Books like 'The Curveball'
Readers who enjoyed The Curveball by Emily Childs also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance sports grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc friends-to-lovers celebrity university female-mc
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Doing It Right: A Second Chance, Single Parent Romance by Harloe Rae
Rated: 4.86 of 5 stars · 14 ratings“This doesn’t have to be the end for us.”Except it was.What did we know about happily ever after at the age of eighteen?Mason Braxter was a football legend—destined for glory far bigger than the confines of our small town. Meanwhile, I had dreams of my own—a simpler life that included staying put and growing roots.And all those plans of mine were going splendidly... -
![My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh]()
My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA humiliating break-up leads to an impulsive New Year’s Kiss with a complete stranger. What could possibly go wrong?It’s no secret that I love life. And Dr Pepper. But also, I love a challenge. . .So when the coach of the Chicago Comets gives me the opportunity to help their star player, newly traded to their team, acclimate to life in Chicago, I'm all in.I have to be... -
![The Billionaire's Secret Marriage: An Inspirational Billionaire Romance by Tamie Dearen]()
The Billionaire's Secret Marriage: An Inspirational Billionaire Romance by Tamie Dearen
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsStephanie Caldwell made the classic mistake… she fell in love with her boss. The fact that Bran is blind makes no difference to Steph—she thinks he’s the most handsome man she’s ever laid eyes on. If only she didn’t have to see him every day, she could force herself to give up her pipe dreams. But she can’t quit--she needs this job to pay for her daughter’s medical treatment...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc female-mc grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine religion spirituality adult audiobook -
![His Steadfast Love by Julie Lessman]()
His Steadfast Love by Julie Lessman
Rated: 4.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe’s bent on fun. He’s bent on faith. Till true love bridges the gap. Cat O’Bryen is the prodigal daughter unhappy with God. First, the father with whom she reconciled dies of cancer and now her twin sister and best friend marries, leaving Cat at home with a newlywed mother, her new husband, and a little brother... -
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![No Strings by Nikki Ash]()
No Strings by Nikki Ash
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom USA Today Bestselling Author Nikki Ash comes a brand new, contemporary, stand-alone romance about a single dad who thinks he has everything figured out... until he meets her.SavannahA sexy, single dad and his teenage son weren’t a part of my white picket fence fairy tale, but if life has taught me anything, it’s that things don’t always work out according to plan...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc female-mc friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor adult age-gap -
![Romancing the Grump by Jenny Proctor]()
Romancing the Grump by Jenny Proctor
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe’s a grump and happy to stay that way. But can her sunshine melt the ice around his heart? Nathan Sanders didn't earn his reputation as the grouchiest player on the Appies minor league hockey team by chance. So when Summer Callahan breezes into his life with her flirtatious smiles and endless charm, he responds like he always he completely ignores her...Categorized as:
sports grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc humor friends-to-lovers religion spirituality -
![For No Reason by Christina Coryell]()
For No Reason by Christina Coryell
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"The waiter walked towards me, but I waved him away. I was too busy contemplating my rapid descent through the ranks of celebrity to the dustbin of shaving my head and marrying my cousin..." Camdyn Taylor is growing into her newfound fame, adjusting to unfamiliar roles in her family, and harboring a little secret. Once she makes it known, there is no doubt her life will change... -
![The Runaway by Jess Mastorakos]()
The Runaway by Jess Mastorakos
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCould rescuing a runaway bride would be the detour I never knew I needed?I had a plan. But then, my cross-country road trip to my new duty station started with me getting dumped. Two seconds later, I got roped into bringing a family friend’s niece, Nikki, and her teenage daughter on the road with me.To make matters worse, I’m aiding Nikki’s escape from her own wedding...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc female-mc religion spirituality contemporary suspense -
![Finding her Forever by Cathryn Brown]()
Finding her Forever by Cathryn Brown
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe wants to find a home. He’s ready to move on.Paige quits her city job for a fresh start in small-town Two Hearts, Tennessee—and brings a stray dog. She bought a Victorian house she plans to turn into a bed and breakfast—no matter how much effort it takes. Romance? She doesn’t have time for it—even with CJ, her handsome carpenter.CJ enjoys moving from place to place... -
![The Assassins Series by Toni Aleo]()
The Assassins Series by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsNow all four novels and the companion novella are together in one can’t-miss eBook bundle: TAKING SHOTSTRYING TO SCOREEMPTY NETFALLING FOR THE BACKUPBLUE LINES The Assassins may be the hottest things on two legs and ice skates, but when the gloves come off, the chiseled men of this Nashville NHL team will do anything for the women they love: A reformed bad boy helps a charming, willful beauty... -
![Over My Brother's Dead Body, Chase Andrews by Piper Rayne]()
Over My Brother's Dead Body, Chase Andrews by Piper Rayne
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsChase Andrews.The Kingsmen’s top tight end.My brother’s friend and teammate.My new neighbor.The grumpy to my sunshine.But underneath that grumpy exterior, there’s so much more.Chase likes to pretend nothing affects him, but I’ve seen glimpses of his other side in the time we’ve spent together.And the more we get to know each other, the more I’m falling for him...Categorized as:
sports grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc friends-to-lovers celebrity humor romance -
![Don't Let Me Break by Kelsie Rae]()
Don't Let Me Break by Kelsie Rae
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsMacklin and I are just friends.And even that's a stretch.He saw me at my most vulnerable, and now the guy's popping up left and right.Pretty sure it's because my friend is trying to set me up with him, but what do I know?It's not like I have much experience with guys.And he's...well, Macklin's older, much more experienced, and bluntly put?Way out of my league...Categorized as:
university sports friends-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc romance new-adult -
![Royal Gone Rogue by Emma St. Clair]()
Royal Gone Rogue by Emma St. Clair
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI need to find the perfect woman to be my queen. Love was never supposed to be part of the arrangement.I've always done things by the book--that's the burden of being the heir to the Elsinorian throne. So when my father grows ill and my coronation seems imminent, I intend to find my future queen the same way ... with logic and a list of eligible women who fit a detailed set of data points... -
![Now's the Time by Harlow James]()
Now's the Time by Harlow James
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“Let me experience all of you tonight, Penelope…since this is all that we get.”That was the agreement between me and Maddox Taylor, the NFL’s most notorious playboy and mega-talented quarterback who happened to be out in California for one night—one night in which I broke all of my rules and gave in to the undeniable attraction I felt for the man... -
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![A Reason to Be Alone by Christina Coryell]()
A Reason to Be Alone by Christina Coryell
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“Maybe taking myself seriously is a bad idea, anyway. I mean, the chances of me tripping or doing something equally clumsy are pretty high... -
![Loving the Coach by Cami Checketts]()
Loving the Coach by Cami Checketts
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCan a football superstar convince a broken scuba instructor to trust and love him?Annie Holman escaped her hometown after her father’s murder to protect herself and her family from a mafia lord’s threats... -
![A Reason to Forget by Christina Coryell]()
A Reason to Forget by Christina Coryell
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“That’s the thing about life – just when you think it’s nearing absolute perfection, you find yourself flat on your back on a stranger’s filthy green shag carpet, simply trying to remember how to breathe.” – Camdyn A charming new home, welcoming new hearts, and the promise of forever with Cole Parker – Camdyn is tempted to say that things are just about perfect... -
![The Sweetest Thing by Brooke St. James]()
The Sweetest Thing by Brooke St. James
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA true to life fairy tale and happily ever after dream come true that will leave you feeling warm and happy long after it's over.My mother wrote a young adult novel that eventually became a Hollywood blockbuster hit. Somehow, during production of the movie, I became friends with the star. Heath Vick was Hollywood's favorite leading man--a heartthrob, for sure... -
![Upping the Ante by Emma St. Clair]()
Upping the Ante by Emma St. Clair
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHe's been the grumpiest boss a woman could ask for--or he WAS until I quit. But former football star Deacon Clark doesn't seem to be getting the memo. Instead, he tags along with me to Sheet Cake, Texas, where I'm hoping to start a new business.Deacon's only hope is to hire me back as his assistant. At least, that's what I thought. Until ... the very clear lines we've always kept start to blur...Categorized as:
humor sports grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc friends-to-lovers romance contemporary -
![The Fall Out by Jenni Bara]()
The Fall Out by Jenni Bara
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLet me tell the story of how I fell in love with a woman who had no idea that we were even dating. The ridiculousness started when she stole my beer, and trust me, my grumpy self doesn’t normally share. But somehow, Avery Wilson is the exception to every one of my many rules.Unfortunately, I’m not hers...Categorized as:
sports friends-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc humor romance slow-burn -
![A Collision of Stars by Georgia Stone]()
A Collision of Stars by Georgia Stone
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOne summer. One bucket list.No one would ever call Ava Monroe a people person, which is unfortunate, as a barista in a busy London coffee shop. Bored, cynical and deathly sarcastic, she’s built up walls for a reason. Despite attempts from her best friend to shake up her routine, Ava refuses to do anything to disrupt her carefully curated life...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc humor romance contemporary slow-burn -
![Perfect Praise by Grace Pearce]()
Perfect Praise by Grace Pearce
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMaren and Locke both exist in the same world of professional golf—he's the number one player in the world while she just takes his picture.Never mind that Locke unintentionally leads the press to believe that he and Maren are dating, because when she confronts him, he couldn't care less... -
![Easy Tiger by Ali K. Mulford]()
Easy Tiger by Ali K. Mulford
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHe’s trying to keep his livelihood afloat. She threatens to destroy it. Will two wild hearts finally be tamed?Hawk Lachlan will do anything to save his family’s zoo. With only a year to prove that he and his siblings can handle the responsibility, the gruff eldest brother is determined to fulfill his father’s legacy... -
![Moose Be Love by Jacqueline Winters]()
Moose Be Love by Jacqueline Winters
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe was only supposed to convince her to stay. Falling in love wasn’t part of the plan. Moose Be Love: A Sunset Ridge Sweet Romance Book 1 Small town contemporary romance When Cadence Whitmore and her two sisters inherit the Sunset Ridge Lodge, their immediate plan is to sell it... -
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![Rule Breaker by Stacey Lynn]()
Rule Breaker by Stacey Lynn
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSpending the night in jail isn’t exactly how I planned to spend Christmas, but I’ve had worse holidays… Now that I’m out, it’s time to accept my real punishment. Coaching ten-year-old terrors on the ice, in my non-existent free time. My Coach thinks it’d be good for me. Remind me where I came from. He should know I’ve tried every day of my life for the last ten years to forget... -
![Stone Cold Sparks by Cami Checketts]()
Stone Cold Sparks by Cami Checketts
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA stone cold firefighter, lifelong secrets, and the vivacious woman who won’t give up. Abi Newell has loved Stone Ryland since she discovered boys don’t have fleas. She’s accomplished best friend status with her dream man but winning his heart is another story...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor spirituality adult alpha-mc -
![Are We There Yet? by Savannah Scott]()
Are We There Yet? by Savannah Scott
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA vintage VW van. Four friends. A cross-country road trip.It will be the best adventure of my life, if only I can shake the feelings I have for Cameron .Cameron Reeves is as gorgeous as his name makes him sound.He’s about six feet tall, which is the height I always wrote in my ideal man list in my journal. Yes. I have a list of qualities I want in a man...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc humor religion spirituality romance -
![A Fish Out of Water by Savannah Scott]()
A Fish Out of Water by Savannah Scott
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI knew trying to make a fresh start on Marbella Island would mean reinventing myself.I'm only here while I work my way up to my dream role in a major motion picture in Hollywood.Which explains why I took a role playing a mermaid in the island production of In So Deep . What I didn't count on?Ben. The charmer who just took a job as a water sports instructor.Everyone loves Ben.Everyone but me... -
![The Has-Been and the Hot Mess by Isabel Jordan]()
The Has-Been and the Hot Mess by Isabel Jordan
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHer job is to resurrect his image. Falling for him is not part of the plan...Kendall Quinn is a PR goddess. Meanwhile, her love life is a complete mess. So, when her latest romantic disaster leaves her jobless and homeless, it's time to take drastic measures. And that means dragging a grumpy, has-been rock star kicking and screaming back into the limelight. The job will be easy...Categorized as:
humor grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc friends-to-lovers romance contemporary steamy -
![A Reason to Run by Christina Coryell]()
A Reason to Run by Christina Coryell
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsPeople are talking about C.W. Oliver, the mysterious author with a book sitting atop the bestseller list. They are also talking about Camdyn Taylor, the pretty blonde from an embarrassing proposal rejection video that has recently gone viral. What would happen if people knew that those two individuals were one and the same? Camdyn Taylor doesn’t like chaos, but it always seems to find her... -
![Tempting the Baller by Jacob Chance]()
Tempting the Baller by Jacob Chance
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBeing a running back for the Charleston Pirates and a single father doesn’t allow for much free time. But an invite to spend the Fourth of July weekend in the Hamptons with friends is an offer too good to refuse.While there, the opportunity for a no-strings hookup with a stunning brunette presents itself and I jump at the chance... -
![Ashton Morgan: Apartment 17B by Aly Stiles]()
Ashton Morgan: Apartment 17B by Aly Stiles
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAn angsty and emotional new adult romance that can be read as a standalone.Ashton Morgan doesn’t have a chance.With a young brother and an immature mother to support, he had no choice but to drop out of college to keep his family afloat. But the day his future came crashing down was just the beginning of a tortured journey that won’t let him up for air...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc female-mc friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine religion spirituality university -
![Slow Dancing by Noelle N., hepburnettes]()
Slow Dancing by Noelle N., hepburnettes
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratings#1.3│Isla Moore is the fake girlfriend of billionaire Kaden Bretton. But Kaden is suffering from temporary blindness and still thinks he's dating his real girlfriend, Evangeline, who's actually buried six-feet underground... -
![Leaving Oxford by Janet W. Ferguson]()
Leaving Oxford by Janet W. Ferguson
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLeaving Oxford: Christian Fiction~Faith, Humor, Romance, Southern Style Escaping home to Oxford, Mississippi, seemed like a good idea. Until it wasn’t. A year after a tragic accident in Los Angeles flipped her world upside down, advertising guru Sarah Beth LeClair is still hiding away in her charming hometown of Oxford, Mississippi. And she may well be stuck there forever... -
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![Betrothal or Breakaway by Leah Brunner]()
Betrothal or Breakaway by Leah Brunner
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMy best friend—and unrequited love—has a hole in her heart. Literally and figuratively.First, Amber’s fiancé left her when she told him she was pregnant, and then her daughter's birth left her with complications from a heart defect she didn’t realize she had.I’m devastated...Categorized as:
sports friends-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc celebrity humor religion -
![Red Hot Kisses by Addison Moore]()
Red Hot Kisses by Addison Moore
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOne seasoned playboy who is determined to steer clear of relationships. One feisty freshman who is determined to steer clear of players. One red hit kiss that changes everything. Stay away from Rushford Knight was the only rule my brothers gave me. But it’s my first year at Whitney Briggs University, my first year from out of the shadow of their wings, and I plan to discover who I really am... -
![Finding Her Cowboy by Sarah Gay]()
Finding Her Cowboy by Sarah Gay
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWill the shop girl ever find the cowboy who allowed her dreams to come true?Becca Foley is realizing her dream to help poverty-stricken women all over the world through her local shop. Without the help of her mysterious benefactor cowboy, she would have never opened her doors... -
![SUDDENLY ANNIE'S FATHER by Sherryl Woods]()
SUDDENLY ANNIE'S FATHER by Sherryl Woods
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsDon't miss this all-time favorite story about finding happiness in unexpected places from New York Times bestselling author Sherryl WoodsSlade Sutton never really thought of himself as a father, but his motherless young daughter was proof to the contrary. So when Annie was suddenly dropped into his lap, Slade knew he needed help... -
![Rocky Mountain Home by Cassie Hayes]()
Rocky Mountain Home by Cassie Hayes
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe thought she was coming home. He thought she was coming home to him. When a career-ending injury forces Michaela ‘Mike’ Roberts to hang up her skis for good, she returns to her hometown in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains humbled, confused and completely directionless. She’d be utterly lost if she didn’t have the support of her family…and her best friend, Zach... -
![If Only Forever by Sophie Love]()
If Only Forever by Sophie Love
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“Sophie Love's ability to impart magic to her readers is exquisitely wrought in powerfully evocative phrases and descriptions….This is the perfect romance or beach read, with a difference: its enthusiasm and beautiful descriptions offer an unexpected attention to the complexity of not just evolving love, but evolving psyches... -
![Snatching the Catcher by Rebecca Connolly, Sophia Summers]()
Snatching the Catcher by Rebecca Connolly, Sophia Summers
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsGrizz is about to break all of the rules for something he never imagined he would be risking . . . His heart. Welcome to Belltown! Six baseball players meet in the college town of Belltown, Massachusettes, becoming best friends, their lives intertwining as they each get called up to the Major Leagues. Follow Sawyer, Cole, Axel, David, Ryker, and Levi in these six swoony sports romances... -
![Kissing on Third by Heather B. Moore, Rebecca Connolly]()
Kissing on Third by Heather B. Moore, Rebecca Connolly
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHis past will never go away. Hers has left deep scars. Together, maybe they can build something new. Levi Cox carved his baseball game out of the dirt. The hard way. Bouncing between foster homes as a kid, and trying everything he could do to protect his kid brother from bullies, Levi backs down from no one and has a record to prove it. Baseball has given him a purpose and a career... -
![The Winter Princess by Keira Dominguez]()
The Winter Princess by Keira Dominguez
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“If you have even a speck of charm, today is the day to summon it.”Known to her family as the Lone Wolffe, all Princess Freja wants is a good exhibit launch, some personal space, and a cookie. When her plans come crashing down (on the prime minister's head, no less), it's just her luck that the man with a front-row seat is grumpy, smoking-hot art restorer Oskar Velasquez... -
![Charmed by the Mountain Man by Lilah Hart]()
Charmed by the Mountain Man by Lilah Hart
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHe needs someone to help with his infant. She gives him more than he bargained for.I’m not a tough boss. I don’t ask for much.But when my nanny walks out on me, I question everything.Then my neighbor’s girlfriend recommends her best friend. She’s been working catering, but her degree is in early childhood education. This friend has no experience as a nanny, but beggars can’t be choosers...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc friends-to-lovers romance age-gap contemporary anthologies -
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![She Likes It, Hey Micah by Dana LeCheminant]()
She Likes It, Hey Micah by Dana LeCheminant
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMicah Taylor is an eternal optimist, but with every first date that fails, her faith in true love weakens. When offered the chance to help reopen the lodge where her parents were married, Micah is determined to prove her worth and show her boss that she has what it takes to be a great event planner...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc humor religion spirituality romance contemporary -
![Kiss To Defy by Anna B. Doe]()
Kiss To Defy by Anna B. Doe
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe's a figure skating prodigy. He's a guy from the wrong side of tracks.They belong to two completely different worlds...After dedicating her entire life to figure skating, Rei Mitchell-Nagasaki is ready for a little bit of normal...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc female-mc friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine sports university book -
![Nude Awakening by Penny Clarke]()
Nude Awakening by Penny Clarke
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRylie swears she’s not a prude.How was I to know the art course my best friend signed me up for meant I’d be sketching a nude model? I should have checked the fine print. Then I never would have―quite literally―bumped into Levi Hart moments before he dropped trou in class... -
![Dirty Christmas by Cassie-Ann L. Miller]()
Dirty Christmas by Cassie-Ann L. Miller
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRoast the chestnuts. Spike the eggnog. Break out the ugly Christmas sweaters...Shoot me now. I'll be home for Christmas. Whether I like it or not. Reyfield, Illinois is the last place I want to be for the Holidays. Yet, here I am, headed that way in a car with my brother-in-law's drop-dead gorgeous, certifiably insane secretary...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc female-mc grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor adult anthologies contemporary -
![Hitching the Pitcher by Rebecca Connolly, Sophia Summers]()
Hitching the Pitcher by Rebecca Connolly, Sophia Summers
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSwoony Sports Romances Sawyer Bennett has a secret. A risky thing, being one of the popular Belltown Six Pack, a group of six guys from the same college baseball team, all of whom got drafted and now play in the Major Leagues. Between the media frenzy over them and his bond with the guys, his secret has to stay carefully hidden if he wants it to stay that way... -
![At Recess by Loni Ree]()
At Recess by Loni Ree
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLetty My darn lead foot is going to land me in jail. Since moving to the small Texas town, I’ve gotten four speeding tickets and the sheriff is tired of giving me tickets—tired of dealing with me. To keep my license, I have to go in front of a grouchy old judge and convince him I’ve finally learned my lesson. Oof...
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