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Writing the Playbook
The guy who broke my heart years ago is offering to be my own personal “book boyfriend” for research purposes … what could go wrong? Everything.
Crawling back to my hometown in Texas is humiliating after finding my ex cheating. Maybe I could’ve handled it better by not throwing my literal book at him, but he deserved it—and he always hated my career as a romance author. In a plot twist I should’ve seen coming, Liam Monroe, the hot baseball player who broke my heart in college, has decided to turn tail and hole up on my family’s property to lick his wounds.
Lines blur between reality and fiction, and there’s nothing make-believe about how he makes me feel. When happily-ever-after seems within reach, there’s no denying he broke us last time and left me behind. No matter how badly I wish it’d been different, there’s one thing I know for sure … you can’t rewrite the past.
Writing the Playbook is Book 1 in the Lemon Hollow series. Each book can be read as a STAND-ALONE but contain SPOILERS when read out of order. No cliffhangers and a guaranteed HEA.
Sports Romance
Baseball Hero
Author Heroine
Forced Proximity
Small Town
Friends-to-lover
Second Chance
Brother’s Best Friend
Right Person, Wrong Time
Found Family
Crawling back to my hometown in Texas is humiliating after finding my ex cheating. Maybe I could’ve handled it better by not throwing my literal book at him, but he deserved it—and he always hated my career as a romance author. In a plot twist I should’ve seen coming, Liam Monroe, the hot baseball player who broke my heart in college, has decided to turn tail and hole up on my family’s property to lick his wounds.
Lines blur between reality and fiction, and there’s nothing make-believe about how he makes me feel. When happily-ever-after seems within reach, there’s no denying he broke us last time and left me behind. No matter how badly I wish it’d been different, there’s one thing I know for sure … you can’t rewrite the past.
Writing the Playbook is Book 1 in the Lemon Hollow series. Each book can be read as a STAND-ALONE but contain SPOILERS when read out of order. No cliffhangers and a guaranteed HEA.
Sports Romance
Baseball Hero
Author Heroine
Forced Proximity
Small Town
Friends-to-lover
Second Chance
Brother’s Best Friend
Right Person, Wrong Time
Found Family
- GenresSports
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 9, 2024
14 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 13, 2024
This is a fun start to an interesting new series. I enjoyed getting to know the main characters, Maddie and Liam, but also her older brother Austin. Their backstory is compelling and a bit different.
Liam was Maddie’s brother Austin’s best friend and roommate at Sandy Creek University. Liam and Maddie became very close friends and after one night things went too far, Liam broke her heart when he told her it was a mistake.
Maddie ended up in a relationship with Liam’s older brother, Buckley who is pretty much a narcissistic jerk. When Maddie catches him cheating on her she drives home to Lemon Hollow TX to spend time with her brother. Liam also happens to be visiting and these two share a guest cabin on the Ashford family ranch.
I loved how Liam knew he still loved her and was willing to be patient and slowly regain her trust. It’s a slow burn with plenty of sass, some emotional discussions and small town drama (gossip).
Both Maddie and Liam have dysfunctional family dynamics in common and to continue overcoming. Liam is mental health positive and recognizes his family triggers him, and makes efforts to minimize his reactions.
I’m eager to read Austin’s story and to get to know youngest brother Jace. Definitely a series that will be entertaining and interesting to read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Liam was Maddie’s brother Austin’s best friend and roommate at Sandy Creek University. Liam and Maddie became very close friends and after one night things went too far, Liam broke her heart when he told her it was a mistake.
Maddie ended up in a relationship with Liam’s older brother, Buckley who is pretty much a narcissistic jerk. When Maddie catches him cheating on her she drives home to Lemon Hollow TX to spend time with her brother. Liam also happens to be visiting and these two share a guest cabin on the Ashford family ranch.
I loved how Liam knew he still loved her and was willing to be patient and slowly regain her trust. It’s a slow burn with plenty of sass, some emotional discussions and small town drama (gossip).
Both Maddie and Liam have dysfunctional family dynamics in common and to continue overcoming. Liam is mental health positive and recognizes his family triggers him, and makes efforts to minimize his reactions.
I’m eager to read Austin’s story and to get to know youngest brother Jace. Definitely a series that will be entertaining and interesting to read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 30, 2025
I really enjoyed this book, with its unique mixture of characters and tropes, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants an enjoyable read with low-to-medium angst and characters that will stay with you after the book is over.
My favourite scene was when Austin accidentally saw them together and started acting dramatic; it was such a lighthearted and fun moment because I love reading stories in which the siblings are supportive of what's happening.
The entire time I was reading, I kept on thinking more about Austin, the FMC's brother, and his relationship which seemed to be on the rocks, than I thought about Liam and Maddie, the actual main characters. This is how much I loved Austin - and I can't wait for his book.
As much as I enjoyed this book, I can't give it 5 stars because after Liam and Maddie got together officially, I still remained tense and waiting for SOMETHING to happen, for the drama between Buckley, Liam, and Maddie to be resolved on page in front of each other, and for Maddie to stop feeling so off and uncomfortable when she interacted with Liam. But none of those things happened, and I just felt disappointed by how much LIAM had to work for their relationship while Maddie just stayed on the backfoot.
Still, this was a pretty good book to begin the series with. Looking forward to the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
My favourite scene was when Austin accidentally saw them together and started acting dramatic; it was such a lighthearted and fun moment because I love reading stories in which the siblings are supportive of what's happening.
The entire time I was reading, I kept on thinking more about Austin, the FMC's brother, and his relationship which seemed to be on the rocks, than I thought about Liam and Maddie, the actual main characters. This is how much I loved Austin - and I can't wait for his book.
As much as I enjoyed this book, I can't give it 5 stars because after Liam and Maddie got together officially, I still remained tense and waiting for SOMETHING to happen, for the drama between Buckley, Liam, and Maddie to be resolved on page in front of each other, and for Maddie to stop feeling so off and uncomfortable when she interacted with Liam. But none of those things happened, and I just felt disappointed by how much LIAM had to work for their relationship while Maddie just stayed on the backfoot.
Still, this was a pretty good book to begin the series with. Looking forward to the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 9, 2024
This was such a sweet read from Andrea Rousse. Our MMC is a cinnamon roll hero and our FMC is done with accepting second best.
Maddie and Liam have known each other since college, but they haven't been close in awhile? Why? Maddie started dating Liam's brother Buckley, and has been for 4 years. Liam broke her heart so she tried to move on. Buckley, the self-centered jerk he is, is caught cheating by Maddie so she ends it and takes herself back home to heal. When she gets there, she finds Liam is there too after finding himself in a baseball brawl with his own teammate.
As soon as Liam finds out that Maddie is single, he knows he can't let her get away again. But will Maddie's broken heart be able to take another heartbreak from Liam. Not to mention, the other woman that has her eyes on Liam.
Tropes: Cheating Ex, Second Chance, Found Family, tiny bit of OWD
Maddie and Liam have known each other since college, but they haven't been close in awhile? Why? Maddie started dating Liam's brother Buckley, and has been for 4 years. Liam broke her heart so she tried to move on. Buckley, the self-centered jerk he is, is caught cheating by Maddie so she ends it and takes herself back home to heal. When she gets there, she finds Liam is there too after finding himself in a baseball brawl with his own teammate.
As soon as Liam finds out that Maddie is single, he knows he can't let her get away again. But will Maddie's broken heart be able to take another heartbreak from Liam. Not to mention, the other woman that has her eyes on Liam.
Tropes: Cheating Ex, Second Chance, Found Family, tiny bit of OWD
December 18, 2024
Maddie and Liam were friends back when Liam attended college with her brother; when things go a bit too far one night, Liam pulls back and Maddie winds up with Buckley, Liam's brother... who turns out to be a jerk of the first order.
When Maddie makes that discovery (in a heart-wrenching way), she heads back to Lemon Hollow to heal on her brother's ranch - and winds up sharing a guesthouse with Liam!
Things progress slowly but steadily and love rekindles between the two, despite Maddie's reservations (Liam knows - has ALWAYS known - that she's the one for him).
I really enjoyed this book; fun and sexy with quirky characters, and a great storyline that has me eager to continue the series (Austin truly deserves his own book!).
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
When Maddie makes that discovery (in a heart-wrenching way), she heads back to Lemon Hollow to heal on her brother's ranch - and winds up sharing a guesthouse with Liam!
Things progress slowly but steadily and love rekindles between the two, despite Maddie's reservations (Liam knows - has ALWAYS known - that she's the one for him).
I really enjoyed this book; fun and sexy with quirky characters, and a great storyline that has me eager to continue the series (Austin truly deserves his own book!).
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 19, 2024
Maddie and Liam both have dysfunctional families; Maddie’s mom has never hidden her need for men and her desire to tell her children what to do, although they don’t listen. Liam’s parents were horrible, fighting all the time, even putting him in danger when their fights went too far. Unfortunately, none of them changed even when Liam’s parents divorced.
This book was filled with sadness with parents who just won’t quit trying to interfere with their children’s lives and children who keep trying to keep a relationship with them even when it isn’t possible.
A baseball player suspended with a second chance at love and a writer afraid to open her heart again. Austin is Liam’s best friend with problems of his own, but I won’t go into it in this review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book was filled with sadness with parents who just won’t quit trying to interfere with their children’s lives and children who keep trying to keep a relationship with them even when it isn’t possible.
A baseball player suspended with a second chance at love and a writer afraid to open her heart again. Austin is Liam’s best friend with problems of his own, but I won’t go into it in this review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 8, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Definitely a cute baseball romance. I loved the combination of a baseball and small town romance. Seeing Liam and Maddie reconnect their love after years apart was so special, especially after their rough family relationships. The story was super cute, but there were a few scenes where I felt there could have been more detail. I wish there were more moments with Olive so we could have a better understanding of her going into book 2. So excited to read book 2 when it releases!
Tropes:
-Baseball Romance
-Small Town Romance
-Second Chance Romance
-Dual POV
-Forced Proximity
-Friends to Lovers
🌶️🌶️
Definitely a cute baseball romance. I loved the combination of a baseball and small town romance. Seeing Liam and Maddie reconnect their love after years apart was so special, especially after their rough family relationships. The story was super cute, but there were a few scenes where I felt there could have been more detail. I wish there were more moments with Olive so we could have a better understanding of her going into book 2. So excited to read book 2 when it releases!
Tropes:
-Baseball Romance
-Small Town Romance
-Second Chance Romance
-Dual POV
-Forced Proximity
-Friends to Lovers
December 26, 2024
Liam & Maddie: Book 1 of Lemon Hollow: Interconnected standalone, but they are best read in order. Brother’s best friend/ right person wrong time/ second chance/ found family/ friends to lovers/ forced proximity/ small town/ baseball romance: Andrea Rousse has started off strong with this sweet and spicy new series. Plenty of drama and their backstory can be summarized as “it’s complicated.” Loved these main and side characters, and I can’t wait to read book 2!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 20, 2024
Writing the Playbook is a good, and enjoyable baseball small town forced proximity brother's best friend second chance friends to lovers romance read. The story has a great entertaining world building story line. The characters are great, and they have great chemistry. This story is a very entertaining read that is a well written read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 26, 2024
This was a strong start to the Lemon Hollow series, it had that element that I was looking for. It uses the sports romance that I was looking for and enjoyed getting to know the characters in this. Andrea Rousse has a strong writing style and am excited for more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 28, 2024
Maddie and Liam's Story had me captivated from the start. I feel for her, because some men are garbage(only her cheating ex not all men) and she definitely deserved more. Enter Liam, while he wasn’t great when they were younger, he’s definitely grown into a man now. It was such a good read and i can’t wait to read more in the stories universe.
March 15, 2025
A write with writers block and a cheating ex, Maddie and Liam both overcame dysfunctional families and their own personal issues. Seeing them grow their relationship after their tumultuous night years ago and his brother breaking her trust was perfect. They dealt with so much to get to where they are now and falling in love with each other.
December 18, 2024
The first story in the Lemon Hollow, Maddie and Liam's story is well written with a very good storyline that held my interest. This is a new Author to me. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 20, 2024
This is the fourth book I've read written by Andrea Rousse; I can’t wait to read more of her books.
This is the first book in the Lemon Hollow Series; it is a stand-alone book. The story is about Maddie & Liam.
This is the first book in the Lemon Hollow Series; it is a stand-alone book. The story is about Maddie & Liam.
January 5, 2025
I think the book was good just the description made it sound like it was going to be a quick read with not a lot of thought but there was just so much drama. Don’t get me wrong the characters are absolutely adorable love and bless them just not what I was looking for.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews