The Hotshot

The Dugout #1

by Piper Rayne, J.F. Harding (Narrator), C.J. Bloom (Narrator)

Raising my cousin’s three kids wasn’t in my five-year plan.

Actually, it wasn’t in any plan.

One minute I’m a single labor and delivery nurse living a quiet life and the next, I’m navigating guardianship hearings, meltdowns, and homework I’m pretty sure requires a math degree.

Enter Hayes Carlisle.

My best friend’s older brother.

Chicago Colts newest catcher.

And the man I once kissed and immediately pretended I didn’t.

So, when the custody battle I’ve been dreading becomes a reality, I shouldn’t be surprised that Hayes swoops in with a wild idea—a fake relationship. According to him, pretending we’re together will polish his image and prove to the court I’m not taking on an instant family alone.

But pretending to be Hayes’ girlfriend is a terrible idea.

Because he remembers how to make me laugh.

Because he looks at me like our kiss wasn’t a one-time mistake.

Because the kids start asking him to read bedtime stories.

Because my heart starts wanting things my life doesn’t have room for.

I can manage the chaos. I can fight for these kids.

But pretending not to fall for Hayes Carlisle?

That might be the one thing I can’t do.

Genres: Sports Romance, Romance, Sports, Audiobook, Fake Dating, Baseball, Friends To Lovers

Audible Audio

First published February 17, 2026

About the author

Piper 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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Our Books: We do things in 3’s. Three best friends. Three hot heroes. Three HEA’s.

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Reviews

[Piper Rayne]

Available now!

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
https://books2read.com/thshot

Duet Narration by: JF Harding & CJ Bloom
Also Featuring: Teddy Hamilton, Sean Masters, Connor Crais, Erin Mallon, Willa Jaymes, Meg Sylvan & Austin Stone

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/41QEV0V

[Anila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great start to the series!

I have always been a fan of Piper Rayne’s writing. Their books are easy to read and with how short the chapters are, it feels like I’m flying through the story. I’m not a fan of baseball so that didn’t really appeal to me and I barely understood what was happening during the games, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this sports romance.

The male lead Hayes was super sweet, charming and fun. He was just a good guy who was willing to do anything to help out the woman he has been pining for since he was a teenager. The female lead Leighton was kind, patient and hardworking. It is not easy raising three kids and yet she was a great mom to them. The pacing of the book was also perfect and I thought the romance progressed so naturally between Hayes and Leighton. The third act breakup was kind of rushed though. It would have been better to have a few more chapters to resolve their issues imo.

As for the supporting characters, the really stood out in this book. I can’t wait to see how each of Hayes’ teammates get their HEA. The banter and teasing between them was so good. I also loved the relationship that developed between Hayes and Leighton and the kids. It was heartwarming how they all became a family.

All in all, I had an amazing time reading this book! I’m a little worried going into book two since it includes a trope I absolutely but we’ll see!

[Grace Quan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was super cute, but nothing really special. But it did save me from slipping into a slump so that counts for something!

[Brooke ✌︎㋡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚾️🧢 WELCOME TO THE DUGOUT! 🧢⚾️

Holy forking shirt balls people! I shipped Leighton and Hayes so freaking hard! This has to now be my favorite book so far that I’ve read by Piper Rayne and let me tell ya, this author duo has it DOWN.

This series will be 4 books and will all be out by the end of June!

Hayes will make you melt because not only has he been thinking about Leighton since FOREVER, but he readily jumps in and helps after Leighton unexpectedly is granted custody of 3 young children. Talk about a knight in shining armor. The way Hayes, who is also a professional baseball player, just latches onto the kids and the situation as a whole has you swooning.

Leighton finds herself having to possibly fight for the custody and this is where the fake dating comes into play. Not to spoil anything, but they were hardly successful at fake dating because feelings were already in play from pretty much when Hayes stepped into the house and into the Leighton’s and the kiddos’ lives. You gotta read this!

Favorite parts of the book?
1. The spice was on point! 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
2. the banter! 5/5
3. The interaction between Hayes and his teammates (they’re hilarious yall)

I highly recommend this book and cannot WAIT for the rest of the series to come out! I’m so glad they’re all coming out this year too!!! Aaahhh!

Thank you so much to Hambright PR and Authors Piper and Rayne for the amazing opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review!

TROPES ✨
⚾️ Baseball Romance
🤫 Fake Relationship
👀 Best Friend’s Brother
🙋‍♂️ He Falls First
👩‍👧‍👧 Single Guardian
🤞🏼Close Proximity

[Kelsey reviews•books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know what it is about a single parent/guardian book and the MC who loves them, but it does something TO ME. This had a great balance of plot, romance, spice, and sports.
This is book 1 in an incomplete series that is slated to come out throughout 2026.

▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★ out of 5
▹Format: eReader and 🎧Audiobook (Duet/cast narration by CJ Bloom and JF Harding with Teddy Hamilton, Sean Masters, Connor Crais, Erin Mallon, Willa Jaymes, Meg Sylvan and Austin Stone. Narration rating: 5/5)
Thank you so much to authors Piper Rayne and Hambright PR for the gifted ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review. This was such a blast!
─────────────────────────

○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○

– About: Leighton’s life is turned upside-down when she becomes the guardian of her cousin’s three children. But when another family member starts a custody battle, Leighton’s family and best friend step up to support her, along with her best friend’s older brother, Hayes, who has also been her long-time crush. How does Hayes help? By fake dating her of course! But how can something that feels so real be fake?
– FMC: Leighton Sinclair (aka “babe” or “baby”). 30-year-old nurse and newly appointed guardian of her deceased cousin’s three kids. Doesn’t like asking for help.
– MMC: Hayes Carlisle. 32-year-old catcher on the Chicago Colts’ baseball team. Can’t seem to get his mind off of a kiss he shared with his sister’s best friend…
– Location: Chicago, Illinois
– POV: Dual first-person
– Spice: 3 open-door explicit but mostly romantic spicy scenes
– Tropes: fake dating, best friend’s brother, second chance (ish), single guardian, nurse FMC, sports romance (baseball), pining, angst
– Content warning: grief (death of family member), infidelity, mild violence (not MCs), custody battle, fatal hiking accident (off-page)
– Representation: guardianship of relative’s children

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↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12

Now Playing: Yellow by Coldplay

╰┈➤ ❝I swam across I jumped across for you; Oh, what a thing to do, 'Cause you were all yellow; I drew a line, I drew a line for you, Oh, what a thing to do, And it was all yellow❞

─────────────────────────

★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★

➼ Baseball romances like The Fall Out by Jenni Bara and First and Forever by Lynn Painter
➼ Stories about family grief that also include a plot twist or two
➼ Cute kids who bring out the child-like wonder in the adult characters

─────────────────────────

⍟»This or That«⍟

Character Driven——✧—————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn—————✧——————Slow Burn
Sweet—————✧——————Spicy
Light/Fluffy——————✧—————Heavy/Emotional

─────────────────────────

🎯 My Thoughts:

This was my first by Piper Rayne, but certainly not my last! This was a really cute and a lil’ spicy romance between two characters that stole my heart.

I’ve been really picky about second chance lately, but this one is what I’d call second-chance adjacent because these two never were in a relationship before, they only shared a mutual crush for years and one kiss that left them both reeling. But there is a reason why it’s still second-chance adjacent, and you’ll just have to read it to find out 😊

What set this apart from other romances to me was the story with Leighton and her cousin’s kids. Such a tragedy that they all beautifully worked through together. And it was nuanced with layers that unfold throughout the book. That said, it wasn’t so devastating that readers will feel utterly ruined—it was a great balance of depth and levity.

And I’d like to talk about the audiobook for a minute: This is not only a DUET narration (meaning the male narrator always speaks his lines, even when it’s the FMC’s POV and vice versa), but there is a cast of side characters included. It was so rounded that at times it felt like my ears were watching a movie. I LOVE CJ Bloom so much, so it was great to hear her on this one. They really brought Leighton, Hayes and the other characters to life in a way I could visualize them.

One thing that personally doesn’t work for me is when the characters right off the bat talk about how sexual they want to get with each other (even internally). It makes it feel like the only interest is physical. That does happen a bit here.

Would I Recommend?: For sure! Especially if you love a mix of emotions and sports romances. I am now in love with all of the boys on the team and can’t wait to read the rest of this series as it comes out!

•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•

[Megan Coggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t want to put this down.
I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Hayes & Leighton 💕🔥

The guardian trope gets me every time.
Think Raising Helen vibes.
Three kids. Dead parents.
Emotional damage.

But make it with a hottie MLB catcher ⚾️
Add in sisters best friend
The years of pining.
And he is down bad, loved him.

She’s a labor and delivery nurse.
They’re her cousins kids.
Her own inner issues

Fake dating for custody dealings.
A plot twist near the end I didn’t see coming.

Loved how there didn’t seem like really unnecessary drama. Actual dealt with things more like grown ups.

Fun group of baseball boys, banter.

The spice level was perfect.

This was my first Piper Rayne book, I’ve got her other series now solidly on my backlist TBR.

Arc review ✨

[Betty · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 60%. I give up. And honestly, I didn’t really try that hard. I had hopes that it would be fun, and then hopes that it would get better. It didn’t. It just got cringier.

Too many tropes, writing that I didn’t enjoy, dumb plot points, characters that had no real depth or emotional connection to each other.

It all just felt like lust, immaturity, and unnecessary drama.

- Leighton and Hayes
- Nurse and professional baseball player
- Best friend’s brother
- They kissed years ago, never talked about it, still all kinds of hot for each other
- Cousin and husband die in mysterious hiking death and leave kids to Leighton
- Kids uncle, Art, and his plastic wife contest the will
- Hints at something hinky w Art/the dead parents: dad sleeping in the guest room when things are “bad”, negligee found in that same closet - just why?
- Hayes mom was diagnosed with cancer last year and then he went off the rails partying, playing poorly (but not really? Idk) and now needs to repair his reputation
- He agrees to be her fake boyfriend to help her w childcare so she can win custody of the three cute kids
- Baseball player buddies who interfere
- They have sex for the first time, after all their years and years of pining, in the supply closet at the hospital. Lovely
- They’re fake dating, but wait now they’re really dating but don’t want to tell anyone bc …. What? Again, idk.

And then I read other reviews and they said there is a third act breakup and - yep - I’m out.

I don’t know. It all just felt forced and superficial - like a bunch of tropes thrown in a blender.

[QuinnReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Closet Is Taken

I simply love this! It's sweet, funny, heartbreaking, and steamy with a revelation or two thrown in.

I love the care, love, and compassion Leighton Sinclair shows her (not) nieces and nephew and her willingness to step up to honor their parents' wishes. Yes, it gets overwhelming on occasion, but that's to be expected. To go from carefree and single to a guardian of three kids between the ages of six and eleven certainly has its challenges, but I love that she doesn't wallow long before tackling the next hurdle.

And then there's our reformed bad boy, Hayes Carlisle. Despite her best efforts to stay away from him, I love the attraction they've been harboring for a very long time. The way he steps in to help is swoon worthy. I love his big heart and naughty antics. ❤️‍🔥

Things aren't perfect between them, but I love how real it is. They definitely win me over. I can't wait to see more of them and their friends as the series continues.

Oh, and the moniker for the guys' apartment building is perfect. I have a feeling that someone is going to be doing a lot of digging out of the problems coming their way in book two. 😘

I listened to the audio book. This has an all-star cast of narrators in duet with CJ Bloom and JF Harding leading the way. Contributors are Teddy Hamilton, Sean Masters, Connor Crais, Erin Mallon, Willa James, Meg Sylvan, and Austin Stone. I cannot express how much I absolutely love, love, L❤️VE this! 🎧🩵🎧

Story: 5 stars
Narration: 5 stars
Listening Speed: 1.8x

H = 32; h = 30

[✨Crystal✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ALC provided by Valentine PR for an honest review✨

The Hotshot is book one in the newest series by Piper Rayne! And since book one is so good, I’m really excited to see where this series goes! 🤩 Like their hockey series, this series focuses on the players of a baseball team. This book is an instant family, single guardian, second chance, best friend’s brother, friends to lovers, fake relationship, sports romance. And though it sounds like a lot, all the tropes were executed perfectly!

Leighton has become guardian of her cousin’s three kids when her cousin and husband die in a tragic accident. Being single and juggling being a full time nurse along with now raising three young children is obviously a lot, but she is doing her best to make sure the kids are taken care of and happy. Hayes had a bad year with his last team and is now starting the new season with a new team and a new look on life. Knowing that Leighton is struggling, Hayes’s sister Callie calls him up and asks him to go check on her. Hayes having always had feelings for Leighton agrees and walks into the chaos that is now her life. He steps in to help and becomes what everyone needs in this new little family.

The romance is incredibly sweet (and a little spicy 👀) between Hayes and Leighton. They have been dancing around each other for years, but when they finally give into their feelings they discover a love so deep and pure 🥰 And the way Hayes steps in and becomes a father figure for the kids was so heartwarming!

The audiobook was duet narrated by J.F. Harding and C.J. Bloom along with a multicast of narrators that really brought the whole story to life! It was so well done! I loved the teammates and how they were brothers to each other, and I also loved how there were cameos from The Nest series woven into the story! If you want a sweet romance full of heart, definitely check out this book! ❤️

[Lolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

Blah not my cup of tea. Didn’t vibe with the characters or the plot, was bored most of the time. And the third act breakup happened for the dumbest reason…like I said, not my jam.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the cutest and most heart warming stories I've read in a minute. Leighton has newly taken on the role as a single mom/guardian to three young children after the passing of their parents, Leighton's cousin. Hayes is coming off a bad year in his baseball career and is trying to get back on track and stay out of trouble and the media. Hayes also happens to be Leighton's best friend's older brother. They get thrown into this unexpected situation together when her best friend asks Hayes to lend her a hand while she is out of town and unable to help her bestie. Add in their fake dating situation and the yeeeears of mutual pining, you get a 10/10 romance book!

Leighton shows all the love and compassion for her (essentially) nieces and nephew and was more than willing to uproot her life to care for them. I loved this more unique take on the single parent trope. She definitely has some challenges to face, but she looks them head on for her new little family. Hayes absolutely steps up in the best way, a true knight in shining armor, even if Leighton doesn't want to admit it. He had me swooning the entire time and I loved how committed he was to Leighton and the kids. The whole story is so cute and heartwarming.

I absolutely loved this one and flew through the audiobook! I didn't want to press pause at any time! The full cast narration was just the cherry on top for this book. I'm also loving the other side characters and I can't wait to see how their stories play out. This was a great start to the new series and I'm super excited for the remaining books!

[Nadine Bookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Hotshot Stars

I have been looking forward to this series as soon as we got a glimpse of it in Piper Rayne's final book of THE NEST SERIES, MR. CHARMING, and I am thrilled that we finally have it in our hands.

Hayes Carlisle has just been traded to the Chicago Colts. It's perfect timing because Leighton Sinclair's, his sister's BFF, life has just taken a hit that she never saw coming. Hayes is the perfect person to help her when she steps up to the plate and takes custody of the three children her cousin left behind when she and her husband died while on vacation, just as requested in their will.

The full-cast narration of this book and the books that follow in the series is amazing. JF Harding & CJ Bloom are the main characters in this book, Hayes and Leighton. Teddy Hamilton, Sean Masters, Connor Crais, Erin Mallon, Willa Jaymes, Meg Sylvan & Austin Stone make up the rest of the cast. I don't know about you, but I think this cast is amazing. I have listened to each of them before in duets and in other full-cast ensembles, and I love the way this cast just fits together. They're perfect.

You can read my full review on my blog: https://bit.ly/NBReviewHS1


**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books
You can find me here: Nadine Bookaholic's Links

[all.the.smut.things · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️

[Alexia Gauthier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Proof that fake dating always becomes real feelings ♥️

5 ⭐️ | 3.75 🌶️

Piper Rayne are officially stepping up to the plate with The Hotshot, and consider me fully obsessed.

I went into this already trusting their storytelling after loving Plain Daisy Ranch, but this? This is Piper Rayne in a new era: sporty, emotional, and achingly human. Baseball romance meets found family and it hits straight to the heart.

Leighton is a 30-year-old labor and delivery nurse whose quiet, carefully planned life explodes overnight when she becomes the legal guardian of her cousin’s three children. Grief, responsibility, court hearings, homework that feels like advanced calculus; she takes it all on without hesitation, because love doesn’t ask permission. Watching her step into motherhood by circumstance is raw, grounding and deeply moving.

And then there’s Hayes Carlisle. Pro baseball catcher. Golden boy. Best friend’s older brother. The man behind that kiss years ago: the one that never really went away.

Hayes is everything you want in a book boyfriend: steady, patient, emotionally available and completely undone by the woman who once ran from him. His support of Leighton is quiet but constant, and the way he shows up (for her and the kids) had my heart in a chokehold. The fake relationship trope is handled beautifully here, not as a gimmick but as a natural extension of two people already halfway in love.

This is a true slow burn; the kind that simmers, teases and then absolutely combusts. Their chemistry sizzles, the emotional intimacy cuts deep, and when the sparks finally fly ✨? Total wildfire 🔥.

What really sets The Hotshot apart is its soul. This story is about chosen family, about love showing up in messy, imperfect ways and about letting yourself want more; even when life feels too full already. It’s tender, sexy, emotional, and incredibly grounding all at once.

I devoured this in a single day and immediately wanted more.

Huge thank you to Valentine PR for the ARC and ALC. And congratulations to Piper Rayne on this release (February 17th). I am already counting down the days until Callie’s story, because if The Dugout series continues like this, we are in for something special.

Now excuse me while I go think about Hayes Carlisle again.

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Piper Rayne does it again! "The Hotshot" is the start of their new series, and let me say, I am addicted! It is a best friend's older brother fake dating romance where he falls first, there is a ton of forced proximity, and several cute kid characters. Leighton is a nurse who has just been appointed the guardian of her cousin's three children after she and her husband passed away. Hayes Carlisle is a flirty and charming professional baseball player who shared a kiss with Leighton years ago and never, ever forgot about it. When he sees that Leighton is struggling to acclimate to life with three kids and a full-time job, even though she wants to remain their guardian despite any obstacles, Hayes pretends to be her boyfriend in front of the adoption judge so it makes her look more put together, stable, and rooted. From there, he proceeds to help out whenever he can, even with some of his teammates in tow, easing Leighton's load and, in the process, falling deeper in love with her. Leighton has to balance the grief of losing an almost-sister figure with raising her three kids the "right" way, maintaining a full-time job, and fighting off her feelings for Hayes. This story is the perfect balance of love, loss, starting anew, starting something different, and discovering what you really want in life. I loved the relationship between the main characters, Leighton and Hayes. Their dynamic is filled with banter, slow-burning want, and soft, tender moments of affection and genuine love. I totally believed them as a couple. I liked them both individually and for different reasons. Leighton is resilient, a wonderful person who stepped up where others might not have done so. Hayes is adorrrrrrrrrrrable. My god, what a fantastic MMC. I also loved the three kid characters, as well as the teammates Hayes brings around (I am assuming they will all have books of their own, which, YAY!!). Finally, I absolutely LOVED this audiobook! JF Harding and CJ Bloom do a fantastic job breathing life into Hayes and Leighton. Teddy Hamilton, Sean Masters, Connor Crais, Erin Mallon, Willa Jaymes, Meg Sylvan, and Austin Stone also provide audiobook narration for various secondary characters. This is one of the best ensemble case audiobooks I have listened to recently. Perfection!

Thank you to Piper Rayne and VPR Audio for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I am so biased when it comes to Piper Rayne’s books. I love her writing and the way she writes stories. I was so excited to check out her new baseball series.

I really enjoyed this book and devoured it pretty much in one sitting. I loved both Hayes and Leighton and watching them come together after years of pining for each other. These two just fit together perfectly and I am completely obsessed with both Leighton and Hayes. Also the kids were so cute and I’m now obsessed with celebrating a year of national days that I might do that myself.

I also loved the hard conversations they had about love and relationships. I think in this genre, those hard conversations can sometimes be overlooked or missed or just not discussed. This book brought up really some important conversations about difficulties navigating relationships without dealing with lingering negatively due to past experiences.

JF Harding and CJ Bloom WERE Hayes and Leighton. Plus having the rest of the cast perform the other characters? I loved it. I definitely recommend checking out this audiobook if you’re going to read it. It really immerses you in the story.

Thank you to Piper Rayne, Hambright PR and BookFunnel for an ARC and ALC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Vanessa Noorani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Super blah and predictable.

[Larareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Hambright PR for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tropes:
• single guardian
• brother's best friend
• fake dating
• baseball romance
• he falls first
• 3 amazing kids
• National Day calendar fun

I loved this book and these characters!!! Leighton and Hayes have my heart! The way he was always there for her and the kids, the soft moments between them, how he was with all three children. Hayes is the perfect book boyfriend! Leighton is freaking amazing and I loved seeing her grow so much in this book.

Every single character in this book is amazing and I can't wait to read more. The next book in this series comes out in April and I'm sooo excited!

[Amanda (_sunshine_reads_) Hengen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Valentine PR & Piper Rayne for this ARC opportunity!

4.5 stars rounded to 5 for Goodreads!

I absolutely flew through this one! I couldn’t stop - I loved Leighton & Hayes’ story! Leighton finds herself unexpectedly a single guardian to 3 precious kiddos & Hayes is a pro baseball player. He’s also Leighton’s best friend’s brother! They end up in a fake dating situation & things really take off from there! Their chemistry was evident & I’ll let you read to find out what all happened next. 😍 Something else I really enjoyed about this story is ALL of the side characters! The best friend / sister - Callie & and the other baseball players we got to meet. Ah! I know we will see them all in the rest of the series & I already cannot wait! 🤩

Highly recommend jumping into this new series from the fabulous duo, Piper Rayne! I have enjoyed everything I’ve read by them so far! Can’t wait to see what’s next!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fake dating and brothers best friend ?? Yah that ended up being a lot of fun !! Had a lot of found family vibes too which I adored.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5 ⭐️

A little different and very sad take on the single mom trope. This one fell a little flat for me. I typically adore Piper’s writing, but I just wanted more out of this story. And the ending felt kinda lazy. I did like the tie in to her Nest series, which I really loved. The full cast narration was phenomenal and it did help the story move along. I do still want to find out what happens in the next book of the series.

Thanks to the author & Valentine PR for an advanced audio copy of this book.

[Aleesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really have a ton of bad things to say about this book! It's a good time, a fluffy, mostly happy, heart-warming good time.

Here's some of the stuff I loved:

1. I LOVE that this is full-cast audio. It's so, so well done. I wasn't expecting to hear so many familiar voices, but it really helps to make the book come alive. Especially all the different ball players. I can only hope the narration going forward remains consistent.

2. The bromance! I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I read sports romances as much for the team bromances as I do the romance between the main characters. And Piper Rayne has done a good job of giving me a team with strong friendships, hilarious banter and enough sweet moments to make me want to read all the books following this one.

2.5. They get their nails done with the littlest girl and - ah! my heart!

3. The bond Hayes grows with all the kids - even Lake who doesn't trust him at first, was also super cute and heartwarming to see. And I think it's managed super well.

4. The drama surrounding the custody of the kids is a good subplot. It frustrated the crap out of me (as it's supposed to), but at the same time it gave the couple a reason to stick together.

5. This book is the first in a series - but it's not the first in this world. Rayne manages this beautifully - we get blips of other characters and their relationships, mentions of other teams in other sports, but it's not a cavalcade of names and story re-caps I don't know or care about.

6. The professionals helping out with the little-league team had me kicking my heels in the air and squealing. The way these grown men genuinely enjoy hanging out with the kids was so heartwarming to see.

7. The spice spices.

8. Even though I very much hate the trope, I was THRILLED that PR didn't take the typical path and have Callie get pissed and blow up the friendship with Leighton when she finds out she and her brother are an item.


And, of course, the things I didn't like:

1. I really, REALLY hate the "we can't date because you're my best friend's brother/little sister's best friend and she'd hate it" trope. I can't stand how entitled it makes the BFF sound to think that she has the ability to stop two grown up adult humans from falling in love if they want to. And it's not a good look for either MC either, because why are you so afraid of upsetting sister/BFF that you're denying yourself a chance at happiness? I've run across a string of books with this trope lately and I don't know if it's becoming a trend or what, but I hope not.

2. Leighton's mother's bitterness about men just straight up pissed me off. Leighton didn't need that negative bullshit in her life considering everything else she's got on her plate.

3. The drama at the end, when Hayes is imperfect ONE time, when he had some where he needed to be and couldn't be where he'd promised - Leighton freaks out, forgets she LOVES this man, and berates him for being a bad influence in the kids' lives. For getting their hopes up and letting them down.

Like if a trip to the emergency room isn't a good enough excuse for why he couldn't be on time for a birthday party, I don't know what is. How are we going to hold ONE accident - one bad day - against a man when he's literally been there for everything else?

This late-stage drama sort of made me hate Leighton. She talked of putting the kids in therapy to deal with the death of their parents, but it turns out, I think she needs it more than they do because her parents' divorce fucked her up way more than she lets on.

I did like that Hayes fights with her about it though. That he clocks her being an irrational bitch and trying to ice him out after ONE mistake that was mostly beyond his control. Good for him.

3.5. Of course the guy has to "man up" and "win the girl back" when it's the girl's problem they broke up in the first place. For all the good he did standing up for himself, telling her she needs to work on her issues, it's all undone by having Callie come to him and tell him he needs to go fix shit because Leighton's sad.

Leighton made herself sad. If she got the help she so CLEARLY needs, maybe she could get the fuck over herself and be happy with Hayes - who is by all accounts a good man.

But no, as per usual in these stories, it's always the man's fault and his responsibility to fix things, even when he didn't do anything wrong.

It just makes me wonder - the next time he goofs up, is she going to say she needs time and that she can't trust him and that the kids can't count on him and any number of other despicable hurtful things she thinks over the last several chapters of this story? Will he be unreliable when he burns dinner? Doesn't finish the laundry on time? What about when the uber driver gets stuck in traffic and makes him late? Will that be his fault too? Will she never trust a man again every time he doesn't put his socks in the hamper?

I HATE when books do this. Do not give me an FMC who's SO damaged she can't see the good right in front of her and then force the MAN to fix shit he didn't break. It is 2026, I PROMISE we women can handle more accountability than this. Lay it on us.

4 chapters dropped this from a 5 star read to where we're at now. All because women are apparently allergic to healthy relationship dynamics and can't take accountability for being fucked up and not seeking therapy.

And the fact that she has to get told by the TWELVE year old baffles me. Lake talks about the situation to her therapist, and it's this therapist that explains to the kid that Leighton's going to continue hurting people until she deals with her trauma. THE TWELVE YEAR OLD KNOWS MORE ABOUT LEIGHTON'S SITUATION THAN LEIGHTON DOES.

--

Objectively speaking this is one of the better sports romances I've read in recent memory. I seriously could have done without the drama of the 3rd act breakup though, especially since the root cause of it is NEVER resolved, leaving me dubious that Hayes and Leighton won't end up breaking up again in the future. I don't like coming out of a story and feeling uncertain about the couple. That whole process is why this is scraping 3 stars out of me and not a point more.

[Sandy (Sandy.Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I listened to the audiobook for this one and absolutely loved the experience. Both narrators did such a great job bringing Hayes and Leighton to life, and it made all of the emotional moments hit even harder.

This is a best friend’s brother romance where they’ve secretly been pining for each other for years, and when you add in fake dating, it is the perfect combination. The tension, the history, the longing… it was all there.

Hayes Carlisle is a man after my own heart. The way he shows up for Leighton through her grief and through the chaos of suddenly adding three kids to her already full plate was everything. He was steady, supportive, and so intentional with her and the kids.

I loved watching them navigate not only a new beginning together but also the healing process. Seeing Hayes help Leighton work through her grief while they slowly allowed themselves to fall for each other was really beautiful.

And let’s talk about the chemistry. It was hot. That janitor closet scene was absolutely everything.

There’s also a twist toward the end that had my jaw on the floor. I did not see that coming.

Such a strong start to this new series, and I already cannot wait for the next book because we are getting her bestie’s story next.

[Samantha Draws · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨ 4.5⭐️ What a start to this new series!! Leighton just has her world turned upside down when her cousin, basically her sister, and her husband pass and she’s thrust into the role of guardian for their three kids. She never imagined this is where she would end up, but the one thing she really didn’t see coming….her best friend’s brother and er longtime crush stepping up to help her get permanent custody. This arrangement may start out as fake but they both realize pretty early on that this thing never really was fake. But with all the chaos in her life up until now, will Leighton let herself have this happiness or will one wrong move from Hayes send her spiraling?

Oh I loved every single character in this book!! Leighton and Hayes have my heart! I love the way that Hayes steps up for Leighton and the kids. He such a good guy and just wants to be there to help them. These kiddos are so fun too! I loved Monroe’s mission and the way they got all the players in on it too. Leighton is dealing with so much from the kids to losing her cousin/sister to fighting her feelings for Hayes. I was giggling and swooning the whole time. There was so much to this story and all the elements and I just really enjoyed this one! I cannot wait to see what comes next too!!

Tropes:
✨Single Guardian
✨Brother’s Best Friend
✨Fake Dating
✨Baseball Romance
✨He Falls First

[Lindsey Innocente · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

[Ashley Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one just hit at exactly the right time for me. The Hotshot completely pulled me in and didn’t let go. Hayes absolutely stole my heart, and Leighton felt so real to me. The way she navigates her past and how it shapes her future was done so beautifully and honestly.

You get fake dating that benefits them both, but it’s also your best friend’s brother, the one you’ve always had a crush on, with history that just makes everything more intense. The tension, the buildup, the emotions. It all landed perfectly.

There’s also a layer of grief woven into the story that adds so much depth, along with just a touch of mystery that keeps things interesting without taking away from the romance.

This book had the perfect balance of heart, chemistry, and emotion. I’m already so excited to learn more about the rest of the team players.

[Krystle Krystlesbookclub · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's cute and predictable, I feel like I've read this story but with hockey maybe 🤔 still enjoyed it.
but a 3rd act breakup 🙄 could have done without that.
the oldest kid is the real MVP of this story.

[Ashley Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Piper Rayne's The Hotshot, is the first book in The Dugout series, and let me tell you, it was a blast! I'm happily giving this one four stars because it delivered exactly what I was hoping for: a fun, flirty, and genuinely entertaining romance.
Piper Rayne has a way of writing characters that are just so easy to root for. The hotshot himself was charming and had a great personality, and the leading lady was strong and witty. Their banter was fantastic, and I found myself laughing out loud more than once. The chemistry between them was undeniable, and watching their relationship unfold was a real treat. It had that perfect mix of playful teasing and heartfelt moments that makes a romance truly enjoyable.
The story moved at a great pace, keeping me engaged from start to finish. It wasn't overly complicated, which was perfect for a lighthearted read, but it still had enough depth to keep me invested in their journey. I loved the sports backdrop too; it added an extra layer of fun without overwhelming the romance. It felt fresh and exciting.
While I absolutely adored this book and had a fantastic time reading it, it just missed that five star mark for me by a tiny bit. There might have been a small moment or two where I wished for a little more emotional punch, or perhaps a slightly different resolution to a minor conflict. But honestly, those are super minor points in what was an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable and feel good read. If you're in the mood for a charming, funny, and steamy sports romance, definitely pick up The Hotshot. You won't be disappointed!

[Anca A · Rating 5 out of 5]

#Review: The Hotshot - Piper Rayne - ARC/ALC [18+]
4.9/5✨
2.5/5🌶️

Nothing has prepared Leighton for the life-changing things which were about to happen. She has just lost her cousin and her cousin's husband, becoming the temporary guardian for their three kids. That was a huge responsibility to have overnight. Her best friend's older brother and baseball player, Hayes Carlisle, just wanted to help with the situation she was in, but somehow, things got more complicated along the way 🫣. How will they get untangled from that whole situation?

This story offered me so many mixed up emotions. I felt sad for everything that happened with her cousin and the heartbreaking loss of those kids. It was a super delicate subject, the loss of parents, but the story had some fun parts too, enlightening a bit the heavy air. That was especially brought by the baseball gang, because they were hilarious. I enjoyed so much that slow burn and that insane tension, which Leighton wasn't ready to face. But Hayes was so determined and sweet to fight for what he felt, that it was quite difficult for her not to succumb to his charms.

I adoreeed this whole cast, Piper Rayne's books being some of my favorites to listen to, because they always have the most awesome cast. CJ Bloom and JF Harding were soooo good, loving how easy I got lost in this story thanks to them. Cannot forget about the rest of the cast, which already made me fall for the other baseball players and made me curious about their own stories😍. And I think that we got some little hits here and there, that got me hyped for what's next😍.

I'm always so excited about any book Piper Rayne releases and this one hasn't disappointed me at all. It was a rollercoaster of emotions and that was something which I really liked. Looking forward for the next book from this series, being already so in love with it.🩵

Thanks so much for accepting me for this e-ARC and ALC, Piper Rayne and Valentine Pr, being as sweet as always and giving me these advanced copies🩵.

✨Tropes
▫️Single Guardian
▫️Best Friend's Older Brother
▫️Fake Relationship
▫️He Falls First
▫️Nurse
▫️Close Proximity
▫️Sports Romance
▫️Baseball Player

[Briana Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

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⭐️
Spice: 2/5🌶️

What to expect when reading Hotshot;
-Single Guardian
-Fake Relationship
-Best Friends Older Brother
-He Falls First
-Slow Burn

This is book one of the Dugout series! You get to follow Hayes and Leighton! When Leighton gets guardianship of three kiddos she has to prove she is right for them to be with. Hayes is coming off a hard season and trying to clean up his act. Can these two help each other to make sure Leighton gets to keep the kids? This was such a good story of team work and loving to the fullest. These kids were something else (in a good way) I love how each had their only little quirk about them lol I loved the army she had behind her, even though she didn’t want the help lol, she is a lot like me in that sense because I probably would of handled that the same way. I loved these two main characters their chemistry was so fun and flirty which I think helped her in a stressful situation! I can’t wait to continue this series 🙌🙌🙌

Side notes:
-her antenna up 😂
-math sucks😅😂
-I would love for an interesting nail day like that lol
-His mom lol
-Tweetie 😂💀

Fav Quote:
•”You say we can never kiss again, than I come in here to see you on all fours. Your playing games, Leighton Sinclair”
•”I don’t care who you are. If you hurt her. I have a lot of friends with social media accounts”

Make sure you get your copy of the book when it releases Feb. 17th⚾️

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