THE HOTSHOT by Piper Rayne is NOW LIVE
Raising my cousin’s three kids wasn’t in my five-year plan.
Actually, it wasn’t in any plan.
One minute I’m a single labor and delivery nurse living a quiet life and the next, I’m navigating guardianship hearings, meltdowns, and homework I’m pretty sure requires a math degree.
Enter Hayes Carlisle.
My best friend’s older brother.
Chicago Colts newest catcher.
And the man I once kissed and immediately pretended I didn’t.
So, when the custody battle I’ve been dreading becomes a reality, I shouldn’t be surprised that Hayes swoops in with a wild idea—a fake relationship. According to him, pretending we’re together will polish his image and prove to the court I’m not taking on an instant family alone.
But pretending to be Hayes’ girlfriend is a terrible idea.
Because he remembers how to make me laugh.
Because he looks at me like our kiss wasn’t a one-time mistake.
Because the kids start asking him to read bedtime stories.
Because my heart starts wanting things my life doesn’t have room for.
I can manage the chaos. I can fight for these kids.
But pretending not to fall for Hayes Carlisle?
That might be the one thing I can’t do.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Duet Narration by: JF Harding & CJ Bloom
Also Featuring: Teddy Hamilton, Sean Masters, Connor Crais, Erin Mallon, Willa Jaymes, Meg Sylvan & Austin Stone
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/41QEV0V
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars
Piper Rayne kicks off their new The Dugout series with The Hotshot, and Hayes and Leighton’s story was a fun, best friend’s brother/secret crush/slow burn story with a healthy dose of pining, mutual crushing and family drama mixed in.
When Leighton’s cousin and husband are tragically killed in an accident, she is named the guardian of their three young children. But when the guardianship is called into question by other family members, Leighton is facing a custody battle… and Hayes steps up to be her fake boyfriend to help her keep the kids. Their “pretending” to date soon turns into a real relationship, which is not at all a hardship for either of these characters, who have secretly been pining for one another since they shared a kiss years ago.
I really loved how the history between Leighton and Hayes, as well as her friendship with his sister Callie, was brought into play as they entered a relationship. He connected so easily with all three kids, and really became an integral part of their lives. Hayes is also struggling with his career, trying to rebuild his reputation after a tumultuous previous season, so the book covers his struggles there as well.
I read this book in tandem with listening to the audio, and JF Harding and CJ Bloom did a wonderful job.
Piper Rayne always does a great job of creating friend groups, and I loved the banter between Hayes and his teammates Easton (Bailey!) and Decker. I am really looking forward to the rest of this series!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Sunny Shelly Reads 