On the Defense

Chicago Grizzlies #0.5

by Piper Rayne

Miles Cavanaugh is moving into “The Den”—a notorious four-flat apartment complex in Chicago with two of his new teammates from the Chicago Grizzlies.

The Den is known for the number of women who come and go, but as the three bachelors start their new season, they get their first inkling that things are starting to change.

Enjoy a peek into Piper Rayne’s Chicago Grizzlies football romance series.

Genres: Romance, Sports, Sports Romance, Audiobook, Novella, Football, Contemporary Romance

54 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 6, 2023

About the author

Piper Rayne is an Amazon Top 50 and USA Today Bestselling Author duo who believes in soft places to land, big laughs, and happily-ever-afters.

Piper’s the one who turns up the heat and humor—spinning tension, spark, and steam into moments that make you blush into your pillow and grin through the next chapter.

Rayne’s the one who tugs on your heartstrings—mixing locker-room laughs, brotherhood banter, and the kind of heart-punch moments that hit when you least expect them.

Together, they create stories that feel like family—sometimes found, sometimes blood—but always the kind that stays with you long after the final word.

At the end of the day, Piper and Rayne write love stories that they hope feel real, funny, with just the right amount of steam… ones that make your heart race and your world a little warmer.

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐
Genre ~ sports romance
Series ~ Chicago Grizzlies #0.5
Others in the series ~ books #0.5 - 3
Setting ~ Chicago, Illonois
Publication date ~ September 5, 2023
Est page Count ~ 53 (7 chapters)
Audio length ~1 hours 10 minutes
Narrators ~ Stephen Dexter, Stefanie Kay
POV ~ multiple 1st
Featuring ~ no steamage

*This is my 1,000th review*

Nothing groundbreaking, just a simple introduction to the series that will follow:
Miles & Brice ~ enemies to lovers
Damon & Adeline ~ bad boy/good girl
Cooper & Ellery ~ best friends to lovers

Free on ~ Amazon

Series notes:
This is a spin off series of Kingsman Football Stars , where we’ve already met Miles and Brice.

Here are my reviews if you're interested in starting with them.
False Start
You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows
You Can't Kiss the Nanny, Brady Banks
Over My Brother's Dead Body, Chase Andrews

DUET! narration notes:
Hallelujah! They both did a superb job.

Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

[tiana ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to the Chicago Grizzlies and welcome to “the Den”! 🏈🤭

This a prequel novella and an introduction to the Chicago Grizzlies series — in this sweet treat, we get an introduction to all of our main characters and couples before we enter their world! ♡

‧₊ ᵎᵎ 🏈 ⋅ ˚✮

This was short and fun! Despite being a novella, it was an ideal introduction to this series and it felt like we truly got a glimpse into all the couples and their dynamic. 💜 We meet Miles, Bryce, Damon, Adeline, Cooper, and Elle! All so different and funny and honestly?? I can’t wait to read more! I was so surprised 🤭. Usually, these little novellas are okay but this stood out because of how much fun it was! 👀 it didn’t reveal too much, which means I’m looking forward to finding out more about these characters and see all the couples become a thing 😌👏 plus, the bromance vibesss, absolutely. ✨ Had me laughing and looking at my imaginary camera ready to provide commentary. 🫢

‧₊ ᵎᵎ 🏈 ⋅ ˚✮

Can’t wait to find out which couple will be my favourite! 🤭💜

[Cam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just a sneak peek for the stories to come in the Chicago Grizzlies series but it made me very excited for all the couples!

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Piper Rayne and immediately after finishing, I started the next book in the series.
I loved this and it was only a novella.
Cannot wait to binge read more Piper Rayne!

[Kathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional Prequel!!

Intro to all the characters for “Something Like Hate” by this talented author duo. I’m not a giant fan of sports romance per se, but anything I read from this duo is above grade. An entertaining snippet of where the characters are and their relationship to each other. Making it easy to jump right into the “main event”.

Already have “Something Like Lust” (book #2) on my reading calendar. Great series.

***** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book *****

[koko kingston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so fun! Piper Rayne’s prequels are always top-tier. You get a sneak peek into ALL of the couples of the series!

The narrators did an amazing job differentiating their voices! Duet narration is the way to go ✨ Highly recommend reading before going into the series.

[Nadine Bookaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice intro to the series.

This little novella sets up the series nicely. I can’t wait to see what happens with the three couples we’ve been given glimpses of.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so excited about this series. This teaser was the absolute best introduction to the characters. Of course, I’m currently I love with Miles & Bryce but the other Den members have my interest peaked!!! Let’s go Grizzles!!!

[Pauline (booksofviolette) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start for this new series. Love that we got a glimpse into three couples story. I am now very excited to read about them soon !

[Maddie Horn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

[Cindy thismomreadsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This prequel leads into the new Chicago Grizzlies series

It was such a fun introduction into Miles and his two new roommates Damon and Cooper. This one definitely teases them all, since we get POVs from everyone.
Especially book 1, Miles and Bryce’s story-which has been on our minds since we met them both during the Kingsmen series. I just know I am going to love those two so much!
Meeting Cooper’s best friend Elle, was great-there is more to that story too! Damon is so much fun, I think he may be more than his reputation.

I love novellas like this and I’m looking forward to diving deeper into all these character and their stories, they all have my interest very peaked!

I am so ready for another football romance!

[Jennifer Leigh (jenjenbookfan) · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the Defense is a great prequel to the new Chicago Grizzlies series by the writing duo Piper Rayne, guaranteed to have you excited to read Miles’ upcoming story Something Like Hate, which releases on 9/26/23! We get our first look at some of his new teammates and what the dynamics might be like there. I listened to the audio version through Kobo, narrated by Stephen Dexter and Stephanie Kay, and they both did a great job conveying the humor and the heat. I cannot wait to see where this series takes us!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Ana · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was no point to this book

[Lindsey Domokur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, I am just going to say it. I didn't want Damon's book, but now I do. I am so invested in all of these characters I need all the books. I loved this intro to all the couples.

[Nia Schofield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review.
On the defence by piper rayne
🌟🌟🌟🌟

A great prequel book into the Chicago grizzlies series.

I listened to this one on audio and I loved the duel pov, really makes the story pop.

I really enjoyed this. Miles and two of his team mates (damon and cooper) move into a flat complex together and there stories give a great little taster into the main characters of the series and made me so excited to get started on this. Leaves you wanting more.

I cant wait to find out more about Miles and Bryce especially.

More reviews of the series to follow ASAP!!!!

#piperrayne #readingislife #bookshelf #books #reading

[Debbie Readsalotl Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've got to admit, I was a little confused when this one went from character to character to character to character.

Then I figured out that it's actually an introductory novella, so we get to meet the men & women who will be featuring in the Chicago Grizzlies books.

There are little teasers about how this mmc and mfc met, and insights into their personalities.

I'm off to read Something Like Hate now and looking forward to getting the whole story.

It was really nice also to have a short story include the audible as well. That doesn't always happen.

[Nikki Barlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I got this book on stuff your kindle day? Anyway, I didn’t realize it was so short but it definitely got me interested in the other books that are part of this series. Any sports romances, sign me up.

[Vivien Parry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opening season!

This novella was a great little insight into the guys who play for the Grizzlies and the women in their lives! Can't wait to read their books!

[Jenn K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't have standards when it comes to crunch time on meeting my goals...

[Eva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Such a fun, quick and easy story to read. I would like to read more from this series, this short book was a good teaser for what’s coming next. For me a 2,5 ⭐️ stars read.

[Lisa Benton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely gets you interested in the series. Great introduction

[Mar · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little intro to all the characters and the tropes for their storylines. I’m excited to see each one of these relationships play out!

[Melanie Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent enough as scene setting for the series.

[Beth Zaragoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a prequel! Cannot wait to get into these 6 characters’ stories in the Den!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast way novella to get to know all the new characters in the series

[Laina · Rating 3 out of 5]

i don’t have much context yet to go off of but it wasn’t bad

[Noëmie · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved this

We’re introduced with the players of Chicago Grizzlies and what can I say? As usual it’s a pleasure to read another book of Piper Rayne even if it's just a prequel. I was already captivated and now what I want the most is to read Something Like Hate 🥰.

This series sounds so promiscing.

[Jill (readinginpjs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect intro to the series! It totally left me wanting more. I can't wait to see how all these relationships play out.
I LOVED the audiobook being duet narration, I don't get the pleasure of listening to many like that!

[B. Milligan · Rating 3 out of 5]

My least favorite PR book. I love the little short novellas that introduce a new series but I could not keep up with this one. For me, there were way too many point of views and way to many mentions of past characters from other series. Like I said, I usually love them but something was different with this one. I will still continue on with this new series.♥