Liz Tomforde’s Caught Up, the third novel in her acclaimed Windy City series, delivers a compelling mix of playful flirtation, heartfelt vulnerability, and slow-burn romance wrapped around a single dad MLB pitcher and a pastry chef trying to bake her way out of burnout. This book doesn’t just hit the tropes; it refines and reinvigorates them with vibrant dialogue, sizzling chemistry, and a remarkable depth of emotional intelligence.
Set in the high-stakes world of professional baseball, but grounded in the quieter, domestic spaces where real intimacy unfolds, Caught Up by Liz Tomforde is a story of two people forced to face their pasts, challenge their comfort zones, and decide whether love is worth staying for—even if it means getting “caught.”
Windy City Series Context
Before diving deeper, it’s worth noting that Caught Up follows the success of two previous titles in the Windy City lineup by Liz Tomforde:
- Mile High (2022) – A hockey romance with a messy, billionaire player and a flight attendant who takes none of his nonsense.
- The Right Move (2023) – A fake dating, sunshine/grump romance between an NBA star and a flighty but good-hearted woman.
- Caught Up (2023)
- Play Along (2024)
- Rewind It Back (2025)
Each installment focuses on a different athlete from a Chicago sports team and the strong, fiercely independent woman who cracks their emotional armor. While Caught Up can be read as a standalone, fans of the series will appreciate the subtle callbacks and recurring characters, especially the infamous “team chats” and Isaiah Rhodes’ comedic relief.
Plot Summary
Kai Rhodes is a 32-year-old single father and star pitcher for Chicago’s MLB team. He’s been parenting alone since his ex dropped their baby son, Max, on his doorstep six months after giving birth and disappeared. Kai is cautious to a fault, having fired a long line of nannies who didn’t meet his impossible standards. That is until his coach forces his daughter, Miller Montgomery, into the job—one Kai cannot refuse or fire.
Miller, meanwhile, is reeling from professional burnout. Having just won the James Beard Award as a top pastry chef, she’s plagued by imposter syndrome and a creative block that threatens her upcoming appearance on the cover of Food & Wine magazine. Hoping to reset her mind, she agrees (somewhat reluctantly) to spend the summer nannying for Max while traveling with the team.
From elevator awkwardness to tequila-soaked confessions, their summer slowly simmers with sexual tension, mutual annoyance, and—most unexpectedly—care. But both have expiration dates looming. For Kai, it’s the end of the season. For Miller, it’s her departure to L.A. for her next culinary gig. The question becomes: Can two people who always plan to leave finally find a reason to stay?
Characters & Chemistry
Kai Rhodes: Grumpy but Golden
Kai embodies the broody single dad archetype, but with an exceptional emotional arc. His stoicism isn’t from emotional ineptitude—it’s from loss, grief, and relentless responsibility. As a father, Kai is exemplary: involved, intuitive, and unrelentingly committed. His vulnerability about fatherhood, fear of missing milestones, and guilt over needing help is deeply moving. But he’s also refreshingly alpha when it comes to protecting Max—and later, Miller.
Miller Montgomery: Wild Child with Depth
Miller is more than just a chaotic, tattooed, beer-at-9am kind of girl. Her trauma is quieter: a fear of stagnation, a guilt complex over her father’s sacrifices, and a belief that attachment equals obligation. Her duality—confident and unfiltered in public, uncertain and overwhelmed in private—makes her one of the most nuanced heroines in the series. She’s hilarious and unbothered, but she’s also fragile beneath the layers of sarcasm and sass.
The Romance: A Slow-Burn Worth the Wait
The build-up is masterfully done. Tomforde lets Kai and Miller breathe—first as bickering co-parents, then as reluctant roommates, eventually as two people finding solace in one another’s unexpected steadiness. Their romance is not instantaneous; it’s nurtured through shared routines, small kindnesses, and the simple joy of watching each other be good at something. The physical attraction is sizzling, yes—but it’s the emotional slow-burn that makes the payoff deeply satisfying.
Themes & Craft
Found Family
Max may be the glue between Kai and Miller, but it’s the broader support network—from Isaiah’s hilarious antics to the tight-knit team dynamics—that gives the novel a full-bodied warmth. Miller’s chosen family (her dad, her agent Violet, and eventually Kai’s teammates) provides a sense of belonging that contrasts her rootless lifestyle.
Parenthood & Masculinity
Kai is a refreshing departure from the emotionally stunted alpha. His masculinity is expressed through tenderness, devotion, and protectiveness—not through cold detachment. Tomforde explores fatherhood not as a trope, but as a living, breathing identity. The result is a romantic hero who is equal parts hot and human.
Identity & Burnout
Miller’s creative burnout, her fear of mediocrity, and the pressure to live up to a glittering award feel deeply authentic. Tomforde captures the agony of feeling like a one-hit wonder—especially in industries (sports, culinary arts) where relevancy can be fleeting. Her journey toward rediscovering joy in her work mirrors Kai’s eventual reconnection with his own passion for baseball.
Sex Positivity & Consent
Tomforde handles sexual tension with nuance. Every flirtation, touch, and escalation is grounded in mutual respect and clear, enthusiastic consent. There’s also a lovely inversion here: Kai is the more emotionally repressed one, while Miller is unfiltered and expressive, even when expressing desire.
Strengths
- Authentic, flawed, lovable characters who evolve without compromising their core identities.
- Humor that doesn’t try too hard, particularly in the dynamic team chats and Miller’s rogue commentary.
- Emotionally grounded storytelling that seamlessly balances steam, banter, and vulnerability.
- Representation of fatherhood that breaks from toxic masculinity norms.
- Strong side characters like Isaiah and Kennedy who add both comic relief and heart.
Areas for Critique
- Pacing issues near the end: The resolution feels a bit rushed, especially given the slow-burn build. The final “grand gesture” could have used more emotional prep and time.
- Underdeveloped antagonist elements: While the tension in Miller’s professional life is well-handled, the story hints at darker themes (like Max’s absentee mother) that remain mostly unexplored. A deeper confrontation might have added more emotional closure.
- Predictable conflict structure: Some readers may find the “I’m leaving town soon” trope overly familiar, though it’s well-executed here.
Comparison Titles
If you liked Caught Up by Liz Tomforde, consider reading:
- The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams – Another sweet, sports-adjacent romance with heartfelt emotional stakes.
- Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez – Features a chaotic heroine and a grounded male lead who’s a single parent figure.
- The Deal by Elle Kennedy – Similar blend of banter, steam, and emotional vulnerability.
Final Verdict
Caught Up by Liz Tomforde is equal parts sexy, sweet, and sincere. Liz Tomforde continues to prove her deftness in writing emotionally rich sports romances with fully fleshed-out characters and real-world complexities. Miller and Kai’s story might start as a workplace arrangement, but it quickly becomes a powerful exploration of responsibility, trust, and choosing someone—even when you were certain you’d never stay.
It’s a love story with bite, sugar, and the perfect amount of curveball.
