Strikeout

LA Suns #1

by Allie Blake

Isabella Rossi loves her job. Or, at least, she did. When a staffing shortage hits her company, she’s put in charge of the sports assignment with the promise of her dream promotion in the future. With zero interest in sports, she’s now given a front row seat to L.A.’s professional baseball team, the Suns.
 
Ryan Fletcher is the star player of the team and overall golden boy. All he wants is to win the World Series this season… until Isabella sets foot on the field. Now, all he wants is her.
 
Isa’s work contract doesn’t allow them to be romantically involved, but that doesn’t stop Ryan from finding a loophole: be her friend.
 
But is a friendship really enough? The more they get to know each other, the harder it is to stay away.
 
Can they keep things between them platonic, or will they strikeout?



Strikeout is a spicy workplace/forbidden sports romance with black cat x golden retriever vibes, he falls first, all the banter, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Genres: Forced Proximity, Workplace Romance

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2026

Reviews

[Madison Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Allie Blake for the arc!

This book is such a warm and fuzzy read. Isa is such a black cat and I love how her personality warms up to Ryan so quickly. Ryan is the perfect golden retriever man who will do anything and everything for Isa.

I loved the different walk-up songs for the many states of the friendship and relationship.

Favorite quotes:
“‘You want a label, firecracker? I’ll give you any label you want. Just say the word. Girlfriend? It’s been yours. Wife? That can be yours too.’”

“‘Just because it’s a male dominated industry doesn’t mean you’re any less excellent at your job simply because you don’t have a dick.’”

[Sehaj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Allie Blake for the ARC.

3.5⭐️

Strikeout follows the story of Isabella, newly in charge of a sports assignment (even though she kind of knows nothing of sports) and Ryan, a baseball player with a single goal of winning the World Series this year. None of them can really afford distractions especially when one of Isabella’s work stipulation is to not have any kind of romantic relationship with any player, but Ryan is hell bent on being her friend and maybe also convince her to go on a single date with him. Isabella doesn’t want to jeopardize her job (the one she thinks she likes) and Ryan only wants one single chance with her.

I loved this book so much, it’s the perfect book to get out of a slump. I loved the characters immensely and their cute little moments (especially the little text messages threads they had going on), though sometimes it felt like the pacing was kind of slow. The writing was immersive and the presence of side characters in certain moments didn’t feel forced.

Overall I enjoyed the book and I’m definitely going to read book two when it comes out.

[Jenna Kell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey so I loved every second of this. When this comes out YOU ALL BETTER READ IT. Ryan fletcher the acts of service man that you are!!!!! Huge thanks for my girl Tammy for gifting me this beautiful ARC. And huge thanks to Allie Blake for writing this beauty!!!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Allie and I enjoyed it! I'm definitely coming into my baseball romance era, and I was so glad to add this one to my roster (pun intended). Isa and Ryan were absolutely adorable together, both when they were just friends and once they finally got into a romantic relationship. I loved that Ryan was so determined to be Isa's friend, especially if that's all he could ever be to her. That never stopped his determination to make her more than just his friend, but he also respected her reasoning for not wanting to be in a romantic relationship and never pushed her. Isa eventually realized that she wanted more from Ryan, but it was great to see her finally let him into her life as a friend first. They really grew their relationship from the ground up, as it were, and it was great to see them get so close as friends before ever taking it further. Isa was the one to initiate their romantic relationship, but I loved that because Ryan had known from the start that Isa was hesitating because of a no fraternization clause in her work contract, so he was willing to stay friends if that was all Isa ever wanted. However, after becoming so close to Ryan, Isa decided she wanted more and took it upon herself to show him that she was willing to take the risk with him once she was ready. I loved the dynamic between these two because they really were friends first and they stayed friends even after they got together, which was great to see. This was a great story and I can't wait to see what might happen next with the LA Suns!


Thank you, Allie, for providing me with an ARC!

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. I couldn’t put it down. Ryan is so patient, kind, loyal…and I could keep going. He was determined from the beginning to make Isa his and he eventually succeeds. Isa is thrown for a loop when her boss assigns her to lead the TV production security for sports. After all, she knows nothing about sports and isn’t athletic. She wants that promotion though so she accepts and works hard to learn. On her first night, she meets Ryan. She obviously puts up her walls because she doesn’t want to be fired. But honestly, she’s used to putting up walls so tearing them down is hard for her. Luckily, Ryan is so friendly and lovable that he slowly chips away at them. It’s their friendship that helps Isa eventually see that Ryan is perfect for her. Her best friends have been telling her that for a while, but she kept telling herself that Ryan couldn’t be anything other than a friend. I love when she lets go and lets their relationship develop romantically. It was so nice to see how sweet Ryan was to her. Such a cute romance to read.

Favorite quote: “People change, Isa. Just because it used to bring you joy, doesn’t mean it still does.”

[EllieGraceReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot tell you how excited I was to find this book in my inbox unexpectedly!!!

Ryan Fletcher is the definition of down BAD and i’m obsessed! He is so gone for Isa the moment he meets her and is a true golden retriever book boyfriend! I just want to protect the man at all costs!
My favourite thing about this book was the way Ryan would express himself with his walk up song choices, I love this man.

Isa is a girl boss and I love this about her! It takes some time for her to let Ryan in but it’s so worth it. I loved seeing how her character develops throughout the story and work through her internalised issues.

Ryan and Isa are just so cute together, I loved their first date and every moment after! Can’t wait to see glimpses of them in the future.

I love all the friendships, especially the guys on the team, and can’t wait to see everyones books!

I’m declaring it now though, Cooper Lennox is the love of my life and i need a book for him YESTERDAY!

Thank you Allie for the ARC🫶🏻

[Ivana Loustalot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strikeout has such strong Hallmark movie vibes! Cozy, cute, and totally lovable 💕
I really liked Isa and her feisty personality. She’s so obsessed with her work, and her pantsuits 😆 It was really funny reading her try so hard to avoid becoming friends with Ryan… and fail.
And Ryan... he’s basically perfect. Maybe too perfect? But honestly, how could anyone not fall for him? He’s the definition of a dreamy book boyfriend ✨
I loved all the little details: the songs, the texts, and the 20 questions (especially that last one!!!).
Also… be warned: there are a LOT of spicy moments between them 🔥
If you’re in the mood for a light, romantic read with a forbidden relationship, silly friends, and tons of sports references, this is definitely your next pick!

Check out the Tropes:
💕 Baseball Player x Security FMC
💕 Forced Proximity
💕 Forbidden Relationship
💕 Slow Burn with Spice
💕 Found Family
💕 Black Cat x Golden Retriever

[Mellany Corona Nunez · Rating 4 out of 5]

⋆ ₊ ‧ ° 𐐪 ♡ 𐑂 ° ₊ ⋆ ₊

First off, a huge thank you to Allie Blake for an advanced copy of the book !!

⋆ ₊ ‧ ° 𐐪 ♡ 𐑂 ° ₊ ⋆ ₊

[ 🦢 My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 Stars !! ]

Review:
I read this book while in the middle of a reading slump and found it getting me out of it!! I enjoyed the story soooo much.

Isabella and Ryan are so cute and I ended up really liking their characters! I absolutely adored the way that Ryan was determined to be her friend and break through her walls, but still respected her boundaries and choices. He is such a book boyfriend and I love him sm. Isabella is such a hardworking woman and I love the way that she allowed him in and took a chance!

The secondary and background characters were also so fun to read and I loved the little interactions that they had with the fmc and mmc!!

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to give it a reread.

⋆ ₊ ‧ ° 𐐪 ♡ 𐑂 ° ₊ ⋆ ₊

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Ryan brings the biggest golden retriever energy to this black (gray?) cat who is Isa. She doesn’t hate him; she just doesn’t want to get fired for “fraternization” when she’s head of security for the sports division of her company. She tries so hard not to like him, but she just can’t help herself when he starts doing little things like taking her for burgers after the home games and using his walkout song to speak just to her.

A fun read for fans of baseball romance, forbidden love, forced proximity, and some spice.

3.5⭐

[L.P. Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Allie, for the sweet opportunity to ARC read Ryan and Isa’s story in Strikeout!

I was excited to get my hands on this story as baseball is near and dear to my heart. It was such a cute tale following the forbidden aspect of a budding romance where Ryan fell exceptionally hard for Isa. Their banter and the gold retriever/black cat mentality was a great fit, even in the moments when they both just "knew" things changed for them. With this being my first ever baseball romance, it did not disappoint and I can’t wait to see where this series leads us next!

[Dawn Smit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Allie for letting me ARC read your book 😍 I devoured it in one sitting.

Such a cute Hallmark vibes story but with plenty of spice

Ryan was an absolute all star book boyfriend, Isa was a strong badass fmc, the banter between these two was seriously off the charts fun to read and their chemistry was 🥵

The friend groups were great and I hope they all get their own books, especially Cooper

Definitely add this to your TBR

❤️ How I Rate Books
⭐ didn't like it
⭐⭐ it was ok
⭐⭐⭐ I liked it
⭐⭐⭐⭐Loved it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazing! Will reread!

[Kimberly (Kimsbookaddiction) · Rating 5 out of 5]

🧢ARC Review⚾️

Allie wrote this for all of the millennial girlies! 🙌🏽 She had me when there was a reaction to the FMC watching A League of Their Own for the first time! Also, the walk up song selections and the fact that Isa’s favorite movie being She’s the Man made this book so relatable and enjoyable.

I loved Ryan’s golden retriever energy. His persistence was done in such a cute way not a desperate and annoying way. Their chemistry was undeniable and the spice in the book was 🧑‍🍳💋

I can see myself reading much more from this author and especially this series. 10/10 would recommend

[claire wilband · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to allie Blake for the arc of this book! I don’t read many sports romances but this one hooked me from the start.
Isa and Ryan were definitely meant to be. This was a cute romance story and definitely lighter in subject matter than some of the other books I’ve read recently. While isa and Ryan faced challenges of their own it was clear they’d be together from the moment he saved her from the baseball 💜 love a HEA.

[Sarah McVeigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for this ARC!
Strikeout consumed my every thought whilst reading (and probably for a long time after). This has been a greatly anticipated read for me and I wasn’t disappointed!
Allie has done everything right with Strikeout, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
Suns fan forever ✌🏻

[Samantha Fujisaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strikeout by Allie Blake was a cute baseball romance that I recently got an ARC for. Isabella works in security and was hired to keep an eye on the tv production crew that regularly showcased the Los Angeles Suns, the team Ryan plays for. Their romance is forbidden. So of course it makes for some steamy fun 😉 this is the first book in her LA Suns series and I am excited for the rest of the series!

4 stars from me!

Strikeout releases on June 25th ❤️ so only 10 more days!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC

Storyline: Isa works security for the broadcast company at a baseball stadium. Ryan is a star player. Her contract prohibits her from forming a romantic relationship with anyone at work... obviously is a romance novel so you know where it goes.

What I liked: The dialogue and chemistry.

What I didn't like: Ryan was a little too eager.

Spice: 3/5

[Kairy Tale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must Read for all Sports Romance Lovers !
I devoured this wonderful piece of a book! It's incredibly entertaining and the banter is spot on. Isa is so feisty and Ryan is a perfect golden retriever. The spice scenes of the book are chef's kiss 🤌🏻
If you need something to read and relax this summer, this is the book.

[Claire Buchanan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kudos to anyone who writes a book and gets it published but this one needed some heavy edits that were missed. This was a little formulaic and felt as though too many micro tropes were thrown together rather than focusing on a few

[Hollie Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fun, lighthearted read with moments that left me laughing. Isa and Ryan's relationship was very sweet and healthy, with plenty of banter and sarcasm thrown in for good measure!

[Eirena Ewert · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

What a great story! I love when a man knows exactly what he wants and works his bum off for it. I love when a woman is resistant, though she knows it will be for her, and falls hard for the man working hard for her.

I enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to the next in the series!

[LeeAnn Lyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ryan Fletcher is a golden retriever to a “T”. This man is absolutely perfection. I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in this series!

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entretenido.

[Maria Oniscu · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was cute but didn’t really love the writing style and the characters lowkey annoyed me.

[Amber Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strikeout by Allie Blake completely won me over. As someone who’s loved baseball since I was a kid, I ate up every bit of the sports detail woven through this book—it never felt like window dressing, it felt like Blake actually gets the game. Combine that with her gift for pacing—every chapter ends on a hook that makes it impossible to put down—and I was hooked from page one.

The chemistry between the leads crackles off the page, and the emotional depth really stands out too. Beneath the swoony romance is a genuine, well-earned story about vulnerability and second chances. The banter is sharp, the tension is real, and the ending left me grinning.

If you love sports romance with heart and humor in equal measure—especially if baseball has a special place in your heart like it does mine—this one’s an easy recommend. Five stars, no notes!

[booksadoodle (Tammy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is nothing I love more this time of year than a spicy baseball romance ⚾️❤️, and even better when that baseball romance has me giggling out loud and kicking my feet with the amount of witty banter, forced proximity, longing, pop culture references, and characters that you can easily fall in love with. This is that and so much more. Ryan is the golden retriever book boyfriend that we all love, who falls first & hard, and pulls out all the stops to win over the girl. Isabella “Isa” is that black cat 🐈‍⬛ with feisty attitude who is driven to succeed in a “man’s world” career and cannot be distracted by something like love……until Ryan wears down her resolve. I devoured this one!! The humor had me laughing 🤣 so many times that I definitely got some funny looks from those around me, the spicy was spicing 🌶️🥵 just like we love, and the friend group is epic. You will definitely want to add this one to your summer TBR!!! Thank you so much to Allie Blake for the opportunity to review this e-ARC! I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

[Renee Oquinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely fun and lovable sports romance with golden retriever MMC and forbidden workplace romance