, has been in love with Eve Mitchell since high school, but for some mysterious reason, the burlesque club owner always turns him down. That never stopped him from being her self-appointed protector. Case in point, now that Eve’s sister has left Eve with her two children indefinitely, Madden steps in with a proposition—marry him for the much needed health benefits.
Eve has secretly harbored feelings for Madden all along, but there’s one problem—her best friend Skylar called dibs on him when they were fourteen. Eve has always put their friendship above all else, and she’s not willing to risk losing Skylar over a man. Raised by the local strip club owner, Eve is woefully short on friends and treasures the ones she has. But with Skylar happily paired off, Eve finds herself accepting Madden’s proposal—on the condition that their marriage remains strictly private. She’s not about to let her unique profession and maligned reputation destroy Madden’s shiny new career.
Madden won’t let Eve get away that easily, though. What starts as a marriage of convenience soon ignites into something much hotter, and now it’s up to Madden to convince Eve that their connection is far more than
#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey is back with an all-new marriage of convenience, friends-to-lovers sports romance about a baseball catcher and the burlesque club owner he can’t get out of his head.
Madden Donahue, the newest catcher for the Yankees, has been in love with Eve Mitchell since high school, but for some mysterious reason, the burlesque club owner always turns him down. That never stopped him from being her self-appointed protector. Case in point, now that Eve’s sister has left Eve with her two children indefinitely, Madden steps in with a proposition—marry him for the much needed health benefits.
Eve has secretly harbored feelings for Madden all along, but there’s one problem—her best friend Skylar called dibs on him when they were fourteen. Eve has always put their friendship above all else, and she’s not willing to risk losing Skylar over a man. Raised by the local strip club owner, Eve is woefully short on friends and treasures the ones she has. But with Skylar happily paired off, Eve finds herself accepting Madden’s proposal—on the condition that their marriage remains strictly private. She’s not about to let her unique profession and maligned reputation destroy Madden’s shiny new career.
Madden won’t let Eve get away that easily, though. What starts as a marriage of convenience soon ignites into something much hotter, and now it’s up to Madden to convince Eve that their connection is far more than
Title: Catch Her If You Can (Big Shots #5)
Author: Tessa Bailey
Publisher: Avon Harper Voyager
Expected Publication Date: Janaury 20, 2026
Review:
Thank you to Avon Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I really enjoy the stories Tessa Bailey puts out. Every time I read her, I'm immersed and don't want to put the book down. I was very excited to get Madden's story. He was a bit of a mystery in Pitcher Perfect. I loved the glimpses we got of him. How he was shy and reserved and grumpy. I needed to know more about him and Bailey made that happen.
Eve and Madden have known each other since they were teens and Madden moved from Ireland to America. They have both harbored feelings for all that time but have not been able to act on it (she because of her best friend Skylar's crush and him because of his preoccupation with their age gap). When Madden finds out Eve needs help, he jumps in with a proposal, literally. Marry him for the benefits, just for six months, so she can get back on her feet. A marriage of convenience, though his plan is anything but. Of course they cannot help their feelings getting in the way of their arrangement.
I will say the vibe of this book was unlike the first four. There are much more serious topics in this book. Much more trauma the character have endured from physical to emotional and mental abuse. Madden escaped by moving far away from his abuser. But Even is still stuck in the same town where her father's legacy has followed her and the bullying towns people all her life.
Madden, oh Madden. Gah, I just love him. He's grumpy and totally possessive. But his heart is so very big. Considering his background, and the trauma he seems to have endured during his childhood, it's surprising he is so well adjusted. One thing I really need more of from him was his background. We get it from him, he tells a bit of his story, but not as much as I would have liked. I really would have liked to see more of what he endured so I can understand how he was able to come out on the other side with such a positive attitude. Then again, we endure trauma and it often makes us stronger and we figure out ways for that trauma not to enter into our lives again.
I liked Eve but not as much as bailey's other FMCs. She nice enough. I love her connection with her niece and nephew. I love the fact that she is selfless enough to take on their care when it's needed and her act of selflessness towards Madden (I will not get into it since it's kind of a spoiler though I figured it out right away). I just wish she would have been stronger in her conviction of who she is and what she stands for. We do get this a bit at the end of the book. But mostly she keeps her head down and kind of lets others abuse her with their snark and gross comments. Most of the time she just walks away. Ok, we are taught to walk away from the bullies, I get it. But I needed her to really start to stand up for herself and who she was deep down. To show everyone how selfless and loving she could be.
The spice is absolutely spicing in this one. I love the exploration of the voyeur kink. It wasn't unexpected given the background of the character, to be honest. I actually thought it was a little too on point and kind of wished it was a different kink that was explored.
This one was a fast read. I started and finished in less than 24 hours. The flashbacks at the beginning were a nice addition, giving us a good background for Eve and Madden's romance. Their chemistry was definitely off the charts. Bailey made that attraction very palpable throughout the book. Bailey throws in the virgin card for one of the characters, which could have been such a better plot line if explored a bit. It just kind of comes up and then it's like it wasn't that big of a deal when I feel like it kind of should have been. Especially given the reasoning for it. And while it was fast paced and for the most part I enjoyed the story, there were some plot holes that I had a hard time getting over which lowered my rating.
I will forever pick up Bailey's books as I really do love the stories she tells. She always keeps me entertained, even if I've read the tropes a million times in other stories. I love the journey she takes and how she brings her characters together with such great connections. Fingers crossed she continues because I need Elton's story! I was totally shipping him and Veda in this book!
Autor:
New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.
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