Tough opponents... Kristina Mathews & 'Better Than Perfect' ~ @KristinaMathews @GoddessFish #romance

Today we have author Kristina Mathews visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Kristina Mathews doesn't remember a time when she didn't have a book in her hand. Or in her head. But it wasn't until she turned forty that she confessed the reason the laundry never made it out of the dryer was because she was busy writing.
* Kristina lives in Northern California with her husband of more than twenty years, two sons and a black lab. A veteran road tripper, amateur renovator and sports fanatic. She hopes to one day travel all 3,073 miles of Highway 50 from Sacramento, CA to Ocean City, MD, replace her carpet with hardwood floors and serve as a “Ball Dudette” for the San Francisco Giants.

What book are you going to tell us about today?
* Better Than Perfect is Book One in the More Than A Game series. It is my debut novel and the second book, Worth The Trade, comes out in July. I don’t have a publication date yet for the next two books in the series. Each book is a stand-alone story, they are connected in that the hero and/or heroine are affiliated with the San Francisco Goliaths baseball team.

How'd you/your muse come up with this story?
* I wanted to write a story about an athlete hero who was heroic both on and off the field. After too many sports scandals, I wanted to write a guy who was nearly perfect. As a pitcher, he was perfect once, for nine innings. But of course, without the heroine, his personal life was far from perfect.

Describe the hero in five words.
* Johnny is a good guy.

Describe the heroine in five words.
* Alice sacrifices for loved ones.

Who's your favorite character in the book & why?
* I love Johnny Scottsdale. He’s the kind of guy I would want my sons to look up to. I first got the idea for his character after hearing one too many sports scandals. Having a son who is a student athlete we talk a lot about the responsibility. When he puts on the uniform, he represents his team, his school, and his community.

What's your favorite line in the story?
* Johnny went for a run down the Embarcadero, dodging seagulls and skaters and street performers. He was really dodging his feelings. His past. And the realization that he needed to start thinking about his future.

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * The woman he left behind and the son he never knew are tougher opponents than any he’s met on the field.
* Pitcher Johnny “The Monk” Scottsdale has won awards, been named an All-star and has a perfect game to his credit. Known for his legendary control both on and off the field, his pristine public image makes him the ideal person to work with youth players in a preseason minicamp. Except the camp is run by the one woman he can’t forget…the woman who made him a “monk.”
* Alice Harrison’s three strikes include an unexpected pregnancy, a marriage of convenience and young widowhood. She once traded her dreams so Johnny could have a chance at making it to the Majors. Johnny comes back into her life just as she’s ready to resign as foundation director and pursue her own dreams of finally earning her teaching credential. Her plans may go on hold, though, depending on the reaction when she confesses she may have kept a major league secret from Johnny and her son.
* With the minutes ticking by until Johnny will leave for spring training, they’ll need to let go of the past and work together in order to win the game of love.
* CONTENT WARNING: Some strong language, consummated love scenes ~ Excerpt ~ * “Alice.” Just saying her name sent a line drive straight to his heart. Even fourteen years later.
* “Congratulations on your new contract. I know you’re going to have a great year.” She sounded like any other fan, wishing him well. She just marched right up to his table to ask for an autograph. A freaking autograph? Like he meant nothing to her.
* A slight breeze blew her hair around her face. She tried to smile as she tucked a loose strand behind her ear. Blond, straight, silky—and if he remembered correctly—oh-so-soft. She wore modestly cut jeans and a soft blue sweater that on anyone else would have looked plain and proper. He didn’t need to glance at her left hand to know she was off limits. Yet, she still moved him like no other woman ever could. Made him long for what he’d had. What he’d lost. What he’d tried for years to forget.
* Johnny nodded, giving his most sincere smile, even though seeing Alice, and her kid, hit him like a 97-mile-an-hour fastball.
* They started to walk away.
* “Give my best to Mel.” As if he hadn’t already done that.
* Alice turned around.
* “Mel died. Eight years ago.”

Buy Better Than Perfect here...
Lyrical Press | Kobo | Amazon | B&N

Find Kristina Mathews here...
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Page

Thank you for joining us here today, Kristina Mathews! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

ANNOUNCEMENT! Kristina will be awarding a $10 Amazon GC plus a digital copy of the book to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour! So be sure to leave your name and email with your comment, visit the other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-virtual-book-tour) for a greater chance of winning!