What do you think?
Rate this book
The Baileys #8
Winning my Best Friend's Girl
Imagine lying in a hospital bed and the doctor who pulls the curtain back to treat you is the one who got away. Even if you never really had her in the first place. She’s not only your high school crush, she’s the ex-girlfriend of your ex-best friend. The one girl you’ve always wanted.
Here’s a step-by-step list to finally win her over…
Key to win #1: Try not to take offense that she snuck back into town without telling you—six months ago.
Key to win #2: Rekindle the friendship to ease the awkwardness. But… DO NOT enter the friend zone.
Key to win #3: Ignore the fact that she went speed dating the night before. Take it as good a sign—maybe she’s looking for a relationship.
Key to win #4: Attempt to keep the two of you out of the town gossip blog and away from your large family. Make sure you don’t let this last one throw you off your mission.
Key to win #5: Don’t get deterred when you find out the past is about to repeat itself. Because the man she met at the speed dating night is your best buddy from work.
Just remember, you sat back and let her slip away once, you won’t do it a second time. Failure is not an option.
Here’s a step-by-step list to finally win her over…
Key to win #1: Try not to take offense that she snuck back into town without telling you—six months ago.
Key to win #2: Rekindle the friendship to ease the awkwardness. But… DO NOT enter the friend zone.
Key to win #3: Ignore the fact that she went speed dating the night before. Take it as good a sign—maybe she’s looking for a relationship.
Key to win #4: Attempt to keep the two of you out of the town gossip blog and away from your large family. Make sure you don’t let this last one throw you off your mission.
Key to win #5: Don’t get deterred when you find out the past is about to repeat itself. Because the man she met at the speed dating night is your best buddy from work.
Just remember, you sat back and let her slip away once, you won’t do it a second time. Failure is not an option.
Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2020
580 people are currently reading
1980 people want to read
About the author
Piper Rayne
233 books7,192 followersPiper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling author duo. Our goal is to bring you romance stories that have "Heartwarming Humor With a Side of Sizzle" (okay...you caught us, that's our tagline). A little about us... We both have kindle’s full of one-clickable books. We're both married to husbands who drive us to drink. We're both chauffeurs to our kids. Most of all, we love hot heroes and quirky heroines that make us laugh, and we hope you do, too.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2h5oycP
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2w1WDQe
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2wJhFnG
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2BJj7ZB
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2g95QRB
Website: www.piperrayne.com
Join our newsletter and get 5 FREE BOOKS!
http://bit.ly/2tsNcpP
Our Books: We do things in 3’s. Three best friends. Three hot heroes. Three HEA’s.
Modern Love:
Single Dads Club:
Dirty Truth:
Bedroom Games:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2h5oycP
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2w1WDQe
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2wJhFnG
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2BJj7ZB
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2g95QRB
Website: www.piperrayne.com
Join our newsletter and get 5 FREE BOOKS!
http://bit.ly/2tsNcpP
Our Books: We do things in 3’s. Three best friends. Three hot heroes. Three HEA’s.
Modern Love:
Single Dads Club:
Dirty Truth:
Bedroom Games:
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 393 reviews
September 12, 2022
⭐⭐⭐💫
3½ stars.
A little better than the other books in the series a little more interesting…. But…. There is too much push and pull and too much miscommunication.
The vast majority of the characters are rather immature …. especially the main characters.
And that grandmother is still intrusive and does not really add anything to the story more than being an annoyance. (jarring to read)
On the plus side it is more diverse/inclusive with a interracial couple.
June 5, 2025
3.5⭐
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Series ~ The Baileys #8
Others in the series ~ the whole series
Setting ~ Alaska
Publication date ~ July 21, 2020
Est Page Count ~ 274 (33 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 6 hours 48 minutes
Narrators ~ Tim Paige, Meg Sylvan
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ interracial romance, firefighter/smoke jumper, doctor, second chance, some steamage
Kingston & Stella went to school together and had a bond, but his bff swooped in first and asked her out, so he missed his chance. She moved away for college and now they see each other again when he ends up in the hospital and she's his doctor.
She's the one that got away, and I suppose vise versa for her. I liked the flashbacks back to school showing how their friendship began and how adorably sweet they were then, but them now blah.
Stella was apprehensive to get with Kingston due to he risks of his job and wanted him to quit. While I can understand this to a degree, I'm also like you gotta live your life for you and what you want to do. Yes I get there's enhanced risks but you could just as easily snag your toenail on the shag rug at the top of the stairs and take a tumble.
Also, I hate the title of this one. If it's his current bff, then that relationship barely had legs to walk to the fridge to get a cheese stick. And it's even sillier if it's the fella from back in hs because that was practically a decade ago.
Overall, not my favorite of the series, but fine enough.
Narration notes:
No complaints.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Series ~ The Baileys #8
Others in the series ~ the whole series
Setting ~ Alaska
Publication date ~ July 21, 2020
Est Page Count ~ 274 (33 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 6 hours 48 minutes
Narrators ~ Tim Paige, Meg Sylvan
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ interracial romance, firefighter/smoke jumper, doctor, second chance, some steamage
Kingston & Stella went to school together and had a bond, but his bff swooped in first and asked her out, so he missed his chance. She moved away for college and now they see each other again when he ends up in the hospital and she's his doctor.
She's the one that got away, and I suppose vise versa for her. I liked the flashbacks back to school showing how their friendship began and how adorably sweet they were then, but them now blah.
Stella was apprehensive to get with Kingston due to he risks of his job and wanted him to quit. While I can understand this to a degree, I'm also like you gotta live your life for you and what you want to do. Yes I get there's enhanced risks but you could just as easily snag your toenail on the shag rug at the top of the stairs and take a tumble.
Also, I hate the title of this one. If it's his current bff, then that relationship barely had legs to walk to the fridge to get a cheese stick. And it's even sillier if it's the fella from back in hs because that was practically a decade ago.
Overall, not my favorite of the series, but fine enough.
Narration notes:
No complaints.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
July 31, 2020
Rating: 3.75/5
I'm happy to say this is among my top 3 favorites in this series! I loved Kingston and Stella's story -- from their friendship when they first met as kids to when they started developing feelings for each other as teens. In the present, Stella is back in Alaska and Kingston will not let her slip away this time.
I loved the angst as they've had feelings for each other for a while but they never really got together before. They haven't quite resolved what happened back then even with their friendship, so they needed to repair that as well. I love that big gesture from Stella at the end, those scenes were soooo cute and swoony omg.
Love the Baileys and Grandma Dori as usual. I'm excited for their meddling in the last book (Sedona's story!) especially after THAT ending...
I'm happy to say this is among my top 3 favorites in this series! I loved Kingston and Stella's story -- from their friendship when they first met as kids to when they started developing feelings for each other as teens. In the present, Stella is back in Alaska and Kingston will not let her slip away this time.
I loved the angst as they've had feelings for each other for a while but they never really got together before. They haven't quite resolved what happened back then even with their friendship, so they needed to repair that as well. I love that big gesture from Stella at the end, those scenes were soooo cute and swoony omg.
Love the Baileys and Grandma Dori as usual. I'm excited for their meddling in the last book (Sedona's story!) especially after THAT ending...
July 23, 2020
I feel like I've been waiting for the story of Kingston and Stella forever. And I wasn't entirely sure what I was expecting. I knew there was a lot of history and a teenaged love triangle but I didn't know the actual nitty gritty details of their past.
All of the breadcrumbs in the last few books had me waiting with baited breath. Obviously nothing terrible had transgressed because the Bailey's all loved Stella. But something had happened and I was dying to know. The whole unrequited love that Kingston had, had me dying to see him win over his girl and live happily ever after.
And while I really enjoyed the ride with these two I kind of feel it was a little anticlimactic. But that may be in part because I just read the first chapter of Sedona's story and I'm desperate to get my hands on it. And I really can't believe that Sedona's book is the last in the series. I don't know if I'm ready to let them go yet.
All of the breadcrumbs in the last few books had me waiting with baited breath. Obviously nothing terrible had transgressed because the Bailey's all loved Stella. But something had happened and I was dying to know. The whole unrequited love that Kingston had, had me dying to see him win over his girl and live happily ever after.
And while I really enjoyed the ride with these two I kind of feel it was a little anticlimactic. But that may be in part because I just read the first chapter of Sedona's story and I'm desperate to get my hands on it. And I really can't believe that Sedona's book is the last in the series. I don't know if I'm ready to let them go yet.
December 18, 2023
Boring as fuck, to be honest with you.
Plus, white authors are allergic to writing a black heroine WITHOUT mentioning race...
If it's even one scene, it's too much for me. I don't wanna hear about it!
Around the 80% mark, I thought we were out of the water, but no, the author made the heroine mention how the "haters" are gonna handle them being an "interacial" couple.
What haters? Up until now, there was never a racism plotline... so I am confused why this dialogue had to be included...
Miss me with that, please.
I don't wanna hear about race at all. If you're gonna mention race, don't make her black.
I'm tired.
Yes, DO write black heroines...
No, DON'T write a race-related plotline/dialogue/monologue, please, I beg!
Racism and race-relations are not sexy, and I just want to enjoy my contemporary romance books.
Thanks.
Plus, white authors are allergic to writing a black heroine WITHOUT mentioning race...
If it's even one scene, it's too much for me. I don't wanna hear about it!
Around the 80% mark, I thought we were out of the water, but no, the author made the heroine mention how the "haters" are gonna handle them being an "interacial" couple.
What haters? Up until now, there was never a racism plotline... so I am confused why this dialogue had to be included...
Miss me with that, please.
I don't wanna hear about race at all. If you're gonna mention race, don't make her black.
I'm tired.
Yes, DO write black heroines...
No, DON'T write a race-related plotline/dialogue/monologue, please, I beg!
Racism and race-relations are not sexy, and I just want to enjoy my contemporary romance books.
Thanks.
August 18, 2024
Boring and repetetive. 🥱
This two didn't have much to say after being apart for more than a decade? 😵💫
(2,5/5) 🫤🎧
This two didn't have much to say after being apart for more than a decade? 😵💫
(2,5/5) 🫤🎧
July 10, 2022
Band 8 der Reihe war für mich der Einstieg in die Bailey-Familie, was jedoch für mich keinerlei Problem darstellte. Ich fand mich super in der Handlung, der Kulisse und mit den Charakteren zurecht. Stella und Kingston haben eine interessante Vergangenheit und ich mochte es wie leicht die Gespräche und die Harmonie zwischen den beiden gewesen sind. Nichts desto trotz fehlte mir ein Stück weit ihre Verbindung zueinander, das Knistern und dieses ganz spezielle Etwas was eine Geschichte zu etwas besonderem machte. Die Handlung an sich war abwechslungsreich mit teilweise zu viel Drama, aber schönen Szenen, die allgemein eine sehr familiäre Atmosphäre versprühen.
August 11, 2020
Snooze Fest
This book is boring to be honest.
The characters were mediocre and the plot was just hanging by a thread. This book went on and on about two bland characters liking each other in high school, but didn’t work on their feelings because the girl liked someone else.
Years passed and yet they are acting like teenagers with miscommunication issues. And because I’ve never read other books in the series I got lost with all the other characters from the previous books.
The book was not interesting and I found that at 30% I lost interest.
This book is not something that I’ll urge anyone to read.
This book is boring to be honest.
The characters were mediocre and the plot was just hanging by a thread. This book went on and on about two bland characters liking each other in high school, but didn’t work on their feelings because the girl liked someone else.
Years passed and yet they are acting like teenagers with miscommunication issues. And because I’ve never read other books in the series I got lost with all the other characters from the previous books.
The book was not interesting and I found that at 30% I lost interest.
This book is not something that I’ll urge anyone to read.
July 11, 2020
She’s the only adrenaline rush he’ll ever need. The guy who jumps out of planes fears only one thing...getting his heart crushed for the second time. No risk, no reward. Kingston will have to put it all on the line if he’s going to get the girl.
Our elusive smoke jumper finally gets to tell his story. Kingston may have gotten the reputation as the resident Romeo, but his heart has only ever belonged to one girl. Now that she’s back in Lake Starlite, he’s going to try and win her heart.
Stella left eight years ago. She went to New York for school and to get away from the mess she left behind. Being with Owen seemed like a good idea, but all it did was tear two best friends apart. Owen and Kingston had one thing they both wanted...Stella. So when Owen started dating her, the friendship they all shared was torn apart.
Years later and Kingston still feels the pain of losing her. She took his heart in the fourth grade and he never got it back. He wants to be with her. That’s all he’s ever wanted, but it seems history is about to repeat itself when Stella dates his best friend from work.
Stella has always shared a connection with Kingston. However, losing him has always held her back. The man chases danger and she couldn’t stand to watch. She’ll need to decide whether taking the risk of loving him is worth it or never getting the chance if she walks away.
Kingston and Stella bring a send chance romance with heat and emotion. The entire Bailey clan will be making appearances in Kingston and Stella’s story. More babies and family drama that we love. This series continues to deliver a family that loves unconditionally and shows up no matter what. The tie that binds them is unending love for eachother. I love each of these characters and I am only sad that we only have one more to go.
Our elusive smoke jumper finally gets to tell his story. Kingston may have gotten the reputation as the resident Romeo, but his heart has only ever belonged to one girl. Now that she’s back in Lake Starlite, he’s going to try and win her heart.
Stella left eight years ago. She went to New York for school and to get away from the mess she left behind. Being with Owen seemed like a good idea, but all it did was tear two best friends apart. Owen and Kingston had one thing they both wanted...Stella. So when Owen started dating her, the friendship they all shared was torn apart.
Years later and Kingston still feels the pain of losing her. She took his heart in the fourth grade and he never got it back. He wants to be with her. That’s all he’s ever wanted, but it seems history is about to repeat itself when Stella dates his best friend from work.
Stella has always shared a connection with Kingston. However, losing him has always held her back. The man chases danger and she couldn’t stand to watch. She’ll need to decide whether taking the risk of loving him is worth it or never getting the chance if she walks away.
Kingston and Stella bring a send chance romance with heat and emotion. The entire Bailey clan will be making appearances in Kingston and Stella’s story. More babies and family drama that we love. This series continues to deliver a family that loves unconditionally and shows up no matter what. The tie that binds them is unending love for eachother. I love each of these characters and I am only sad that we only have one more to go.
August 4, 2020
Not for me
The underlying messages annoyed me. To start with, the book went in circles for far too long. I got really fed up with all the games that Stella was playing. All this push and pull was too much. Basically she doesn’t want to be with him but she doesn’t want to let him go either. Happy to keep him at her heels, but once he decided that enough was enough then suddenly she got over her angst with one conversation with her mother. Far too manipulative for me. The constant talking about some irrelevant relationship she had in high school was tiring. It felt so juvenile. It was hard to believe that they were two professionals instead of high schoolers. Stella’s nonsense about not wanting to destroy a friendship. Please, Owen was never Kingston’s friend to begin with. She could have been forgiven for being confused in high school but 8 years later? Her using Lou but hiding behind the “I told him we would be just friends” and then running like a drama queen once King hit Lou was again manipulative. She could have been clear with all parties before this drama. Austin’s advice about compromise felt like transfer. Although compromise in a relationship is key, in this particular case Stella was basically asking him to change his personality to make her confortable. Is he going to have to give up firefighting too because it’s a dangerous job? Stella’s mother talk about interracial relationship was just odd. Completely out of context in the actual conversation. It’s an important aspect but in that conversation it felt forced. Lastly, I really hated that in the end, to fit the narrative King had a near death experience and also gave up smoke jumping as well as his other adrenaline filled sports. Basically he had a complete personality change. To me that’s not love at all. Are we suggesting that soldiers, smokejumpers, peacekeepers etc.. can’t be married or in love or otherwise have to quit? This idea of one size fits all irks me. Austin might be happy living a sedate life as a teacher in Alaska but it doesn’t mean that’s the only valid model.
The underlying messages annoyed me. To start with, the book went in circles for far too long. I got really fed up with all the games that Stella was playing. All this push and pull was too much. Basically she doesn’t want to be with him but she doesn’t want to let him go either. Happy to keep him at her heels, but once he decided that enough was enough then suddenly she got over her angst with one conversation with her mother. Far too manipulative for me. The constant talking about some irrelevant relationship she had in high school was tiring. It felt so juvenile. It was hard to believe that they were two professionals instead of high schoolers. Stella’s nonsense about not wanting to destroy a friendship. Please, Owen was never Kingston’s friend to begin with. She could have been forgiven for being confused in high school but 8 years later? Her using Lou but hiding behind the “I told him we would be just friends” and then running like a drama queen once King hit Lou was again manipulative. She could have been clear with all parties before this drama. Austin’s advice about compromise felt like transfer. Although compromise in a relationship is key, in this particular case Stella was basically asking him to change his personality to make her confortable. Is he going to have to give up firefighting too because it’s a dangerous job? Stella’s mother talk about interracial relationship was just odd. Completely out of context in the actual conversation. It’s an important aspect but in that conversation it felt forced. Lastly, I really hated that in the end, to fit the narrative King had a near death experience and also gave up smoke jumping as well as his other adrenaline filled sports. Basically he had a complete personality change. To me that’s not love at all. Are we suggesting that soldiers, smokejumpers, peacekeepers etc.. can’t be married or in love or otherwise have to quit? This idea of one size fits all irks me. Austin might be happy living a sedate life as a teacher in Alaska but it doesn’t mean that’s the only valid model.
July 21, 2020
5 stars
I loved everything about Winning My Best Friend's Girl by Piper Rayne.
The storyline is beautifully written, it's emotional, sweet, hot and full of swoon worthy moments.
Kingston and Stella are true soul mates, watching their love story unfold kept me turning the pages until I got to the end. One more chapter ended up with me reading the book in one sitting.
I'm so happy they were able to finally get their happily every after. 🥰
I know I've said this after every Bailey sibling book but this series keeps getting better and better.
Each book has been a joy to read and I highly recommend them all!
Now need Sedona & Jamison's book, I'm dying to see what's to come for these two.
Get your copy~
💛Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2M8NFrF
💛Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3cfS5Ib
💛Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/36I4xiw
💛Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3gzrdpD
💛Amazon DE: https://amzn.to/3dgwZuj
💛Nook: https://bit.ly/3eANnWH
💛Apple: https://apple.co/3gAEEpp
💛Kobo: https://bit.ly/2XGznUF
💛Google Play: https://bit.ly/2AhDQVQ
*An ARC was provided in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I loved everything about Winning My Best Friend's Girl by Piper Rayne.
The storyline is beautifully written, it's emotional, sweet, hot and full of swoon worthy moments.
Kingston and Stella are true soul mates, watching their love story unfold kept me turning the pages until I got to the end. One more chapter ended up with me reading the book in one sitting.
I'm so happy they were able to finally get their happily every after. 🥰
I know I've said this after every Bailey sibling book but this series keeps getting better and better.
Each book has been a joy to read and I highly recommend them all!
Now need Sedona & Jamison's book, I'm dying to see what's to come for these two.
Get your copy~
💛Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2M8NFrF
💛Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3cfS5Ib
💛Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/36I4xiw
💛Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3gzrdpD
💛Amazon DE: https://amzn.to/3dgwZuj
💛Nook: https://bit.ly/3eANnWH
💛Apple: https://apple.co/3gAEEpp
💛Kobo: https://bit.ly/2XGznUF
💛Google Play: https://bit.ly/2AhDQVQ
*An ARC was provided in exchange for my honest thoughts.
July 22, 2020
5 Stars!
The Baileys are back and I couldn't be more excited, all hands on deck to dive back in. This family, this town (shoutout to Lake Starlight), these people, THIS COUPLE... they are all like family to me and I've grown slightly attached to them. Well they're back with a brand new book and this time its for sweet Stella and the swoony Kingston.
Winning My Best Friend's Girl (oooohhh that title.. amiright?! #hebettermakeamovethistime), the eighth standalone in this series was everything I expect from a Piper Rayne book... sweey, steamy, emotional, packed with feels, a slow burn that keeps you hanging on to all the words y'all, sooooo much heat and heart, quite a few complications, and THE best "second time around to get it right" love story that'll keep you hooked cover to cover.
It's been eight years and now she's back. And this time, he WON'T lose the girl again. The smokejumper has to jump and take a leap of faith. #loveconquersall #takethechance #teamkingston
Once you meet the Baileys and start this journey with them, I promise you'll be addicted like the rest of us and keep coming back, praying that this family never, ever ends.
Oh and Piper writes THE BEST blurbs.
I highly recommend this book.
Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog.
The Baileys are back and I couldn't be more excited, all hands on deck to dive back in. This family, this town (shoutout to Lake Starlight), these people, THIS COUPLE... they are all like family to me and I've grown slightly attached to them. Well they're back with a brand new book and this time its for sweet Stella and the swoony Kingston.
Winning My Best Friend's Girl (oooohhh that title.. amiright?! #hebettermakeamovethistime), the eighth standalone in this series was everything I expect from a Piper Rayne book... sweey, steamy, emotional, packed with feels, a slow burn that keeps you hanging on to all the words y'all, sooooo much heat and heart, quite a few complications, and THE best "second time around to get it right" love story that'll keep you hooked cover to cover.
It's been eight years and now she's back. And this time, he WON'T lose the girl again. The smokejumper has to jump and take a leap of faith. #loveconquersall #takethechance #teamkingston
Once you meet the Baileys and start this journey with them, I promise you'll be addicted like the rest of us and keep coming back, praying that this family never, ever ends.
Oh and Piper writes THE BEST blurbs.
I highly recommend this book.
Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog.
July 22, 2020
3.5 stars
Winning my Best Friend’s Girl is an unrequited best friends to lovers story years in the making. Let me say upfront that I did enjoy this story, but it frustrated me. I spent a lot of time thinking about it before writing my review and honestly the more I thought about it the more frustrated I became. Kingston and Stella had been childhood best friends from the moment they met when she moved to Lake Starlight with her mom right after her father died, she found a kindred spirit in Kingston and along with his best friend, Owen, they were like the Three Musketeers until Owen asked Stella to junior prom and they began dating. That’s an overly simplified version of what actually happened, but I don’t want to spoil the book, but after high school Stella left for New York and eventually Kingston and Owen became friends again, but no longer best friends and eight years later Stella is back in Alaska and 6 months after her return Kingston winds up in the hospital where she is the doctor on call and he had no idea she was back and things get interesting all over again.
Kingston has been kind of the elusive Bailey throughout this series, living most of the time in Anchorage Alaska where he works as a firefighter/EMT and as a smoke jumper during the fire season; Kingston hasn’t been a fixture in the prior books. He’s made some appearances and he truly did help Juno out in the last book, but for the most part he’s kept his distance from Lake Starlight and honestly the family. We get an idea why in this book, but we also see Kingston begin to realize just how lucky he is to have such a great family.
From the first day 10 year old Stella walked into her new classroom, Kingston caught her eye and when he didn’t press her about her deceased father and share that his parents had died too, she felt he was someone special. Now a doctor, Stella has moved back to Alaska because her mother is facing a heath crisis, but she knows that seeing Kingston again is going to make her life difficult. He is a risk taker and she won’t set herself up to lose another person in her life.
I get that these two had a complicated past and it truly was a twisted, ugly mess, but before the event that had them severing ties they were close and they knew each other so well and it is implied that they talked about everything so it bothered me that as kids and teens that they knew how to communicate but at 25 they couldn’t figure out how to sit down and really work through their past and be upfront with their feelings and concerns. Between their lack of communication, them playing the “let’s be friends” game, and semi sort of dating other people but not really, I felt like they were in junior high not the professional people they’d grown up to be and it frustrated me. I actually adored these two together when they were together but there was so little time with them as an actual couple that I felt cheated. I don’t mind when a couple has to work hard to be together, but I also want to see them together working on their relationship and a future not spending 70% of the book playing games.
All the Bailey’s are present in this book and it is a wild ride for many of them. In addition Stella’s friend Allie befriends Grandma Dori and takes a keen interest in all things Bailey and Lake Starlight. There weWinning my Best Friend’s Girl is an unrequited best friends to lovers story years in the making. Let me say upfront that I did enjoy this story, but it frustrated me. I spent a lot of time thinking about it before writing my review and honestly the more I thought about it the more frustrated I became. Kingston and Stella had been childhood best friends from the moment they met when she moved to Lake Starlight with her mom right after her father died, she found a kindred spirit in Kingston and along with his best friend, Owen, they were like the Three Musketeers until Owen asked Stella to junior prom and they began dating. That’s an overly simplified version of what actually happened, but I don’t want to spoil the book, but after high school Stella left for New York and eventually Kingston and Owen became friends again, but no longer best friends and eight years later Stella is back in Alaska and 6 months after her return Kingston winds up in the hospital where she is the doctor on call and he had no idea she was back and things get interesting all over again.
Kingston has been kind of the elusive Bailey throughout this series, living most of the time in Anchorage Alaska where he works as a firefighter/EMT and as a smoke jumper during the fire season; Kingston hasn’t been a fixture in the prior books. He’s made some appearances and he truly did help Juno out in the last book, but for the most part he’s kept his distance from Lake Starlight and honestly the family. We get an idea why in this book, but we also see Kingston begin to realize just how lucky he is to have such a great family.
From the first day 10 year old Stella walked into her new classroom, Kingston caught her eye and when he didn’t press her about her deceased father and share that his parents had died too, she felt he was someone special. Now a doctor, Stella has moved back to Alaska because her mother is facing a heath crisis, but she knows that seeing Kingston again is going to make her life difficult. He is a risk taker and she won’t set herself up to lose another person in her life.
I get that these two had a complicated past and it truly was a twisted, ugly mess, but before the event that had them severing ties they were close and they knew each other so well and it is implied that they talked about everything so it bothered me that as kids and teens that they knew how to communicate but at 25 they couldn’t figure out how to sit down and really work through their past and be upfront with their feelings and concerns. Between their lack of communication, them playing the “let’s be friends” game, and semi sort of dating other people but not really, I felt like they were in junior high not the professional people they’d grown up to be and it frustrated me. I actually adored these two together when they were together but there was so little time with them as an actual couple that I felt cheated. I don’t mind when a couple has to work hard to be together, but I also want to see them together working on their relationship and a future not spending 70% of the book playing games.
All the Bailey’s are present in this book and it is a wild ride for many of them. In addition Stella’s friend Allie befWinning my Best Friend’s Girl is an unrequited best friends to lovers story years in the making. Let me say upfront that I did enjoy this story, but it frustrated me. I spent a lot of time thinking about it before writing my review and honestly the more I thought about it the more frustrated I became. Kingston and Stella had been childhood best friends from the moment they met when she moved to Lake Starlight with her mom right after her father died, she found a kindred spirit in Kingston and along with his best friend, Owen, they were like the Three Musketeers until Owen asked Stella to junior prom and they began dating. That’s an overly simplified version of what actually happened, but I don’t want to spoil the book, but after high school Stella left for New York and eventually Kingston and Owen became friends again, but no longer best friends and eight years later Stella is back in Alaska and 6 months after her return Kingston winds up in the hospital where she is the doctor on call and he had no idea she was back and things get interesting all over again.
Kingston has been kind of the elusive Bailey throughout this series, living most of the time in Anchorage Alaska where he works as a firefighter/EMT and as a smoke jumper during the fire season; Kingston hasn’t been a fixture in the prior books. He’s made some appearances and he truly did help Juno out in the last book, but for the most part he’s kept his distance from Lake Starlight and honestly the family. We get an idea why in this book, but we also see Kingston begin to realize just how lucky he is to have such a great family.
From the first day 10 year old Stella walked into her new classroom, Kingston caught her eye and when he didn’t press her about her deceased father and share that his parents had died too, she felt he was someone special. Now a doctor, Stella has moved back to Alaska because her mother is facing a heath crisis, but she knows that seeing Kingston again is going to make her life difficult. He is a risk taker and she won’t set herself up to lose another person in her life.
I get that these two had a complicated past and it truly was a twisted, ugly mess, but before the event that had them severing ties they were close and they knew each other so well and it is implied that they talked about everything so it bothered me that as kids and teens that they knew how to communicate but at 25 they couldn’t figure out how to sit down and really work through their past and be upfront with their feelings and concerns. Between their lack of communication, them playing the “let’s be friends” game, and semi sort of dating other people but not really, I felt like they were in junior high not the professional people they’d grown up to be and it frustrated me. I actually adored these two together when they were together but there was so little time with them as an actual couple that I felt cheated. I don’t mind when a couple has to work hard to be together, but I also want to see them together working on their relationship and a future not spending 70% of the book playing games.
All the Bailey’s are present in this book and it is a wild ride for many of them. In addition Stella’s friend Allie befriends Grandma Dori and takes a keen interest in all things Bailey and Lake Starlight. There were some lighthearted moments which were needed to temper the emotional baggage between Kingston and Stella, and new Bailey’s come into the world in interesting ways.
I did appreciate that both Kingston and Stella showed growth in this book, that they have people in their lives to help them see things from a different perspective and guide them to self discovery.Finding themselves on their way to finding their happily ever after makes Winning My Best Friend’s Girl a good romance and a not to miss story in this series.
riends Grandma Dori and takes a keen interest in all things Bailey and Lake Starlight. There were some lighthearted moments which were needed to temper the emotional baggage between Kingston and Stella, and new Bailey’s come into the world in interesting ways.
I did appreciate that both Kingston and Stella showed growth in this book, that they have people in their lives to help them see things from a different perspective and guide them to self discovery.Finding themselves on their way to finding their happily ever after makes Winning My Best Friend’s Girl a good romance and a not to miss story in this series.
re some lighthearted moments which were needed to temper the emotional baggage between Kingston and Stella, and new Bailey’s come into the world in interesting ways.
I did appreciate that both Kingston and Stella showed growth in this book, that they have people in their lives to help them see things from a different perspective and guide them to self discovery.Finding themselves on their way to finding their happily ever after makes Winning My Best Friend’s Girl a good romance and a not to miss story in this series.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
Winning my Best Friend’s Girl is an unrequited best friends to lovers story years in the making. Let me say upfront that I did enjoy this story, but it frustrated me. I spent a lot of time thinking about it before writing my review and honestly the more I thought about it the more frustrated I became. Kingston and Stella had been childhood best friends from the moment they met when she moved to Lake Starlight with her mom right after her father died, she found a kindred spirit in Kingston and along with his best friend, Owen, they were like the Three Musketeers until Owen asked Stella to junior prom and they began dating. That’s an overly simplified version of what actually happened, but I don’t want to spoil the book, but after high school Stella left for New York and eventually Kingston and Owen became friends again, but no longer best friends and eight years later Stella is back in Alaska and 6 months after her return Kingston winds up in the hospital where she is the doctor on call and he had no idea she was back and things get interesting all over again.
Kingston has been kind of the elusive Bailey throughout this series, living most of the time in Anchorage Alaska where he works as a firefighter/EMT and as a smoke jumper during the fire season; Kingston hasn’t been a fixture in the prior books. He’s made some appearances and he truly did help Juno out in the last book, but for the most part he’s kept his distance from Lake Starlight and honestly the family. We get an idea why in this book, but we also see Kingston begin to realize just how lucky he is to have such a great family.
From the first day 10 year old Stella walked into her new classroom, Kingston caught her eye and when he didn’t press her about her deceased father and share that his parents had died too, she felt he was someone special. Now a doctor, Stella has moved back to Alaska because her mother is facing a heath crisis, but she knows that seeing Kingston again is going to make her life difficult. He is a risk taker and she won’t set herself up to lose another person in her life.
I get that these two had a complicated past and it truly was a twisted, ugly mess, but before the event that had them severing ties they were close and they knew each other so well and it is implied that they talked about everything so it bothered me that as kids and teens that they knew how to communicate but at 25 they couldn’t figure out how to sit down and really work through their past and be upfront with their feelings and concerns. Between their lack of communication, them playing the “let’s be friends” game, and semi sort of dating other people but not really, I felt like they were in junior high not the professional people they’d grown up to be and it frustrated me. I actually adored these two together when they were together but there was so little time with them as an actual couple that I felt cheated. I don’t mind when a couple has to work hard to be together, but I also want to see them together working on their relationship and a future not spending 70% of the book playing games.
All the Bailey’s are present in this book and it is a wild ride for many of them. In addition Stella’s friend Allie befriends Grandma Dori and takes a keen interest in all things Bailey and Lake Starlight. There weWinning my Best Friend’s Girl is an unrequited best friends to lovers story years in the making. Let me say upfront that I did enjoy this story, but it frustrated me. I spent a lot of time thinking about it before writing my review and honestly the more I thought about it the more frustrated I became. Kingston and Stella had been childhood best friends from the moment they met when she moved to Lake Starlight with her mom right after her father died, she found a kindred spirit in Kingston and along with his best friend, Owen, they were like the Three Musketeers until Owen asked Stella to junior prom and they began dating. That’s an overly simplified version of what actually happened, but I don’t want to spoil the book, but after high school Stella left for New York and eventually Kingston and Owen became friends again, but no longer best friends and eight years later Stella is back in Alaska and 6 months after her return Kingston winds up in the hospital where she is the doctor on call and he had no idea she was back and things get interesting all over again.
Kingston has been kind of the elusive Bailey throughout this series, living most of the time in Anchorage Alaska where he works as a firefighter/EMT and as a smoke jumper during the fire season; Kingston hasn’t been a fixture in the prior books. He’s made some appearances and he truly did help Juno out in the last book, but for the most part he’s kept his distance from Lake Starlight and honestly the family. We get an idea why in this book, but we also see Kingston begin to realize just how lucky he is to have such a great family.
From the first day 10 year old Stella walked into her new classroom, Kingston caught her eye and when he didn’t press her about her deceased father and share that his parents had died too, she felt he was someone special. Now a doctor, Stella has moved back to Alaska because her mother is facing a heath crisis, but she knows that seeing Kingston again is going to make her life difficult. He is a risk taker and she won’t set herself up to lose another person in her life.
I get that these two had a complicated past and it truly was a twisted, ugly mess, but before the event that had them severing ties they were close and they knew each other so well and it is implied that they talked about everything so it bothered me that as kids and teens that they knew how to communicate but at 25 they couldn’t figure out how to sit down and really work through their past and be upfront with their feelings and concerns. Between their lack of communication, them playing the “let’s be friends” game, and semi sort of dating other people but not really, I felt like they were in junior high not the professional people they’d grown up to be and it frustrated me. I actually adored these two together when they were together but there was so little time with them as an actual couple that I felt cheated. I don’t mind when a couple has to work hard to be together, but I also want to see them together working on their relationship and a future not spending 70% of the book playing games.
All the Bailey’s are present in this book and it is a wild ride for many of them. In addition Stella’s friend Allie befWinning my Best Friend’s Girl is an unrequited best friends to lovers story years in the making. Let me say upfront that I did enjoy this story, but it frustrated me. I spent a lot of time thinking about it before writing my review and honestly the more I thought about it the more frustrated I became. Kingston and Stella had been childhood best friends from the moment they met when she moved to Lake Starlight with her mom right after her father died, she found a kindred spirit in Kingston and along with his best friend, Owen, they were like the Three Musketeers until Owen asked Stella to junior prom and they began dating. That’s an overly simplified version of what actually happened, but I don’t want to spoil the book, but after high school Stella left for New York and eventually Kingston and Owen became friends again, but no longer best friends and eight years later Stella is back in Alaska and 6 months after her return Kingston winds up in the hospital where she is the doctor on call and he had no idea she was back and things get interesting all over again.
Kingston has been kind of the elusive Bailey throughout this series, living most of the time in Anchorage Alaska where he works as a firefighter/EMT and as a smoke jumper during the fire season; Kingston hasn’t been a fixture in the prior books. He’s made some appearances and he truly did help Juno out in the last book, but for the most part he’s kept his distance from Lake Starlight and honestly the family. We get an idea why in this book, but we also see Kingston begin to realize just how lucky he is to have such a great family.
From the first day 10 year old Stella walked into her new classroom, Kingston caught her eye and when he didn’t press her about her deceased father and share that his parents had died too, she felt he was someone special. Now a doctor, Stella has moved back to Alaska because her mother is facing a heath crisis, but she knows that seeing Kingston again is going to make her life difficult. He is a risk taker and she won’t set herself up to lose another person in her life.
I get that these two had a complicated past and it truly was a twisted, ugly mess, but before the event that had them severing ties they were close and they knew each other so well and it is implied that they talked about everything so it bothered me that as kids and teens that they knew how to communicate but at 25 they couldn’t figure out how to sit down and really work through their past and be upfront with their feelings and concerns. Between their lack of communication, them playing the “let’s be friends” game, and semi sort of dating other people but not really, I felt like they were in junior high not the professional people they’d grown up to be and it frustrated me. I actually adored these two together when they were together but there was so little time with them as an actual couple that I felt cheated. I don’t mind when a couple has to work hard to be together, but I also want to see them together working on their relationship and a future not spending 70% of the book playing games.
All the Bailey’s are present in this book and it is a wild ride for many of them. In addition Stella’s friend Allie befriends Grandma Dori and takes a keen interest in all things Bailey and Lake Starlight. There were some lighthearted moments which were needed to temper the emotional baggage between Kingston and Stella, and new Bailey’s come into the world in interesting ways.
I did appreciate that both Kingston and Stella showed growth in this book, that they have people in their lives to help them see things from a different perspective and guide them to self discovery.Finding themselves on their way to finding their happily ever after makes Winning My Best Friend’s Girl a good romance and a not to miss story in this series.
riends Grandma Dori and takes a keen interest in all things Bailey and Lake Starlight. There were some lighthearted moments which were needed to temper the emotional baggage between Kingston and Stella, and new Bailey’s come into the world in interesting ways.
I did appreciate that both Kingston and Stella showed growth in this book, that they have people in their lives to help them see things from a different perspective and guide them to self discovery.Finding themselves on their way to finding their happily ever after makes Winning My Best Friend’s Girl a good romance and a not to miss story in this series.
re some lighthearted moments which were needed to temper the emotional baggage between Kingston and Stella, and new Bailey’s come into the world in interesting ways.
I did appreciate that both Kingston and Stella showed growth in this book, that they have people in their lives to help them see things from a different perspective and guide them to self discovery.Finding themselves on their way to finding their happily ever after makes Winning My Best Friend’s Girl a good romance and a not to miss story in this series.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
July 22, 2020
The Baileys series is nearly at the end! Kingston and Stella’s second chance romance is the eighth, and penultimate, book in the series.
Kingston has always been a daredevil, an adrenaline junkie. He is a firefighter and smoke jumper and has never let any girl into his heart other than Stella, the one who got away. Stella and Kingston met aged ten and had a strong friendship, bonding over their losses, until Stella started dating Owen, Kingston’s best friend, causing tensions. When she leaves for college to become a doctor, Kingston throws himself into his work in his hometown of Lake Starlight and has watched all his siblings settle down. When an emergency takes him to hospital, the last person he expects to treat him is Stella, back after eight years.
Stella has kept her return a secret from Kingston, knowing that their friendship causes drama. Especially as she’s met someone new, Lou, and has agreed to date him. But what she doesn’t know, is history is closer to repeating itself than she thinks, and that Kingston will not stop this time until she’s his. Will Stella take the risk and give into their insane chemistry, putting their history behind them?
This was a fun, sweet, second chance romance. I liked how both King and Stella had to look within themselves and overcome their past hurt on their own before they could finally be a couple. Kingston had to learn that the chase of dangerous thrills was just filling a gap, one that Stella could fill if he let her in. Stella had always played it safe, she was organised and never took risks to keep herself from getting hurt. But she had to learn that risks are worth it, because you’ll only find happiness if you put yourself out there.
I will say my only complaint is that at times, it felt a bit frustrating. Stella and King were so used to going in circles around their feelings they fell right back into that routine, and it took them a while to get together. There was minimal drama too, most of the angst seemed to happen in their past, which there are thankfully flashbacks too. I’m not sure what it was, it could be the fact I’m in a bit of a book funk, but this Bailey book didn’t blow me away like the past few did.
I enjoyed seeing the whole Bailey family again, seeing the kids and the siblings continue with their lives. I am so ready for Sedona’s book, after that bombshell ending September cannot come quick enough!
*I received a copy of this book in exhcnage for my honest review.*
Kingston has always been a daredevil, an adrenaline junkie. He is a firefighter and smoke jumper and has never let any girl into his heart other than Stella, the one who got away. Stella and Kingston met aged ten and had a strong friendship, bonding over their losses, until Stella started dating Owen, Kingston’s best friend, causing tensions. When she leaves for college to become a doctor, Kingston throws himself into his work in his hometown of Lake Starlight and has watched all his siblings settle down. When an emergency takes him to hospital, the last person he expects to treat him is Stella, back after eight years.
Stella has kept her return a secret from Kingston, knowing that their friendship causes drama. Especially as she’s met someone new, Lou, and has agreed to date him. But what she doesn’t know, is history is closer to repeating itself than she thinks, and that Kingston will not stop this time until she’s his. Will Stella take the risk and give into their insane chemistry, putting their history behind them?
This was a fun, sweet, second chance romance. I liked how both King and Stella had to look within themselves and overcome their past hurt on their own before they could finally be a couple. Kingston had to learn that the chase of dangerous thrills was just filling a gap, one that Stella could fill if he let her in. Stella had always played it safe, she was organised and never took risks to keep herself from getting hurt. But she had to learn that risks are worth it, because you’ll only find happiness if you put yourself out there.
I will say my only complaint is that at times, it felt a bit frustrating. Stella and King were so used to going in circles around their feelings they fell right back into that routine, and it took them a while to get together. There was minimal drama too, most of the angst seemed to happen in their past, which there are thankfully flashbacks too. I’m not sure what it was, it could be the fact I’m in a bit of a book funk, but this Bailey book didn’t blow me away like the past few did.
I enjoyed seeing the whole Bailey family again, seeing the kids and the siblings continue with their lives. I am so ready for Sedona’s book, after that bombshell ending September cannot come quick enough!
*I received a copy of this book in exhcnage for my honest review.*
July 13, 2022
Der achte Band der BAILEYS Reihe ist ein Mix aus Dreiecksbeziehung, verschmähter Liebe und Second Chance.
Es ist die Geschichte von Kingston & Stella – meiner Meinung nach eine der schwächeren der Reihe.
Wie alle Baileys, hat Kingston ein sehr inniges Verhältnis zur Familie.
Er ist sehr loyal & charmant,
hilft, wem und wo er kann und besitzt ein großes Herz.
Doch Kingston ist oft rastlos,
sucht die Gefahr und lechzt nach dem nächsten Kick.
Ganz im Gegensatz zu Stella,
deren Job als Assistenzärztin ihr bereits genug Aufregung beschert.
Am liebsten hat sie über alles die Kontrolle.
Von Chaos & Risiken hält sie sich lieber fern,
was sie sehr zaghaft und übervorsichtig erscheinen lässt.
Stella ist stets freundlich & hilfsbereit.
Der Weg zum Happy End ist für Sella & Kingston nicht ganz so locker & fröhlich,
wie andere Liebesgeschichten innerhalb der Familie.
Ihre Geschichte ist von vielen Selbstzweifeln, Schuldgefühlen & Befangenheit geprägt,
was auf Dauer etwas erdrückend wirkte.
Dadurch fehlten mir neben Schmetterlinge im Bauch und das Knistern von Leidenschaft
auch echte Gefühle zwischen ihnen.
Es war gefühlvoll, jedoch eher auf eine schmerzhafte, frustrierende Art und Weise.
Das wiederum stand im kompletten Kontrast zu den Problemen,
die sich stets leicht lösen ließen.
Mein Fazit:
Nicht mein liebster Bailey-Band,
aber doch ein nervenaufreibendes Leseerlebnis.
3,5 Sterne.
Ich danke dem FOREVER Verlag für die Bereitstellung des Rezensionsexemplars über NetGalley.
Es ist die Geschichte von Kingston & Stella – meiner Meinung nach eine der schwächeren der Reihe.
Wie alle Baileys, hat Kingston ein sehr inniges Verhältnis zur Familie.
Er ist sehr loyal & charmant,
hilft, wem und wo er kann und besitzt ein großes Herz.
Doch Kingston ist oft rastlos,
sucht die Gefahr und lechzt nach dem nächsten Kick.
Ganz im Gegensatz zu Stella,
deren Job als Assistenzärztin ihr bereits genug Aufregung beschert.
Am liebsten hat sie über alles die Kontrolle.
Von Chaos & Risiken hält sie sich lieber fern,
was sie sehr zaghaft und übervorsichtig erscheinen lässt.
Stella ist stets freundlich & hilfsbereit.
Der Weg zum Happy End ist für Sella & Kingston nicht ganz so locker & fröhlich,
wie andere Liebesgeschichten innerhalb der Familie.
Ihre Geschichte ist von vielen Selbstzweifeln, Schuldgefühlen & Befangenheit geprägt,
was auf Dauer etwas erdrückend wirkte.
Dadurch fehlten mir neben Schmetterlinge im Bauch und das Knistern von Leidenschaft
auch echte Gefühle zwischen ihnen.
Es war gefühlvoll, jedoch eher auf eine schmerzhafte, frustrierende Art und Weise.
Das wiederum stand im kompletten Kontrast zu den Problemen,
die sich stets leicht lösen ließen.
Mein Fazit:
Nicht mein liebster Bailey-Band,
aber doch ein nervenaufreibendes Leseerlebnis.
3,5 Sterne.
Ich danke dem FOREVER Verlag für die Bereitstellung des Rezensionsexemplars über NetGalley.
July 21, 2020
As is typical with The Bailey's I just couldn't get enough, I devoured this book I absolutely couldn't put it down. We have been dancing around Kingston and Stella's story for a while but never really knew what happened between them. The biggest question I had was why did she go out with Owen when it was clear as day that Stella had feelings for Kingston? That question and many more have finally been answered in WINNING MY BEST FRIEND'S GIRL.
Piper and Rayne really did a great job with keeping Kingston mysterious throughout all the books, since he's a smoke jumper and a firefighter in Anchorage he wasn't around a lot so we didn't get to know much about him other than he has always loved Stella and his best friend Owen was the one who dated her in high school.
Stella has been living in New York for years but her mother is sick so she has returned to Alaska to help her out, living in Anchorage she knew there was a chance she may run into Kingston but she wasn't prepared for when she opened the curtain in her ER and saw Kingston laying on the table waiting for the doctor to check him out after an accident on the job. Let's just say SURPRISE!
If you think this book is an easy sailing second chance romance you're wrong, these two have a lot to work through and overcome. But have no fear we definitely have a happy ending to their story.
There are only two more scheduled books in this series, Sedona's book: RULES FOR DATING YOUR EX and OPERATION BAILEY BIRTHDAY, which doesn't have a blurb yet and I am secretly, okay not so secretly, hoping it's G'Ma Dori's birthday and the kids are having a big celebration for her and she recounts us with all the stories and how she has had a hand in getting each of the couples together. Now wouldn't that be a blast!!!
I would recommend this book to everyone that enjoys Contemporary Romance, Second Chance Romance, Interracial Romance, or anyone that is just looking for a good Small Town Family Romance.
Happy Reading!!!
**You can find an EXCERPT on my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**
You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
Piper and Rayne really did a great job with keeping Kingston mysterious throughout all the books, since he's a smoke jumper and a firefighter in Anchorage he wasn't around a lot so we didn't get to know much about him other than he has always loved Stella and his best friend Owen was the one who dated her in high school.
Stella has been living in New York for years but her mother is sick so she has returned to Alaska to help her out, living in Anchorage she knew there was a chance she may run into Kingston but she wasn't prepared for when she opened the curtain in her ER and saw Kingston laying on the table waiting for the doctor to check him out after an accident on the job. Let's just say SURPRISE!
If you think this book is an easy sailing second chance romance you're wrong, these two have a lot to work through and overcome. But have no fear we definitely have a happy ending to their story.
There are only two more scheduled books in this series, Sedona's book: RULES FOR DATING YOUR EX and OPERATION BAILEY BIRTHDAY, which doesn't have a blurb yet and I am secretly, okay not so secretly, hoping it's G'Ma Dori's birthday and the kids are having a big celebration for her and she recounts us with all the stories and how she has had a hand in getting each of the couples together. Now wouldn't that be a blast!!!
I would recommend this book to everyone that enjoys Contemporary Romance, Second Chance Romance, Interracial Romance, or anyone that is just looking for a good Small Town Family Romance.
Happy Reading!!!
**You can find an EXCERPT on my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books** You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
July 19, 2020
To say that I adore the Bailey would be a massive understatement, and just when I think that I cannot love the Bailey's any more, a new Bailey comes along and makes me fall in love with them even more. I have always been intrigued by Kingston and he was the one sibling that remained a mystery throughout the series and he is the one that I have been most intrigued by. This is honestly one of the best family series that I have read. There is just something truly magical about these siblings and their closeness to one another is always such a joy to read.
Kingston and Stella’s story is an angsty slow burn that tugged at my heartstrings. It was truly a story that was unique and perfect for them. The fact that they had a complicated past made this couple so fabulous. Their relationship took me on an emotional journey that at times was frustrating to say the least but I loved every single moment of it.
This second-chance romance is full of emotions, taking risks and chances and learning to trust. I was hooked into this book immediately and getting appearances from the other Bailey's is always a wonderful treat. I am so ready for Sedona's book, although it is tinged with bittersweet as it will be the final book. This was another terrific addition to this fantastically compelling series.
Kingston and Stella’s story is an angsty slow burn that tugged at my heartstrings. It was truly a story that was unique and perfect for them. The fact that they had a complicated past made this couple so fabulous. Their relationship took me on an emotional journey that at times was frustrating to say the least but I loved every single moment of it.
This second-chance romance is full of emotions, taking risks and chances and learning to trust. I was hooked into this book immediately and getting appearances from the other Bailey's is always a wonderful treat. I am so ready for Sedona's book, although it is tinged with bittersweet as it will be the final book. This was another terrific addition to this fantastically compelling series.
July 21, 2020
You guys … The Baileys series is one of the best series I have read in a looooong time. I have yet to be disappointed in not only the writing but also the actual plot/content.
Winning My Best Friend’s Girl was super well rounded. It was as much fun as it was sexy. The chemistry was balanced both between sexual and friendship perfectly. The story was emotional and swoony and had such a great feel-good vibe to it that I wanted it to just keep going. Of course, that’s how I feel about all the Bailey reads LOL I love everything about this family and this author duo!
Grab your copy today!!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2M8NFrF
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3cfS5Ib
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/36I4xiw
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3gzrdpD
Amazon DE: https://amzn.to/3dgwZuj
Nook: https://bit.ly/3eANnWH
Apple: https://apple.co/3gAEEpp
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2XGznUF
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2AhDQVQ
Winning My Best Friend’s Girl was super well rounded. It was as much fun as it was sexy. The chemistry was balanced both between sexual and friendship perfectly. The story was emotional and swoony and had such a great feel-good vibe to it that I wanted it to just keep going. Of course, that’s how I feel about all the Bailey reads LOL I love everything about this family and this author duo!
Grab your copy today!!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2M8NFrF
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3cfS5Ib
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/36I4xiw
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3gzrdpD
Amazon DE: https://amzn.to/3dgwZuj
Nook: https://bit.ly/3eANnWH
Apple: https://apple.co/3gAEEpp
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2XGznUF
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2AhDQVQ
July 2, 2022
Ich liebe die Baileys und daher musste es so schnell wie möglich gelesen werden. Aber jetzt nach dem Lesen bin ich wieder traurig, denn nur noch ein Band trennt mich vom Ende dieser Serie. Man erfährt dann zwar, wer für Buzz Wheel verantwortlich ist, aber ich kann nicht mehr nach Alaska zurückkehren. Nach dem letzten Band wollte ich eigentlich erst Sedonas Geschichte lesen, aber für sie ist der achte Band. Dennoch war ich gespannt auf Stella und Kingston. Als ich mit diesem Buch begonnen habe, war ich noch zwischen Fieber und Schlafen, aber ich wollte unbedingt wissen wie es weitergeht, daher habe ich dann doch 3 Tage dafür gebraucht. Ich habe es wieder genossen, auch wenn die beiden nicht mein Lieblingspärchen ist. Wenn man einmal in der Geschichte drinnen war, konnte man es nur schwer weglegen. Doch das Ende, allen voran eine Person hat mich irritiert, aber das wird mir das Autorenduo sicher im nächsten beantworten und auf den freue ich mich schon so unglaublich. Nur noch 2 Monate.
4,5 Sterne
4,5 Sterne
December 16, 2020
DNF @ 72%
Nope. I'm done. I don't see the point in forcing myself to continue if I'm still bored and still don't understand why these two characters can't be together.
Nope. I'm done. I don't see the point in forcing myself to continue if I'm still bored and still don't understand why these two characters can't be together.
July 14, 2020
4.25 stars
Kingston is probably the one Bailey we don’t here from much in the other books of the series. But let me tell you, he was worth the wait!
We are finally finding out what actually went down between King, Stella... and Owen.
And now history seems to be repeating itself?!
Girl, strap in. Grab a snack. And get ready to devour this book!
I don’t want to say much because you just have to read it. You gotta experience this shit!
BUT OMG CAN SOMEONE TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT ENDING
WTF
I IS DEAD
THE ONLY WAY I CAN BE REVIVED IS TO GET THE NEXT BOOK
SAVE ME, PIPER RAYNE!
Also... can I get Allie’s book cause she’s the best?! 😂
Kingston is probably the one Bailey we don’t here from much in the other books of the series. But let me tell you, he was worth the wait!
We are finally finding out what actually went down between King, Stella... and Owen.
And now history seems to be repeating itself?!
Girl, strap in. Grab a snack. And get ready to devour this book!
I don’t want to say much because you just have to read it. You gotta experience this shit!
BUT OMG CAN SOMEONE TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT ENDING
WTF
I IS DEAD
THE ONLY WAY I CAN BE REVIVED IS TO GET THE NEXT BOOK
SAVE ME, PIPER RAYNE!
Also... can I get Allie’s book cause she’s the best?! 😂
July 13, 2020
With a sensitivity that seems almost ethereal and humor that never quits, Rayne breaks down barriers. Kingston and Stella give emotions the ultimate beating, yet hope refuses to let love die. Winning My Best Friend's Girl is a tale of healing. Smothered by heartache and smoldering with heat, Rayne wrings the soul dry. Kingston and Stella are so much more than their outer differences and their inner turmoil. They are the meaning of love personified. A beautiful contraction as enticing as it is inspiring.
July 21, 2020
We see very little of Kingston throughout the Bailey books, except for some volatile moments with his best friend from high school. This is where we get a hint at Kingston's love interest. We also hear about him smoke jumping, so he's out of Lake Starlight most of the time. He's just kind of a mystery, so it was really great to finally get to know him better in this story. Something I really loved about this story was how Austin and Holly interact with Kingston. It just speaks volumes to how amazing Austin was when he stepped into a parent role with Savannah to take care of their youngest siblings. That is the heart of these books that make them some of my favorites--The Bailey's themselves. I love the family dynamics so very much.
Okay, on to Stella and Kingston. I've got to be honest, they weren't my favorite of the Bailey story leads, but that isn't saying much because I love them all so damn much. My issue was that they made everything so much harder for themselves than it needed to be. That being said, as I read and learned a lot of the reasoning, I understood why they were the way they were. Piper Rayne does a wonderful job of fleshing out the story and giving the character realistic depth. I also enjoyed Kingston and Stella's interactions with the friends in the group and possible dating scenarios happening. What I do love is Kingston's love for Stella. Even though he's definitely not perfect, he always wants what's best for her. That's how you just know he's a Bailey. It's really heartwarming and makes their HEA so much better.
Now, if you read book 7, Secrets of the World's Worst Matchmaker, you know that epilogue was a perfect way to get me dying for Sedona's story. But then Piper Rayne had to do what they do best, and one up their own work, and make this epilogue even more outrageously awesome! I sincerely CANNOT wait for book 9, Rules for Dating your Ex!!!! September 1st cannot come soon enough.
Thank you to Piper Rayne and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Okay, on to Stella and Kingston. I've got to be honest, they weren't my favorite of the Bailey story leads, but that isn't saying much because I love them all so damn much. My issue was that they made everything so much harder for themselves than it needed to be. That being said, as I read and learned a lot of the reasoning, I understood why they were the way they were. Piper Rayne does a wonderful job of fleshing out the story and giving the character realistic depth. I also enjoyed Kingston and Stella's interactions with the friends in the group and possible dating scenarios happening. What I do love is Kingston's love for Stella. Even though he's definitely not perfect, he always wants what's best for her. That's how you just know he's a Bailey. It's really heartwarming and makes their HEA so much better.
Now, if you read book 7, Secrets of the World's Worst Matchmaker, you know that epilogue was a perfect way to get me dying for Sedona's story. But then Piper Rayne had to do what they do best, and one up their own work, and make this epilogue even more outrageously awesome! I sincerely CANNOT wait for book 9, Rules for Dating your Ex!!!! September 1st cannot come soon enough.
Thank you to Piper Rayne and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
May 8, 2022
I'm compelled to say this is a group of children with adult jobs.
Maybe I'm getting too old to read books where the main characters are under say, 35 or so. But this ENTIRE group is so childish its kind of ruining what could be a decent little read. I just keep wanting to scream "GROW UP!" to every person in every exchange. And this woman is in her residency as a doctor! smh
*slight spoiler below*
All this angst and THE WHOLE TOWN FOCUSED on some shit that happened in high school? Seriously? Grown adults avoiding each other, whispering and conversations halting in public places over a fight two friends had about a 17 year old girl?
Man, GTFOH.
Maybe I'm getting too old to read books where the main characters are under say, 35 or so. But this ENTIRE group is so childish its kind of ruining what could be a decent little read. I just keep wanting to scream "GROW UP!" to every person in every exchange. And this woman is in her residency as a doctor! smh
*slight spoiler below*
All this angst and THE WHOLE TOWN FOCUSED on some shit that happened in high school? Seriously? Grown adults avoiding each other, whispering and conversations halting in public places over a fight two friends had about a 17 year old girl?
Man, GTFOH.
July 14, 2022
„Das Herz will, was es will, ungeachtet der Konsequenzen und ob es Sinn ergibt.“
(Kingston zu Stella in Memories of a Highschool Crush)
Worum geht’s?
Kingston Bailey traut seinen Augen nicht: Als er nach einem Arbeitsunfall im Krankenhaus landet, steht plötzlich seine Highschool-Liebe Stella vor ihm. Stella, mit der er nie zusammen sein konnte, weil sie die Ex seines besten Freunds ist. Nach dem Abschluss war sie damals nach New York gezogen und hatte Alaska hinter sich gelassen. Nun ist sie zurück, um sich um ihre kranke Mutter zu kümmern. Doch dieses Mal wird Kingston sie nicht gehen lassen und will endlich ihr Herz erobern. Er ahnt nicht, dass ihm schon wieder jemand zuvor gekommen ist …
Memories of a Highschool Crush ist Band 8 der Baileys-Reihe. Das Buch ist in sich geschlossen, die Charaktere der Vorbände und des Folgebands kommen jedoch vor und entsprechend gibt es viele Spoiler. Vorkenntnisse sind jedoch nicht zwingend nötig.
Inhaltliche Hinweise
Die Geschichte wird durch Kingston und Stella in der Ich-Perspektive erzählt. Das Buch beinhaltet sexuellen Content.
Meine Meinung
Als bekennender Baileys-Fan habe ich mich eigentlich sehr auf die Rückkehr nach Lake Starlight gefreut. Zwar hatten Kingston und Stella in den Vorbänden selten Erwähnung gefunden, aber zumindest in den Grundzügen wusste man, dass es hier um zweite Chancen, verpasste Chancen und verschmähte Liebe gehen wird. Dass ich tatsächlich beim Lesen des Buches das Buch abbrechen werde, hätte ich allerdings niemals gedacht.
Die Geschichte beginnt wie immer mittendrin. Stella ist nach Lake Starlight zurückgekehrt, das wusste man bereits aus den Vorbänden, wo sie auf dem Blind Speed Dating Event von Juno aufgetaucht war. Sie ist wegen ihrer Mutter zurückgekehrt und arbeitet nun im örtlichen Krankenhaus als Assistenzärztin. Kingston tut das, was Kingston immer tut: In Brände laufen, Menschenleben retten, mit Frauen flirten. Es ist klar, dass sich im Krankenhaus ihre Wege kreuzen werden und das geschieht, als Kingston verletzt wird. Die Aufregung in der Bailey-Familie ist groß: Stella ist zurück. Denn jeder erinnert sich, dass Stella, Kingston und Kingstons ehemals bester Freund Owen damals unzertrennlich waren, bis alles auseinanderbrach, Owen und Kingston sich zerstritten und hierbei auch Kingstons angedachte Zukunft den Bach runterging. Auslöser? Eine Dreiecksgeschichte. Und jetzt? Datet Stella ausgerechnet Lou, einen der engsten Freunde und Kollegen von Kingston…
Es fällt mir wahnsinnig schwer, es zu sagen, aber dieses Buch konnte mich gar nicht catchen. Ich weiß nicht einmal, wieso. Aber nach knapp der Hälfte war bei mir so sehr die Luft raus, dass ich gar kein Interesse mehr hatte, weiterzulesen. Und auch bis dahin war es mehr Krampf als Freude. Liegt es daran, weil ich die Vibes zwischen Kingston und Stella von Anfang an nicht mag? Daran, dass es ein klassischer Fall von „Die Geschichte wiederholt sich“ ist oder vielleicht daran, dass es einfach zu viel mittlerweile alles ist? Denn zum ersten Mal ging mir der Bailey-Clan auf die Nerven. Und zwar so richtig. Denn ein Großteil des Buches dreht sich nicht um Kingston und Stella, nein, um den Rest und das ganze Drumherum. Stella stolpert sofort munter in das Leben der Baileys zurück, darf miterleben, wer jetzt schon wieder alles schwanger ist (gefühlt jeder), welche Babys gerade auf die Welt gekommen sind (und Stella bringt noch eins selbst auf die Welt) und sowieso war alles nur Baby, Baby, Baby. Es war für mich einfach nur anstrengend und ich habe es einfach gar nicht mehr fühlen können.
Der ganze Witz und Charme der Baileys kam für mich in diesem Buch gar nicht rüber, es fehlte die Leichtigkeit und der Spaß. Grandma Dori hat mich genervt, die Charaktere (hier vor allem Phoenix und Sedona) fand ich wahnsinnig anstrengend und auch das Drumherum, was Stella und Kingston immer wieder auf die Situation anspricht, war irgendwie unangenehm. Ich habe zwischen beiden leider gar keine Chemie spüren können, Stella macht Kingston auch recht eindeutig klar, dass sie kein Interesse daran hat, mit ihm was anzufangen. Normalerweise ist es ja toll, wenn der Mann nicht aufgibt, aber hier wirkte es einfach gezwungen. Ganz übertrieben gesagt: Es wirkte fast so, als wäre Kingston einfach nicht darüber hinweg, dass er das Mädchen damals nicht bekommen hat. Wieso er sie überhaupt möchte, was Stella für ihn ausmacht, das alles bleibt offen und fehlte mir, bis zu dem Zeitpunkt, wo ich entnervt aufgegeben habe. Denn während beide unnötig herumeiern, sich immer wieder mit „nein, ich will doch nicht“ voneinander stoßen. Als es dann darauf hinausläuft, dass beide zufälligerweise zu einem gemeinsamen Wochenende unterwegs sind, von dem man genau weiß, wie es eh verlaufen wird, war für mich einfach der Ofen aus. Wenn ich nach der Hälfte des Buches nicht einmal ansatzweise die Faszination der Charaktere füreinander verstehen kann (oder es in meinen Augen keine gibt), dafür aber gefühlt 20 Schwangerschaftsstories, eine Hochzeit, eine Geburt und jede Menge sinnloses Drumherum gelesen habe, ist es einfach nicht mein Buch.
Daher kann ich nur sagen, dass ich schweren Herzens und leider komplett unbegeistert das Buch nach gut der Hälfte abgebrochen habe. Ob ich für den finalen Band nach Lake Starlight noch einmal zurückkehren werde? Mal schauen. Aber das hier war definitiv nicht mein Buch.
Mein Fazit
Memories of a Highschool Crush hat mich leider enttäuscht und nicht abholen können. Ich habe Stella und Kingston nicht verstanden, es war mir zu viel Drumherum und zu viel Fokus auf die anderen Baileys, sodass ich letztendlich nach der Hälfte das Buch abgebrochen habe.
[Diese Rezension basiert auf einem Rezensionsexemplar, das mir freundlicherweise vom Verlag überlassen wurde. Meine Meinung ist hiervon nicht beeinflusst.]
(Kingston zu Stella in Memories of a Highschool Crush)
Worum geht’s?
Kingston Bailey traut seinen Augen nicht: Als er nach einem Arbeitsunfall im Krankenhaus landet, steht plötzlich seine Highschool-Liebe Stella vor ihm. Stella, mit der er nie zusammen sein konnte, weil sie die Ex seines besten Freunds ist. Nach dem Abschluss war sie damals nach New York gezogen und hatte Alaska hinter sich gelassen. Nun ist sie zurück, um sich um ihre kranke Mutter zu kümmern. Doch dieses Mal wird Kingston sie nicht gehen lassen und will endlich ihr Herz erobern. Er ahnt nicht, dass ihm schon wieder jemand zuvor gekommen ist …
Memories of a Highschool Crush ist Band 8 der Baileys-Reihe. Das Buch ist in sich geschlossen, die Charaktere der Vorbände und des Folgebands kommen jedoch vor und entsprechend gibt es viele Spoiler. Vorkenntnisse sind jedoch nicht zwingend nötig.
Inhaltliche Hinweise
Die Geschichte wird durch Kingston und Stella in der Ich-Perspektive erzählt. Das Buch beinhaltet sexuellen Content.
Meine Meinung
Als bekennender Baileys-Fan habe ich mich eigentlich sehr auf die Rückkehr nach Lake Starlight gefreut. Zwar hatten Kingston und Stella in den Vorbänden selten Erwähnung gefunden, aber zumindest in den Grundzügen wusste man, dass es hier um zweite Chancen, verpasste Chancen und verschmähte Liebe gehen wird. Dass ich tatsächlich beim Lesen des Buches das Buch abbrechen werde, hätte ich allerdings niemals gedacht.
Die Geschichte beginnt wie immer mittendrin. Stella ist nach Lake Starlight zurückgekehrt, das wusste man bereits aus den Vorbänden, wo sie auf dem Blind Speed Dating Event von Juno aufgetaucht war. Sie ist wegen ihrer Mutter zurückgekehrt und arbeitet nun im örtlichen Krankenhaus als Assistenzärztin. Kingston tut das, was Kingston immer tut: In Brände laufen, Menschenleben retten, mit Frauen flirten. Es ist klar, dass sich im Krankenhaus ihre Wege kreuzen werden und das geschieht, als Kingston verletzt wird. Die Aufregung in der Bailey-Familie ist groß: Stella ist zurück. Denn jeder erinnert sich, dass Stella, Kingston und Kingstons ehemals bester Freund Owen damals unzertrennlich waren, bis alles auseinanderbrach, Owen und Kingston sich zerstritten und hierbei auch Kingstons angedachte Zukunft den Bach runterging. Auslöser? Eine Dreiecksgeschichte. Und jetzt? Datet Stella ausgerechnet Lou, einen der engsten Freunde und Kollegen von Kingston…
Es fällt mir wahnsinnig schwer, es zu sagen, aber dieses Buch konnte mich gar nicht catchen. Ich weiß nicht einmal, wieso. Aber nach knapp der Hälfte war bei mir so sehr die Luft raus, dass ich gar kein Interesse mehr hatte, weiterzulesen. Und auch bis dahin war es mehr Krampf als Freude. Liegt es daran, weil ich die Vibes zwischen Kingston und Stella von Anfang an nicht mag? Daran, dass es ein klassischer Fall von „Die Geschichte wiederholt sich“ ist oder vielleicht daran, dass es einfach zu viel mittlerweile alles ist? Denn zum ersten Mal ging mir der Bailey-Clan auf die Nerven. Und zwar so richtig. Denn ein Großteil des Buches dreht sich nicht um Kingston und Stella, nein, um den Rest und das ganze Drumherum. Stella stolpert sofort munter in das Leben der Baileys zurück, darf miterleben, wer jetzt schon wieder alles schwanger ist (gefühlt jeder), welche Babys gerade auf die Welt gekommen sind (und Stella bringt noch eins selbst auf die Welt) und sowieso war alles nur Baby, Baby, Baby. Es war für mich einfach nur anstrengend und ich habe es einfach gar nicht mehr fühlen können.
Der ganze Witz und Charme der Baileys kam für mich in diesem Buch gar nicht rüber, es fehlte die Leichtigkeit und der Spaß. Grandma Dori hat mich genervt, die Charaktere (hier vor allem Phoenix und Sedona) fand ich wahnsinnig anstrengend und auch das Drumherum, was Stella und Kingston immer wieder auf die Situation anspricht, war irgendwie unangenehm. Ich habe zwischen beiden leider gar keine Chemie spüren können, Stella macht Kingston auch recht eindeutig klar, dass sie kein Interesse daran hat, mit ihm was anzufangen. Normalerweise ist es ja toll, wenn der Mann nicht aufgibt, aber hier wirkte es einfach gezwungen. Ganz übertrieben gesagt: Es wirkte fast so, als wäre Kingston einfach nicht darüber hinweg, dass er das Mädchen damals nicht bekommen hat. Wieso er sie überhaupt möchte, was Stella für ihn ausmacht, das alles bleibt offen und fehlte mir, bis zu dem Zeitpunkt, wo ich entnervt aufgegeben habe. Denn während beide unnötig herumeiern, sich immer wieder mit „nein, ich will doch nicht“ voneinander stoßen. Als es dann darauf hinausläuft, dass beide zufälligerweise zu einem gemeinsamen Wochenende unterwegs sind, von dem man genau weiß, wie es eh verlaufen wird, war für mich einfach der Ofen aus. Wenn ich nach der Hälfte des Buches nicht einmal ansatzweise die Faszination der Charaktere füreinander verstehen kann (oder es in meinen Augen keine gibt), dafür aber gefühlt 20 Schwangerschaftsstories, eine Hochzeit, eine Geburt und jede Menge sinnloses Drumherum gelesen habe, ist es einfach nicht mein Buch.
Daher kann ich nur sagen, dass ich schweren Herzens und leider komplett unbegeistert das Buch nach gut der Hälfte abgebrochen habe. Ob ich für den finalen Band nach Lake Starlight noch einmal zurückkehren werde? Mal schauen. Aber das hier war definitiv nicht mein Buch.
Mein Fazit
Memories of a Highschool Crush hat mich leider enttäuscht und nicht abholen können. Ich habe Stella und Kingston nicht verstanden, es war mir zu viel Drumherum und zu viel Fokus auf die anderen Baileys, sodass ich letztendlich nach der Hälfte das Buch abgebrochen habe.
[Diese Rezension basiert auf einem Rezensionsexemplar, das mir freundlicherweise vom Verlag überlassen wurde. Meine Meinung ist hiervon nicht beeinflusst.]
July 22, 2020
It's hard to believe that we've reached book 8 in The Baileys series, but it sure has been a blast! This is one of those series that just gets better and better! I love that we get to know a bit about the siblings before their story takes place, and I really love that we get to see them after their story is finished when the rest of their siblings get their happily ever afters, too! We've had little sneak peeks at Kingston and Stella in the last couple of books, and I've been so, so excited to finally get their story...and it was totally worth the wait!
I'm gonna do my best to not spoil anything, but I do want to share that there is absolutely no cheating in Winning My Best Friend's Girl...I know that's a hot button issue for quite a few romance readers, so just in case you were worried, please don't be. :)
Now that's out of the way! Boy, oh boy! This was an emotional read! There was some definite drama in Stella and Kingston’s past, but it was absolutely amazing to see them work through it all...and it made it that much sweeter to see them get their HEA! Their chemistry was so intense, and I loved that because of their history (just like Colton in the previous book), it was like Stella was already part of and deeply embedded in the Bailey family! I loved how Grandma Dori doted on her! I also loved seeing the connection between Stella and Kingston...and it was so wonderful to see them reconnect!
Overall, I loved Winning My Best Friend's Girl! It was sweet, sexy, and a wonderful second-chance romance! I love all of the couples in this series, and I absolutely adore that because the Bailey family is so close that we get to see so much of the past couples in these books! They’re such a wonderful family and I’m starting to get sad that we just have one book and novella left in the series...I'm so not ready to let go of this family or Lake Starlight yet though...but I'm still so excited for Sedona’s book though! I’m pretty sure it’s going to be the most dramatic yet! As for this particular book, I'd recommend it to anyone who loves romantic comedies, small town romances, interracial romances, and second chance romances! It could be read as a standalone, but I also love this entire series so much and highly recommend you read them all if you love rom-coms that are sexy and full of heart!
I'm gonna do my best to not spoil anything, but I do want to share that there is absolutely no cheating in Winning My Best Friend's Girl...I know that's a hot button issue for quite a few romance readers, so just in case you were worried, please don't be. :)
Now that's out of the way! Boy, oh boy! This was an emotional read! There was some definite drama in Stella and Kingston’s past, but it was absolutely amazing to see them work through it all...and it made it that much sweeter to see them get their HEA! Their chemistry was so intense, and I loved that because of their history (just like Colton in the previous book), it was like Stella was already part of and deeply embedded in the Bailey family! I loved how Grandma Dori doted on her! I also loved seeing the connection between Stella and Kingston...and it was so wonderful to see them reconnect!
Overall, I loved Winning My Best Friend's Girl! It was sweet, sexy, and a wonderful second-chance romance! I love all of the couples in this series, and I absolutely adore that because the Bailey family is so close that we get to see so much of the past couples in these books! They’re such a wonderful family and I’m starting to get sad that we just have one book and novella left in the series...I'm so not ready to let go of this family or Lake Starlight yet though...but I'm still so excited for Sedona’s book though! I’m pretty sure it’s going to be the most dramatic yet! As for this particular book, I'd recommend it to anyone who loves romantic comedies, small town romances, interracial romances, and second chance romances! It could be read as a standalone, but I also love this entire series so much and highly recommend you read them all if you love rom-coms that are sexy and full of heart!
July 28, 2020
Winning My Best Friend’s Girl was the eighth book in the Bailey’s series by the authors Piper Rayne.
I liked both Kingston and Stella but I didn’t understand why they weren’t together. That part of the plot didn’t make sense to me. And I really liked Kingston but it was hard to understand how he was so alpha in everything but Stella. And with Stella,
It was well written and well developed. It was told from a double POV; however, we had splashes of the past sporadically to provide perspective. I enjoyed seeing glimpses of their childhood - how they met, the connection from day one, and their friendship. To understand their love, you have to understand their childhood. Their bond started young.
Overall I liked Kingston and Stella as people. A lot. But their reasons for not being together was frustrating. Kingston was an adrenaline junkie alpha - but not with Stella. And she was strong and independent, but she made stupid decisions...a lot. Once the authors weaved through the maze of everything Kingston and Stella, I enjoyed them as a couple.
I also enjoyed Allie and Lou. I’d love to see a storyline for them - together or separately, they are both awesome characters and would make a great start to a new spinoff series. But I digress...
I love the Bailey clan. All of them. And we’re finally getting Sedona’s story next in Rules For Dating Your Ex. And leave it to the authors to leave us with another twist. I can’t wait to read Buzzwheel’s perspective. I have an angle - but I’ll have to wait for it to come out to see whether I’m right!
I liked both Kingston and Stella but I didn’t understand why they weren’t together. That part of the plot didn’t make sense to me. And I really liked Kingston but it was hard to understand how he was so alpha in everything but Stella. And with Stella,
It was well written and well developed. It was told from a double POV; however, we had splashes of the past sporadically to provide perspective. I enjoyed seeing glimpses of their childhood - how they met, the connection from day one, and their friendship. To understand their love, you have to understand their childhood. Their bond started young.
Overall I liked Kingston and Stella as people. A lot. But their reasons for not being together was frustrating. Kingston was an adrenaline junkie alpha - but not with Stella. And she was strong and independent, but she made stupid decisions...a lot. Once the authors weaved through the maze of everything Kingston and Stella, I enjoyed them as a couple.
I also enjoyed Allie and Lou. I’d love to see a storyline for them - together or separately, they are both awesome characters and would make a great start to a new spinoff series. But I digress...
I love the Bailey clan. All of them. And we’re finally getting Sedona’s story next in Rules For Dating Your Ex. And leave it to the authors to leave us with another twist. I can’t wait to read Buzzwheel’s perspective. I have an angle - but I’ll have to wait for it to come out to see whether I’m right!
July 14, 2020
5 Star Review Winning My Best Friend's Girl (The Baileys #8) by Piper Rayne
Every time I read a book in this series, I feel like I am coming home. There is not a Bailey that I don’t love; they are such a great family and their friends are just as awesome. I really love small town romances and found myself wishing that I could be a part of the Lake Starlight , Alaska community.
Piper Rayne write strong characters and are not afraid to show them in all their flawed glory, it makes the stories that much more realistic and I love that. This is Kingston and Stella’s story and what a story it is.
There is only one woman who Kingston has loved and that woman is Stella, the one who got away. Kingston is such an adrenaline junkie, a brave man afraid of nothing, or is he? He fears having his heart broken again by Stella but if he doesn’t try again, he knows that he won’t get another chance.
Stella left Alaska eight years ago to go to school in New York, hoping to escape the mess she left behind after choosing Owen over Kingston, leaving friendships in tatters. Kingston has never gotten over Stella and now it looks like history is about to be repeated.
With a little help from his meddling family Kingston and Stella may finally have the chance to get the happily ever after that they both deserve. It was great catching up on all the couples and their extended family and friends. As I expected there were laughs, some drama, a little angst and a whole lot of love .
Every time I read a book in this series, I feel like I am coming home. There is not a Bailey that I don’t love; they are such a great family and their friends are just as awesome. I really love small town romances and found myself wishing that I could be a part of the Lake Starlight , Alaska community.
Piper Rayne write strong characters and are not afraid to show them in all their flawed glory, it makes the stories that much more realistic and I love that. This is Kingston and Stella’s story and what a story it is.
There is only one woman who Kingston has loved and that woman is Stella, the one who got away. Kingston is such an adrenaline junkie, a brave man afraid of nothing, or is he? He fears having his heart broken again by Stella but if he doesn’t try again, he knows that he won’t get another chance.
Stella left Alaska eight years ago to go to school in New York, hoping to escape the mess she left behind after choosing Owen over Kingston, leaving friendships in tatters. Kingston has never gotten over Stella and now it looks like history is about to be repeated.
With a little help from his meddling family Kingston and Stella may finally have the chance to get the happily ever after that they both deserve. It was great catching up on all the couples and their extended family and friends. As I expected there were laughs, some drama, a little angst and a whole lot of love .
![Profile Image for Amy [Book Addict Reviews].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1572307419i%2F47676940._UY200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
July 19, 2020
It’s time to head back to Lake Starlight and this time it’s Kingston’s story. If you’ve been following from the beginning, he is kind of a mystery, there hasn’t been much about him in the previous books, which means I have been dying to know more about him. Kingston and Stella’s story is an angsty slow burn that will tug on all your heartstrings.
Kingston is a firefighter, a smoke jumper and just an overall adrenaline junkie. He loves the thrill. He risks his life every single day. It’s who he is and he has always been that way. Stella is the exact opposite. She plays it safe. She doesn’t put herself in danger. However, from the moment they met as kids Kingston and Stella bonded. They had a connection and became best friends. Over the years, things shifted and eventually their friendship fell apart. Now, Stella is back but will they be able to take the chance on each other?
I loved getting glimpses of a young Kingston and Stella. I loved seeing their friendship start and how it progressed throughout the years and to see where they are now. They have so much chemistry. They have a bond. I love how easy Stella fights with all the other Bailey’s. They accept her as one of their own. Stella and Kingston’s relationship took me on an emotional journey that at times frustrated me, but I loved every single moment of it.
Winning My Best Friend’s Girl had all the typical Bailey family love, plenty of Grandma Dori, emotions, angst and laughs. A MUST READ and I can’t wait to see what is in store next for the Bailey family.
Kingston is a firefighter, a smoke jumper and just an overall adrenaline junkie. He loves the thrill. He risks his life every single day. It’s who he is and he has always been that way. Stella is the exact opposite. She plays it safe. She doesn’t put herself in danger. However, from the moment they met as kids Kingston and Stella bonded. They had a connection and became best friends. Over the years, things shifted and eventually their friendship fell apart. Now, Stella is back but will they be able to take the chance on each other?
I loved getting glimpses of a young Kingston and Stella. I loved seeing their friendship start and how it progressed throughout the years and to see where they are now. They have so much chemistry. They have a bond. I love how easy Stella fights with all the other Bailey’s. They accept her as one of their own. Stella and Kingston’s relationship took me on an emotional journey that at times frustrated me, but I loved every single moment of it.
Winning My Best Friend’s Girl had all the typical Bailey family love, plenty of Grandma Dori, emotions, angst and laughs. A MUST READ and I can’t wait to see what is in store next for the Bailey family.
July 21, 2020
4.5 Stars ⭐️
And another one bites the dust! Kingston Bailey takes one for the team - the Love Team 😉!
Out of all the Bailey siblings Kingston is the one we know the least about. He’s a sexy firefighter by day, smokejumper by night and up until recently shared an apartment with one of his sisters. The thing I loved finding out about him was how head over heels in love he was with his childhood friend Stella, the girl he loved and lost.
Stella moved to Starlight when she was 10 and one of her first friends was Kingston Bailey and his best friend Owen. Childhood friendship turned to more in their teen years but when Owen man’s up, King loses the girl.
Fast forward eight years and Stella is back in Starlight to take care of her sick mother. Unresolved feelings come back to the surface and the tension between the two is thick. Neither one seems prepared to overcome the issues that kept them apart but one thing that is still clear is that they love each other. It was a torturous and bumpy road to happily ever after but ever so worth it. As always Grandma Dori steals the show along with her new sidekick Allie. TBR this fantastic book and immerse yourself in the magical world of the Bailey Siblings.
And another one bites the dust! Kingston Bailey takes one for the team - the Love Team 😉!
Out of all the Bailey siblings Kingston is the one we know the least about. He’s a sexy firefighter by day, smokejumper by night and up until recently shared an apartment with one of his sisters. The thing I loved finding out about him was how head over heels in love he was with his childhood friend Stella, the girl he loved and lost.
Stella moved to Starlight when she was 10 and one of her first friends was Kingston Bailey and his best friend Owen. Childhood friendship turned to more in their teen years but when Owen man’s up, King loses the girl.
Fast forward eight years and Stella is back in Starlight to take care of her sick mother. Unresolved feelings come back to the surface and the tension between the two is thick. Neither one seems prepared to overcome the issues that kept them apart but one thing that is still clear is that they love each other. It was a torturous and bumpy road to happily ever after but ever so worth it. As always Grandma Dori steals the show along with her new sidekick Allie. TBR this fantastic book and immerse yourself in the magical world of the Bailey Siblings.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 393 reviews