REVIEW: “The Windup” by Kate McMurray
ABOUT:
Ian ran screaming from New York City upon graduating from high school. A job offer too good to turn down has brought him back, but he plans to leave as soon as the job is up. In the meantime he lets an old friend talk him into joining the Rainbow League, New York’s LGBT amateur baseball league. Baseball turns out to be a great outlet for his anxiety, and not only because sexy teammate Ty has caught his eye.
Ty is like a duck on a pond—calm and laid-back on the surface, a churning mess underneath. In Ian, he’s found someone with whom he feels comfortable enough to share some of what’s going on beneath the surface. The only catch is that Ian is dead set on leaving the city as soon as he can. Ty works up a plan to convince Ian that New York is, in fact, the greatest city in the world. But when Ian receives an offer for a job overseas, Ty needs a new plan: convince Ian that home is where Ty is.
REVIEW:
Strike. You’re out! Yeah, sadly I struck out on this one. I’m bumming too, this was my first McMurray book. That’s always frustrating when first encounters are bumpy. There are several key reasons I did not hit it off with The Windup.
Ian has moved back to New York City, much to his dismay. The only good thing about it is, its temporary. He joins The Rainbow League in hopes of making the best of his summer in the city. He doesn’t count on a sexy redhead distracting his plan to get the heck outta dodge. Ty is the happy-go-lucky team slut. Or so he likes to claim. He is hiding his own fair share of secrets and wonders if he finally found the someone he wants to share them with.
Hot summer fling, ball players and an artist- Sounds like a home run aye? Yeah, I thought so too. What happened? Welllll……
First off, everything was S.P.E.L.L.E.D out. I literally felt as if someone was whispering each scene play-by-play in my ear. Whatever was going to happen was discussed first. Hot sex will happen….and then hot sex happens. I’m going to show him my artwork…and the art is shared. It was redundant, it was distracting, and it was bothersome.
The dialogue was unnatural. It felt forced and stilted. Both MC’s kept each other at arm’s length initially and their connection was flat from the start. Unfortunately, this prevented me from forming any connections as well. Even worse, I struggled to find any authenticity with the characters. Almost as if a chart of characteristics was idly checked off; Anxiety disorder- check. Daddy issues- check. Slutty manwhore- check. Personality is important and both Ian and Ty’s traits appeared muddled and half-hazardously put together.
Lastly, I think the editing was loose. A great deal of repetition occurred. At times it was verbatim and often in the same paragraph. I frequently wondered- how was that missed?
The baseball was spot on and enjoyable. A bit of quirky humor was sprinkled throughout. I’ve never been to the city, but felt as if I was tagging along on their adventures of ‘fall in love with NYC‘. Ohhh and the cover is fabulous!
This is just the beginning of The Rainbow League, but I think I’m going to slip out now and wish the boys best of luck.
RATING: 2.5 STARS
BOOK INFO:
Title: The Windup (The Rainbow League #1)
Author: Kate McMurray
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Pages: 214 pages
Release Date: April 24, 2015
Purchase Links: Dreamspinner
Shoot, I have hope :(
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I hope it works for you. Actually, I’m hoping it’s just *me* that it didn’t work for.
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