Cut Shot

Chicago Cats #2

by Katie Steele

Sammie Mills is broke. Working as the head brewer for a local craft brewery pays the bills, sure, but when repairs for her grandmother’s house start to mount, her meager savings quickly begins to shrink.

Kieran McCullough, outside hitter and captain of the Chicago Wildcats, makes a decent living playing volleyball, not to mention his secret side gig. All he wants is to stay on the court a little longer, but his parents have other plans for him. Plans that involve giving up that dream.

When Sammie stumbles upon Kieran’s online persona as a cam boy, she jumps at the opportunity to collaborate with him. Nevermind that they were childhood friends, that he is her brother’s teammate, or that he broke her heart ten years ago. When their videos together begin to pad her bank account, Sammie is more than willing to push aside the feelings she’s held onto after all this time.

With the end of the season approaching and the championship tournament on the line, Kieran’s time to make a decision is dwindling. Feelings he’s never experienced with anyone but Sammie only add to the pressure. And while Sammie may have found a solution to her money problems, keeping her work with Kieran a secret only leads to new troubles. As the tension between them builds with every video they make, Sammie and Kieran each begin to realize they might have gotten in a little over their heads.

Genres: Romance

414 pages, Paperback

Published March 6, 2026

Reviews

[Camden Lanier · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES YES YES YES READ IT READ IT READ IT YES YES YES YES

[Marie Honey Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books you daydream about when you're not reading it. It flows, it's easy, and all the sudden you're halfway through and debating on calling into work to finish it. I adored how much more we got to see our two favorite boys from Double Hit (book 1) while we got to know Sammie and Kieran. The intention behind representation in the world Katie Steele is creating is beautiful in the best way - both sexual representation and sex work were not sensationalized, but built with layers of complexity and threads woven throughout relationships, real dialogue, struggles with family - all things anyone with a "secret" might feel deep in their bones. Just like finishing Double Hit, I'll be wondering what these characters are up to long after closing Cut Shot. Til the next one, Cats!

[Reading_with_AAron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kieran is so freaking hot!!! That poor sweetheart had way too much stress on him. Sammie is smoking hot and not at all what I was expecting from Atticus’s twin!

I once again have had the pleasure of arc reading for Katie and love her world so much! Both books in the Chicago Cats series are must reads for fans of volleyball, sports romance, and lgbtqia+ reads! I can’t wait for the next book in the series, thank you so much for including me in your journey!

[Venus Dott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say I really loved Sammie and Kieran’s story so much. I love how we get the flashbacks to t heir teenage years, and seeing how Sammie’s feelings for Kieran developed. Taking the time to delve into some of the nitt gritty of Sammie’s relationships with her brother, her grandmother, her childhood friends, and of course Kieran really gave so much more meaning to a lot of Sammie’s actions and reactions to events that where happening around and to her.
Sammie is a powerful woman, a force to be reckoned with. Holding down a fantastic career that she loves as a brewmaster, while trying to maintain the home she grew up int that was passed down to her frorm her grandmother. Life doesn’t slow down for Sammie, never seeming to give her a break when things start to get out of her control. Her long held feelings for Kieran combined with how she grew up in fear and isolation due to her queerness, makes it easy to understand her reactions to cut and run with things start to turn south in any kind of relationship
Kieran has a lot to shoulder with his ailing father, his mother pressuring him to retire from the sport that he turned into a career that he loves to take over the family farm. It’s a wonder how he managed to keep him self together to hold on to his Captain position for the Wild Cats. Kieran finding joy in sex work, gives him an outlet for some of his stress and creative ideas; along with the paycheck from it that helps supplement his income, as professional volleyball doesn’t pay as much as other professional sports.
Kieran being Demiroamntic, needing well that established deep emotional connection with Sammie before he’s really able to recognize what his feelings toward her are turning into was a beautiful example of how being demiromantic / demisexul can affect the realationships a person forms and how they connect to people around them.


**I did initially get this as an ARC, but due to sudden issues with a close family member’s health, I was delayed in reading and getting my review out, which I am disappointed in myself for. But thankfully things are getting better so hopefully all of reviews will be on track again shortly!**

[That One Romance Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

*ARC Review* Thank you for the copy!

Intro:
This book is an FM romance between Sammie, a beer brewer still in love with her brother's best friend and Kieran, a professional volleyball player and Sammie's brother's best friend


Tropes/Highlights:
-FM
-Dual POV
-Open Door Spice
-Sports Player/Beer Brewer
-Demi/Bi Rep
-Adult Video Content
-He Reads Romance
-HEA


Likes:
-Twins/sibling relationship
-Group chats, very funny
-Atticus + Kia
-Unique job for FMC
-Supportive side characters
-Flashback chapters of the past


Dislikes:
-The chapter POVs are not broken up by anything so they bleed into each other and it gets confusing
-The parents, very selfish/annoying characters
-Too much "I can't have him, but I love him", got too repetitive


Quotes:
-"Maybe I'll dig a hole and hide in it until the heat death of the universe, who's to say"
-"It's hard, Knowing that something about yourself, something you love, has to stay hidden just to keep the peace"
-"He was strong, brave, everything she wanted to be, and she was so, so proud of him"
-"Let me know if anything else happens between our two paternal morons"
-"It was never going to be me, Sammie, and I'm okay with that"
-"Letting it go doesn't take away the memories. And holding onto it doesn't keep the pain at bay"
-"You deserve to be chased, Sammie"

This is the first book I have read from this author and I had a hard time getting through it. I enjoyed it in the beginning, but then everything got boring for me. The MCs weren't together for over 95% of the book and the yearning was one sided the whole time. I couldn't connect with either MC, but I loved Atticus and Kai. I need more emotional connection in my romances and this wasn't a bad book by any means, it just wasn't my cup of tea. If you are looking for a slow pace story with a Bi baddie trying to hide her feelings for her childhood friend, while both MCs struggle with their own turmoil, then you might like this book.

[Adeselna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for the ARC

“Cut Shot” continues the series of the Chicago Cats, this time with Atticus’ twin, Sammie, and Kieran. Kieran plays for the Chicago Cats, but since he needs more money, he secretly creates adult content. Sammie finds out it’s him and since she also needs money to renovate her grandmother’s house, they start creating content together. Sammie has always loved Kieran, but he broke her heart, and now she cannot allow herself to fall for him again. But this time, things are different…

Both Sammie and Kieran are adorable, but the true standout of this novel is definitely the group chats! They’re hilarious and so genuine, you can feel the chaos from each character. Instead of being a distraction from the plot, they add a lot of dimension to the characters. It was nice to see Atticus and Kai again, now that their relationship more solid, they were adorable together.

Kieran is a huge green flag character! He reads romance, he’s kind, patient, and totally in love with Sammie, even though he seems kind of blind to that fact. We know he’s falling, everyone around him knows, except him and Sammie. He does everything for Sammie, he yearns for her, and yet he’s oblivious that it’s love. Sammie, on the other hand, knows she has feelings for Kieran and she’s really hoping to put some boundaries so she doesn’t hurt herself. She just wants to have enough money to fix the house. While Sammie is not oblivious to her feeling, she reminisces a lot about how the end of their deal and therefore of their relationship and how she cannot have it more with Kieran because he broke her heart years ago and this is just a business transaction. Sammie is far from perfect. She makes a lot of mistakes that hurt herself, but also her friends, sometimes she’s really way over her head, and Atticus is someone that makes her stay grounded to the floor.

“Cut Shot” is mostly two idiots in love, but for different reasons: Kieran because he’s so slow about realising his feelings, and Sammie not believing that Kieran is falling heads and heels for her. In the middle of the chaos, the secondary characters are clearly the strongest part of the romance, since they offer a comic relief that is so honest and adorable, we just hope they will make a comeback in the next books.

[Jocey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute friends to lovers with a handful of my favorite microtropes! It was a lot more thoughtful and hopeful when it comes to the terms of dealing with grief, loss and internal family struggles. One of my favorite things about this book, apart from the romantic relationship with Kieran and Sammie, is how our main characters interact with their family, showing the spectrum of how close and distant they can be just from everything that life come to them with and how they handle it. Each of our main characters had their blood family and their found family that all helped out with their healing journey, which was beautiful, especially with Sammie with her grandmother and all of the things left unsaid. Everything about the characters interactions felt so sincere, genuine and raw in how they are all still learning and healing.

ALSO, Kieran and Sammie were so damn cute and friends to lovers holds a special place in my heart! I really felt for Kieran while he was struggling to understand how connection to romantic relationships and felt that his internal struggles were depicted pretty thoughtful and beautifully. And even though Sammie was struggling with her own emotions towards Kieran and her life, at the end, Sammie was able to take a leap of faith for Kieran and finally be chased by the man she loved. I very much enjoyed this book!~

[Mel | Hot Plots and One Shots · Rating 4 out of 5]

A TWINKIE?! A Twinkie?!

In one sentence: A Cam Boy helps his best friend's sister make lots of money.

If you're a fan of slow burns and mutual pining, drop everything and read Cut Shot right now!
The characters are complex, dealing with real sh-t that we can all relate to in one form or another.
The plot is spicy and multi-layered.

Read if you love:
💜 Bi-MC's
💜 Brother's Best Friend
💜 Childhood Friends
💜 Family Trauma
💜 Sports Romance
💜 Quiet Yearning
💜 Cam "Couple"
💜 Contractual Boundaries
💜 A beer dildo
💜 One grand gesture

Thank you to the author for allowing me to read Cut Shot early. I loved every second!

Instagram |
StoryGraph |
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[Alice Cumming · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m starting to have a love hate relationship with indie authors and their books because I didn’t find this book super fun to read but there are just elements missing that an editor shouldn’t miss. Like some typos and inconsistencies.

I did like the book, I think the premise was fun albeit not unique, it did have unique sub points like volleyball captain x beer brewer bisexual. So that I enjoyed, and I loved the in depth talk about queerness and identity and acceptance with family and friends, I found that both emotional and moving.

Sammie has had a crush on childhood best friend forEVER and when she notices a spicy ad might just be him, she confesses her money issues and asks to join. Thus begins a time of spicy camera filming and it only gets hotter from there. But underlying feelings brew and friendships will be tested.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy (don't worry I already pre-ordered my real copy).

I loved this book. The accurate portrayal of sex workers, the family drama (still need more info of Garrett and Grant's disagreement), and the main characters absolutely adoring each other from childhood until today was very well done. I loved that Sammie was the more dominant one in the relationship, but never failed to meeting Kieran with where he was at. Cut Shot has some of the best dialogue and scenarios I've read recently (like the end of the book had me cackling).

I never thought I'd be a sports romance girlie, but this series convinces me there's more to the genre then my silly hockey romances and I can't wait for more (specifically whatever is going on with Ivy/Kenna and Bowen).

[Jordan C · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOD! it’s only february, and this book could easily be my top read of 2026. i was SWOONING over these characters. laughing, crying, kicking my feet. i love them so much. where do i even go from here???

tropes:
• childhood friends to lovers
• brother’s best friend
• they make 🌶️ content together
• BI PANIC BC YOU’LL FALL IN LOVE WITH BOTH OF THEM!!!

[sunshine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ rounded up

[Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally rated this a 4*, but after leaving it for a couple days I changed my rating to 5* because I can't stop thinking about it. I can't say enough nice things about this book. I literally could not put down this book after I picked it up. ( Seriously, I was reading a paperback copy in my hotel room at a convention, had to turn out the lights and bought a kindle copy so I didn't have to stop reading in the dark.) I know this book just came out, but I already cannot wait for who's story gets told next (I'm personally hoping for the FMC's BFF and the MMC's sassy cousin). This book has queer rep, a badass female brewer, a cinnamon roll volleyball pro/cam boy and childhood friends turned lovers. There's a little bit of something for everyone in here. Just read it!

[Katie Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for Sammie’s ass \(‘0’)/