Language 🤐: Clean

Romance ❤️‍🔥: Kisses only Not overly descriptive

Violence ⚔️: None

⚠️ Estranged Parents, Abusive Parents, Foster system talk, representation of Trauma those in the foster system face (as in some actions that happen through memory triggered in a child)⚠️

Tropes/Micro tropes
- Stranger to Lovers
- Opposites Attract
- Single Mom
-Dyslexia
-Baseball Romance
-Bookish FMC
-Protective MMC
- Older Characters (Griffin is 33)
-Healing journey


This book! I can not say enough good things about this wonderful story! I loved it so much! Tracy does such a wonderful job of balancing out swoony moments with the reality of what it would look like to be going through the adoption process that Danae is going through with Jason. I feel like Tracy did such a wonderful job of capturing the reality of it and being there for someone who is struggling in the ways and thing Jason is struggling with as a 9 year old. It was so well done as well as the help she sought and the advice the professionals gave in the book which when you read her notes at the end she talks about it. I just love how this book handles mental health. I am someone who has been in Counciling for myself and am on my own personal healing journey that way so I loved the care and accuracy given in this story.

I just loved that this book was not only about the romance between Griffin and Danae but of the love of a mother and the work it takes to build lasting relationships and a true loving family. The side characters were all so love able as well! This whole book I just truly fell in love with this story and this couple! This is not just another sports romance this is a true wonderful journey that you get taken on full of love and growth and all the messy ups and downs you face in real life! I can not love Griffin and Danae enough and the time and chapters that were taken to focus on Jason just had my mom heart! I just can not recommend this book enough! It is definitely one you do not want to miss!

Thanks to Netgalley and the Author for this ARC all thoughts shared are my own!

This is the meet cute of the summer!

Such a beautifully written story.

I cried at the dedication....like you know it's gonna be great when you cry before the story starts!

There is so much raw, heartfelt emotion in this story. Don't worry, there's also plenty to make you smile, laugh, and say "oh my gosh, me too!" 

Plus, all the Harry Potter references!? It made my Harry Potter nerd heart happy to be reading about characters who also love it so much.  

One of my favorite aspects of this book was that our MCs hated each other's passions. But that didn't stop them from trying them and still learning about each other's passions out of love. Does Danae grow to love baseball? Does Griffin grow to love books? Maybe..maybe not. That's part of the fun with reading this one. 

I also love that there is also so much character growth, for all our characters. It isn't always pretty, but it's honest and real. 

I wish I could just keep reading about Danae, Griffin, and Jason as their lives continue. Get to watch them grow individually and together. 

And I can't leave out Sam! All the best supporting characters are named Sam, and well, she is the best of them all.

𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞
𝐛𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐚𝐜𝐤
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟑𝟎𝐭𝐡

- - -
Read this if you like:
□ opposites attract
□ from strangers to lovers
□ school librarian x baseball player
□ foster care rep
□ closed-door romance
□ single guardian

Thank you, Krystal Lung and Tracy Baack, for the ARC!

I recently discovered sports romance books and absolutely loved it. So, of course, when I received an email for an ARC opportunity, I instantly signed up. And I am so glad I did cause this is such heartwarming, and sweet baseball romance.

A school librarian, who's also a single guardian to such a sweet boy, and really dislikes baseball meets a famous baseball player, who has golden retriever vibes, at a camp for foster children.

How the MMC falls first and hard for the FMC was so adorable and I instantly rooted for them. The way they support each other, be comfortable around each other is so wholesome. The story is gripping, so emotional. I might have cried a few times. You just want to jump in the book to give all the characters a long hug. They all have a place in my heart.

I highly recommend this heartwarming book. Tracy just became an auto-buy author for me.

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Tracy Baack
Author of Saved by Noel
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Rachel Gruber rated a book it was amazing
Home Safe by Tracy BaackHome Safe: A Sweet Baseball Romance
by Tracy Baack (Goodreads Author)

I loved this book ! Lately I have gotten into the sports books with the hockey series and now lately the baseball. Danae is the main character and she takes in Jason and they meet Griffin who she doesn’t know is a star baseball player because she hates baseball lol then the fun begins . Jason was so much fun in this book so was Griffin’s sister who was trying to play matchmaker who didn’t have to try very hard ;) I hope there are sequels to this book
This is a clean book no bad language
No cursing
Kissing only
Good chemistry

🎉📖ARC Review📖🎉

It’s publishing day for this incredible book!! I only discovered @authortracybaack and her books this past month. But let me tell you, her writing is amazing. She gives so much depth, insight, and care to realistic situations and relationships. I binged her first 2 books before reading this arc. I have no regrets. 🥰

In this book, the main characters are very relatable and precious. Danae is an elementary school librarian, a foster mom, an over-thinker/has anxiety, and hates baseball. Griffin is a Major League Baseball player, caring, protective, and hates reading. Jason is a red-headed 9yo who loves baseball that Danae is fostering to adopt. These 3 are honest, understanding, patient, and beyond loving to each other. They never shy away from the hard or each other. Tracy does an amazing job portraying all of their emotions, reactions, effort, trauma, and communication. She explores (very well) the idea of loving someone even when you don’t seem to have any interests in common.

There aren’t enough words to describe how good this book is or how wonderful of an author Tracy is. Do yourself a favor read this book. And her other 3 books. (I’m saving the last one I haven’t read for the Christmas season. 🥰)

Wonderful book. It’s so nice to read a fun clean love story. The characters were fun and the story moved at a great pace. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a great fun story. Plus it has baseball in it how can you go wrong.

LOVED the representation of childhood trauma in adoptees within this book! The romance at times felt secondary to the adoption storyline but that is far more realistic to life. I loved the processing of thoughts and the mental health throughout the books!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND

I love a good sports romance, especially baseball, and this one just hits all the right spots. I read this book within 24 hours because it was just so sweet and heartwarming.

We meet Danae who is in the process of adopting one of her students and as a single woman, it is definitely a challenge for her. She does not have any family support and only has her best friend to rely on. Her love and care for Jason was just inspiring. I teared up and just felt all the kinds of emotions as I read their relationship grow.

Griffin is such a stand-up guy. I loved seeing how he showed up for Danae and Jason. He didn't let anything impede in his need to be in their lives. How he supported Danae and was everything she needed was incredible.

The only thing that I didn't quite enjoy from this story was Danae's hate for baseball. Like, I get that she can not like it but it was a little over-the-top how much she disliked a sport that Griffin played professionally and that her son, Jason loved as well. Her disregard for the game was something that hindered that extra star in my perspective. She let that hatred for the game make her a little self-centered and I struggled with that a bit.

Overall, the story is sweet and heartwarming and I would recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley for the gifted eARC.

“One hundred percent, forever”

I really appreciate how the author maintained the characters true to their passions, even though the other didn’t enjoy it, but they understand it and learn to support each other. Their communication and openness was great.

The author is able to find a balance between the heavy topics (adoption, anxiety, trauma, injuries) and moments of fun, romance and hope.

Also, I enjoyed getting to know Jason and the other side characters, specially Sam, and their dynamic with the MC.

**I received a complimentary arc from NetGalley. All opinions listed are purely my own

I really enjoyed this book. The insights on foster care was enlightening. It gave me appreciation for people that foster kids. The relationships in this book were meaningful and real. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.

Wow🙌🏼 this book was absolutely amazing!
It checked all the boxes to make up a perfectly written story! It was just so beautifully written♥️
It will have you laughing at cute funny moments one second and then crying and having all the feels and next moment🥹
This book is definitely going on my top 10 list🥰

💙Opposites Attract
💙Bookish Heroine
💙Strangers to Lovers
💙 Foster Care Rep
💙Single Guardian
💙Baseball Romance
💙Sports Romance

Guys, when I tell you I would read anything she writes? Just know I mean it. I have loved her books since day one and I will forever read her books.

This one did not disappoint. From stating "I hate baseball" to writing a book about it and killing it? Oh yes, yes she did. Danae and Griffin and also Jason have had my heart since page one. This book had a little bit of everything but an great mixture of it. From being strangers to becoming a parent, to getting to know to many more things. Hey can we talk about Samantha? I want her to be my best friend. I love her ♡

Tracy really hit it out of the park with this one!! I really liked the characters and how they each had their own unique stories.
I really loved getting to see both Denae and Griffin each growing in their relationship with Jason! Jason was the sweetest and I love his character. I also really enjoyed watching Denae grow as a person and through her past so she could be there for Jason. I feel like the author did a great job at balancing the heavy parts of the book and the light hearted moments, with everything that comes with foster care and past traumas.
I’ve recently been getting into watching baseball (Savannah Bananas to be specific 🤭) so I enjoyed all of the baseball aspects and I was happy when I got all of the lingo 😂 But don’t worry! It’s perfect for any romance reader, the female main character didn’t like baseball so it’s enjoyable for everyone!

This is a perfect book to get lost in this summer, and I would highly recommend it for fans of super sweet sports romances 💕

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed this baseball romance. Which is somewhat surprising considering that like the author Tracy and main character Danae, I do not love baseball. This was my first book by Tracy and I'm excited to read more! I already purchased Love and Other Goals.

I loved the fact that this story takes place in Kansas City and recognized several places mentioned in the story. Tracy really captured the essence of how much Kansas City fans love their sports teams.

The story involves a child in foster care and adoption. I liked that she had several raw and emotional scenes and didn't just focus on the happy moments. There was a lot of thought and care put into each description of a child suffering trauma, going through therapy, and learning to cope with changes.

I also liked the discussion of anxiety and could relate to Danae's worries and pro/con lists. I can see why she is the way she is, especially considering the strained relationship she had with her parents and their high expectations.

The romance was sweet and believable and I really enjoyed Griffin's character as well. He had a great relationship with his family, and especially his sister Sam.

I would definitely recommend this book to those who love clean romance, especially if you're from Kansas City!

*arc review*

If you are looking for the most mature beautifully written take on emotions and real life situations this is the book for you. I loved watching griffin and danae and seeing their relationship blossom into the companionship they had. This really is a great book and I especially liked when they started taking Jason to the therapy and the owl/dog example they used. Thanks such much for the arc!

Tracy Baack is an indie author who should be picked up traditionally (if she wanted). This book in particular was well researched and built a world for the reader to live in where they also feel "Home Safe."

As foster child Jason finds a home with Danae, as Danae finds a home with pro baseball player Griffin and they all build life as a family, this books has strong emotions evoked and it tight and clean in plot points.

There was a small dip for me at the 60% market where Danae'a anxiety was feeling a little repetitive, but it didnt last long and the end all made up for it as you've become so invested in the characters you feel all the feels with them.

This is not your typical rom com or cheesy romance, it's mature and grown up with substance and loving care.

The message of finding someone to love and them to be your safe place was shared throughout the book. Denae was navigating a foster to adopt situation with Jason and was doing a great job even though she had many doubts as to whether she was doing everything she could to help him. Denae really never felt that she met her parents’ expectations, so when Griffin came along and showed her time and again that he would be there through all of her difficulties, it was very satisfying when she finally trusted him.

I really enjoy baseball and I liked the aspects that the author shared concerning a kids camp, players, and a sense of excitement about spring training. I was somewhat disappointed that Denae really never changed her dislike for the game since it’s my favorite sport.

Things to look for:
commitment
librarian vs. athlete
found family
protective MC
sweet boy
Kansas City Crowns

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

So many beautiful themes and characters in this book. I really liked Danae for how relatable she was as an over thinker and just wanting to do what was best for Jason no matter how hard things became. Jason is adorable and deserves the absolute world, which he finally receives in the form of Danae and Griffin. I loved Griffin’s character and how supportive and understanding he is with Danae and Jason, super swoon worthy. I also loved how all the people in Griffin and Danae’s lives came together to help support them and Jason. It really does take a village to raise a child, and a loving one that’s as strong as the one depicted in this story.

Thank you to Tracy Baack, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

What to expect:
- Elementary school librarian FMC x professional baseball player MMC 📔⚾️
- Opposites attract
- Single mother
- Closed-door romance 🚪
- Themes of adopting child out of foster care system
- Mentions of parental neglect, drug use, death by overdose, and incarceration

This was a light read for me—in the best way! If you're in the mood for a softer romance that avoids being overly fluffy, this is a great pick. It’s a classic opposites attract story, but it doesn’t lean too heavily on the usual tropes. Danae and Griffin were both lovely, grounded characters, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow with a refreshing sense of maturity and realism.

Danae Collins, a school librarian adopting a foster child, finds parenting a traumatized boy more difficult than expected and fears her love may not be enough. When her son attends a baseball camp run by his idol—local sports hero Griffin—Danae unexpectedly finds herself drawn to both the sport and the man behind it. Through their growing connection, I liked how the story explores healing, family, and love with heartfelt honesty and strong communication between characters. While the book handles emotional topics with care and warmth, sometime the pacing and dialogue a bit stiff or unrealistic.