A delightfully sexy romantic comedy about a romance writer determined to learn how to play pickleball to impress her crush, only to fall for her coach. As a cowboy romance ghostwriter, Brooke Murphy knows a thing or two about happily ever afters. But following her last breakup, Brooke is feeling fresh out of hot and steamy vibes. With her next deadline looming and desperate for inspiration, Brooke says yes to every possible romantic opportunity, including a mixed doubles pickleball game, where she meets a tall, dark, and handsome guy taking his pickleball  very  seriously. A couple of dates with this stranger would be all she needs to crank out her next trope-tastic novel. She just needs to learn how to play. Fast. So what if she’s the least athletic person alive? Enter Owen Miller, aka The Big Gripper, the secret weapon of Manhattan’s most competitive finance bro pickleball players. The surly coach doesn’t look like a former elite athlete—with his bucket hat, oversized basketball shorts, and flip-flops—but the man can  move  when the ball heads his way. With enough shameless begging, she convinces him to take her on. As her game improves, her muse comes back in a big way. Could it be that her feelings for the grump who taught her the difference between a dillball and a dink shot run deeper than just student and coach? Victoria Schade is a celebrated author of contemporary romance novels and a dog trainer who seamlessly combines her love for animals with her passion for storytelling. When not working on books with tons of sparks and heart, Victoria enjoys dancing, baking, reading, and perfecting her dink shot. She shares her 1850’s always-in-need-of-renovations home with Millie the senior Smooth Brussels Griffon, Boris the chihuahua/pug mix, the occasional foster pup, and her incredibly tolerant husband.