I haven't found many closed door sports romance options, so I was super excited to find this one!
I don't know much about based, but that didn't take away any enjoyment from the story for me. The characters and plot were well done, although the pacing was slightly off at times in my opinion.
I haven't been through the foster/adoption system as either party, so I'm not experienced in this area, but I do feel that the author covered the topic with the warmth and understanding needed while also highlighting some of the difficulties.
Overall, it was a good read!

this book was only okay to me. i’m in my baseball romance era, but this one fell a bit short for me when it comes to the narrators voice

Found Family, Baseball, Foster Care Representation. We're a baseball family, so as much time as we spend at the fields, it was fun to read something that touched on a typical busy thing in our lives. Tracy Baack brings fun together with meaningful storyline & characters and keeps you entertained and deep in the feels all the way around. The beautiful way she captured kids in foster care, through their struggles and triumphs, and how it can be for new families to navigate. We have walked this road with friends and have seen the hard days and all the small victories along the way, Tracy wrote it like a close friend was spilling their heart to you. This isn't my first TB book, and I always appreciate the reality and vulnerability she brings to the story and within the characters. Even as the FMC struggled through her own fears and concerns with new relationships, she felt real and relatable and had a genuine heart to do her best to love those around her well. When we meet more of MMC's family, I may have cried when there was a sweet "you've got this" type of convo between FMC and MMC's mom. The beauty and importance of a village and the impact it has on how you carry things & move forward with confidence.

After reading so many romance books, I needed a palate cleanser. Society today is overrun with what people call “spicy” romance books, and the spicier the “better”, usually meaning “open door”, full in your face, very descriptive sex scenes that would make my grandma roll over in her grave. Home Safe is a closed door baseball romance, but it is so much more than that! When I got this ARC, I was excited because, one, I got an ARC(!!), and two, it was a “closed door” romance. I feel as a reader, makes you wonder, and live in the innocence that books and romance should be. You might imagine what happens behind closed doors, but I never did because I needed to keep reading the rest of the story!! This story deals with some heavy themes, including talks about past abuse by parental figures, adoption and navigating that, and injury. The two main characters, Danae and Griffin, have amazing banter and actually talk (!!!) and communicate their problems on the page rather than blowing up unreasonably. That was refreshing to see! My least favorite trope is the lack-of-communication trope, and you won’t find that in here! I love Danae’s softness and Griffin’s strength. The plot is well written and the romance isn’t the star of the show (or at least it’s not the only reason for reading this book)!! This is one of my favorite reads so far this year and I can’t wait to read more of her works!

2.5/5 Stars
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with the ARC.
Danae is an elementary school librarian who has recently become a single mom by adopting one of her students. Jason, her new adopted son, is a baseball fanatic who has been signed up for THE Griffin West's baseball camp. Danae and Griffin form a bond with ups and downs due to their being at different stages of their lives. Griffin is dealing with the anxieties of the upcoming season after being out all last season due to a bad injury. While Danae is struggling with being a single mom and trying to navigate and be supportive of Jason's trauma. Can these two opposites attract?

This is a very sweet romance, especially if you don't like smut. This is a clean and slow burn romance. This book does touch on some triggering topics, which are listed at the beginning of the book, so read at your own risk. I think this book does a good job of talking about these heavy topics and not glorifying them.

To me, this book was more of contemporary literature than it was romance at times. The romance was there, it just seemed to get put on the back burner for sometimes chapters at a time.

The pacing of this book was a rollercoaster. There were chapters where we were stuck on a day for 4-5 chapters. Then a new chapter would start, and it would be a time skip. This book spans over at least half a year, so I understand the skips. Although at the same time, it felt like there would be a huge time skip to get to an event in the plot that was mentioned chapters ago.

The characters were fine. Griffin was my favorite. He was the big golden retriever that carried the relationship and the book. Danae, halfway through the book, started to annoy me. She kept having the same conflict and conversation over and over. People had to keep reassuring her about the same thing. Which I understand is a constant anxious personality, but it kind of became her one and only personality trait.

This is a cute romance that has baseball in it. This reads more like contemporary fiction than romance until the end. Very quick read if you just need something stimulating.

Home Safe by Tracy Baack - 4.5 stars✨

This is my second book by Tracy and it's my favorite so far! Home Safe is a contemporary romance about a professional baseball player and elementary school librarian who just became a single mom.

I do not cry a lot in books so it is notable that this book made me cry several times. Definitely the most that I've cried over book characters in 2025. There are so many heartfelt emotional moments with the adoption and these two very realistic, mature adults dealing with really hard things in their lives.

Tropes:
Baseball romance
Book lover, baseball hater FMC
Baseball player, book hater MMC
Long distance
Anxiety representation
Foster care/adoption representation
No spice or language

I also don't feel like we have a ton of long distance relationships in books and I appreciate this one diving into that and showing how it really felt insurmountable but they got through it as a team.

If you ever feel like you want a book where the couple is together for more than just a very end, this is for you. It's definitely not a slow burn and the romance felt fast, but didn't feel forced because they were mature adults in their 30s.

🛑Spoiler: I also really love how Tracy didn't make these two have a change of heart about their hobbies and passions. At the end of this book Danae still didn't like baseball and Griffin still didn't like reading. And being with each other didn't change that. That's so realistic! You can be with someone who likes different things than you!🛑

Add this one to your TBR!

First off, thank you so much for granting me an ARC of this book! This story was a very good closed door romance. I loved the man Griffin is. I enjoyed the inside look into Danae adopting Jason and the trials and tribulations they had to go through as Jason adjusted to being with Danae. I did find Danae a little annoying later on but I instood it why though. I plan to read more of Tracy Bacck's books ♡!

Home Safe was such a sweet, cozy hug of a romance. If you’re looking for something that’s full of heart, slow-burn chemistry, and just the right amount of swoon without the spice, this one’s for you. 💛

Danae and Griffin are total opposites — she’s steady and grounded, and he’s famous and under pressure — but the connection between them felt so real and genuine. I loved how thoughtful their relationship was, and how much depth there was beneath the surface. Add in an adorable kid, a baseball camp, and some emotional healing? Perfection.

This one leans soft and meaningful, with a romance that builds through small moments, sweet glances, and the kind of safety that feels like home.

If you love:
✔️ Closed-door romance with alllll the feels
✔️ Opposites attract (and actually work)
✔️ Single parent/guardian storylines
✔️ Sports romances with emotional depth

…then Home Safe will totally win you over. ⚾📚💕

He is a pro-baseball player who doesn’t like to read. She is a librarian who hates baseball. Let the sparks fly!

⚾️ Home Safe ⚾️ by Tracy Baack

Expect:
💖 Opposites attract
💖 MMC- plays pro-baseball, doesn’t like reading
💖 FMC - school librarian, hates baseball
💖 No 3rd act break-up! 👏
💖 The best side characters ever 🥰
💖 Happy ending

💋 Kisses only
🚫 No profanity
📚content: Childhood trauma, sports injury

Looking for the biggest green flag MMC of all time?
Meet Griffin. His family calls him as a “human can opener”, because he is so genuinely interested in others and such a safe person emotionally - that people open up to him. 😍

I really connected with Danae, the FMC, is a school librarian who cares deeply about doing the right thing. She has a big dose of anxiety, an even bigger passion for books, and the biggest heart full of love. The more I got to know her character, the more I deeply respected her. ❤️

I LOVED how Griffin pursued and wooed Danae. He actively worked to build a healthy relationship with her. It was seriously the sweetest. 🥰

💖If you love clean, swoony romance- this book is for you.

⚾️Even you completely hate baseball, this book is for you too.

PERSONAL NOTE:
What initially drew me to this book is that Danae is adopting a boy from foster care. I’m a researcher at a non-profit focused on helping children in foster care. BUT I’m also a mom who adopted a child whose brain has been altered by trauma. And I’m a human who is still healing from childhood trauma herself.

@authortracybaack ‘s accuracy about trauma & the brain was spot-on. AND she addressed it in the most sensitive and compassionate way. 💕The way the science is naturally woven into a compelling and unforgettable story just makes it more meaningful and understandable.

Honestly, I wish I could give this book to every adult who cares for a child who has experienced trauma. (Which if you work with kids at all, statistically you are working with at least one kid who has experienced trauma).

Warning: This book may change your life. 🥰

I enjoyed this! I’m a pretty prolific romance book reader and I know how well-done a closed-door romance can be. As a baseball fan (from around the same area as the setting of this book), I didn’t feel overly catered to nor did I feel that the author didn’t know much about baseball. The characters were written well overall, and it was easy to connect with the plot. I cannot speak to the realities of fostering/adopting a child, so I’ll leave that to other readers, but I did appreciate the author giving the trauma that does come with adoption (for all involved) light. I gave this three stars mostly because I felt like Danae’s main problem with Griffin’s occupation was drawn out too long and honestly a bit unfair, but that really could just be the baseball fan in me!

Absolutely Beautiful!

Honestly anything Tracy writes is amazing! I loved everything about this. It made me laugh, cry and swoon. It is not just a meet cute and fall in love story it has depth and tough topics to navigate but she does it beautifully!

Plus no spice, no cussing ! Perfection!

I loved everything about how this book focused on home, creating a home, making a home feel like home, and who is home to you.

I loved that Danae was so willing to take on fostering and adopting a boy she was able to teach and connect with. I loved hearing Jason call her mom and what that must have felt like. This experience is full of so much more love and patience.

I love how Griffin weaves his way into both of their hearts. How he feels like his upbringing helped prepare him to meet them. I love how sweet and understanding he is with Danae. And how he wants to be there to create new experiences and memories with Jason.

This book was truly about created a forever home, and making it home safe. The quote that stood out to me was, “One hundred percent, forever.”

There were the getting to know you texts. And her anxiety, that he helped to pull her from her thoughts. The little gestures. It was all just beautiful.

Thank you for creating something with such heart.

This was a sweet and heartfelt book following the story of a young woman who becomes an adoptive parent and falls in love with a local baseball star. I’m not a massive sports romance fan, but I still found this enjoyable with the baseball parts easy enough to follow.

I liked the protagonist Danae for her strength and resilience despite her constant doubts about her capabilities. I definitely found this character as something myself and many others aspire to. While Griffin, the MMC, wasn’t really my type, I still found myself rooting for his relationship with Danae. I appreciated how the ups and downs of the character’s lives and romantic relationship felt realistic and genuine rather than sugarcoated.

I would definitely recommend this to fans of sports romance with the following elements:
- Sweet & clean content
- Realistic relationships

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book!

Thank you to Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op, Author, & NetGalley for the e-arc.

I really like this book, which was my first Tracy Baack book. The book's inability to sugarcoat the emotional realities of foster care was what truly caught my attention. the portrayal of secondhand trauma, the value of therapy for foster families and the kids under their supervision, and the sense of hope that results from recovery. It was a beautifully crafted romance. Being a bookworm who prefers a quiet, predictable existence, I could really relate to Danae. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Sweet enough to give me a cavity—proceed with caution (and maybe a glass of water)

I'd like to start with a big thank you to Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for the ARC of "Home Safe" in exchange for honest review.

Okay, "Home Safe" by Tracy Baack is like the literary equivalent of a warm hugand I say that as someone who had just crawled out of a dark romance series where everyone had at least one emotional support knife. So diving into this soft, closed-door, emotionally intelligent baseball romance was…a bit of a whiplash.

Danae, our anxious, overthinking librarian-turned-foster-mom, is the kind of FMC you root for even when you want to shake her a little. She’s relatable, yes. Sweet, yes. But sometimes, I needed her to take a breath and maybe stop spiraling for two seconds. Griffin, on the other hand, is a golden retriever disguised as a baseball player wholesome, grounded, and honestly too real-world for my usual tastes. But I can’t lie his heart? 10/10.

The romance is soft. Like marshmallow fluff soft. I kicked my feet a few times, sure, but I also had moments where I rolled my eyes and had to pace because this much wholesomeness after back-to-back morally gray love interests? Whew.

Still, there’s no denying that this book has heart. The foster/adoption storyline was handled with care, and the way Danae and Griffin showed up for each other even while not sharing the same passions (books vs. baseball) was genuinely touching. No fake drama, no miscommunication trope, just two adults trying their best.

Final thoughts:

Cute? Overwhelmingly.
Real? Very.
Will I recommend it? Definitely, especially if you need a break from brooding billionaires and dangerous ex-assassins.

Quick Stats:
🤐 Language: None
❤️‍🔥 Spice: Just kisses
🤯 Content: Adoption, childhood trauma, anxiety, toxic family
⚖️ Vibe: Clean, emotional, character-driven

A solid 4 stars from me sweet, sincere, and maybe just a little too sugary for my current taste buds. But honestly? I’m still glad I read it.

This was a delightful read from start to finish! The plot was well-paced and the characters were charming and witty. This is definitely one I'll read again! Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

This was my first Tracy Baack book, and I truly adored it. It was so refreshing to read a contemporary romance with characters that felt genuinely real—and best of all, absolutely zero spice. Sometimes, a soft, grounded love story is exactly what the heart needs.

I instantly connected with Danae. She felt like someone I could actually be friends with—authentic, flawed, and full of heart. Seeing the behind-the-scenes of what foster parents go through and the emotional and legal process leading up to adoption was incredibly insightful. It gave me a deeper appreciation for those who open their homes—and hearts—to children in need. Foster care and adoption are not small undertakings, and this story honored that truth so well.

This was also my first baseball romance, and I have to say—I’m a fan! While Danae and Tracy might not share my love of the game, I couldn’t get enough. Griff was absolutely swoon-worthy. His support for Danae, his love for Jason, their effortless chemistry—it was a 10/10. Their story felt like a home run in every way.

What really stood out was how the book didn’t shy away from the emotional reality of foster care. The depiction of secondhand trauma, the importance of therapy for both foster families and the children in their care, and the hope that comes from healing—it was all so thoughtfully done.

I have close family members who walk this path every day, and this book made me even more grateful for their hearts and their faith. The message of making your home a safe place—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—was a beautiful, quiet thread woven throughout this story.

Tropes:
• Single foster mom
• Sports romance (baseball!)
• Found family
• Opposites Attract
• Slow burn, closed-door romance

Spice Rating:
🌶️ None – completely clean, sweet, and heartfelt

Content Warnings:
• Foster care/adoption trauma
• Secondhand trauma/PTSD
• References to past child neglect/abuse (non-graphic)
• Emotional healing through therapy

If you’re looking for a clean contemporary romance with substance, Home Safe is such a rewarding, emotional read. I’ll absolutely be picking up more from Tracy Baack!

“How did I get here? So completely gone for a woman I’ve known less than three months? I’m not sure how it happened, but I’m definitely gone. And I don’t want to be found.” 🩷💙📚⚾️🏡🪄

Thank you NetGalley for the approval! This was my third book by Tracy Baack, and they seriously just keep on getting better 😭😭 Thank you so much Tracy for this ARC, and for writing yet another delightful, meaningful story 🩷

First off, the COMMUNICATION in this book. 😍 Phenomenal. Danae struggles with intense anxiety, and Griffin quickly catches on and adjusts his texting habits—the “nothings wrong…” would solve soooo many miscommunication/anxiety moments in this world if more people used it. 🤣 His “human can opener” personality complements Danae so well, as he is not only a good communicator, but an amazing listener.

I was only a couple chapters into this book when I realized JUST how perfect the title is 🥹 Jason, Danae’s soon-to-be adoptive son, has experienced deep emotional trauma, and we see some of his triggers and reactions to those difficult feelings. But regardless of how he “acts out,” Danae is quick to remind him that she is with him forever, and that HE is her first priority. And while love can’t heal trauma, Danae does all she can to give him the safe home he so desperately needs. 🏡

AND THEN. Tracy takes it a step farther and we see how Danae and Griffin are each others’ safe places 😭😭 The romance is just utterly tender and emotional, but equally flirtatious and hilarious. Even if the two hate each others’ favorite hobbies 🤣 I appreciated that the book ended without either one “converting” to the others’ interests. She still finds baseball incredibly boring. He’d rather listen to sports podcasts than a Harry Potter audiobook. And yet they’re still stupidly in love with each other 😂😍

Cannot wait for whatever comes next, Tracy!! 😘

I unfortunately had to DNF this book at 23% due to how ‘proper’ the characters spoke. This is a very minor thing but it just didn’t feel personal. I felt the attraction was too fast paced and the MFC was just very boring.

“Liquefying into his embrace, I feel all of my hesitations melt away. He’s safe. I’m safe. We’re safe. We can be safe.”

5/5 stars, this was one of my first sports romance and the first book I’ve read from this author and I was blown away. The depth of relationships in this book made it so easy to care for and love the characters. Reading how Danae becomes a mother, and falls in love with Griffin had me completely hooked and I didn’t want it to stop. I found Danae’s character extremely relatable (even about not liking baseball) and she was just so easy to root for! I also really enjoyed that this was a closed door romance, it definitely still made me blush at times!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with this ARC!