Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup, a Highland West/mini schnauzer, Jill, and her brother, Racicot. When she's isn't writing stories, you'll find her sitting court-side at her daughters' basketball games.

The second book in McLaughlin's Boys of Summer series (Third Base, 2017) focuses on rookie Cooper Bailey. He is trying to earn his spot against a popular center fielder and does not want the distraction of a girlfriend during spring training. But Cooper can't help himself when he meets zoo employee Ainsley on a media outing, and their few dates show him that they could be a lasting couple. Ainsley is devoted to caring for her dying mother, but she can't stop thinking about Cooper, who comes under pressure after a poor start to the spring season, which provokes his demanding father. When Ainsley's mother enters hospice, the couple fights as their stress reaches a boiling point.