Protecting Piper: A He Falls First/Body Positivity Sports Romance

Waverly Wildcats #4

by Jennifer Bonds, Sean Masters (narrator), Kelsey Navarro Foster (narrator)

Brady Vaughn is sweet, sexy, and totally into me…

Too bad I don’t have time for distractions, especially the relentless football player kind. If I want to graduate next semester, I need to focus on student teaching, not on my love life. But Brady’s incredibly hard to resist. Not only is he the most gorgeous guy I’ve ever laid eyes on, he has the personality to match. He’s sweet. Attentive. Real.

When he crashes my pole dancing class, swearing he’ll return every week until I give him a shot, I’m certain he’ll be the first to crack. But with each passing week, he’s melting my defenses, and it’s getting harder and harder to resist his quiet charm.

The only problem? He doesn’t know about my side hustle as a camgirl, and I plan to keep it that way.

As much as I like Brady, I can’t risk my future—or my career in education—on anything less than a sure thing.

If life has taught me anything, it’s that there are no guarantees, and if my secret gets out, I’m not the only one with something to lose…

Protecting Piper is a spicy new adult sports romance featuring a plus size FMC, he falls first/Golden Retriever, and secret virgin tropes.

Genres: Sports Romance, Romance, Sports, He Falls First, Contemporary, Football, College

Audible Audio

Published February 27, 2025

About the author

Jennifer Bonds is the USA Today bestselling author of sizzling contemporary romance with sassy heroines, sexy alphas, and a whole lot of mischief. She’s a sucker for enemies-to-lovers stories, laugh-out-loud banter, and over-the-top grand gestures. Jennifer lives in Pennsylvania, where her overactive imagination and weakness for reality TV keep life interesting. She's lucky enough to live with her own real-life hero, two adorable (and sometimes crazy) children, and one rambunctious K9. Loves Buffy, Mexican food, a solid Netflix binge, the Winchester brothers, cupcakes, and all things zombie. Sings off-key.

You can also connect with Jen @jbondswrites

https://www.tiktok.com/jbondswrites
https://www.instagram.com/jbondswrites
http://www.facebook.com/jbondswrites

Reviews

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

Edit:
I forgot to say check tw: fat phobia, mention of parental abuse.

•••••••••••••••••
Thanks to grey’s promotion for an early copy for an honest review!

One of the best H I’ve ever read , he was a champ tbh. He falls first and hard, he is sooo shy and mannered, he didn’t understand most jokes and sarcasm having lived in a farm for most of his life.

I didnt read the first three books so it was a little confusing how it went from the H’s friend being manwhores to having girlfriends in a blink of an eye.

I didnt not connect with the fmc, i hated how she judged her best friends roommate( no matter her behavior).

I liked the writing , some cringe scenes.
Pop culture references (which i hate in books)
Lots of🌶️🌶️🌶️
Insta love

No om drama( she is a cam girl, there was only 1-2 scene with her performing, before they met)

Ow drama( mention of girls being attracted to him, a waitress flirts with him will on a date with h, he turns her down quickly)

No cheating
Dual virgin
No third act breakup
Hea
Epilogue (1yr)


The cover is beautiful but I didn’t agree with the representation, he shouldn’t have been in a football outfit since its not his end game.


**********************************
I want to ask a man if he get turned on by a woman drinking through a straw cuz I swear to God it’s almost in every book i read.

If anyone knows the answer plz let me know.

**********************************

[abby :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

yeah i watched the super bowl and immediately downloaded a football romance, what about it????

in my pursuit of a football romance last night i stumbled upon this one and started reading it with no prior knowledge because it sounded interesting. it was such a fun surprise !!! it actually has been awhile since i read a football romance and this was such a good reintroduction to the trope. i can't say i'll be reading the rest of the series but the void i needed filled is filled!

piper and brady were so cute. this was such a simple romance and i loved that. i feel like sometimes kindle unlimited romances try to be and do so many things but this one stuck to the basics and that worked in it's favor. brady was the perfect gentleman, it was honestly refreshing to see a guy in a book be so genuinely nice. not once did he waver in his liking of piper and that was so cute to see. his family and farm was adorable, his whole attitude reminded me of a less grumpy cade eaton and that means he's perfect. piper was such a good character, she was so strong and just an overall great person so i love her.

there is really nothing else to say other than if you're looking for a quick football romance after watching the super bowl, you should pick this up. it's very normal and not crazy but it had great chemistry and i couldn't put it down! (ignore the epilogue, it scared me and i will never speak of it aloud)

[My Reading Era · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brady and Piper’s story begins with a chance encounter on Greek Row when Piper’s heel gets stuck in a crack in the concrete. From the moment he meets her, Brady is completely smitten and will do anything to win her over. He even joins her pole dancing class. His unwavering support and genuine kindness make their journey both heartwarming and fun to follow. Narrators Sean Masters and Kelsey Navarro Foster bring their relationship to life beautifully, making them the perfect voices for Brady and Piper. If you loved the previous books in this series, you won’t want to miss this one!

Thank you, Jennifer Bonds and Pinup Audio for the ALC.

[Eunoia]

DNF

VH but mmc done almost everything except p-v / going all the way

[Veronica Ticker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book didn’t miss the mark by much. I mean, I feel like one of its tropes was more a way to show how much the characters were different, and it wasn’t used to its full potential. Yet the rest of the story was interesting, and while not completely original, there were a couple of elements that were refreshingly new or unusual.

The missed opportunity? The fact that Brady is a virgin. First of all, in my opinion, it isn’t developped much. He admits he’s done things with girls, but not ‘all of it’, and I couldn’t figure out why exactly. On top of that, he was strangely very proficient once he’s getting it on with Piper. I’d have enjoyed more struggles and inadequacy, to make it more real and interesting. It was still an interesting plot point, especially when college athletes are usually players in romance, and it has some relevance with Piper and Brady’s story–but I don’t want to spoil anything.

The reason why that makes Brady different from Piper is that she’s a sex worker. She does cams to finance college. It was a major plot point. How she rationalizes her side gig says a lot about her. The fact that she’s a plus size girl and that she got criticism for it makes it empowering. And it introduces the main conflict that will threaten her relationship with Brady.

But it wasn’t the only difference between them. She basically has no family, as her mother has never cared about her, while Brady has been part of a tight knit family–which is also one of the reasons he’s such a gentleman and a sweet guy.

Those differences don’t keep them from each other at all, and I loved that. I loved that, while being muscular and an athlete, Brady was described as having a dad bod. I loved that their connection was instant. I loved that the seduction part of the story was so important–and hilarious. Maybe it was a bit too slow though, and the second act the author is used to write was introduced early, by small touches, but really started quite late in the story, making it almost an afterthought.

It worked though. I won’t spoil it, but let’s just say that Piper’s cam work is involved in more ways than one. Its conclusion came quick too, and a bit easy.

Two more aspects that I loved in this book: the sexy scenes were adventurous and passionate; and football had an important place in the story, with real bits of sports. All of those were nicely mixed.

Finally, it worked well as a conclusion to the series. All stories took place in the same timeframe, so it wasn’t like we get a little more of all the characters’ life after the main events. But the other characters’ experiences–in their own love story–are suggested and have some importance in Brady and Piper’s story. So it kind of wrapped up everything nicely with a bow.

Quickie

- Series: Waverly Wildcats #4 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #sports romance #football #instalove #sex worker #virgin #plus size heroine #dad bod
- Triggers: mild psychological abuse, blackmail
- Main couple: Piper Reynolds & Brady Vaughn
- Hotness: 4/5
- Romance: 4/5
- + so much positivity!
- – virgins shouldn’t be that proficient

[Stefi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vaughn es realmente la expectativa 🫦

Es agradable ver a una chica curvy tan empoderada y llena de confianza, siento que puede llegar a ser muy inspirador para otras personas, me incluyo.

Todos los hombres deberían leer este libro y robarle a personalidad a Brady🙂‍↕️

Como este es el último libro de la saga, en modo cierre, puedo decir que disfruté bastante leyéndola, y estoy agradecida con tiktok por recomendarla.

Todas las historias giran entorno a un miembro distinto del equipo de fútbol americano de Waverly y el como se van enamorando al mismo tiempo que luchan por ganar el campeonato.

Les dejo mi ranking de los libros de mejor a peor (mi opinión):
1. Holding Harper
2. Catching Quinn
3. Protecting Piper
4. Claiming Carter
5. Scoring Sutton

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book at no cost from the publisher/author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. I am leaving a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.

I was really drawn into this book from the blurb. All of the tropes really called out to me- such as curvy FMC, virgin hero, he falls first, and sports romance, and I knew that I had to pick this one up.

I immediately grasped onto the premise of this story. I loved the idea of a virgin athlete hero and a curvy camgirl heroine. I thought that the implications of this premise would be so fun and lead to some humorous scenes in the story. I enjoyed Bonds' writing style and I connected with it easily though there was a tiny drop of something that I can't put my finger on that it was missing. This could have been the pacing or some such thing but I can't really pinpoint it. Something tells me that it had something to do with the involvement of the secondary characters in the story. I'll get to more on that below. The world-building was constructed well and I felt very immersed in the story once things took off.

These characters were so fun. I loved their personalities, even though Piper was a little stubborn. I think that was the point of her character's journey though so her character development was interesting. Brady was such a darling character. He was a cinnamon roll that I wanted to embrace. He was a gentleman and total book-boyfriend material. The side characters in the story balanced things out nicely though I felt like their presence could have been amped up a bit. I would have loved to see more of them in the story interacting with the main characters on a day-to-day basis. There were individual scenes where one of Brady's teammates would pop their head in and consult with him about his relationship but I felt a little disconnected from the side characters as a whole. There were bits and pieces of them that I latched on to and I loved but I just needed more of them. I haven't read any of the other books in this series yet but I wasn't overly confused about the other characters too much. It was clear that things were going on with Brady's teammates but it didn't detract from this story not knowing. If anything, it really made me want to read the other books in this series even more.

On a character sidenote, I loved that the two main characters are relatable "regular people" and not an adonis and a supermodel. This book had fantastic plus-size/fat/curvy representation that was realistic and graceful. The female lead is described as curvy and the male lead is described as having a "dad bod". It was refreshing to see these types of characters take center stage.

The romance in this story was so heartwarming. I adored Piper and Brady's awkward meet-cute. Brady was so supportive of Piper and he seemed to make her a priority. I love that he pursued her even though she initially turned him down. They seemed so perfect together and Brady was such a sweetheart throughout the whole book. I love how he respected her and thought that she was perfect just the way she was. The two of them had insane chemistry that was palpable. It couldn't have been more obvious that they were perfect for each other.

Overall, this story was entertaining with humor, amusing situations, and spice. There was great character development, a compelling plot, and a convincing romance that was just the cutest! Fans of college sports romance will love this!


BLOG FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM GOODREADS TIKTOK TWITTER BOOKBUB AMAZON PINTEREST KO-FI

⛔My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers.

[aplace_inthesun) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I binge read this one due to the fun dynamics here between a plus-size FMC and a bearish college football beau.

The couple initially meet but the FMC is avoidant if relationships due to her family history, and current job as a cam girl. The MMC persists with his interest with some fun interactions and banter, which finally results in a date.

What makes this fun as well is the declaration by the MMC of his feelings and intentions, and the FMC acknowledgement of her these, and the absence of positive relationships in her life. They weather a challenge from outside the relationship which whilst threatening to one of them, doesn’t really give a sense that the pairing is in jeopardy. Despite some bro’ing and dudeing from the MMC’s friend at times this book depicts a MMC with mostly healthy, appropriate responses to these digs.

A further win for this book is the body positivity depicted.

Thanks to Greys Promotions and the author for sending me a free copy of the book.

[Savannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

every time i was like “wow this might not be that bad” i immediately got hit with something that felt like it was pulled from a wattpad story written by a thirteen year old

[Raquel (BookishRaquel) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ | 2 🌶️ | 4.5 🎧

What to Expect:
- College Sports Romance
- Cinnamon Roll MMC
- Curvy FMC
- He Falls First
- Opposites Attract
- Instalove

I've had a lot of fun following the Waverly Wildcats crew, and loved Piper and Brady's story. While I have enjoyed getting to know all the couples in this series, Piper and Brady are my favorite. Piper is independent, tough, and very focused on her goals. Despite having an unsupportive mother, Piper is doing what is necessary to earn her degree in Education, including secretly working as a camgirl. Brady is a football player for the Waverly Wildcats who instantly falls for Piper when they first meet. Piper is guarded and has built walls to protect herself and her secrets. Her hesitance does not stop Brady. He is determined to do whatever it takes to convince Piper to give him a chance. Brady is a top-tier book boyfriend. He was down bad for Piper. I loved how he protected and stood up for her. Piper has trust issues that stem from her childhood and difficult relationship with her mother. Brady's persistence, charm, kindness, and huge heart help Piper learn to trust and see she is worthy of love. They are adorable together and I loved the development of their relationship. Protecting Piper is a fun read that put a huge smile on my face.

Narration:
Kelsey Navarro Foster and Sean Masters perform this audiobook using dual-style narration. They delivered wonderful performances and were the perfect voices for Piper and Brady. Kelsey and Sean fully embody the characters, bringing them to life in the best way. They pulled me into the story and made it hard for me to stop listening. Both also did a wonderful job voicing the secondary characters. Kelsey and Sean are gifted voice actors and their voices complemented each other well. This was a fun and engaging listening experience.

Thanks to Jennifer Bonds and Pinup Audio for the gifted ALC. Opinions expressed are my own.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

College football
Camgirl FMC
Golden retriever MMC

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5 // 🌶️🌶️

I FREAKING loved Brady Vaughn y’all!!! Hahaha, he was just absolute perfection. Eeekkk, I just keep making little noises thinking about him. I wish I would just give him a big old hug!

This story was funny, real, warm fuzzy feelings with a dash of kink tossed in for fun! And look at that purple cover!! 💜

Jennifer is a new author to me with this new release, but I’ll definitely be reading more from her. She has such a fun, lighthearted writing style.

Okay, so Piper is working to become a teacher and is SO focused she has no time for anything except school and her extracurricular activities 😉 (camgirl) then she runs into Brady.

Brady is the left tackle (blindside y’all!) he is this big beefy man with a heart of gold, gives off major teddy bear vibes. Shy Brady is so wholesome he’s still a Virgin 🫢

When he asks her on a date, Piper says no. Brady, not being a quitter, doesn’t give up and the antics that ensue to secure the date are just too good!!

The football element was great, I’m not as familiar with football as hockey, but I was definitely on the edge of my seat while reading a couple of the game scenes!!

If you know me at all, you know I love side characters. And this book had a couple winners!
Top two we’re definitely
1. Brady’s grandma (care package, IYKYK)
2. Cooper!

[Nalía Premeru · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5⭐️
"ARC Review"
This story had me entangled in the feeling of first real love. Piper has not had the easiest upbringing but that doesn’t mean she will let that stop her from her dream career. College is not cheap though, therefore she started to record adult content to make extra money. But this can not come out to Dr. Barnes. She could lose her teaching position and her spot at getting a degree. So dating has never been in the cards for her because she knows that pretty much every man would judge her and she has had enough judging in her life thanks to her mother. Brady Vaughn has been playing College football but he doesn’t plan on going pro. He still plays the best he can an actually helps get his team far into the season. Brady was raised by his mom and Gran on a Farm. He plans on taking over one day but there needs to be change because just farming will not bring enough income. That change doesn’t just need to happen on the Farm, it seems like a curvy young woman is catching his eyes. And Brady will do everything. EVERYTHING! To get Piper to just agree to one date. <3

[Heysoybet · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝑨 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒏 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒕"

(EN)

I can only say one thing about this book: I FALL IN LOVE!!!!

I love books that have cinamon roll hero and our MMC couldn't be sweeter and cuter, Brady is everything I love in a book boyfriend 🙌🏻

I completely understand the way Piper was cautious and her whole way of being, sometimes we go through so much that we put up certain walls, and honestly, I loved watching Brady tear them down one by one to get to our girl's heart.

This book was fun and very easy to read, seeing how they fell for each other was the cutest and it has a bit of sport romance which is a trope that I love!!! Also honorable mention that it doesn´t show us someone with a model's body, it gives us that plus of a curvy and beautiful girl like many of us in real life

100% recommended

(ES)

De este libro solo puedo decir una cosa: QUEDÉ ENAMORADAAAAAAAA

Amo los libros que tienen cinamon roll hero y nuestro protagonista no puede ser más dulce y lindoooo, Brady es todo lo que amo en un book boyfriend 🙌🏻

Entiendo perfectamente la manera en que Piper era precavida y su forma completa de ser, a veces pasamos por tanto que levantamos ciertos muros, y honestamente, amé ver como Brady las iba derrubando una a una para poder llegar al corazón de nuestra chica.

Este libro fue divertido y muy fácil de leer, ver como cayeron el uno por el otro fue de lo más lindo y tiene un poco de sport romance que es un trope que yo amo!!! además mención honorifica a que no nos muestra a alguien con cuerpo de modelo, nos da ese plus de una chica curvy y hermosa como muchas de nosotras en la vida real

100% Recomendado

Thanks to Greys Promotions and the author for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Shelby Willeford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Grey’s Promotions and the author for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a sucker for romance but add in sports romance and it is 🤌🏻🤌🏻.

College student Piper has not been dealt the best cards in life but she attempts to navigate college life pretty well. Insert husky lineman Brady Vaughn and you have all caution lights ahead.

The author gives us an easy fast paced read with sports, romance and comedy through dual POV. The character development for both main characters was refreshing. It was easy to relate to their own personal backgrounds and nice to watch them grow separately and with each other as the story progresses.

My heart loved the adorable love story and the twist and turns in between. We also see plenty of steam throughout and perfectly placed.

If you enjoy sports romance then I recommend grabbing this read! This be can read as a standalone within a series also.

[Amy Sturgeon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Again, just not a great series. This one had a better plot line & I was excited to hear about Brady’s story since he was in all the other books.

The whole TA drama didn’t feel like it was done correctly, just kinda popped up here & there until closer the end when the conflict actually came to the forefront. I would’ve been thinking about that risk on my future every day, not just brushing it off as “oh I paid him, it’s fine.” PLUS, immediately go to your prof about the blackmail?? What’s worse a nasty man blackmailing you, WATCHING your content & unwanted sexual advances OR you post sexual content online for money? Like c’mon weigh the options here.

Also got very repetitive at one point, like we get it. Piper’s mom sucks & wasn’t a good mom to her but it doesn’t need to be repeated in the same sentence every chapter. There are other ways to get the message across.

OH & the Easter bunny at the end? I’m throwing up🤢

[Dani H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brady Vaughan is the most perfect book boyfriend there ever was! He’s genuinely kind, caring, and determined to get his woman! The lengths we will go in order to get Piper’s attention is unmatched. How many guys would start taking pole dancing classes just to be in her presence?
Piper is strong, independent, and determined not to fall for Brady. That is until she can’t deny their chemistry any longer.
After completing this entire series I can say Piper and Brady are my absolute favorite Waverly Wildcats couple!

This was my first audiobook with @kelseynavfoster and it certainly will not be my last! She was the most perfect Piper and I loved the extra sass she tagged on to the internal dialogue sprinkled throughout the book. @seanmastersaudio brought the perfect blend of tough exterior football player and soft teddy bear interior to Brady

[Apoorva Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🥵🥵🥵

This book is EVERYTHING and I MEAN EVERYTHING 🫶🏼🫶🏼

Not only the FMC has the body positivity Rep by also the MMC too?

Not only he has Dad Bod, but it’s appreciated by our Queen Piper!!

Brady is the Cinnamon Grizzly Bear who saw Piper once and was smitten 😩 Piper knew she didn’t want to date but Brady knows how to CONVINCE and the way he did?? Oooof that is the Gentleman thing to do 🤌🏼

I loved how a lot of things were shown & dealt with and how the characters grew on each other.

This man is inexperienced 😭 but the mouth he has on him!!! I SCREAMED 🥵

“That’s right, Darlin’. Take what you need from me.”

“Brady may be soft-spoken and gentle in real life, but he’s a beast on the field—and in the bedroom.”

I loved how their story unfolded and I am so happy that I got this ARC 😭😩

[Peggy Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Protecting Piper is the fourth book in the Waverly Wildcats series by Jennifer Bonds. This is the first book I've ever read by this author and I was so impressed by her writing style and storytelling. Piper and Brady were ultimately perfect for each other, even though Piper fought her feelings as hard and as long as she could. I fell hard and fast for Brady. He was such a big teddy bear, how could I not? Piper took a while longer for me, but I did come to understand her, and I really liked her in the end. Overall, a really good story and definitely recommended!

[Madison Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️(good spice levels for beginners 😜)

Funny, sexy, and endearing. This was my first Jennifer Bonds book and now I can’t wait to dive into the rest of the Waverly Wildcats series!

This is 100% an opposites attract book. Brady (MMC) is sweet, kind, and very traditional when it comes to dating. Then you have Piper (FMC) who is bit more outspoken, Camgirl (secretly), and more experienced. Did I mention she takes pole dancing classes which is something I love to do in my spare time! It’s one of the reasons I clicked with this book!

Mostly, I enjoyed how fast paced and easy this book was to read. I blew through it! And the epilogue had me 🥵🥵🥵

I received an eARC of this book from Jennifer Bonds and Greys Promo. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

[Casi Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to get through this one. Was more difficult to get into the characters in comparison to the first three books.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 / 5

My favourite Waverly Wildcats book by far 😍

[Bay | readitwithbay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5⭐️
1.5/5🌶️

I Received this ARC from @greyspromo!! Thank you so much for the ARC!

I loved Brady Vaughn so much!!

I swear he was the kindest and sweetest MMC I have read in so long. He did everything in his power to take care of Piper. He really wanted that date with her.

As a Curvy Curl I really related with some of the things Piper was going through. I loved the way she saw her body.

[lina rabon · Rating 5 out of 5]

literally ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ freaking stars

no 3rd act breakup
brady was such a gentleman and piper was such a strong female character
they were matched so perfectly and written soooo well
💐💕🏈📚🚜🫶

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3/5 stars

Primary Tropes/Features: College romance, Sports romance (American Football), Plus sized representation,, Dual virgins, Cam-girl, He-falls-first

Secondary Tropes/Features: Good girl, Protective hero, No third act breakup, Cinnamon roll hero

Micro Trope: He gets a tattoo for her, She reads romance

Safety warning/Triggers: Emotional manipulation (on page), Fatphobia (on page), Blackmail (on page), On page mention of parental abuse (PA is an off page event)

Protecting Piper was a simple and easy read book with a cute romance.

Brady was a laid back, thoughtful, and protector type hero. He was a slight introvert and an old-fashioned gentleman at heart who was nervous around women. Except for Piper who he seemed to calm something in him and with whom he had an easy, almost unconscious, nack for innuendo filled interactions. Piper was a stressed out and stubborn heroine but was also intelligent, witty, and compassionate. Doing her best to survive and achieve the dreams she had for herself she had to learn how to unwind and be vulnerable, something Brady helped her achieve even though she was a little reluctant.

Their romance was a simple one. Boy meets girl and falls first, respectfully pursues her whilst hoping she’ll give him a chance, and she fights her attraction before realising he’s perfect for her. It made for a refreshing read which was easy to get lost in and gave their romance a sweet vibe. The connection was instant and it made the seduction and pursuit part of their romance development enjoyable. Their non-sexual and sexual chemistry was given equal development and on page presence which worked to solidify their rightfulness. There was a little conflict and mishap between them which fit the overall plot well and which I thought was handled with maturity. Which enhanced the simple and easy read nature of the book as we didn’t get random conflict thrown in for the sake of it.

When it came to secondary characters and subplots I did find the book a little lacking. Brady’s grandmother was the main secondary character, and honestly she was a hoot. Her scenes brought humour and love to the page and it was very sweet how her love and pride for her grandson could make him blush. When it came to Brady and Piper’s friends however, I wanted more. There were scenes they were involved in and we saw them interact but their brief nature left me disconnected from them as a whole. This is the only book of this series that I have so far and it’s obvious from the narrative that all the books in this series occur at the same time and whilst I didn’t confuse the characters I would have liked to get a few more hints and teases as to what was going on. This is only my preference, in the book itself not knowing what is going on with the side characters didn’t detract from Brady and Piper’s story or cause any confusion by the end.

Brady and Piper’s story was entertaining with good character development and plot pacing. It made for an easy and enjoyable read which I’m glad I picked up.

Favourite Quote:

‘This is what Piper deserves, a man who will bathe her in adoration and shower her in affection. I want so badly to be that man for her. To be the one who makes her feel like she's walking on air, like nothing could ever bring her down. Because that's the way she makes me feel.’

[Karina · Rating 2 out of 5]

And that's all folks!
Here I am, at the end of the Waverly Wildcats series. I debated on giving this a 2-star or 3-star rating. Don't get me wrong, I think it was a sweet story. How could it not be? We had a chance to see Brady Vaughn in the previous books and he was such a gentleman, a teddy bear with a giant heart. Protecting Piper was so romantic. It just wasn't smut, at least not like the rest of the series, and I wanted to leave it on a high note. Don't get me wrong, Brady and Piper got it on, and Piper definitely helped Brady out of his shell and find his adventurous side, but it wasn't as panty-melting as the rest of the books (in comparison).

Anyone that has read the previous 3 books, know that they are all taking place simultaneously. Austin, Cooper, DJ and Brady are all in their senior year (although, DJ still has one more year to go) and this is the year they are eyeing the football championship. How many of you have been wondering in the previous stories if they make it to the final and win? Well, read this book and find out because I am not going to spoil it for you!

How all four men managed to have secret relationships at the very same time and they seemed almost oblivious to each other's relationships is beyond me (ok, some of them were a little observant but not by much).

As per the previous books, the love story really starts at the Chi Sig party after their first win. Here, Vaughn didn't even make it inside the frat house as he saw Piper at the door and escorted her home. Why you may ask? Well, she had a wardrobe malfunction. The boy was smitten with Piper from the moment he laid eyes on her. And Brady Vaughn is a persistent person when he sets his eyes on something. Brady was determined to get Piper's number and take her on a date. Piper was resistant at first. She has a lot of skeletons in her closet (mainly her erotic field of work) and doesn't have time for relationships. However, there is an attraction between the two and, Brady is such a gentleman with perfect manners (something Piper has never experienced first-hand), that they eventually fall for each other.

Are there conflicts in this book? Not really. I mean, Brady is a small-town boy who just wants to return to his family farm when he finishes school and he wants to settle down. Piper wants to be a teacher but because she was dealt a $hitty hand of cars at birth with her parents, she has to take care of herself. She doesn't have time for fairytales and she is being threatened by someone at school with revealing her skeletons. But in the end, Brady and Piper are there for each other. They learn to love and trust each other and support each other.

Great, wonderful! It's a good story, just not one I would end on. The series ended with the HEA story that wraps everything up nicely in a little bow. However, I wish there was a bonus epilogue or free secret content a few years down the line with the continuation story of everyone...are they still friends? Do they keep in touch and go to each other's weddings?

[Bette · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Wildcats Greatness! Awesome Story, Narration & Listen🎧

Protecting Piper
Waverly Wildcats, Book 4
By: Jennifer Bonds
Narrated by: Sean Masters, Kelsey Navarro Foster

Jennifer Bonds does it again and pens another winning novel set in her wonderful “Waverly Wildcats” series, a sports romance like no other and one that captivates your attention and tugs at your heartstrings the entire time. I have been loving this series, with each featuring a member of the Wildcats and each book is just as fabulous as the next, with stories that warm your heart and put a smile on your face too. This fourth book is Brady Vaughn and Piper’s story, both attend Waverly college and meet by chance on Greek row. Piper was going to meet her friend at a frat party, but she never makes it there because of a mishap with her shoe. Brady was heading the same way when he spotted her struggling with her shoe, and he went to help her, only to wind up in an awkward position with her, but the one thing that come out of that was him wanting to see her again, except he never got her number. That did not stop him from looking for her all over campus, but with 40,000 students, that is like finding a needle in the haystack. His luck turns around when he spots her, though she isn’t exactly excited to see him again, but he is determined to get the girl and do what it takes to get her, including joining the dance class she is in. Piper has goals, no time for relationships, and she also has a secret, one she does not want anyone to know. Brady slowly worms his way into her life and then into her heart, but can he handle what she does to earn money to pay for college? I loved the originality of this story, a wonderfully plotted, multi-layered story that has the perfect balance of drama, angst, heartwarming charm, witty dialogue and humor, heartfelt emotions and steamy romance. Piper did not have the best childhood, upbringing, or role model, but she prevailed and I admired her determination to succeed. I also admired that Brady showed her how family life could be and how his family accepted her with open arms. Jennifer Bonds, thank you for another fabulous story, the laughs and the emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 Sean Masters and Kelsey Navarro Foster did an amazing job voicing these characters, giving each a voice that was fitting and delivering a perfect portrayal of each. Kelsey Navarro Foster nailed it as Piper, grasping every aspect of her personality and demeanor from her vulnerabilities to her fierceness, confidence and strength. Sean Master was spot on as Brady, showcasing his personality perfectly, shy, charming and swoon worthy. Both were just as fabulous performing the roles of the side characters, too. These two made a great team, with voices and talent that complemented each other and an entertaining performance that grabs your attention and doesn’t let it go. They are versatile voice artistic and a pleasure to listen to.

[Annie Soto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the rest of the series, we are at the start of the school year and with Brady being a Senior and no plans to go pro, he is determined to enjoy the most of the time he has left at Waverly while setting his goals toward this future, heading back to West Virginia to take over the family farm. Raised as the perfect gentleman and incredibly protective, it was only felt natural to Brady to help the woman he notices in distress trying to remove her high heel stuck in the sidewalk. When he approaches Piper, he is taken by her beauty and enthralled by her confidence and fierce independence.

Piper is everything that Brady sees in her and more. She was dealt a poor hand in life but has made it her mission to earn her teaching degree and is willing to do whatever is necessary to make that happen. To supplement her income and finish her degree, she works as a cam girl, allowing her to maintain her own financial independence and discover self-confidence that she never would've otherwise. But when Brady comes into the picture, she is skeptical of his intentions. Proving to be the complete gentleman that he is, he starts to break down her defenses and although she's apprehensive to pursue a relationship because of her camming, she gives him the chance she knows they both deserve. Allowing Brady in means eventually exposing her secrets to him, and once he knows everything, he will want to protect her against it all.

Jennifer really saved the best story for last! I have been waiting on pins and needles for Brady's story since book 1 and it did not disappoint. Brady is the perfect book boyfriend! I genuinely LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. Both Piper and Brady are fantastic characters that experience so much growth individually and together, navigating the dynamics of a relationship for the first time. From the start, Brady went above and beyond for Piper and when Piper decides to give them a shot, she knows he deserves nothing less than the same. They choose each other every day and make sacrifices that show their commitment for one another. Essentially - they're perfect.

Kelsey and Sean did a phenomenal job bringing these characters to life. Both character's personalities shined through these performances and as huge fans of both Kelsey and Sean I am so happy I got to hear them perform together. What an absolute treat!

[Sarah English · Rating 3 out of 5]

"If I have to make a fool of myself to get this woman’s attention, so be it. My pride is a small price to pay for the pleasure of her company."

Protecting Piper is the last book in the Waverly Wildcats series and in honesty, it was a slightly forgettable read. I think that was mostly due to the fact I just wasn't a fan of the Cam Girl plotline or the spicy side of the story, it just put me off and I found it difficult to really get into the book.

The characters themselves I just didn't totally connect with either. Piper was insufferable because she herself said that her camming job could risk her future career in working with children but she still carried on regardless. She also said that it was empowering doing it but was ashamed to tell anyone including her best friend or the guy she liked even if it meant risking her happiness, I just didn't understand.

Brady though seemed like a sweet guy. I loved the connection he had with his mam and grandmother along with the passion he had for working on the family farm. It was also refreshing that Brady was a Virgin as in most Sports Romance books I've read the football guys are always experienced playboys. It was a bit unrealistic though that after his first time he turned onto some sort of sex expert overnight when you would expect some fumbling and mistakes to start with.

Another thing I wasn't a fan of was how Piper’s best friend Jenna initially tried to guilt her into agreeing to date Brady - implying it would be Piper’s fault if he got hurt in the pole class since he was only there to pursue her. I’m sorry, but Brady’s a grown man. It’s not a woman’s responsibility if he injures himself chasing after someone who’s already told him “no” multiple times. That kind of pressure really didn’t sit right with me.

On the other hand though I did enjoy the fun and teasing behaviour between the football boys, throughout the series it has always made me laugh. I liked how Bradys family welcomed Piper with open arms and allowed her to have that family connection that she was craving. Plus it was nice to finally see Brady get his girl after waiting through all these books, it's was a nice end to the Waverly Wildcats series

[DiAngelea Millar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my least favorite out of the series. Which is sad because Brady is probably my favorite male MC. He’s sweet, kind, thoughtful. He doesn’t have to turn off his manwhore streak because he isn’t one unlike the other male mc’s in this series who find “the one” and miraculously stop being manwhores.

Anyway, my biggest issue was with Piper the female lead. I love that she’s plus size, she’s the only female character in the books who isn’t a stick figure, which is excellent! But for someone who claims to be really smart she’s kind of dumb.

Spoilers follow
So Piper has a crap mom who won’t pay for her tuition and in order to pay for school she decides to be a cam girl (think only fans) to make money. However, her focus of study is elementary education and she’s been told for years that they cannot participate in any unethical or illegal behaviors because it can prevent them from getting teaching jobs in the future. Which is true and fair.

But she still proceeds to make these sexy naked videos thinking she will never be caught. But of course she is. The TA in her class is a subscriber who blackmails her. And she’s shocked! She’s like omg how could anyone at this big school follow me online like no way. I mean really dumb.

Brady punched the guy in the face and almost missed the playoffs. She decides to come clean with her advisor to get the TA fired (good for her) and then they move to him family farm in West Virginia so he can help run the business. It takes her like a year to get a job.

Anyway, whatever opinions you have about sex work, put aside, because that’s not really the point here. She knows the risks, she doesn’t care and takes them anyway, and then is surprise when it is statistically possible that someone on campus follows her and takes advantage of the situation. Like that was dumb. Yes college is ridiculously overpriced and that point is well made and taken but given how passionate she claims to be about being a teacher it’s hard to suspend belief she would take such a huge risk. She could make good money other ways like bartending in a college town… anyway, a bit hard to believe.

[Daisy Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

More reviews posted at Tales of Love, Life, and Murder

Piper isn’t a typical college student since she’s putting herself through school and struggling to do so. She doesn’t have time for parties and dating since she works so hard. She doesn’t feel like she’s missing out though because can’t wait to graduate and start making money instead of spending it. She has a secret, a big one that could blow up her whole world, so she protects it with everything she’s got. Nobody knows it, not even her best friend. Brady Vaughn is immediately smitten with Piper the moment they meet and really wants to get to know her, but she wants nothing to do with him. She can’t risk spending time with him because he’s too nice, too handsome, too much to fit into her carefully scheduled world, a world that doesn’t have room for fun.


But Brady refuses to just walk away and he’s determined to get to know her to see where it goes. She doesn’t make it easy for him, so I found her a little frustrating at first. Sure, she has good reasons to be secretive in her insular little world, but I just wanted her to give a little, and eventually she did. The two became fast friends and once her defenses came down a bit, their chemistry was positively combustible. Brady had a secret of his own and while it wasn’t as heavy as Piper’s, it did bring another dimension to their relationship.


Brady may be the biggest cinnamon roll of all time and so very loveable. He’s a farm boy who knows he’s not going pro and freely admits that football is just a means to an end so he can get a degree. Piper appreciates his honesty and earnestness because her life hasn’t exactly been easy and it’s refreshing to have someone who cares for once. Their story is sweet and funny and was a lot of fun to read.