This is another great book in the Knights of Passion series! 4.5 Stunning Stars!

Miranda Callahan, President of the Georgia Knights baseball team, daughter of the owner, has struggled with her father to help turn the financially strapped team around. With a large loan payment to the League looming, she knows changes are necessary to avoid having the team ownership sold by the League's commissioner. Although she is President, as owner, her father does not listen to or respect her opinions even though she has an MBA and the experience to make sound decisions. When her father suffers a heart attack and is side lined, she steps in to turn the team around using her ideas and skills as a businesswoman.

Lucas Wainright, with his experience as a turnaround consultant sent by the League, enters the picture to either help the team become profitable and able to make their loan payment or the franchise will be sold. He reports directly to the commissioner and is seen by the Knights' staff as an outsider, albeit with his history of his deceased father having owned the team prior to Miranda's father, Seamus. Is he out for revenge or does he truly want to help Miranda save the team?

This story is at times both inspiring and heartbreaking. The way Miranda's father treats her for 95% of the book is despicable. She is a grown, well educated, experienced woman and yet he disregards her every move. He gives her little responsibility overall and yet she brings a profit to those areas she's in charge of. Both on a professional and personal level, he constantly berates her, telling her HE is the owner and will run the business as he wants, making all of the strategic decisions, even though she is the president. Even when Miranda takes over while Seamus recovers from his heart attack, he is constantly at odds with her, to the point that her mother asks her to limit her contact with him.

I honestly had a hard time wrapping my mind around why she would stay and take that kind of emotional abuse. Yes she loves her father but his disrespect for her intelligence is appalling. But when Miranda FINALLY digs in and truly stands up to her father, I was cheering her on!!

As for Lucas, I think he was a great character. Yes, he had some issues of his own to work through (not to give anything away) being back in the same offices, stadium, etc. he had been in with his father as a young man, but he shows a level of maturity in handling that - he makes his own decisions.

And that, to me, is the secret gem that underlies the whole story. Where Miranda cannot work hard enough to earn her father's respect, Lucas gives it to her unconditionally. He makes suggestions as a consultant, but admires and respects Miranda's brains and determination. And Miranda, although she knows she's going against her dad's wishes, works hard to execute changes that will help the team turnaround and become profitable. Here are two strong, capable individuals who view one another as equals, not as two people tearing one another down. Especially refreshing in a male dominated business!

And yes, the romance was a perfect balance too!

I would definitely recommend this book!

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion.