MVP TO BABYSITTER?MVP Ryan Priest had it all, living his dream as a professional baseball player. He had the house, the cars, the endorsements, the parties, the women, the money . . . and a reputation for lining his pockets with winnings from his illegal gambling activities. Ryan suffered the consequences, however, and served his punishment. Though he professes his innocence, when Ryan costs his team the World Series, no one believes he isn't up to his old tricks. Forced into an early retirement, Ryan is adrift and uncertain what to do with his life. Nathan Brock is a seven-year-old baseball aficionado with a mischievous nature. When that mischievous nature lands him in a little trouble, the kindness of a helpful stranger is the only thing that will save the boy. Nathan's antics quickly win the stranger over and the two begin a new friendship. Being a baseball fan, Nathan is amazed by how much his new friend reminds him of one of his favorite baseball players, Ryan Priest. Nathan is even more amused when his new friend's name turns out to be Ryan, "just like Ryan Priest." While this little boy is in for a surprise, it turns out Ryan may be in for a surprise or two of his own.Nathan's mother, Corlay Brock, is a single mother who works ridiculous hours, trying to make ends meet, while chasing a promotion. She is stubborn, proud, and resistant to any outside assistance. After a lifetime of disappointment, she has learned that she can't rely on anyone. Now, Nathan has made a new friend - some grown man named Ryan. Considering the awkward situation, Corlay is skeptical of everything about Ryan. Being the gambling man he is, Ryan is willing to up the ante, trying to impress Corlay. With all of his chips on the table, this time, Ryan can't afford to lose.
About the Author: Laney Smith (October 19, 1974 - ) is an American author born in Little Rock, AR. The mother of two teenage sons is best known for the Lock Creek: Time Capsule Series, which won a "books-to-screen" competition and is currently being adapted for television. Smith spent her childhood in Texarkana, TX before moving to Aurora, CO in her teen years. She has also lived in a small town in Northern Mississippi, just south of Memphis, TN. Since 2008, Smith has lived in sunny Southern California and attributes her ability to create realistic, worldly characters to her experiences living in various locales. Her writing career started when she began writing news articles for her local newspaper. After repeatedly hearing from various directions that she should write a book, Smith finally began to seriously consider the suggestion. Shortly thereafter, her debut, Lock Creek: One Year's Time was published. While she currently has nine novels to her credit, she has also partnered with fellow authors for fundraising anthology projects. Another highlight in Laney's journey was hosting a Blog Talk Radio show ("Laney's World" for Writing Under the Influence). For an hour, every other week, she interviewed a different author in hopes of helping readers discover new books. The show concluded in 2016 with a "Year End Bash." During that episode, Smith "speed interviewed" numerous authors, pushing herself to feature as many authors in an hour as possible. With authors holding on the line as the show drew to a close, Smith agreed to do an encore show. She enjoyed hosting the show and can see herself doing a similar show in the future. At the time of this publication, in addition to four planned new releases (all set to be released prior to year's end, 2018), Smith has kept busy with script writing projects and blogging projects, as well as writing a hostess character for the Splintered Love series, authored by S.J. Hermann. When she looks into the future, Smith is excited about the opportunity to see her work brought to life in the form of film. The journalist-turned-author has always had the support and encouragement of family, friends, and peers which has inspired her to keep taking the next step in her journey. While Laney Smith is looking forward to the possibilities of her fun-filled future, her primary focus will always be to entertain her readers.