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The Dugout #3
The Rulebreaker
Not yet published
Expected 14 May 26I’m the coach’s daughter. Falling for one of my father's players was never the plan.
Especially not Decker Davis.
Chicago Colts third baseman.
Dependable. Steady. The guy everyone trusts.
And the man who’s spent years keeping his distance—especially from me.
We have history. The kind that ten years and a thousand miles can’t touch.
So, this time, I promised myself I'd be smarter.
No getting attached. No blurred lines. And definitely, no falling.
He broke every last one within the first week.
Because Decker doesn’t just show up for me. He shows up for my daughter.
Because he fits into our lives like he was always meant to be there.
Because he looks at me like I was never something he wanted to lose.
And suddenly, the walls I've spent years building don't feel nearly as solid as they used to.
But if I let him in, I’m not just risking my heart—I’m risking hers too… and I already know what losing him costs.
I won’t let my daughter pay that price.
Especially not Decker Davis.
Chicago Colts third baseman.
Dependable. Steady. The guy everyone trusts.
And the man who’s spent years keeping his distance—especially from me.
We have history. The kind that ten years and a thousand miles can’t touch.
So, this time, I promised myself I'd be smarter.
No getting attached. No blurred lines. And definitely, no falling.
He broke every last one within the first week.
Because Decker doesn’t just show up for me. He shows up for my daughter.
Because he fits into our lives like he was always meant to be there.
Because he looks at me like I was never something he wanted to lose.
And suddenly, the walls I've spent years building don't feel nearly as solid as they used to.
But if I let him in, I’m not just risking my heart—I’m risking hers too… and I already know what losing him costs.
I won’t let my daughter pay that price.
378 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 14, 2026
107 people are currently reading
3237 people want to read
About the author
Piper Rayne
181 books7,803 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.
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http://bit.ly/2tsNcpP
Our Books: We do things in 3’s. Three best friends. Three hot heroes. Three HEA’s.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨ Rating: 5 ⭐️
🫧 Vibes: loml
🎶 Song: fall - justin bieber
📖 Favourite Quote: "I want every ordinary thing with you. Just you. For the rest of my life."
📚 Would I recommend? YES YESS
💬 tldr thoughts: they knocked it out of the park again!
In the package:
📦 second chance
📦 it's always been you
📦 coach's daughter
📦 brother's ex
Plot: Penelope moves back in town so her daughter can be closer to her grandfather. The problem is he's the coach of the Colts baseball team and Penelope has history with not one but two of the players on the team. And they're brothers. Foster has moved on but Decker has never been able to and their chemistry becomes impossible to ignore the more time they spend together along with her daughter.
Thoughts: My favourite author duo have done it AGAIN. Are we surprised? I'm not 🤭 the tension and angst between Pen and Decker was perfection. I was really curious how they were going to tackle this storyline because it was messy and chaotic to have the FMC be the brother's ex 👀 IT JUST MADE THE LONGING SO MUCH BETTER THOUGH 😩 I always eat up a second chance romance and this was no exception. The relationship progression was perfect and how they worked through their issues along with Decker and Foster working through theirs as well. Some of my favourite scenes were with Decker and Pen's daughter, Hazel. Their relationship was so sweet and his grand gesture at the end made me tear up 🥲 This book might be tied as my fave with The Hotshot!
The way everyone was rooting for them to get together and even had bets going on was hilarious. This friend group is everything to me 🥹 and the extra glimpses we get from all the couples in each book is such a treat! I am so sad this series is coming to an end because I’m so obsessed with all the characters in this series and the found family aspect 🥹
Thank you Hambright PR and Piper Rayne for the eARC!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
🫧 Vibes: loml
🎶 Song: fall - justin bieber
📖 Favourite Quote: "I want every ordinary thing with you. Just you. For the rest of my life."
📚 Would I recommend? YES YESS
💬 tldr thoughts: they knocked it out of the park again!
In the package:
📦 second chance
📦 it's always been you
📦 coach's daughter
📦 brother's ex
Plot: Penelope moves back in town so her daughter can be closer to her grandfather. The problem is he's the coach of the Colts baseball team and Penelope has history with not one but two of the players on the team. And they're brothers. Foster has moved on but Decker has never been able to and their chemistry becomes impossible to ignore the more time they spend together along with her daughter.
Thoughts: My favourite author duo have done it AGAIN. Are we surprised? I'm not 🤭 the tension and angst between Pen and Decker was perfection. I was really curious how they were going to tackle this storyline because it was messy and chaotic to have the FMC be the brother's ex 👀 IT JUST MADE THE LONGING SO MUCH BETTER THOUGH 😩 I always eat up a second chance romance and this was no exception. The relationship progression was perfect and how they worked through their issues along with Decker and Foster working through theirs as well. Some of my favourite scenes were with Decker and Pen's daughter, Hazel. Their relationship was so sweet and his grand gesture at the end made me tear up 🥲 This book might be tied as my fave with The Hotshot!
The way everyone was rooting for them to get together and even had bets going on was hilarious. This friend group is everything to me 🥹 and the extra glimpses we get from all the couples in each book is such a treat! I am so sad this series is coming to an end because I’m so obsessed with all the characters in this series and the found family aspect 🥹
Thank you Hambright PR and Piper Rayne for the eARC!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
Want to Read
April 19, 2026APR 19th -
THEIR COVER!! AHHH I'm excited for more of the twins dynamic and hopefully growth in their relationship. Of course give me all the pining and angst between Decker and Penelope too, can't wait to see this man fall in love with his girl but also her kid!
_________________________
FEB 18th -
my guess is Decker and Penelope for book 3.. one that got away, single mum, second chance (seems like he never got over her)!! Please I see the writing on the wall, and we don't get a name drop for just any random character.. 👀
THEIR COVER!! AHHH I'm excited for more of the twins dynamic and hopefully growth in their relationship. Of course give me all the pining and angst between Decker and Penelope too, can't wait to see this man fall in love with his girl but also her kid!
_________________________
FEB 18th -
my guess is Decker and Penelope for book 3.. one that got away, single mum, second chance (seems like he never got over her)!! Please I see the writing on the wall, and we don't get a name drop for just any random character.. 👀
May 6, 2026
Solidly in my baseball era ⚾️
I am loving this series.
Decker Davis
MLB 3rd baseman
Fosters twin
The quieter more stable brother
Penelope
Single mom
The coach’s daughter
Fosters ex
Second chance!
They have know each other since they were 11/12
They’ve loved each other forever.
There’s a little bit of hesitation and resistance
He helps her daughter out.
They work together on some events
Some twists and turns.
Slow burn
Arc review ✨
I am loving this series.
Decker Davis
MLB 3rd baseman
Fosters twin
The quieter more stable brother
Penelope
Single mom
The coach’s daughter
Fosters ex
Second chance!
They have know each other since they were 11/12
They’ve loved each other forever.
There’s a little bit of hesitation and resistance
He helps her daughter out.
They work together on some events
Some twists and turns.
Slow burn
Arc review ✨
May 9, 2026
audio / 5* / valentine pr
“It feels like we’re a family. But it’s just a fantasy.”
Decker Davis has a lot of baggage, with himself his parents and most notably his brother, Foster. He’s been in love with the same girl since he was 11 and now they are back living in the same city.
Penelope has her own secrets, but her daughter Hazel has her eyes set on a daddy… and that daddy is the best friend Pen grew up with.
I loved how the relationships were worked through. The sessions in therapy where history was revealed. The team dynamics and how much of a role the kids played. I absolutely adored Hazel, and all her innocent/not so innocent ways.
I love this series, and the audio really takes it to another level! The full cast narration, having the MCs from part books voiced by the same people - it is such a great way to experience this work of art!
Thank you to Piper Rayne and Valentine PR for the opportunity to listen to and review this book in advance of its release. Cannot wait for the next book!
“It feels like we’re a family. But it’s just a fantasy.”
Decker Davis has a lot of baggage, with himself his parents and most notably his brother, Foster. He’s been in love with the same girl since he was 11 and now they are back living in the same city.
Penelope has her own secrets, but her daughter Hazel has her eyes set on a daddy… and that daddy is the best friend Pen grew up with.
I loved how the relationships were worked through. The sessions in therapy where history was revealed. The team dynamics and how much of a role the kids played. I absolutely adored Hazel, and all her innocent/not so innocent ways.
I love this series, and the audio really takes it to another level! The full cast narration, having the MCs from part books voiced by the same people - it is such a great way to experience this work of art!
Thank you to Piper Rayne and Valentine PR for the opportunity to listen to and review this book in advance of its release. Cannot wait for the next book!
May 9, 2026
Let me introduce you to Decker Davis ➡️ 𝑰’𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒖𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍. ➡️ Until he's not. Decker Davis is known for following the rules, not breaking them. That’s his twin brother Foster’s forte. Will he finally start breaking the ones he put in place to keep his heart safe from the one woman he’s always loved?
I've been yearning for Decker Davis's stories since he stepped onto the page in The Nest series. 🥹 I could just tell he was a man haunted by his past, and I wanted to dig down deep and discover everything about him.
Prepare yourself. This one is going to have you questioning everything. It's a baseball, second-chance romance filled with mystery, so hang in there and don't get frustrated with the lack of answers. Trust me, each one you get, when you get it, hits hard and is so worth the wait. Decker and Penelope need to risk their hearts to earn the payout of a lifetime.
Is it finally the right time for Decker and Penelope? Can they work through their shared history and Decker's relationship with his brother, and finally become all they could be?
𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕕:
~ The tension.
~ The mystery.
𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀 𝕕𝕚𝕕𝕟’𝕥 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖:
~ Questioning everything. Nothing, and I mean nothing, was off the table. If it was there, I questioned it. 🫣
~ Waiting for answers.
~ Yes, what I loved, I also hated. The payoff = Worth. It. 🥹
Piper Rayne knows how to write epilogues, and you are NOT going to want to miss out on this one. Easton man…I have a feeling your story is going to be epic, nothing less than I pictured for you.
The audiobook is full cast, which I love. There’s nothing like full cast audio. Teddy Hamilton is exactly who I imagined for Decker Davis and made the audio experience even better. That man knows how to narrate! Willa Jaymes makes the perfect Penelope, effortlessly embodying her personality.
I've been yearning for Decker Davis's stories since he stepped onto the page in The Nest series. 🥹 I could just tell he was a man haunted by his past, and I wanted to dig down deep and discover everything about him.
Prepare yourself. This one is going to have you questioning everything. It's a baseball, second-chance romance filled with mystery, so hang in there and don't get frustrated with the lack of answers. Trust me, each one you get, when you get it, hits hard and is so worth the wait. Decker and Penelope need to risk their hearts to earn the payout of a lifetime.
Is it finally the right time for Decker and Penelope? Can they work through their shared history and Decker's relationship with his brother, and finally become all they could be?
𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕕:
~ The tension.
~ The mystery.
𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀 𝕕𝕚𝕕𝕟’𝕥 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖:
~ Questioning everything. Nothing, and I mean nothing, was off the table. If it was there, I questioned it. 🫣
~ Waiting for answers.
~ Yes, what I loved, I also hated. The payoff = Worth. It. 🥹
Piper Rayne knows how to write epilogues, and you are NOT going to want to miss out on this one. Easton man…I have a feeling your story is going to be epic, nothing less than I pictured for you.
The audiobook is full cast, which I love. There’s nothing like full cast audio. Teddy Hamilton is exactly who I imagined for Decker Davis and made the audio experience even better. That man knows how to narrate! Willa Jaymes makes the perfect Penelope, effortlessly embodying her personality.
May 9, 2026
⚾️ Baseball player + coach’s daughter + single mom? This book had me hooked before I even opened it.
🎧✨ ALC/ARC Review ✨📚
The way I waited impatiently for this ARC/ALC to arrive… and let me tell you—it was SO worth it!
Decker, the baseball player, and Penelope, the coach’s daughter? Absolute perfection 🔥
I’m such a sucker for a single mom trope, and Penelope’s relationship with her daughter was one of my favorite parts of the entire story. Watching Decker form such a loving bond with her daughter—and love and protect her as if she were his own—was beyond swoon-worthy 🥹💙
I loved this book so much, but honestly, I’ve devoured every book in this series! This one gave us a much deeper look into the lives of the Davis brothers, their complicated relationships, and all the drama that unfolds surrounding Penelope. The emotional depth between the brothers added so much to the story and made everything feel even more impactful.
And the narration? Absolutely fantastic
🎧 The narrators truly brought these characters and emotions to life, making this one impossible to stop listening to.
I genuinely didn’t want this book to end—it flew by way too fast! Now comes the hardest part… waiting for the next book in the series 😭
📅 Make sure to mark your calendars for May 14 for The Rulebreaker because this is definitely one you don’t want to miss!
Thank you to Hambright PR and Piper Rayne for this ALC/ARC! 💛
TROPES ✨ ⚾️ Baseball Romance 👩👧 Single Mom 🚫 Forbidden Romance 💞 Found Family 🔥 Protective MMC 💬 Great Banter ❤️🩹 Family Drama 🎧 Dual Narration
May 5, 2026
⚾️ ARC Review - The Rulebreaker by Piper Rayne
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Release date: May 14, 2026
How did Piper and Rayne hit us in the chest with the Davis brothers? Hot brothers have always been my reading kyrptonite, and I can’t seem to recall any other books that hit like this one did.
In the Wild Card, we got some of the story of the upbringing of the twins, side note: they weren’t brought up together. While Fosters dad took him, Decker was with his mother & as kids they did as much as they could to keep in touch. Now as I said, we heard Foster’s story and him and Callie were so epic and I loved them so much. It’s now Decker’s story and how Penelope came into place. Decker, Penelope and Foster apparently had some past relationships and it was messy, chaotic, and so very heavy on the heart.
As much as Pen and Decker try to ignore each other and the past, it just doesn’t seem as easy as they leave it to be and there’s just this inevitable force that locks them together. Now question is… will they keep the fight going or with they just let it be? So many rulessssss… well guess what Deck? Rules are meant to be broken, baby ☺️
That longing?! A force! Penelope’s daughter, Hazel, opening up and showing Decker who she is? Damn adorable! The tension! I will always hold this series in a special place in my heart and that ending!! I’m so ready for Easton’s story ❤️
I’m so grateful to Valentine PR and Piper Rayne for gifting me an earc!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Release date: May 14, 2026
How did Piper and Rayne hit us in the chest with the Davis brothers? Hot brothers have always been my reading kyrptonite, and I can’t seem to recall any other books that hit like this one did.
In the Wild Card, we got some of the story of the upbringing of the twins, side note: they weren’t brought up together. While Fosters dad took him, Decker was with his mother & as kids they did as much as they could to keep in touch. Now as I said, we heard Foster’s story and him and Callie were so epic and I loved them so much. It’s now Decker’s story and how Penelope came into place. Decker, Penelope and Foster apparently had some past relationships and it was messy, chaotic, and so very heavy on the heart.
As much as Pen and Decker try to ignore each other and the past, it just doesn’t seem as easy as they leave it to be and there’s just this inevitable force that locks them together. Now question is… will they keep the fight going or with they just let it be? So many rulessssss… well guess what Deck? Rules are meant to be broken, baby ☺️
That longing?! A force! Penelope’s daughter, Hazel, opening up and showing Decker who she is? Damn adorable! The tension! I will always hold this series in a special place in my heart and that ending!! I’m so ready for Easton’s story ❤️
I’m so grateful to Valentine PR and Piper Rayne for gifting me an earc!
May 9, 2026
Rating: 4⭐️
Spice: 2 🌶️
Release Date: May 14th 2026
Friends to Lovers-Their story starting off at such a young age and the strong bond that they had 🩷🩷🩷 Absolutely adored!
Second Chance-The RIGHT person but not the RIGHT time. Do I think it took them an unnecessarily long time to get their chance? Yes. Do I think the lack of communication was a little over done? Yes. Did I still eat it up though? Yes!!! The longing…YUM. The tension…YUM. IT WAS ALWAYS YOU🩷
HAZEL!!!! I love her so much. The relationship between her and Deck…warms my heart. The grand gesture by Deck??? Made me love him 10x more.
Found Family- I absolutely loved that we continued to see our fam!!! I loved seeing their continued growth. The bonds that are shared. The changes in everyone’s lives. I loved it all. The friendly bets make me laugh so hard.
Brothers- I loved that our brothers started their healing journey. Talking about their past and getting their pain off their chests. I enjoyed seeing them slowly become brothers again. Each helping the other with issues they couldn’t see themselves 🩷 Foster, your growth is amazing!!!
Characters- Overall I really did love our FMC and MMC. They definitely knew how to banter. lol. They each had things they needed to overcome but once they did, the sky was the limit.
Thank you so much Valentine and Piper Rayne for the opportunity to read this Advanced Reader Copy!!!
Spice: 2 🌶️
Release Date: May 14th 2026
Friends to Lovers-Their story starting off at such a young age and the strong bond that they had 🩷🩷🩷 Absolutely adored!
Second Chance-The RIGHT person but not the RIGHT time. Do I think it took them an unnecessarily long time to get their chance? Yes. Do I think the lack of communication was a little over done? Yes. Did I still eat it up though? Yes!!! The longing…YUM. The tension…YUM. IT WAS ALWAYS YOU🩷
HAZEL!!!! I love her so much. The relationship between her and Deck…warms my heart. The grand gesture by Deck??? Made me love him 10x more.
Found Family- I absolutely loved that we continued to see our fam!!! I loved seeing their continued growth. The bonds that are shared. The changes in everyone’s lives. I loved it all. The friendly bets make me laugh so hard.
Brothers- I loved that our brothers started their healing journey. Talking about their past and getting their pain off their chests. I enjoyed seeing them slowly become brothers again. Each helping the other with issues they couldn’t see themselves 🩷 Foster, your growth is amazing!!!
Characters- Overall I really did love our FMC and MMC. They definitely knew how to banter. lol. They each had things they needed to overcome but once they did, the sky was the limit.
Thank you so much Valentine and Piper Rayne for the opportunity to read this Advanced Reader Copy!!!
May 9, 2026
*Thank you to Valentine PR and Piper Rayne for this gifted ARC in exchange for an honest and authentic review - All opinions are my own.*
I am so in love with this book!! Five stars all day!
The way Piper Rayne navigated this second chance, brother’s ex girlfriend, coach’s daughter was perfection!! We knew there was more to the story between Decker and Penelope and I’m so glad they gave them the full story they deserved.
The plot pacing was perfection! The inclusion of seeing a therapist for Decker and Foster was GENIUS addition. It not only was a huge move for their brother relationship but it helped to pull the past and present together in a smooth way.
The love story between Penelope, Decker, (and Hazel) was adorable. Kudos to Penelope for making Decker come to the plate and be ready to be ready.
Loved this story!!
I am so in love with this book!! Five stars all day!
The way Piper Rayne navigated this second chance, brother’s ex girlfriend, coach’s daughter was perfection!! We knew there was more to the story between Decker and Penelope and I’m so glad they gave them the full story they deserved.
The plot pacing was perfection! The inclusion of seeing a therapist for Decker and Foster was GENIUS addition. It not only was a huge move for their brother relationship but it helped to pull the past and present together in a smooth way.
The love story between Penelope, Decker, (and Hazel) was adorable. Kudos to Penelope for making Decker come to the plate and be ready to be ready.
Loved this story!!
May 6, 2026
3.5
I really loved book 1 and 2 in this series but this one just sorta fell flat for me. I usually love a second chance romance but the first 60% of the book I felt like no one was communicating and I was just irritated. I did enjoy some parts of the book and I think the thing that I enjoyed the most and I haven’t seen before was the third pov of the therapist which I felt added a lot and kept the story moving along! Did some parts give me the ick? yes. Will I still read the next one in the series? yes.
I really loved book 1 and 2 in this series but this one just sorta fell flat for me. I usually love a second chance romance but the first 60% of the book I felt like no one was communicating and I was just irritated. I did enjoy some parts of the book and I think the thing that I enjoyed the most and I haven’t seen before was the third pov of the therapist which I felt added a lot and kept the story moving along! Did some parts give me the ick? yes. Will I still read the next one in the series? yes.
May 10, 2026
Decker.. the man you are 🥹🥹
Review of advance copy received from Author
⚾ Sports Romance
💔 Second Chance Romance
👨👧 Single Mom Romance
🚫 Forbidden Romance Vibes
🏟️ Coach’s Daughter
❤️ He Never Stopped Loving Her
🛟 Protective Hero
👀 Forced Proximity
🔥 Emotional Tension
💞 Found Family Vibes
🥹 Emotional Healing
💕 Slow Burn Chemistry
🏡 Domestic Moments
🤍 Devoted Hero
⚡ Unresolved Past Feelings
Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Narrator: Teddy Hamilton | Willa Jaymes | JF Harding | Sean Masters | Connor Crais | Austin Stone | CJ Bloom | Erin Mallon | Meg Sylvan
The Rulebreaker by Piper Rayne was everything I love in a second chance sports romance. Emotional, heartfelt, and full of unresolved feelings that never truly disappeared no matter how much time had passed. From the very beginning, the chemistry between Decker and Penelope felt undeniable, but what made this story so compelling was the emotional history underneath every interaction. You could feel the years of longing, regret, and unfinished business woven into every conversation, every glance, and every moment they tried to pretend they were unaffected by each other.
Decker Davis completely stole the show for me. He is the reliable, steady guy everyone depends on, but beneath that calm exterior is a man who has clearly never stopped loving her. The way he showed up for her over and over again made him impossible not to adore. He was patient when she pushed him away, protective without being overbearing, and thoughtful in all the small ways that mattered most. What really made him stand out, though, was the relationship he built with her daughter. Their bond felt natural, sweet, and incredibly genuine, which added such an emotional layer to the romance. Watching him fit so seamlessly into their lives made every scene between them even more meaningful.
I also really appreciated Penelope’s perspective throughout the story. Her fears and hesitation never felt frustrating because they were rooted in love and protection. She already knows what it feels like to lose Decker once, and now she has a daughter to think about too. That added responsibility made her emotional walls feel realistic, and it gave the romance a deeper level of tension. She was not just guarding her own heart. She was trying to protect her child from heartbreak as well, which made every decision carry so much emotional weight.
The pacing of their relationship worked so well because the story allowed the emotional connection to rebuild naturally. There was still lingering hurt between them, but also comfort and familiarity that never fully faded. Piper Rayne balanced the angst and tenderness beautifully, giving readers those emotional moments that ache in the best way while also delivering plenty of swoony romance. The quiet moments honestly hit just as hard as the bigger emotional scenes because they showed how deeply these two understood each other.
I also loved the baseball backdrop and the coach’s daughter aspect of the story because it added another layer of forbidden tension without overwhelming the romance itself. The dynamic created natural conflict, especially considering Decker’s role on the team and the expectations surrounding them. It never felt overly dramatic, but instead added pressure to a relationship that already carried years of emotional baggage.
The Rulebreaker is ultimately a story about timing, healing, forgiveness, and finding the courage to risk your heart again even when the stakes feel higher than ever. It is emotional without feeling heavy, romantic without losing its realism, and filled with characters that feel authentic and easy to connect with. Decker’s unwavering devotion, the emotional depth of the second chance romance, and the tenderness woven throughout the story made this such an addictive and satisfying read.
If you love single mom romance, second chance love stories, emotionally mature characters, protective heroes, found family vibes, and sports romances packed with heart and longing, this one absolutely delivers.
💔 Second Chance Romance
👨👧 Single Mom Romance
🚫 Forbidden Romance Vibes
🏟️ Coach’s Daughter
❤️ He Never Stopped Loving Her
🛟 Protective Hero
👀 Forced Proximity
🔥 Emotional Tension
💞 Found Family Vibes
🥹 Emotional Healing
💕 Slow Burn Chemistry
🏡 Domestic Moments
🤍 Devoted Hero
⚡ Unresolved Past Feelings
Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Narrator: Teddy Hamilton | Willa Jaymes | JF Harding | Sean Masters | Connor Crais | Austin Stone | CJ Bloom | Erin Mallon | Meg Sylvan
The Rulebreaker by Piper Rayne was everything I love in a second chance sports romance. Emotional, heartfelt, and full of unresolved feelings that never truly disappeared no matter how much time had passed. From the very beginning, the chemistry between Decker and Penelope felt undeniable, but what made this story so compelling was the emotional history underneath every interaction. You could feel the years of longing, regret, and unfinished business woven into every conversation, every glance, and every moment they tried to pretend they were unaffected by each other.
Decker Davis completely stole the show for me. He is the reliable, steady guy everyone depends on, but beneath that calm exterior is a man who has clearly never stopped loving her. The way he showed up for her over and over again made him impossible not to adore. He was patient when she pushed him away, protective without being overbearing, and thoughtful in all the small ways that mattered most. What really made him stand out, though, was the relationship he built with her daughter. Their bond felt natural, sweet, and incredibly genuine, which added such an emotional layer to the romance. Watching him fit so seamlessly into their lives made every scene between them even more meaningful.
I also really appreciated Penelope’s perspective throughout the story. Her fears and hesitation never felt frustrating because they were rooted in love and protection. She already knows what it feels like to lose Decker once, and now she has a daughter to think about too. That added responsibility made her emotional walls feel realistic, and it gave the romance a deeper level of tension. She was not just guarding her own heart. She was trying to protect her child from heartbreak as well, which made every decision carry so much emotional weight.
The pacing of their relationship worked so well because the story allowed the emotional connection to rebuild naturally. There was still lingering hurt between them, but also comfort and familiarity that never fully faded. Piper Rayne balanced the angst and tenderness beautifully, giving readers those emotional moments that ache in the best way while also delivering plenty of swoony romance. The quiet moments honestly hit just as hard as the bigger emotional scenes because they showed how deeply these two understood each other.
I also loved the baseball backdrop and the coach’s daughter aspect of the story because it added another layer of forbidden tension without overwhelming the romance itself. The dynamic created natural conflict, especially considering Decker’s role on the team and the expectations surrounding them. It never felt overly dramatic, but instead added pressure to a relationship that already carried years of emotional baggage.
The Rulebreaker is ultimately a story about timing, healing, forgiveness, and finding the courage to risk your heart again even when the stakes feel higher than ever. It is emotional without feeling heavy, romantic without losing its realism, and filled with characters that feel authentic and easy to connect with. Decker’s unwavering devotion, the emotional depth of the second chance romance, and the tenderness woven throughout the story made this such an addictive and satisfying read.
If you love single mom romance, second chance love stories, emotionally mature characters, protective heroes, found family vibes, and sports romances packed with heart and longing, this one absolutely delivers.
Review of advance copy
-Brother’s Ex
-Second Chance
-Single Mom
-Coach’s Daughter
-Childhood Friends to Lovers
Piper Rayne does it again! The skill at writing, romance, banter and emotional depth is unmatched ❤️
I loved Penelope and Decker’s story. They’ve been in love with each other since they were teenagers and the timing was never right. Cut to college, Penelope meets Decker’s twin brother Foster and ends up dating him for a few months. Now they find themselves in the same city, Penelope’s dad is the new head coach of the Chicago Colt’s and Decker is their starting 3rd basemen. She sort of fell into his friend group and now all these old feelings are getting kicked up.
I LOVED how Foster and Decker’s relationship development was written into the story. Their parents separated when they were really young and while Decker stayed with their mom, Foster was moved across the country with their dad. We got a taste of all this in the Wild Card and I was hoping it would evolve in the Rulebreaker. I was not disappointed!
Decker and Foster are actively working on fixing their relationship. I loved these scenes, they felt as healing for me as they were for Decker and Foster! I really appreciated that their relationship was explored and made a large plot point. Foster even hit a batter to defend Decker 🥹
I was thinking the main reason keeping our MCs apart was going to annoy me but it didn’t. We were slowly told Pen and Decker’s past, having little breadcrumbs left for us along the way. There were points where I really wanted to know what happened 3 years before, the incident in college and who Hazel’s dad was, but it was all laid out with perfect timing.
The banter between all characters was on point and love how Piper Rayne is exceptional at cameos from previous couples. While we want to focus on our MCs, I do also love seeing what the previous couple are up to. They are able to give us a good balance where I never felt like anyone was getting too much or too little attention on page.
I loved how much page time the kiddos are getting. Perfect time to mention Hazel! She was so cute and I loved everything to do with the talent show. I loved how easily she connect with Decker and wanted him to be her dad so badly 🥰
Going back to our MCs, the yearning!!!
Penelope knows what she wants, but wants to make sure Decker chooses her and Hazel. That he can’t be without her. I loved all the moments that threw them together, the social club, Lincoln throwing the football right at Pen’s face, and Decker teaching Hazel how to blow a bubble with gum 🥵. I also liked how everyone seemed on board immediately making comments like “Are your she’s single?” and the betting 🤣
I also loved the whole city of Chicago supporting Decker. Sports fans are a different breed!!!
Overall, I loved this book and cannot wait for the next one!
-Second Chance
-Single Mom
-Coach’s Daughter
-Childhood Friends to Lovers
Piper Rayne does it again! The skill at writing, romance, banter and emotional depth is unmatched ❤️
I loved Penelope and Decker’s story. They’ve been in love with each other since they were teenagers and the timing was never right. Cut to college, Penelope meets Decker’s twin brother Foster and ends up dating him for a few months. Now they find themselves in the same city, Penelope’s dad is the new head coach of the Chicago Colt’s and Decker is their starting 3rd basemen. She sort of fell into his friend group and now all these old feelings are getting kicked up.
I LOVED how Foster and Decker’s relationship development was written into the story. Their parents separated when they were really young and while Decker stayed with their mom, Foster was moved across the country with their dad. We got a taste of all this in the Wild Card and I was hoping it would evolve in the Rulebreaker. I was not disappointed!
Decker and Foster are actively working on fixing their relationship. I loved these scenes, they felt as healing for me as they were for Decker and Foster! I really appreciated that their relationship was explored and made a large plot point. Foster even hit a batter to defend Decker 🥹
I was thinking the main reason keeping our MCs apart was going to annoy me but it didn’t. We were slowly told Pen and Decker’s past, having little breadcrumbs left for us along the way. There were points where I really wanted to know what happened 3 years before, the incident in college and who Hazel’s dad was, but it was all laid out with perfect timing.
The banter between all characters was on point and love how Piper Rayne is exceptional at cameos from previous couples. While we want to focus on our MCs, I do also love seeing what the previous couple are up to. They are able to give us a good balance where I never felt like anyone was getting too much or too little attention on page.
I loved how much page time the kiddos are getting. Perfect time to mention Hazel! She was so cute and I loved everything to do with the talent show. I loved how easily she connect with Decker and wanted him to be her dad so badly 🥰
Going back to our MCs, the yearning!!!
Penelope knows what she wants, but wants to make sure Decker chooses her and Hazel. That he can’t be without her. I loved all the moments that threw them together, the social club, Lincoln throwing the football right at Pen’s face, and Decker teaching Hazel how to blow a bubble with gum 🥵. I also liked how everyone seemed on board immediately making comments like “Are your she’s single?” and the betting 🤣
I also loved the whole city of Chicago supporting Decker. Sports fans are a different breed!!!
Overall, I loved this book and cannot wait for the next one!
May 6, 2026
Ohhh let me count the ways in which Piper and Rayne just keep surprising me, because... Decker? I'd like to say that he came way out of left field, but in actuality he just came from third base - but omg!!! What an MMC! Like, I'm still in awe. I just never expected him... I thought I knew what to expect, but I could never have imagined...
Lemme back it up.
In The Dugout book #2 we fall madly, deeply in love with Foster and Callie and their entire story. The broody Foster and all his trauma and anger - oh how we love it. So now book #3 is Decker's turn, Foster's twin brother. To say that two brothers couldn't be more different is an understatement of epic proportions. But this book is soooo different - literally from how it starts in chapter 1, I was just like, "wait a minute, what's happening? Who's this?" and how then following that is how Piper and Rayne have written this story, only giving us crumbs along the way. We are desperately taking those crumbs, trying to build the back story, the current story, and everything in between and it came off like a dang suspense novel in parts! At 50% through the book I was so enthralled that I was on the edge of my seat like dyingggggg for the full picture of what transpired between Penelope and Decker, Decker and Foster, Penelope and Foster... I was like, "gimme the full picture!!!" But when I got it - ohhhhh was it good.
For anyone who's been here before and read my reviews, by now you know I'm probably Piper and Rayne's #1 (self-proclaimed) fan ... yes, I'll fight for that title. I have read every single one of their books - all basically in one sitting - and most I've read multiple times. I love their style of writing, I love their worlds and series. I say all of that to say, I've been "here" for a while. I know their style and their worlds. That said, they STILL managed to surprise the crap out of me with this story!!! Like never in a million years was I expecting this one to be so fantastic! Because, well truth be told - if I'm going to spill all my beans here - Foster and Callie? Omg, I soooooo loved their story. The broody, grumpy, bad boy... I mean, how can you top that? Most of the time you can't. So when I knew Decker was next - the quiet, reserved, kind twin... I was skeptical. I was just like, "No way they'll best Foster's book"... but here we are. This is living proof that every new book they write is their best book to date. I mean, I don't even know how they do it. They're unicorns!
Lemme back it up.
In The Dugout book #2 we fall madly, deeply in love with Foster and Callie and their entire story. The broody Foster and all his trauma and anger - oh how we love it. So now book #3 is Decker's turn, Foster's twin brother. To say that two brothers couldn't be more different is an understatement of epic proportions. But this book is soooo different - literally from how it starts in chapter 1, I was just like, "wait a minute, what's happening? Who's this?" and how then following that is how Piper and Rayne have written this story, only giving us crumbs along the way. We are desperately taking those crumbs, trying to build the back story, the current story, and everything in between and it came off like a dang suspense novel in parts! At 50% through the book I was so enthralled that I was on the edge of my seat like dyingggggg for the full picture of what transpired between Penelope and Decker, Decker and Foster, Penelope and Foster... I was like, "gimme the full picture!!!" But when I got it - ohhhhh was it good.
For anyone who's been here before and read my reviews, by now you know I'm probably Piper and Rayne's #1 (self-proclaimed) fan ... yes, I'll fight for that title. I have read every single one of their books - all basically in one sitting - and most I've read multiple times. I love their style of writing, I love their worlds and series. I say all of that to say, I've been "here" for a while. I know their style and their worlds. That said, they STILL managed to surprise the crap out of me with this story!!! Like never in a million years was I expecting this one to be so fantastic! Because, well truth be told - if I'm going to spill all my beans here - Foster and Callie? Omg, I soooooo loved their story. The broody, grumpy, bad boy... I mean, how can you top that? Most of the time you can't. So when I knew Decker was next - the quiet, reserved, kind twin... I was skeptical. I was just like, "No way they'll best Foster's book"... but here we are. This is living proof that every new book they write is their best book to date. I mean, I don't even know how they do it. They're unicorns!
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
So okay, let’s be honest — we have been waiting with eager, baited breath for Decker’s happily ever after ever since we first caught a glimpse of the heartbreak, resentment, and complicated history between him and his twin brother Foster. After Foster finally got his HEA in Wildcard when he was traded to the Chicago Colts — the very same team Decker plays for — the tension between the estranged brothers was impossible to ignore. And with The Rulebreaker, book three in The Dugout series, the writing duo of Piper Rayne absolutely did not hold back.
This slow-burn, second-chance, single mom romance delivered emotion on every single page. Penelope — Pen — returns home with her adorable seven-year-old daughter Hazel to be closer to her father, the Colts’ coach. But coming home also means coming face-to-face with Decker, her former best friend and the love she never truly let go of. Their past is messy, painful, and tangled even further by the complicated history between Pen, Foster, and Decker. Every interaction carried years of hurt, longing, and unresolved emotion, and you could feel it all.
What made this story hit even harder was how deeply the authors explored the emotional wounds surrounding the brothers. The counselling sessions and those raw, vulnerable chapters between Foster and Decker were genuinely heartbreaking and incredibly poignant. Watching two brothers finally confront years of pain, jealousy, and misunderstanding added such a powerful layer to the romance.
And then there’s Pen and Decker. Their journey was heartfelt, tender, and beautifully slow-burning in the best way. The chemistry never disappeared, but it was the emotional connection that truly stole the show. Watching Hazel and Decker bond — especially over the hula hoop moments — was absolutely priceless and melted my heart completely. Hazel brought so much warmth and light to the story.
The team dynamics and banter were spot on as always, bringing humour and levity exactly when it was needed. But Decker? He is such a unique book boyfriend. Beneath the baseball star exterior is a man carrying so much emotional weight, and seeing him navigate his private struggles while still loving so deeply made him impossible not to fall for.
The Rulebreaker is emotional, heartfelt, healing, and full of the kind of romance that aches before it heals. Piper Rayne gave Decker exactly the story he deserved — and it was worth every second of the wait.
This slow-burn, second-chance, single mom romance delivered emotion on every single page. Penelope — Pen — returns home with her adorable seven-year-old daughter Hazel to be closer to her father, the Colts’ coach. But coming home also means coming face-to-face with Decker, her former best friend and the love she never truly let go of. Their past is messy, painful, and tangled even further by the complicated history between Pen, Foster, and Decker. Every interaction carried years of hurt, longing, and unresolved emotion, and you could feel it all.
What made this story hit even harder was how deeply the authors explored the emotional wounds surrounding the brothers. The counselling sessions and those raw, vulnerable chapters between Foster and Decker were genuinely heartbreaking and incredibly poignant. Watching two brothers finally confront years of pain, jealousy, and misunderstanding added such a powerful layer to the romance.
And then there’s Pen and Decker. Their journey was heartfelt, tender, and beautifully slow-burning in the best way. The chemistry never disappeared, but it was the emotional connection that truly stole the show. Watching Hazel and Decker bond — especially over the hula hoop moments — was absolutely priceless and melted my heart completely. Hazel brought so much warmth and light to the story.
The team dynamics and banter were spot on as always, bringing humour and levity exactly when it was needed. But Decker? He is such a unique book boyfriend. Beneath the baseball star exterior is a man carrying so much emotional weight, and seeing him navigate his private struggles while still loving so deeply made him impossible not to fall for.
The Rulebreaker is emotional, heartfelt, healing, and full of the kind of romance that aches before it heals. Piper Rayne gave Decker exactly the story he deserved — and it was worth every second of the wait.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.
Piper and Rayne absolutely wrecked me with the Davis brothers. I’ve always had a weakness for hot, emotionally damaged brothers in romance, but this series hits on an entirely different level. Few books have managed to sink their claws into me the way this one did. I would also like it noted that, at Piper and Rayne's book club, I called that a girl came between Foster and Decker even before we knew much of anything *shines knuckles*
Back in The Wild Card, we got glimpses into the twins’ heartbreaking childhood. Even though Foster and Decker are twins, they were raised apart. Foster was taken by their father, while Decker stayed with their mother. Despite the distance and everything working against them, they still fought to stay connected, and that emotional foundation made their stories hit even harder.
Foster and Callie’s story completely owned me, so going into Decker’s book, my expectations were sky-high. Somehow Piper and Rayne still exceeded them. Decker and Penelope’s history is tangled, painful and overflowing with unresolved emotions. Add Foster into that messy past and every interaction feels loaded with tension, heartbreak and things left unsaid.
No matter how hard Decker and Penelope try to bury the past or avoid each other, the pull between them is impossible to ignore. Their chemistry feels inevitable, like gravity constantly dragging them back together. The question isn’t whether they still feel something, it’s whether they’re finally willing to stop fighting it. And honestly? Decker trying to cling to all his rules while clearly breaking every single one for Penelope was everything. One of my favorite parts was that everyone in their friend group had bets on when they'd give in hahaha
The yearning in this book was unreal. Every glance, every moment of restraint, every emotional crack in Decker’s armor had me completely hooked. And Hazel? Absolutely precious. Watching Penelope’s daughter slowly open up to Decker added such a soft, emotional layer to the story and made my heart melt. AND AN APPEARANCE FROM A BODHI? What a sweet tie-in.
This series has become one of those romances I know I’ll carry with me for a long time. The emotional intensity, the family dynamics, the chemistry, the heartbreak ... it all just works. And that ending?! Piper and Rayne really expect me to survive while waiting for Easton’s story? Because I am absolutely not okay.
Piper and Rayne absolutely wrecked me with the Davis brothers. I’ve always had a weakness for hot, emotionally damaged brothers in romance, but this series hits on an entirely different level. Few books have managed to sink their claws into me the way this one did. I would also like it noted that, at Piper and Rayne's book club, I called that a girl came between Foster and Decker even before we knew much of anything *shines knuckles*
Back in The Wild Card, we got glimpses into the twins’ heartbreaking childhood. Even though Foster and Decker are twins, they were raised apart. Foster was taken by their father, while Decker stayed with their mother. Despite the distance and everything working against them, they still fought to stay connected, and that emotional foundation made their stories hit even harder.
Foster and Callie’s story completely owned me, so going into Decker’s book, my expectations were sky-high. Somehow Piper and Rayne still exceeded them. Decker and Penelope’s history is tangled, painful and overflowing with unresolved emotions. Add Foster into that messy past and every interaction feels loaded with tension, heartbreak and things left unsaid.
No matter how hard Decker and Penelope try to bury the past or avoid each other, the pull between them is impossible to ignore. Their chemistry feels inevitable, like gravity constantly dragging them back together. The question isn’t whether they still feel something, it’s whether they’re finally willing to stop fighting it. And honestly? Decker trying to cling to all his rules while clearly breaking every single one for Penelope was everything. One of my favorite parts was that everyone in their friend group had bets on when they'd give in hahaha
The yearning in this book was unreal. Every glance, every moment of restraint, every emotional crack in Decker’s armor had me completely hooked. And Hazel? Absolutely precious. Watching Penelope’s daughter slowly open up to Decker added such a soft, emotional layer to the story and made my heart melt. AND AN APPEARANCE FROM A BODHI? What a sweet tie-in.
This series has become one of those romances I know I’ll carry with me for a long time. The emotional intensity, the family dynamics, the chemistry, the heartbreak ... it all just works. And that ending?! Piper and Rayne really expect me to survive while waiting for Easton’s story? Because I am absolutely not okay.
May 6, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Review of advance copy ✨
This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites because every book has one of my favorite tropes and I loved them all!! And now with Decker and Penelope’s story, oh my God!! I knew from the moment I met Penelope in Foster and Callie’s book and when we knew there was history between Foster, Decker and her, that this book was going to be amazing and with good drama and oh boy 🙂↔️😮💨 this book ATE!! 🛐
I’ve been loving Decker since The Hotshot, and I was waiting for his book so bad and now, the waiting was worth it because this is such a perfect book not only for the romance between him and Penelope and his bond with Hazel, but I truly loved reading Decker and Foster working together to fix their relationship as brothers 🥹❤️🩹 it hurt me so much reading them fighting every time in The Wild Card, because I understood Foster’s feelings and why he was so angry against Decker and now with this book we got to see Decker’s POV of everything including Penelope’s story with them and how everything affected Decker 😩💔 so yes, I think that was one of my favorite things in this story because Decker needed Foster as much as Foster needed Decker ❤️
Now talking about the romance, oh my God I wish I have someone who loves me the way Decker loves Penelope, he’s been in love with her practically his whole life, and finally they have a second chance to be together and love each other freely, of course they had some obstacles but they had their HEA and it was perfect, I love them both so much! Penelope is such a strong, amazing woman, a great mom for Hazel and I loved the fact that even when she loved Decker, she was at first thinking about moving on for her and Hazel’s sake I’d Decker wasn’t ready to be with them 😮💨🛐such a fierce woman 🙂↔️❤️ fortunately, Decker stopped being in his own way and fought for Penelope and Hazel with everything he is ❤️
I also loved the fact that we can still read about Hayes, Leighton, Lake, Lincoln, Monroe, Foster, Callie and baby Ellis because I just love them all so much 😭❤️
And now, even when I’m a little sad Easton’s book is the last one of the series, I CAN’T WAIT to read him because, the main trope of his story is one of my absolute favorites and I need his book yesterday pretty please 😩✨
Review of advance copy ✨
This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites because every book has one of my favorite tropes and I loved them all!! And now with Decker and Penelope’s story, oh my God!! I knew from the moment I met Penelope in Foster and Callie’s book and when we knew there was history between Foster, Decker and her, that this book was going to be amazing and with good drama and oh boy 🙂↔️😮💨 this book ATE!! 🛐
I’ve been loving Decker since The Hotshot, and I was waiting for his book so bad and now, the waiting was worth it because this is such a perfect book not only for the romance between him and Penelope and his bond with Hazel, but I truly loved reading Decker and Foster working together to fix their relationship as brothers 🥹❤️🩹 it hurt me so much reading them fighting every time in The Wild Card, because I understood Foster’s feelings and why he was so angry against Decker and now with this book we got to see Decker’s POV of everything including Penelope’s story with them and how everything affected Decker 😩💔 so yes, I think that was one of my favorite things in this story because Decker needed Foster as much as Foster needed Decker ❤️
Now talking about the romance, oh my God I wish I have someone who loves me the way Decker loves Penelope, he’s been in love with her practically his whole life, and finally they have a second chance to be together and love each other freely, of course they had some obstacles but they had their HEA and it was perfect, I love them both so much! Penelope is such a strong, amazing woman, a great mom for Hazel and I loved the fact that even when she loved Decker, she was at first thinking about moving on for her and Hazel’s sake I’d Decker wasn’t ready to be with them 😮💨🛐such a fierce woman 🙂↔️❤️ fortunately, Decker stopped being in his own way and fought for Penelope and Hazel with everything he is ❤️
I also loved the fact that we can still read about Hayes, Leighton, Lake, Lincoln, Monroe, Foster, Callie and baby Ellis because I just love them all so much 😭❤️
And now, even when I’m a little sad Easton’s book is the last one of the series, I CAN’T WAIT to read him because, the main trope of his story is one of my absolute favorites and I need his book yesterday pretty please 😩✨
Review of advance copy
The Rulebreaker by Piper Rayne is book three in The Dugout series and once again, these girls hit it out of the park⚾Nothing better than the baseball coach’s daughter falls so deeply for the sexy, sweet golden retriever third baseman when they were young. Add in the most precious daughter Hazel, a slow burn and angst for days, chemistry and connection for miles, the most amazing found family, and you will absolutely devour this story in no time!
Decker Davis. Third baseman for the Chicago Colts. We have gotten to know this man through the first two books. So freaking sweet and selfless. Sexy and kind. Always doing for others. The perfect green flag golden retriever. But he has a secret, he has been in love with Penelope since he was eleven years old! Penelope. The coach’s daughter, this girl is strong. She’s so sweet and loving, the most amazing single mom. And Hazel, the most precious 7 year old who brings so much light to the whole story! But deep down they both are lonely, they want a deeper life and true love. But there is a lot of hurt and wounds between these two. Unspoken words that finally need to be said. And they have fought their attraction forever. From being best friends to awkwardly speaking now, so much has come in between. But as they move forward, the angst and slow burn, omg is it good and hot until finally these two admit how they feel and it is perfect!
Add in the BEST found family. You continue to fall in love with them all in this book. I loved getting to see Leighton and Hayes and their kids, Foster and Callie and their baby AND all the delicious sprinkles of Easton and everyone else!
This is a beautiful story of redemption, of forgiveness, of healing and of a true love FINALLY happening. A beautiful book about second chances when you finally forgive and heal. This book hit every feel. So real and raw, so funny. You need to read this book and this whole series! EASTON IS NEXT!! YAYYY!!
Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️
⚾baseball romance
⚾childhood friends to lovers
⚾close proximity
⚾brother's ex
⚾single mom
⚾second chance
⚾coach's daughter
🎀Thank you @authorpiperrayne and @valentine_pr_ for my arc!
#arcreview #piperrayne #thedugout #therulebreaker #sportsromance #baseballromance #thedugoutseries
Decker Davis. Third baseman for the Chicago Colts. We have gotten to know this man through the first two books. So freaking sweet and selfless. Sexy and kind. Always doing for others. The perfect green flag golden retriever. But he has a secret, he has been in love with Penelope since he was eleven years old! Penelope. The coach’s daughter, this girl is strong. She’s so sweet and loving, the most amazing single mom. And Hazel, the most precious 7 year old who brings so much light to the whole story! But deep down they both are lonely, they want a deeper life and true love. But there is a lot of hurt and wounds between these two. Unspoken words that finally need to be said. And they have fought their attraction forever. From being best friends to awkwardly speaking now, so much has come in between. But as they move forward, the angst and slow burn, omg is it good and hot until finally these two admit how they feel and it is perfect!
Add in the BEST found family. You continue to fall in love with them all in this book. I loved getting to see Leighton and Hayes and their kids, Foster and Callie and their baby AND all the delicious sprinkles of Easton and everyone else!
This is a beautiful story of redemption, of forgiveness, of healing and of a true love FINALLY happening. A beautiful book about second chances when you finally forgive and heal. This book hit every feel. So real and raw, so funny. You need to read this book and this whole series! EASTON IS NEXT!! YAYYY!!
Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️
⚾baseball romance
⚾childhood friends to lovers
⚾close proximity
⚾brother's ex
⚾single mom
⚾second chance
⚾coach's daughter
🎀Thank you @authorpiperrayne and @valentine_pr_ for my arc!
#arcreview #piperrayne #thedugout #therulebreaker #sportsromance #baseballromance #thedugoutseries
Review of advance copy received from Author
Piper Rayne have done it again. The Rulebreaker is absolute romantic gold.
I screamed when I was chosen for this advanced copy. Every single book in the Dugout series has captivated me, heart and soul. The Rulebreaker is no exception.
I was immediately consumed. Instantly invested.
The angst is real. The love is intense. The relationships are fabulous. It’s both heartbreaking and healing...and absolutely worth the journey.
Penelope. Single mom to the cutest kid ever written. Hazel has been her sole focus, and that has allowed Penelope to ignore the feelings she has for the boy who used to be her best friend.
Decker Davis. The dependable, even-tempered third baseman. Nothing rattles him...except Penelope.
And Hazel?
That little girl steals the show.
Decker has been my favorite side character in all of the previous books. He’s the kind of man readers absolutely swoon over. Sexy. Stoic. Smart. Reliable.
It was definitely time for Decker to have his moment in the spotlight...and oh, what a moment it is.
The one woman he will always love.
The one woman he won’t allow himself to have.
The history between him and Penelope runs deep. The rift between him and his twin brother, Foster, runs even deeper. This book addresses it all.
I’m not going to lie.
Tears were shed.
My heart hurt.
Never in my life have I needed two characters to end up together this badly.
And the way the authors slowly and emotionally unravel the answer to the question Dugout fans have been desperate to know--what happened between Decker and Foster that destroyed their relationship--was beautifully done.
Genuine. Emotional. Painfully human.
It added a depth to this romance that completely wrecked me in the best possible way.
Lucky for us, Piper Rayne doesn’t like torturing readers for too long.
I will absolutely reread this series--the books that came before this one, this book itself, and every book that comes after it.
It is that good.
P.S. I know who the next book is about ;)
5 stars
I received an advanced copy of this book. My review is completely honest and all opinions are my own.
I screamed when I was chosen for this advanced copy. Every single book in the Dugout series has captivated me, heart and soul. The Rulebreaker is no exception.
I was immediately consumed. Instantly invested.
The angst is real. The love is intense. The relationships are fabulous. It’s both heartbreaking and healing...and absolutely worth the journey.
Penelope. Single mom to the cutest kid ever written. Hazel has been her sole focus, and that has allowed Penelope to ignore the feelings she has for the boy who used to be her best friend.
Decker Davis. The dependable, even-tempered third baseman. Nothing rattles him...except Penelope.
And Hazel?
That little girl steals the show.
Decker has been my favorite side character in all of the previous books. He’s the kind of man readers absolutely swoon over. Sexy. Stoic. Smart. Reliable.
It was definitely time for Decker to have his moment in the spotlight...and oh, what a moment it is.
The one woman he will always love.
The one woman he won’t allow himself to have.
The history between him and Penelope runs deep. The rift between him and his twin brother, Foster, runs even deeper. This book addresses it all.
I’m not going to lie.
Tears were shed.
My heart hurt.
Never in my life have I needed two characters to end up together this badly.
And the way the authors slowly and emotionally unravel the answer to the question Dugout fans have been desperate to know--what happened between Decker and Foster that destroyed their relationship--was beautifully done.
Genuine. Emotional. Painfully human.
It added a depth to this romance that completely wrecked me in the best possible way.
Lucky for us, Piper Rayne doesn’t like torturing readers for too long.
I will absolutely reread this series--the books that came before this one, this book itself, and every book that comes after it.
It is that good.
P.S. I know who the next book is about ;)
5 stars
I received an advanced copy of this book. My review is completely honest and all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Penelope moved to Chicago with her daughter to be closer to her father, wanting a strong male presence in her life. The fact that the man she’s loved since she was 12 lives there as well didn’t even factor into the decision. While she always thought he felt the same way, timing always kept them apart, until his brother did. Now, sharing a friend circle means having to spend time in his orbit, and every time hurts more than the last, but she has her daughter to think about, and she can’t risk hurting her child for a chance with the man who has never chosen her.
While Decker has loved Penelope since they were kids, he refused to make a move on the coach’s daughter, and by the time they were back in the same area and he was playing for a different team, it was too late. One night, when they were in college, while he had been trying to repair a fractured relationship with his twin brother, he chose Penelope over his brother, and it cost him everything. Now, as he and his brother are finally back on the same page, he can’t risk throwing that away even if it means his only chance at happiness.
I was lucky enough to get early access to the immersive read of this book from Valentine PR and absolutely loved it! After reading The Wild Card, it was clear that there was more to the story between Decker, Foster and Penelope, but I loved how the authors managed to lay it out for readers, using the therapist appointments to bring up not only their history, but everything that led to it. Having always sacrificed his own happiness for everyone else’s, Decker really needed the wake up call to finally go after something for himself, and I’m so happy he did. Watching him with Hazel from the beginning, building that relationship of trust and showing both her and Pen that he not only wanted to show up for them, but would show up everytime, gave them all exactly what they all needed. The longing between Pen and Deck and all the almost moments killed me, but when they finally both got out of their own ways, it was absolute fire!
While Decker has loved Penelope since they were kids, he refused to make a move on the coach’s daughter, and by the time they were back in the same area and he was playing for a different team, it was too late. One night, when they were in college, while he had been trying to repair a fractured relationship with his twin brother, he chose Penelope over his brother, and it cost him everything. Now, as he and his brother are finally back on the same page, he can’t risk throwing that away even if it means his only chance at happiness.
I was lucky enough to get early access to the immersive read of this book from Valentine PR and absolutely loved it! After reading The Wild Card, it was clear that there was more to the story between Decker, Foster and Penelope, but I loved how the authors managed to lay it out for readers, using the therapist appointments to bring up not only their history, but everything that led to it. Having always sacrificed his own happiness for everyone else’s, Decker really needed the wake up call to finally go after something for himself, and I’m so happy he did. Watching him with Hazel from the beginning, building that relationship of trust and showing both her and Pen that he not only wanted to show up for them, but would show up everytime, gave them all exactly what they all needed. The longing between Pen and Deck and all the almost moments killed me, but when they finally both got out of their own ways, it was absolute fire!
Review of advance copy
The Rulebreaker was everything I wanted and more—I loved this story so much.
From the start, this book had me completely hooked. It’s such a fun, emotional, and engaging sports romance, and I found myself laughing so many times while also making several reader noises along the way.
Hazel absolutely stole my heart. She was so adorable and brought such a special warmth to the story. The single mom element added an extra layer of depth, and I loved how naturally it was woven into the romance.
Decker and Penelope together? I loved them. Their history, combined with the slow burn and second chance elements, made their relationship feel so meaningful. There’s something about that “we’ve been here before” tension that just works, and watching them find their way back to each other was incredibly satisfying. And seeing how Decker showed up—not just for Penelope, but for Hazel—made it even better.
I also really loved the relationships beyond the romance. Watching Decker and Foster work through and repair their brother relationship was one of my favorite parts of the book. It added so much emotional weight and balance to the story.
And getting to spend time with the Colts players again? So much fun. That tight-knit team dynamic continues to be such a highlight of this series.
I had a few theories while reading, and it was so satisfying to see some of them turn out to be true. It kept me engaged and eager to see how everything would unfold.
The ending was absolutely perfect. It wrapped things up in a way that left me so happy and completely satisfied with where these characters landed.
Overall, The Rulebreaker is a heartfelt, funny, and swoony sports romance with lovable characters and a story that keeps you invested from beginning to end. Huge thank you to Piper Rayne for the ARC—I loved every minute of this one.
Spice: Ch. 39, 43, 47
From the start, this book had me completely hooked. It’s such a fun, emotional, and engaging sports romance, and I found myself laughing so many times while also making several reader noises along the way.
Hazel absolutely stole my heart. She was so adorable and brought such a special warmth to the story. The single mom element added an extra layer of depth, and I loved how naturally it was woven into the romance.
Decker and Penelope together? I loved them. Their history, combined with the slow burn and second chance elements, made their relationship feel so meaningful. There’s something about that “we’ve been here before” tension that just works, and watching them find their way back to each other was incredibly satisfying. And seeing how Decker showed up—not just for Penelope, but for Hazel—made it even better.
I also really loved the relationships beyond the romance. Watching Decker and Foster work through and repair their brother relationship was one of my favorite parts of the book. It added so much emotional weight and balance to the story.
And getting to spend time with the Colts players again? So much fun. That tight-knit team dynamic continues to be such a highlight of this series.
I had a few theories while reading, and it was so satisfying to see some of them turn out to be true. It kept me engaged and eager to see how everything would unfold.
The ending was absolutely perfect. It wrapped things up in a way that left me so happy and completely satisfied with where these characters landed.
Overall, The Rulebreaker is a heartfelt, funny, and swoony sports romance with lovable characters and a story that keeps you invested from beginning to end. Huge thank you to Piper Rayne for the ARC—I loved every minute of this one.
Spice: Ch. 39, 43, 47
Review of advance copy
Review:
⚾The Rulebreaker⚾
The Dugout #3
By Piper Rayne
⚾ Baseball Romance
⚾ Second Chance
⚾ Forbidden Romance
⭐ 5/5
Blurb:
I’m the coach’s daughter. Falling for one of my father's players was never the plan.
Especially not Decker Davis.
Decker, an unbelievable sweet and thoughtful man
Penelope, she can’t risk her daughter’s heart - and her own
Decker and Penelope get an emotional and thoughtful romance
I have been waiting for their romance since I read Foster’s story.
Impatiently waited and not disappointed are my first impressions after finishing the book. Decker and Penelope’s story had to be emotional, sad and full of pining and yearning. Both are characters that don’t go blindly after their feelings or desires.
Always thinking and considering what will happen. To them, to others and how it will affect relationships, friendships etc.
That love story was in the making for several, long years. And exactly that long was their love and hurt. In secret, of course.
When they finally got their chance at coming clean and working through everything that stood between them, it was amazing to see them unravel.
We get glimpses of their past, the relationship between Decker and Foster and their repairing their brotherly relationship. The deep friendship between Decker and Penelope that transformed into more slowly and the tight bond with Penelope’s dad.
With her daughter Hazel in the picture it was a really slow burn but very thoughtful romance. Where more people were involved in their happy end than they all knew.
This is definitely a story that will stay with me for a long time, it was so wonderful. And with the ending it got me curious about Easton. Finally meeting and/or getting his match.
⚾The Rulebreaker⚾
The Dugout #3
By Piper Rayne
⚾ Baseball Romance
⚾ Second Chance
⚾ Forbidden Romance
⭐ 5/5
Blurb:
I’m the coach’s daughter. Falling for one of my father's players was never the plan.
Especially not Decker Davis.
Decker, an unbelievable sweet and thoughtful man
Penelope, she can’t risk her daughter’s heart - and her own
Decker and Penelope get an emotional and thoughtful romance
I have been waiting for their romance since I read Foster’s story.
Impatiently waited and not disappointed are my first impressions after finishing the book. Decker and Penelope’s story had to be emotional, sad and full of pining and yearning. Both are characters that don’t go blindly after their feelings or desires.
Always thinking and considering what will happen. To them, to others and how it will affect relationships, friendships etc.
That love story was in the making for several, long years. And exactly that long was their love and hurt. In secret, of course.
When they finally got their chance at coming clean and working through everything that stood between them, it was amazing to see them unravel.
We get glimpses of their past, the relationship between Decker and Foster and their repairing their brotherly relationship. The deep friendship between Decker and Penelope that transformed into more slowly and the tight bond with Penelope’s dad.
With her daughter Hazel in the picture it was a really slow burn but very thoughtful romance. Where more people were involved in their happy end than they all knew.
This is definitely a story that will stay with me for a long time, it was so wonderful. And with the ending it got me curious about Easton. Finally meeting and/or getting his match.
May 9, 2026
4.75/5⭐️ 1/5🌶️
The road to their happily ever after was long, emotional, and absolutely worth every step.
Decker completely stole my heart. Years of pining, years of standing in his own way, and then that moment of clarity where everything finally clicked—once he got out of his own head, he went all in. And wow, did he deliver. The way he showed up not just for Penelope, but for Hazel too, was everything. He loved them both so naturally, as if they’d always been his. I also really appreciated getting the full backstory and resolution surrounding Foster—it added depth and closure that felt genuinely satisfying. Aside from his repeated I can’t, I can’t moments, there was honestly nothing about Decker I didn’t love.
Penelope was such a strong, grounded character. Being a single mom is hard enough, but allowing someone into your child’s life—knowing how much could be at stake—takes real courage. I admired that she gave Hazel the space to build her own bond with Decker, even when it wasn’t easy. And while Penelope may have always cared for him, she wasn’t waiting around or making it easy. She had boundaries, strength, and self-respect, which made her that much more compelling.
The meddling—from the kids—was cute. It added levity and heart without overpowering the main romance. There were also a couple of side characters I truly disliked, which only proved how well they worked as antagonists. They served their purpose without detracting from the overall warmth of the story.
That epilogue, though? After getting a glimpse of what’s coming next, I am so ready for Easton’s book.
Tropes:
Baseball Romance
Single Mom
Coach’s Daughter
Childhood Best Friends
Brother’s Ex
Mutual Pining
Thanks Piper, Rayne and Valentine PR for an eARC in exchange of my honest review.
The road to their happily ever after was long, emotional, and absolutely worth every step.
Decker completely stole my heart. Years of pining, years of standing in his own way, and then that moment of clarity where everything finally clicked—once he got out of his own head, he went all in. And wow, did he deliver. The way he showed up not just for Penelope, but for Hazel too, was everything. He loved them both so naturally, as if they’d always been his. I also really appreciated getting the full backstory and resolution surrounding Foster—it added depth and closure that felt genuinely satisfying. Aside from his repeated I can’t, I can’t moments, there was honestly nothing about Decker I didn’t love.
Penelope was such a strong, grounded character. Being a single mom is hard enough, but allowing someone into your child’s life—knowing how much could be at stake—takes real courage. I admired that she gave Hazel the space to build her own bond with Decker, even when it wasn’t easy. And while Penelope may have always cared for him, she wasn’t waiting around or making it easy. She had boundaries, strength, and self-respect, which made her that much more compelling.
The meddling—from the kids—was cute. It added levity and heart without overpowering the main romance. There were also a couple of side characters I truly disliked, which only proved how well they worked as antagonists. They served their purpose without detracting from the overall warmth of the story.
That epilogue, though? After getting a glimpse of what’s coming next, I am so ready for Easton’s book.
Tropes:
Baseball Romance
Single Mom
Coach’s Daughter
Childhood Best Friends
Brother’s Ex
Mutual Pining
Thanks Piper, Rayne and Valentine PR for an eARC in exchange of my honest review.
Review of advance copy
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Something my dad always told me is that you need to speak up for myself because no one can read your mind and know how you’re feeling. All of Decker’s problems could have been solved (or avoided) if he had received the same advice.
Penelope and Decker are the epitome of right person, wrong time. As kids who grew up together, they’ve always had a special friendship but while they both secretly wanted more, they never crossed that line. She’s his coaches daughter, he’s going to be drafted to the MLB, pesky brothers get in the way and it all leads to heart ache and years of pining for the other. Now in their 30s, Decker is still playing for Penelope’s father but in the pros and she’s now a single mother. She moves to Chicago to be near her father but she wasn’t prepared to have to face Decker again. Their walls are still up and neither one is willing to budge. Their friends want them to be together but there is still unresolved complications that they both need to work through before they can have their happily ever after.
I was pleasantly surprised by how this book played out. I imagined it being a bit more cheeky but it was a truly deep and sentimental story. The author does a fantastic job of adding in flashbacks and using a third party POV so you see why they are interacting the way they are in the present. I wanted to cry for Pen and Decker for the first half of the book and was frustrated at times because I was so invested in their relationship. There was some intense drama at the end too which really rounded out the entire story. All around a terrific read.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Something my dad always told me is that you need to speak up for myself because no one can read your mind and know how you’re feeling. All of Decker’s problems could have been solved (or avoided) if he had received the same advice.
Penelope and Decker are the epitome of right person, wrong time. As kids who grew up together, they’ve always had a special friendship but while they both secretly wanted more, they never crossed that line. She’s his coaches daughter, he’s going to be drafted to the MLB, pesky brothers get in the way and it all leads to heart ache and years of pining for the other. Now in their 30s, Decker is still playing for Penelope’s father but in the pros and she’s now a single mother. She moves to Chicago to be near her father but she wasn’t prepared to have to face Decker again. Their walls are still up and neither one is willing to budge. Their friends want them to be together but there is still unresolved complications that they both need to work through before they can have their happily ever after.
I was pleasantly surprised by how this book played out. I imagined it being a bit more cheeky but it was a truly deep and sentimental story. The author does a fantastic job of adding in flashbacks and using a third party POV so you see why they are interacting the way they are in the present. I wanted to cry for Pen and Decker for the first half of the book and was frustrated at times because I was so invested in their relationship. There was some intense drama at the end too which really rounded out the entire story. All around a terrific read.
May 8, 2026
The slow burn in this book is so real, and I ate it all up! The yearning and pining between Penelope and Decker is incredibly strong and so, so good. I felt the tension from the very first page, and it only got better as the story went on.
Decker is a whole vibe in this story, and I loved both him and the growth he experiences from childhood to adulthood. He carries so much on his shoulders with his broken family and his unstable relationship with his twin brother, Foster, the Colts’ closing pitcher.
Penelope is such a strong mom. She always puts her daughter’s needs first and foremost. I loved their relationship. Penelope knows exactly what she wants in life and refuses to settle for anything less for herself and her daughter.
I also loved the relationships between the baseball players. This is a tight-knit team that genuinely lifts each other up, along with their significant others. The found family trope is incredibly strong, and even though I haven’t read the first two books, you can still feel the love between the friends and family members. That was one of my favorite things about this book. The Chicago community also has so much love for their team, which added another layer of warmth to the story.
I adored Hazel too. As a teacher who works with younger grades, I thought she was perfect, and I loved everything about her. Even at six or seven years old, she has so much love to give to her mom, grandpa, and the rest of the teammates and their families.
This was such an enjoyable read, and I’m so happy to have found another great sports romance. Thank you to Piper Rayne and Valentine PR for the ARC of The Rulebreaker.
Decker is a whole vibe in this story, and I loved both him and the growth he experiences from childhood to adulthood. He carries so much on his shoulders with his broken family and his unstable relationship with his twin brother, Foster, the Colts’ closing pitcher.
Penelope is such a strong mom. She always puts her daughter’s needs first and foremost. I loved their relationship. Penelope knows exactly what she wants in life and refuses to settle for anything less for herself and her daughter.
I also loved the relationships between the baseball players. This is a tight-knit team that genuinely lifts each other up, along with their significant others. The found family trope is incredibly strong, and even though I haven’t read the first two books, you can still feel the love between the friends and family members. That was one of my favorite things about this book. The Chicago community also has so much love for their team, which added another layer of warmth to the story.
I adored Hazel too. As a teacher who works with younger grades, I thought she was perfect, and I loved everything about her. Even at six or seven years old, she has so much love to give to her mom, grandpa, and the rest of the teammates and their families.
This was such an enjoyable read, and I’m so happy to have found another great sports romance. Thank you to Piper Rayne and Valentine PR for the ARC of The Rulebreaker.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
After devouring the first two books in the The Dugout series, I couldn’t wait to read The Rulebreaker as well. Lucky for me, I got sent an ARC and I started reading as soon as I could.
In ‘The Rulebreaker’ we read the story of Penelope and Chicago Colts third baseman Decker Davis. Penelope and Decker find themselves in the same city again. And it’s clear to everyone around them, that there is something going on between them. Penelope and Decker have a lot of history between them, and they both try to stay away from each other. But when Decker starts to help out Penelope’s little girl.. It keeps getting harder to stay away from each other.
The Dugout series is easily starting to become my favorite sport romance series. Yes, without a doubt! I just love Piper Rayne’s writing so much. And ‘The Rulebreaker’ was definitely another great read. From the moment I first read a little about Decker Davis in one of the previous books, I was really intrigued by his character. And he didn’t disappoint!
The chemistry and the connection between Penelope and Decker was so fun to read about. I loved their characters so much. The best part about this book in my opinion was the way we get to read about the past between these characters, and the present time. And not only between Penelope and Decker, but also between Decker and his twin-brother Foster. I loved reading more about why those brothers didn’t really get along at the start of the series.
Although Penelope and Decker didn’t end up as my favorite couple in this series, I really enjoyed reading their story. They’re were definitely some moments that made me swoon. And I can’t wait to read more in this series!
In ‘The Rulebreaker’ we read the story of Penelope and Chicago Colts third baseman Decker Davis. Penelope and Decker find themselves in the same city again. And it’s clear to everyone around them, that there is something going on between them. Penelope and Decker have a lot of history between them, and they both try to stay away from each other. But when Decker starts to help out Penelope’s little girl.. It keeps getting harder to stay away from each other.
The Dugout series is easily starting to become my favorite sport romance series. Yes, without a doubt! I just love Piper Rayne’s writing so much. And ‘The Rulebreaker’ was definitely another great read. From the moment I first read a little about Decker Davis in one of the previous books, I was really intrigued by his character. And he didn’t disappoint!
The chemistry and the connection between Penelope and Decker was so fun to read about. I loved their characters so much. The best part about this book in my opinion was the way we get to read about the past between these characters, and the present time. And not only between Penelope and Decker, but also between Decker and his twin-brother Foster. I loved reading more about why those brothers didn’t really get along at the start of the series.
Although Penelope and Decker didn’t end up as my favorite couple in this series, I really enjoyed reading their story. They’re were definitely some moments that made me swoon. And I can’t wait to read more in this series!
May 10, 2026
Man I could not put this book down, it was the perfect book to read during a baseball game, and it held my attention more than a tied baseball game which is a huge achievement. Since this series started I have loved Foster and Decker’s dynamic, it has had a hold on me, so when this book started by including therapy sessions for these two, man I knew it would be a good one. Decker, Foster, and Penelope have a history, that is deep and full of young love, betrayal, jealously, and so much more, that makes the history and relationships so delicate but yet impossible to ignore.
I loved going deep into Decker and Foster’s relationship as it becomes more tension filled in therapy, but also with Decker and Penelope as they try to figure it all out. Penelope and Decker have been gravitating towards each other at each event, their friends are willing to push for something neither of them are willing to risk, and I loved how much it very much was a elephant in the room. I also loved that Penelope knew exactly what she wanted from Decker and wasn’t willing to sacrifice herself, because she wanted all of Decker, not the side of him that will sacrifice himself to protect others.
I honestly think as much as this book was Penelope and Decker’s love story, and it was so much so of the book, the reconnecting and rebuilding of Foster and Decker and them hashing it all out, which gives Decker the courage to finally go after what he wants, without regard to Foster made me love this book so much. There are definitely two love stories in this book, and both are absolutely beautiful. I love this series so much, I honestly think it’s my favorite Piper Rayne series yet!
I loved going deep into Decker and Foster’s relationship as it becomes more tension filled in therapy, but also with Decker and Penelope as they try to figure it all out. Penelope and Decker have been gravitating towards each other at each event, their friends are willing to push for something neither of them are willing to risk, and I loved how much it very much was a elephant in the room. I also loved that Penelope knew exactly what she wanted from Decker and wasn’t willing to sacrifice herself, because she wanted all of Decker, not the side of him that will sacrifice himself to protect others.
I honestly think as much as this book was Penelope and Decker’s love story, and it was so much so of the book, the reconnecting and rebuilding of Foster and Decker and them hashing it all out, which gives Decker the courage to finally go after what he wants, without regard to Foster made me love this book so much. There are definitely two love stories in this book, and both are absolutely beautiful. I love this series so much, I honestly think it’s my favorite Piper Rayne series yet!
May 6, 2026
ARC Review ✨
First I would like to say a big thank you to Piper Rayne for letting me be a part of this ARC Team!
Rate: 4.5/5⭐️
Spice: 1.5/5🌶️
What to expect when reading ;
-Brothers Ex
-Childhood Friends x Lovers
-Single Mom
-Coaches Daughter
-Second Chance
This is book three of the Dugout series! You get to follow Decker, Penelope and little Hazel! Decker has a lot going on in his life right now; contract renewal, childhood friends is back in the same city as him and trying to reconnect with his brother. Penelope is the coaches daughter and has history with his third baseman. With not only her heart on the line but her daughters too, what is the right way to go about this new era in her life.
They loaded this book with so many twist I was literally like no way up until the very end lol I mean the hashtag, freakin genius!!! I’m honestly so glad Decker had his moment and how they built it up for him. It was seriously the perfect storyline for him. They definitely had their build up which was nice because you got more depth about their pasts. I loved the dynamic between Penelope, Hazel and Decker but I think I have to say my favorite thing might have been between the brothers! Decker and Forster! Seeing the growth from book two, they made my heart so full 🥹 Like way to pull at my heartstrings with those parts
Side notes:
-I need a second gen book/ series because if Bodhi doesn’t get a book I can no longer be😂
Make sure you get your copy of the book when it releases 🤍
#bookstagram #romance #review
First I would like to say a big thank you to Piper Rayne for letting me be a part of this ARC Team!
Rate: 4.5/5⭐️
Spice: 1.5/5🌶️
What to expect when reading ;
-Brothers Ex
-Childhood Friends x Lovers
-Single Mom
-Coaches Daughter
-Second Chance
This is book three of the Dugout series! You get to follow Decker, Penelope and little Hazel! Decker has a lot going on in his life right now; contract renewal, childhood friends is back in the same city as him and trying to reconnect with his brother. Penelope is the coaches daughter and has history with his third baseman. With not only her heart on the line but her daughters too, what is the right way to go about this new era in her life.
They loaded this book with so many twist I was literally like no way up until the very end lol I mean the hashtag, freakin genius!!! I’m honestly so glad Decker had his moment and how they built it up for him. It was seriously the perfect storyline for him. They definitely had their build up which was nice because you got more depth about their pasts. I loved the dynamic between Penelope, Hazel and Decker but I think I have to say my favorite thing might have been between the brothers! Decker and Forster! Seeing the growth from book two, they made my heart so full 🥹 Like way to pull at my heartstrings with those parts
Side notes:
-I need a second gen book/ series because if Bodhi doesn’t get a book I can no longer be😂
Make sure you get your copy of the book when it releases 🤍
#bookstagram #romance #review
Review of advance copy
❤️ Blurb -
I’m the coach’s daughter. Falling for one of my father's players was never the plan.
Especially not Decker Davis.
Chicago Colts third baseman.
Dependable. Steady. The guy everyone trusts.
And the man who’s spent years keeping his distance—especially from me.
We have history. The kind that ten years and a thousand miles can’t touch.
So, this time, I promised myself I'd be smarter.
No getting attached. No blurred lines. And definitely, no falling.
He broke every last one within the first week.
Because Decker doesn’t just show up for me. He shows up for my daughter.
Because he fits into our lives like he was always meant to be there.
Because he looks at me like I was never something he wanted to lose.
And suddenly, the walls I've spent years building don't feel nearly as solid as they used to.
But if I let him in, I’m not just risking my heart—I’m risking hers too… and I already know what losing him costs.
I won’t let my daughter pay that price.
🩵 Review -
I'm really enjoying this series so far and The Rule breaker certainly didn't disappoint. From the very first page I was hooked and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. The story was cute and easy to follow and had a great cast of characters. I also loved the main characters chemistry and I wanted them to have their happy ending. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Hambright PR and the author Piper Rayne for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I’m the coach’s daughter. Falling for one of my father's players was never the plan.
Especially not Decker Davis.
Chicago Colts third baseman.
Dependable. Steady. The guy everyone trusts.
And the man who’s spent years keeping his distance—especially from me.
We have history. The kind that ten years and a thousand miles can’t touch.
So, this time, I promised myself I'd be smarter.
No getting attached. No blurred lines. And definitely, no falling.
He broke every last one within the first week.
Because Decker doesn’t just show up for me. He shows up for my daughter.
Because he fits into our lives like he was always meant to be there.
Because he looks at me like I was never something he wanted to lose.
And suddenly, the walls I've spent years building don't feel nearly as solid as they used to.
But if I let him in, I’m not just risking my heart—I’m risking hers too… and I already know what losing him costs.
I won’t let my daughter pay that price.
🩵 Review -
I'm really enjoying this series so far and The Rule breaker certainly didn't disappoint. From the very first page I was hooked and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. The story was cute and easy to follow and had a great cast of characters. I also loved the main characters chemistry and I wanted them to have their happy ending. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Hambright PR and the author Piper Rayne for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy
Decker may be my favorite Colt so far!
Penelope and Decker have a past, including a great friendship, but things are currently strained between them and they avoid being in the same space alone together. Anyone with eyes can see they’re meant for one another and that may be a problem. Especially because Penelope’s a single mother and her father’s Decker’s head coach. But as the story unravels, we get a glimpse into the past but also into the healing Decker’s going through with his twin. So what happens when their relationship is outed but Decker doesn’t have a new contract with the Colts?
Decker and Penelope (and Hazel!) get their happy ending in this semi-standalone book in a series.
While there is enough context in this book, I would highly recommend reading The Wild Card at least first before diving into this book for some extra background of what’s going on.
I loved that we got to see bits from Penelope and Decker’s past and how it affected their present lives, but also how everything exploded for them as well. I completely forgot how old Penelope’s daughter was for a moment and wondered if she was Decker or Forest’s child. Years didn’t line up for that but I loved seeing both men as dads in this book! I do wonder what Penelope’s father would have thought of the two of them together back in college, or high school even, when Decker was too worried about dating the coach’s daughter then. And I can’t wait for the last book to see about what was revealed in the epilogue!
I received an advanced review copy from Hambright PR, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Penelope and Decker have a past, including a great friendship, but things are currently strained between them and they avoid being in the same space alone together. Anyone with eyes can see they’re meant for one another and that may be a problem. Especially because Penelope’s a single mother and her father’s Decker’s head coach. But as the story unravels, we get a glimpse into the past but also into the healing Decker’s going through with his twin. So what happens when their relationship is outed but Decker doesn’t have a new contract with the Colts?
Decker and Penelope (and Hazel!) get their happy ending in this semi-standalone book in a series.
While there is enough context in this book, I would highly recommend reading The Wild Card at least first before diving into this book for some extra background of what’s going on.
I loved that we got to see bits from Penelope and Decker’s past and how it affected their present lives, but also how everything exploded for them as well. I completely forgot how old Penelope’s daughter was for a moment and wondered if she was Decker or Forest’s child. Years didn’t line up for that but I loved seeing both men as dads in this book! I do wonder what Penelope’s father would have thought of the two of them together back in college, or high school even, when Decker was too worried about dating the coach’s daughter then. And I can’t wait for the last book to see about what was revealed in the epilogue!
I received an advanced review copy from Hambright PR, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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