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A Shot at Love
Five years ago, Daniel vanished from Annie’s life without a word. Now he’s back—famous, charming, and the only man who can help her survive the scandal threatening everything she’s worked for.
Annie Larger is living her childhood she’s a rising star on the WNBA’s newest team and plays alongside her best friend, Jadea. But when a scandal erupts with the truth about her absentee father—the billionaire who owns her team—suddenly no one is talking about her game or her team’s championship run. They’re talking about her.
Enter Daniel sports media’s golden boy, Annie’s ex-boyfriend, and the man who ghosted her after six blissful months. When Jadea notices Annie and Daniel’s still-smoldering chemistry, she proposes a fake dating scheme to save Annie’s career.
Even pretending to date Daniel feels like playing with fire, but Annie can’t deny their connection. Can they save her team’s championship season and their broken relationship?
A swoony, fast-paced sports romance packed with scandal, fake dating shenanigans, and the type of love that never leaves you—perfect for fans of second chances, women’s sports, and stories that hit as hard as a buzzer beater.
Annie Larger is living her childhood she’s a rising star on the WNBA’s newest team and plays alongside her best friend, Jadea. But when a scandal erupts with the truth about her absentee father—the billionaire who owns her team—suddenly no one is talking about her game or her team’s championship run. They’re talking about her.
Enter Daniel sports media’s golden boy, Annie’s ex-boyfriend, and the man who ghosted her after six blissful months. When Jadea notices Annie and Daniel’s still-smoldering chemistry, she proposes a fake dating scheme to save Annie’s career.
Even pretending to date Daniel feels like playing with fire, but Annie can’t deny their connection. Can they save her team’s championship season and their broken relationship?
A swoony, fast-paced sports romance packed with scandal, fake dating shenanigans, and the type of love that never leaves you—perfect for fans of second chances, women’s sports, and stories that hit as hard as a buzzer beater.
- GenresRomance
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 19, 2025
About the author
Taylor LaVonne
1 book11 followersTaylor LaVonne is an English teacher, author, and lifelong lover of stories from the Chicago suburbs. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and went on to complete her Master's Degree in English at Eastern Illinois University.
A forever sports fan, Taylor noticed that most of the stories being told about sports revolved around male athletes. Armed with her pen and her passionate enthusiasm, she wrote her first contemporary romance, A Shot at Love. Set in the WNBA, A Shot at Love is perfect for fans of amazing women athletes, complex female friendships, swoony love stories, and second chances. When she’s not in the classroom or lost in her next story, you’ll find her cheering for the Chicago Sky, eating a big slice of pepperoni pizza, or binge-watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy with her family.
A Shot at Love is her first novel in the Women in Sports series--with more to come! Follow her journey at @TaylorLaVonneWrites for updates, book recommendations, and a peek into her writing life.
A forever sports fan, Taylor noticed that most of the stories being told about sports revolved around male athletes. Armed with her pen and her passionate enthusiasm, she wrote her first contemporary romance, A Shot at Love. Set in the WNBA, A Shot at Love is perfect for fans of amazing women athletes, complex female friendships, swoony love stories, and second chances. When she’s not in the classroom or lost in her next story, you’ll find her cheering for the Chicago Sky, eating a big slice of pepperoni pizza, or binge-watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy with her family.
A Shot at Love is her first novel in the Women in Sports series--with more to come! Follow her journey at @TaylorLaVonneWrites for updates, book recommendations, and a peek into her writing life.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 10, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! I was scrolling on TikTok and saw a post from the author and I literally scrolled out of the app, downloaded the book, and read it in less than 24 hours. I love the real deep dive it does into women’s sports and not just the sports side of it, but also the psychological and behind-the-scenes aspects of all of it as well and everything these women have to deal with to play this sport. And Daniel???😍😍😍😍 He literally became a top 10 book boyfriend of mine in less than 100 pages. I love Annie and Daniel‘s relationship and how at ease they are with each other like it feels as natural as breathing. Absolutely love this book and recommend it to anyone and everyone!!!🥳❤️🤩💋🥰💐
December 4, 2025
Seeing this book come to life feels absolutely surreal!! Taylor LaVonne was my childhood best friend, and I have countless memories sitting in her bedroom flipping through her stack of journals and short stories for HOURS. Taylor has always been a writer (truly since day one… I can attest!) and I’m so thrilled to see her finally holding a published book in her hands.
A Shot at Love has everything you want in an epic love story. And if you’re a sports fan, it’s basically a two-for-one deal! Such a fun, feel-good read that also weaves in really meaningful, empowering feminist themes. Loved the mental health representation too!
Huge congrats to Taylor on her first novel. So well deserved, LaTay! :)
A Shot at Love has everything you want in an epic love story. And if you’re a sports fan, it’s basically a two-for-one deal! Such a fun, feel-good read that also weaves in really meaningful, empowering feminist themes. Loved the mental health representation too!
Huge congrats to Taylor on her first novel. So well deserved, LaTay! :)
November 18, 2025
I loved this book!! It was a perfect blend of sports, romance, drama, and friendship. The women in the novel were strong, dedicated, and driven but highly relatable. Anyone who enjoys Emily Henry novels would love this book! It has similar vibes but entirely fresh and its own. It was a fun, lighthearted read, and I can’t wait to see what Taylor LaVonne has in store next!
August 26, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this modern romance that highlighted the rising popularity of women's sports! Annie's story gives the reader a wonderful perspective of a strong young woman navigating career, family and love. There are twists to the story that kept me engaged and entertained! It is a romance, yes, but also a story about perseverance, friendship, and finding your own voice when the world wants to define you. I truly loved this novel and I'm looking forward to seeing what the author Taylor Lavonne imagines in her next story!
September 23, 2025
This book was such a fun read! I’m obsessed with the fact that the woman is the big sports star—it felt so different from the usual romances and made the story super fresh. The mix of sports and romance was really cute, and I flew through it in just a couple days. If you’re into light, feel-good romance with a unique twist, definitely check this one out!
March 1, 2026
I find it comical that my wheel chose this after the whole hockey debacle.
But here we go.
We follow Annie, a professional basketball player who experiences somewhat of a traumatic drama, as a anonymous source tells the press that her biological father is the owner of her team. Annie didn’t know that and is now perceived as a nepo baby and becomes a victim of a social defamation campaign.
They then hire Daniel, who’s not only a reporter that covers sports events of minorities, but also her ex boyfriend.
So what will happen to her, her career and her relationship to Daniel?
So let’s cover their relationship first.
It was solid. It was a second chance romance I personally thought was done really really well. Especially considering how short the book actually is. Both characters are done really well too. They both have a personality, a passion and flaws.
They find back to each other in a really respectable time and way, although I thought that the fake dating part was a bit unnecessary. There is a bit of a miscommunication, but it kinda makes sense here.
The diversity was fantastic. Not just with nationality, but sexuality and mental health.
And what stood out the most here was the focus on the unfair nature of the sports entertainment industry.
This books grasps in a very realistic way how less women earn. How much more they have to do for a tiny bit of attention. How, no matter how good they are, their looks and families still decide whether they’re allowed to be there or not.
Annie herself was an all star…. But as soon as that scandal occurred, people picked her play apart and all of a sudden, it wasn’t possible anymore.
The misogyny. The anger. The frustration.
And I just want to mention again that this book isn’t really long. So really well done.
But here we go.
We follow Annie, a professional basketball player who experiences somewhat of a traumatic drama, as a anonymous source tells the press that her biological father is the owner of her team. Annie didn’t know that and is now perceived as a nepo baby and becomes a victim of a social defamation campaign.
They then hire Daniel, who’s not only a reporter that covers sports events of minorities, but also her ex boyfriend.
So what will happen to her, her career and her relationship to Daniel?
So let’s cover their relationship first.
It was solid. It was a second chance romance I personally thought was done really really well. Especially considering how short the book actually is. Both characters are done really well too. They both have a personality, a passion and flaws.
They find back to each other in a really respectable time and way, although I thought that the fake dating part was a bit unnecessary. There is a bit of a miscommunication, but it kinda makes sense here.
The diversity was fantastic. Not just with nationality, but sexuality and mental health.
And what stood out the most here was the focus on the unfair nature of the sports entertainment industry.
This books grasps in a very realistic way how less women earn. How much more they have to do for a tiny bit of attention. How, no matter how good they are, their looks and families still decide whether they’re allowed to be there or not.
Annie herself was an all star…. But as soon as that scandal occurred, people picked her play apart and all of a sudden, it wasn’t possible anymore.
The misogyny. The anger. The frustration.
And I just want to mention again that this book isn’t really long. So really well done.
December 2, 2025
La parte deportiva, la participación de Annie y el trato a las mujeres atletas me gustó como se manejo, fue cruel, pero tristemente real . El romance arruinó todo.
Daniel y Annie eran novios hasta que él tuvo un accidente y, días después, desapareció sin dejar rastro. Durante cuatro años ella no volvió a verlo. En ese tiempo, Annie se convirtió en basquetbolista profesional y él en analista deportivo.
A pesar de todo, ella nunca dejó de amarlo y cuando lo vuelve a ver no espera una explicación ni nada; confía en él como si nada hubiera pasado. Él no da explicaciones, ni siquiera lo intenta O mínimo una disculpa, pero no, simplemente reaparece como si nunca se hubiera ido.
Al final, se supone que está arrepentido por cómo hizo las cosas, pero tuvo años para acercarse y disculparse, y aun así decidió no hacerlo.
J me cayó mal porque no respeta las decisiones de Annie. Aunque actúa con buena intención, sin embargo, llega un punto en el que controla la vida de Annie y no ve lo incorrecto de la situación.
Daniel y Annie eran novios hasta que él tuvo un accidente y, días después, desapareció sin dejar rastro. Durante cuatro años ella no volvió a verlo. En ese tiempo, Annie se convirtió en basquetbolista profesional y él en analista deportivo.
A pesar de todo, ella nunca dejó de amarlo y cuando lo vuelve a ver no espera una explicación ni nada; confía en él como si nada hubiera pasado. Él no da explicaciones, ni siquiera lo intenta O mínimo una disculpa, pero no, simplemente reaparece como si nunca se hubiera ido.
Al final, se supone que está arrepentido por cómo hizo las cosas, pero tuvo años para acercarse y disculparse, y aun así decidió no hacerlo.
J me cayó mal porque no respeta las decisiones de Annie. Aunque actúa con buena intención, sin embargo, llega un punto en el que controla la vida de Annie y no ve lo incorrecto de la situación.
September 24, 2025
A Shot at Love by Taylor LaVonne — A Heartwarming and Exciting Read!
I absolutely fell in love with A Shot at Love! This book is a perfect blend of excitement, heartwarming moments, and just the right amount of tension. It has all the family and relationship drama that makes a story truly captivating.
What I loved most is how it highlights women in sports—finally, a fresh spotlight on female athletes! The protagonist, Annie, is a WNBA phenom who also loves fashion and has a quirky personality that feels so real. I saw a little bit of Annie in all of us, which made the book both relatable and a fascinating glimpse into a world we don’t often get to see.
Annie is not your typical romance heroine, and that uniqueness is what made this book such a page-turner for me. The story perfectly balances romance, comedy, and sports action. It’s engaging from start to finish.
I highly recommend A Shot at Love to anyone looking for a fun, heartfelt, and empowering read!
I absolutely fell in love with A Shot at Love! This book is a perfect blend of excitement, heartwarming moments, and just the right amount of tension. It has all the family and relationship drama that makes a story truly captivating.
What I loved most is how it highlights women in sports—finally, a fresh spotlight on female athletes! The protagonist, Annie, is a WNBA phenom who also loves fashion and has a quirky personality that feels so real. I saw a little bit of Annie in all of us, which made the book both relatable and a fascinating glimpse into a world we don’t often get to see.
Annie is not your typical romance heroine, and that uniqueness is what made this book such a page-turner for me. The story perfectly balances romance, comedy, and sports action. It’s engaging from start to finish.
I highly recommend A Shot at Love to anyone looking for a fun, heartfelt, and empowering read!
September 26, 2025
A shot at love is a sweet yet passionate book that is fueled by enthusiasm for equity in sports. This books has charming and well rounded characters full of personality that shine through every page. This was a perfect quick heartfelt romance compared to my usual dark thrillers! Even with its overall light and happy tone, this books also seamlessly incorporates themes of mental health and perseverance. It’s uplifting and gets you questioning the disparities faced by current WNBA players. Highly recommend!
October 8, 2025
A Shot at Love is such a worthwhile read, and I absolutely zoomed through it! I loved how the author does a great job of balancing a fun, romantic storyline with important topics like women's sports, feminism, and mental illness. Truly a modern love story, I was captivated from beginning to end. I can't wait to see what else is in this author's repertoire and would 100% recommend it to anyone looking for an uplifting, heart-warming, and romantic page-turner.
August 27, 2025
I loved this book! It was a flipped script where she was the athlete! The author did an amazing job of explaining the sports aspect while still making it existing. The romance was sweet and put a smile on my face always. I would highly recommend to anyone wanting a great, uplifting romance.
January 26, 2026
Amazing read!!!! The story kept me hooked the whole time. I loved seeing Annie’s individual growth, and obviously her relationship develop too! The book touches on very important and not-talked-about-enough subplots in an effortless way. Congratulations Taylor on a wonderful book!!
January 5, 2026
So far a great book!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews