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The Dugout #2
The Wild Card
Getting pregnant after a one-night stand with my brother’s best friend was never part of the plan.
We’re talking about Foster Davis here.
Chicago Colts closing pitcher.
The broody king of one-word answers.
And the man everyone knows keeps one foot out the door.
Surprisingly, when two pink lines turn my world upside down, Foster doesn’t run. He steps in, he shows up, and he insists we do this together.
Pretending we’re fine is easy. Pretending this is just about the baby? Not so much.
Because Foster is gentle when no one’s watching.
Because he looks at me like I’m something worth protecting.
Because the walls he’s built start to crack—and I’m the one he’s letting inside.
Our arrangement was supposed to be simple. Boundaries were set. Co-parents and no catching feelings.
Okay, maybe a few sex lessons were added in too. Bad idea, I know.
Because the more time I spend with Foster Davis, the harder it is to remember why I ever thought he was the risky choice.
We’re talking about Foster Davis here.
Chicago Colts closing pitcher.
The broody king of one-word answers.
And the man everyone knows keeps one foot out the door.
Surprisingly, when two pink lines turn my world upside down, Foster doesn’t run. He steps in, he shows up, and he insists we do this together.
Pretending we’re fine is easy. Pretending this is just about the baby? Not so much.
Because Foster is gentle when no one’s watching.
Because he looks at me like I’m something worth protecting.
Because the walls he’s built start to crack—and I’m the one he’s letting inside.
Our arrangement was supposed to be simple. Boundaries were set. Co-parents and no catching feelings.
Okay, maybe a few sex lessons were added in too. Bad idea, I know.
Because the more time I spend with Foster Davis, the harder it is to remember why I ever thought he was the risky choice.
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About the author
Piper Rayne
181 books7,810 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,547 reviews
April 13, 2026
Rating: 2.75⭐️
After really enjoying the first book, this one was a bit of a letdown.
I did not feel the chemistry between Callie and Foster. They were basically in love with each other before the book even started and the whole plot was them tiptoeing around their feelings. The author never explains why they even like each other and so it just came off as insta-lust.
They were also both so stubborn and unwilling to open up about anything meaningful. Everything remained surface level and I just wanted them to dive deeper into their past and their hangups. Their emotional connection just wasn’t there for me. It unfortunately got overpowered by their physical attraction to each other. I’m not a fan of the accidental pregnancy trope so that didn’t help me root for them as a couple either. However, I really loved how the author handled their sex scenes. They emphasized how important it is for partners to communicate their needs and wants in order for both of them to enjoy themselves during the experience.
As for the plot, it felt like nothing happened. The pacing was so painstakingly slow. It was more of a character driven story, but since I didn’t care about the leads, it was really hard for me to get through this book. The plot got better in the last third of the book though. I also do really enjoy the author’s writing style. It is always very quick and easy to read, which was helpful since I wasn’t a big fan of the plot or the characters for most of the book.
And so, this book wasn’t as good as the first but I still plan on continuing the series.
After really enjoying the first book, this one was a bit of a letdown.
I did not feel the chemistry between Callie and Foster. They were basically in love with each other before the book even started and the whole plot was them tiptoeing around their feelings. The author never explains why they even like each other and so it just came off as insta-lust.
They were also both so stubborn and unwilling to open up about anything meaningful. Everything remained surface level and I just wanted them to dive deeper into their past and their hangups. Their emotional connection just wasn’t there for me. It unfortunately got overpowered by their physical attraction to each other. I’m not a fan of the accidental pregnancy trope so that didn’t help me root for them as a couple either. However, I really loved how the author handled their sex scenes. They emphasized how important it is for partners to communicate their needs and wants in order for both of them to enjoy themselves during the experience.
As for the plot, it felt like nothing happened. The pacing was so painstakingly slow. It was more of a character driven story, but since I didn’t care about the leads, it was really hard for me to get through this book. The plot got better in the last third of the book though. I also do really enjoy the author’s writing style. It is always very quick and easy to read, which was helpful since I wasn’t a big fan of the plot or the characters for most of the book.
And so, this book wasn’t as good as the first but I still plan on continuing the series.
April 15, 2026
2.5 ⭐️🎧
This book had me invested, frustrated, bored, hopeful, annoyed…
sometimes all in the same chapter.
Let’s get into it.
What worked for me
(aka: the “okay fine, I see it” moments)
Callie’s character anchored the book for me. She was emotionally aware, communicative and honestly the more mature one for most of the book.
Even when she made assumptions, she reflected, owned it and apologised quickly.
Given her backstory (feeling like the “in-between” girl who’s never fully chosen) her hesitation and emotional walls made complete sense. I felt for her. I wanted better for her.
There are glimpses of a better Foster. When he steps outside of his ego, slows down and actually listens, when he communicates and prioritises her experience - it works. Those softer, more emotionally grounded moments show the man he could be…and frustratingly, they’re the moments where the book hits best.
The chemistry is there, no complaints on that front. When the book shifts into more intentional, slower intimacy instead of performance-based encounters, the dynamic feels more natural and emotionally connected.
The premise had so much potential. With accidental pregnancy, forced proximity and emotional baggage all in play, this should have hit harder. You can see the version of this book that absolutely does.
The audiobook was genuinely great. But even with such a strong audio performances, it couldn’t make up for the pacing and development issues.
Where it lost me
(aka: the "almost but not quite" moments)
Foster’s early behaviour left an ick that lingered.
I understand flawed MMCs (I welcome them). But watching him try to sleep his way out of his feelings, actively pursue other women and then pivot emotionally after the pregnancy reveal made his later growth feel more reactive than earned. And while he does improve, that early impression doesn’t fully go away.
The pacing peaked early and never recovered.
The middle of this book dragged. We spent a lot of time circling the same emotional beats, repeating the same push-pull dynamic and revisiting the same internal conflicts. The “sex lessons” in particular started to feel like filler instead of development and at a certain point, it stopped building tension and just…stalled. It made the book feel longer than it needed to be and I was bored for parts of it.
All buildup. Not enough payoff.
By the time we hit 80%
• there’s still a lack of trust
• communication is still shaky
• Callie is still walking on eggshells
And that’s where I struggled. We had proximity, shared responsibility and real emotional stakes but not enough actual progression in their relationship.
The relationship development was outsourced.
At one point I had to ask why the side characters were doing more emotional work than the main couple. Hayes is calling Foster out, Leighton is comforting and guiding Callie and I’m just sitting there like…"can the main characters please fix their own relationship?" Because when the growth happens around them instead of between them, the payoff feels weaker.
Rushed. Predictable. No impact.
After spending so long circling, the final stretch suddenly resolves major conflicts quickly, delivers emotional breakthroughs back-to-back and wraps everything up with minimal resistance. While the direction wasn’t surprising, the speed of it made the resolution feel more like a checklist than something fully earned.
Final thoughts
This book had all the ingredients for a 4 ⭐️ read: strong premise, emotional potential and solid character foundation. But the execution just didn’t fully land for me.
The middle dragged, the emotional growth came too late and the ending didn’t have enough space to deliver the payoff the story was building toward.
That said...I didn’t rage quit.
I just needed more consistency, better pacing and earlier emotional development to really believe in the romance.
Final verdict
2.5 ⭐️ - He needed to choose her sooner…and the story needed to let that actually develop.
Tropes and Vibes:
• accidental pregnancy
• brother’s best friend
• pro athlete MMC (with commitment issues)
• emotionally unavailable → trying (eventually)
• “it’s just sex” (liar behaviour)
• forced proximity
• push-pull dynamics
• third-act emotional fumble
• found family / strong side characters
• she just wants to be chosen
This book had me invested, frustrated, bored, hopeful, annoyed…
sometimes all in the same chapter.
Let’s get into it.
What worked for me
(aka: the “okay fine, I see it” moments)
Callie’s character anchored the book for me. She was emotionally aware, communicative and honestly the more mature one for most of the book.
Even when she made assumptions, she reflected, owned it and apologised quickly.
Given her backstory (feeling like the “in-between” girl who’s never fully chosen) her hesitation and emotional walls made complete sense. I felt for her. I wanted better for her.
There are glimpses of a better Foster. When he steps outside of his ego, slows down and actually listens, when he communicates and prioritises her experience - it works. Those softer, more emotionally grounded moments show the man he could be…and frustratingly, they’re the moments where the book hits best.
The chemistry is there, no complaints on that front. When the book shifts into more intentional, slower intimacy instead of performance-based encounters, the dynamic feels more natural and emotionally connected.
The premise had so much potential. With accidental pregnancy, forced proximity and emotional baggage all in play, this should have hit harder. You can see the version of this book that absolutely does.
The audiobook was genuinely great. But even with such a strong audio performances, it couldn’t make up for the pacing and development issues.
Where it lost me
(aka: the "almost but not quite" moments)
Foster’s early behaviour left an ick that lingered.
I understand flawed MMCs (I welcome them). But watching him try to sleep his way out of his feelings, actively pursue other women and then pivot emotionally after the pregnancy reveal made his later growth feel more reactive than earned. And while he does improve, that early impression doesn’t fully go away.
The pacing peaked early and never recovered.
The middle of this book dragged. We spent a lot of time circling the same emotional beats, repeating the same push-pull dynamic and revisiting the same internal conflicts. The “sex lessons” in particular started to feel like filler instead of development and at a certain point, it stopped building tension and just…stalled. It made the book feel longer than it needed to be and I was bored for parts of it.
All buildup. Not enough payoff.
By the time we hit 80%
• there’s still a lack of trust
• communication is still shaky
• Callie is still walking on eggshells
And that’s where I struggled. We had proximity, shared responsibility and real emotional stakes but not enough actual progression in their relationship.
The relationship development was outsourced.
At one point I had to ask why the side characters were doing more emotional work than the main couple. Hayes is calling Foster out, Leighton is comforting and guiding Callie and I’m just sitting there like…"can the main characters please fix their own relationship?" Because when the growth happens around them instead of between them, the payoff feels weaker.
Rushed. Predictable. No impact.
After spending so long circling, the final stretch suddenly resolves major conflicts quickly, delivers emotional breakthroughs back-to-back and wraps everything up with minimal resistance. While the direction wasn’t surprising, the speed of it made the resolution feel more like a checklist than something fully earned.
Final thoughts
This book had all the ingredients for a 4 ⭐️ read: strong premise, emotional potential and solid character foundation. But the execution just didn’t fully land for me.
The middle dragged, the emotional growth came too late and the ending didn’t have enough space to deliver the payoff the story was building toward.
That said...I didn’t rage quit.
I just needed more consistency, better pacing and earlier emotional development to really believe in the romance.
Final verdict
2.5 ⭐️ - He needed to choose her sooner…and the story needed to let that actually develop.
Tropes and Vibes:
• accidental pregnancy
• brother’s best friend
• pro athlete MMC (with commitment issues)
• emotionally unavailable → trying (eventually)
• “it’s just sex” (liar behaviour)
• forced proximity
• push-pull dynamics
• third-act emotional fumble
• found family / strong side characters
• she just wants to be chosen
April 5, 2026
4.25 stars.
"The Wild Card" by Piper Rayne is a wonderful follow-up to "The Hotshot." Callie (FMC) finds out at the end of "The Hotshot" that she is pregnant with her brother's best friend, Foster's (MMC), baby after a one-night stand. Foster, the grumpy, tattooed pitcher for the Chicago Colts, has a reputation for being a ladies' man, but underneath his gruff, rigid exterior is a man who is yearning to be understood, a man who has been broken by his past, a man with a secret, a man with a heart of gold, a man who wants to be taught how to please. And my god, does Callie teach him! Callie and Foster must navigate her surprise pregnancy while keeping their secret from her brother and from the press. There's a lot more going on, like Foster's broken relationship with his parents and Callie's past pain from "not being good enough" for people to stick around, and all of these issues bleed into their relationship as they figure out what they want from life, from one another, and for their soon-to-be-born child. I really enjoyed this book, mostly because of the incredible ensemble audiobook performance by the likes of Sean Masters and Erin Mallon as Foster and Callie, plus JF Harding, Teddy Hamilton, Willa Jaymes, Connor Crais, CJ Bloom, Meg Sylvan, and Austin Stone. I just love these big productions from Piper Rayne. All of the performances blend together to create such a fun, funny, intimate audiobook listening experience. Sean Masters and Erin Mallon are perfection as Foster and Callie. This book is surprisingly emotional as Callie and Foster navigate their past hurts to move on as a potential couple, or at the very least, as co-parents. I think the accidental pregnancy trope is handled so well here, balancing the pregnancy with intrigue and secrets (they are hiding it from her brother/his best friend!!), self-discovery and teaching lessons, heart and grumpiness. Their dynamic was perfect! They offset one another in a way that makes them ideal for each other. Lots of funny moments of banter/slight miscommunication (not in an annoying way), tons of fun, even some swoon-worthy moments (the wedding dress scene comes to mind!). I also liked all of the side characters, as well as getting a glimpse of where Leighton and Hayes are now. This is also another instance of a book about a podcaster (Callie) that isn't grind-your-gears annoying. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book!
Thank you to Piper Rayne and Valentine PR for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"The Wild Card" by Piper Rayne is a wonderful follow-up to "The Hotshot." Callie (FMC) finds out at the end of "The Hotshot" that she is pregnant with her brother's best friend, Foster's (MMC), baby after a one-night stand. Foster, the grumpy, tattooed pitcher for the Chicago Colts, has a reputation for being a ladies' man, but underneath his gruff, rigid exterior is a man who is yearning to be understood, a man who has been broken by his past, a man with a secret, a man with a heart of gold, a man who wants to be taught how to please. And my god, does Callie teach him! Callie and Foster must navigate her surprise pregnancy while keeping their secret from her brother and from the press. There's a lot more going on, like Foster's broken relationship with his parents and Callie's past pain from "not being good enough" for people to stick around, and all of these issues bleed into their relationship as they figure out what they want from life, from one another, and for their soon-to-be-born child. I really enjoyed this book, mostly because of the incredible ensemble audiobook performance by the likes of Sean Masters and Erin Mallon as Foster and Callie, plus JF Harding, Teddy Hamilton, Willa Jaymes, Connor Crais, CJ Bloom, Meg Sylvan, and Austin Stone. I just love these big productions from Piper Rayne. All of the performances blend together to create such a fun, funny, intimate audiobook listening experience. Sean Masters and Erin Mallon are perfection as Foster and Callie. This book is surprisingly emotional as Callie and Foster navigate their past hurts to move on as a potential couple, or at the very least, as co-parents. I think the accidental pregnancy trope is handled so well here, balancing the pregnancy with intrigue and secrets (they are hiding it from her brother/his best friend!!), self-discovery and teaching lessons, heart and grumpiness. Their dynamic was perfect! They offset one another in a way that makes them ideal for each other. Lots of funny moments of banter/slight miscommunication (not in an annoying way), tons of fun, even some swoon-worthy moments (the wedding dress scene comes to mind!). I also liked all of the side characters, as well as getting a glimpse of where Leighton and Hayes are now. This is also another instance of a book about a podcaster (Callie) that isn't grind-your-gears annoying. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book!
Thank you to Piper Rayne and Valentine PR for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
March 28, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
First of all, the audio was fantastic, highly recommend! 👏🏼
I was pleasantly surprised with this accidental pregnancy, baseball romance having quite a bit of emotional depth to the characters!
Foster expects everyone he loves to leave him, because they always have.
What if his baby mama is around to stay? 👀
What I didn’t expect was sex lessons from Callie for the reformed playboy!? 🥵
Okkkkk. That was hottt.
At times the chapters were short, like too short? That it made the pacing feel a bit odd.
Thank you Hambright & Piper for this ALC in exchange for my honest review 🫶🏼
First of all, the audio was fantastic, highly recommend! 👏🏼
I was pleasantly surprised with this accidental pregnancy, baseball romance having quite a bit of emotional depth to the characters!
Foster expects everyone he loves to leave him, because they always have.
What if his baby mama is around to stay? 👀
What I didn’t expect was sex lessons from Callie for the reformed playboy!? 🥵
Okkkkk. That was hottt.
At times the chapters were short, like too short? That it made the pacing feel a bit odd.
Thank you Hambright & Piper for this ALC in exchange for my honest review 🫶🏼
March 25, 2026
Baseball season is among us, and this was the perfect way to kick it off! We’re back with the Chicago Colts…this time following one of the players’ sisters and the tattooed, always-in-trouble bad boy pitcher.
If you’re looking for a gritty bad boy who is down bad for his girl, a playful black cat heroine who knows exactly when to pounce, and a top-tier found family dynamic, this is absolutely the book for you.
And the little nod to a real-life Chicago bookstore? So cute!!
This one genuinely surprised me in the best way.
If you’re looking for a gritty bad boy who is down bad for his girl, a playful black cat heroine who knows exactly when to pounce, and a top-tier found family dynamic, this is absolutely the book for you.
And the little nod to a real-life Chicago bookstore? So cute!!
This one genuinely surprised me in the best way.
March 31, 2026
Honestly this just wasn’t good. There was no reason they couldn’t be together? And why did he need to sexualize her while she was undressing for the OBGYN? Idk this just wasn’t for me. The characters didn’t really have chemistry. And all they did was talk about sex when they were together. I wanted to love this but I didn’t.
April 2, 2026
Thank you to Valentine PR and Piper Rayne for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows Callie and Foster. A one night stand leads to an accidental pregnancy. This trope already has my attention and the tension in this book was off the charts!
Callie and Foster have a wonderful relationship. I loved watching Foster, the "bad boy", open up to her. And those *sexy lessons* 😏 oh my! The banter and chemistry between these two were amazing.
Callie was also a great FMC. She was independent, strong and funny. I enjoyed watching her navigate through her pregnancy and feelings with Foster. I just wanted more of her!
Foster...oh man. I just wanted to give him a hug. Watching him find himself was so heartwarming. This is everything I wanted from a baseball romance.
Finally, the found family aspect in this series is perfectly done. I loved watching them all come together. Their banter was just as good! But you could tell how much they care.
Pick up this series now if you love drama, tension, spice and baseball ⚾️
This book follows Callie and Foster. A one night stand leads to an accidental pregnancy. This trope already has my attention and the tension in this book was off the charts!
Callie and Foster have a wonderful relationship. I loved watching Foster, the "bad boy", open up to her. And those *sexy lessons* 😏 oh my! The banter and chemistry between these two were amazing.
Callie was also a great FMC. She was independent, strong and funny. I enjoyed watching her navigate through her pregnancy and feelings with Foster. I just wanted more of her!
Foster...oh man. I just wanted to give him a hug. Watching him find himself was so heartwarming. This is everything I wanted from a baseball romance.
Finally, the found family aspect in this series is perfectly done. I loved watching them all come together. Their banter was just as good! But you could tell how much they care.
Pick up this series now if you love drama, tension, spice and baseball ⚾️
April 2, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
I don’t know why it took me so long to find Piper Rayne duo. Sometimes you just vibe with authors writing styles. And I vibe with them.
Foster & Callie
Surprise!!
MLB pitcher - bad boy of the league
She’s his teammates little sister - podcaster
One night stand and bam “we’re having a baby”
The character depth was strong.
These two both had their relationship hang ups.
And for good reasons.
Co-Parenting/ “friends” to lessons to love
I adored Foster.
Couldn’t think of a better pairing than these two.
Arc review ✨
I don’t know why it took me so long to find Piper Rayne duo. Sometimes you just vibe with authors writing styles. And I vibe with them.
Foster & Callie
Surprise!!
MLB pitcher - bad boy of the league
She’s his teammates little sister - podcaster
One night stand and bam “we’re having a baby”
The character depth was strong.
These two both had their relationship hang ups.
And for good reasons.
Co-Parenting/ “friends” to lessons to love
I adored Foster.
Couldn’t think of a better pairing than these two.
Arc review ✨
March 25, 2026
4.5⭐️
accidental pregnancy trope GET BEHIND ME! because i will defend it with my chest
back to Chicago we go…. I absolutely LOVED this book!! I was so excited to read about Callie and Foster!! I loved the tension these two had, the love they developed through out the book and that we got to see Foster heal and become who he needed to be for Callie and the baby. Learning someones body is very vulnerable and I really felt like the sex conversation and how she explained the feeling of having to be “on” all the time was so real (and should be talked about more) and I loved that they shared such intimate moments regarding that! And to me really showed that men that are worth your time TAKE THE TIME to know you and be there for you in all ways (don’t sleep with losers people!!) I absolutely adore the found family in this series and can’t wait for the next one!!
also PLEASE take the time to download the bonus chapter linked at the end!! I loved seeing a glimpse into their life after the baby was born!
accidental pregnancy trope GET BEHIND ME! because i will defend it with my chest
back to Chicago we go…. I absolutely LOVED this book!! I was so excited to read about Callie and Foster!! I loved the tension these two had, the love they developed through out the book and that we got to see Foster heal and become who he needed to be for Callie and the baby. Learning someones body is very vulnerable and I really felt like the sex conversation and how she explained the feeling of having to be “on” all the time was so real (and should be talked about more) and I loved that they shared such intimate moments regarding that! And to me really showed that men that are worth your time TAKE THE TIME to know you and be there for you in all ways (don’t sleep with losers people!!) I absolutely adore the found family in this series and can’t wait for the next one!!
also PLEASE take the time to download the bonus chapter linked at the end!! I loved seeing a glimpse into their life after the baby was born!
April 2, 2026
I saw a surprise pregnancy trope and I came running🏃🏾♀️
So I liked the aspect of the surprise pregnancy trope it was done well all these domestic moments them shopping for the baby going to the doctor together… it was soooo cute BUT I hated the hero I couldn’t STAND his ass😫😫every time I start enjoying the book he says something that pisses me off 😞
So I liked the aspect of the surprise pregnancy trope it was done well all these domestic moments them shopping for the baby going to the doctor together… it was soooo cute BUT I hated the hero I couldn’t STAND his ass😫😫every time I start enjoying the book he says something that pisses me off 😞
April 13, 2026
Lessons Off the Field
Foster Davis is a trip. Yes, his childhood messed him up, but even though he's a bit of a grouch, he's very entertaining with his ego that gets knocked down a few pegs, women in several cities, and his absolute commitment to doing right by Callie Carlisle and their baby.
I like the challenge they present. Trying to keep big secrets rarely works out, so imagine my surprise when they... try to keep one. Yeah, I may have rolled my eyes at that nugget. I think that is the biggest complaint I could potentially lodge. They are otherwise extremely likable and have me laughing on multiple occasions. (I mean, that announcement scene?!) 🤣
When we left the field, I wrapped a hand around hers and haven’t let go. No one is going to mess with her when I’m at her side.
-- Foster Davis
Her reaction to what she walks into at her apartment is WAY too calm, in my opinion. This aside, I do love her usually somewhat logical approach to things. She is stubborn, which is to be expected, but she approaches things with optimism. Also, her honesty about a lack of O's and the lessons that follow are *chef's kiss* 💋
I have to admit to being surprised by a reaction or two, but I don't dislike it. In the found family / friend group, at least. Haters are gonna hate, so I don't count that.
My curiosity is peaked for the next couple. As much as I like Callie and Foster, something tells me that I'll like the next one even more. 🤞
I read along with the audio book, my favorite way to experience a book. The duet narrators, Erin Mallon and Sean Masters, are joined by CJ Bloom, Meg Sylvan, Willa Jaymes, Austin Stone, Teddy Hamilton, and Connor Crais to complete the cast narration. I absolutely love this narration delivery. Even better is the consistency of narrators to characters as the series develops. I'm in love. 😍 🎧🩷🎧
Story: 4 stars
Narration: 4.5 stars
Listening Speed: 1.8x
H = 30s; h = 30
April 12, 2026
5 stars
12/4 - I finally read it! Foster and Callie were everything I wanted, the angst of lingering feelings post one night stand, the tension of their accidental pregnancy, keeping it a secret from her brother (his best friend) until they figure out some of the finer details between them, the sexual chemistry when these new roommates became co-parents/friends with benefits, but sure let's call it spicy lessons you two, we all know it was just a manifestation of your mutual pining. And as always a 'bad boy' who thinks he's damaged and unwanted, finding safety, security and love with the one woman he believes he's not good enough to have - UGH take all my stars ahaha
See now my issue is, I pick up a Piper Rayne book, I finish it in a day and now I have to wait for their next release (thank god these ladies write fast). Can't wait for Decker and Penelope's book next month, to see more of the brother's dynamic and history explored. I can't wait to see more of the whole found family.
Me (every time) waiting for the next Piper Rayne book like:
________________________________________
UPDATE 26/2 - happy to report I was right ahah CAN'T WAIT!!
18/2 - my guess is Callie x Foster!! Bring on the
12/4 - I finally read it! Foster and Callie were everything I wanted, the angst of lingering feelings post one night stand, the tension of their accidental pregnancy, keeping it a secret from her brother (his best friend) until they figure out some of the finer details between them, the sexual chemistry when these new roommates became co-parents/friends with benefits, but sure let's call it spicy lessons you two, we all know it was just a manifestation of your mutual pining. And as always a 'bad boy' who thinks he's damaged and unwanted, finding safety, security and love with the one woman he believes he's not good enough to have - UGH take all my stars ahaha
See now my issue is, I pick up a Piper Rayne book, I finish it in a day and now I have to wait for their next release (thank god these ladies write fast). Can't wait for Decker and Penelope's book next month, to see more of the brother's dynamic and history explored. I can't wait to see more of the whole found family.
Me (every time) waiting for the next Piper Rayne book like:
________________________________________
UPDATE 26/2 - happy to report I was right ahah CAN'T WAIT!!
18/2 - my guess is Callie x Foster!! Bring on the
April 13, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
such a fun read for me. Any book that starts with a one night stand that turns into an accidental pregnancy already has my attention, and adding in the best friend’s sister dynamic made it even better.
One of my favorite parts was that she gave him lessons on how to please a woman, and those scenes were so good. Their chemistry felt natural, but what really stood out was how attentive he was to her and all of her needs. Watching him slowly open up and let his guard down made me love his character even more.
such a fun read for me. Any book that starts with a one night stand that turns into an accidental pregnancy already has my attention, and adding in the best friend’s sister dynamic made it even better.
One of my favorite parts was that she gave him lessons on how to please a woman, and those scenes were so good. Their chemistry felt natural, but what really stood out was how attentive he was to her and all of her needs. Watching him slowly open up and let his guard down made me love his character even more.
April 5, 2026
The issues with the MC’s past just did not work for me. A whole chapter dedicated to romance in a bookstore, why? I really liked the first book so I will continue but this one did not work for me.
April 7, 2026
#Review: *The Wild Card* - Piper Rayne - ARC/ALC [18+]
4.8/5✨
3/5🌶️
Callie had a huge surprise when she saw that positive pregnancy test. She only had a one night stand with broody baseball player Foster Davis and she clearly didn't have more in plan for them, especially because he was friends and teammates with her older brother, Hayes. How will things work out for them when he learns about Callie's unexpected situation? Will they be able to ignore that insane chemistry present between them?
How much I loved the connection between Foster and Callie!! It was sweet and beautiful, but also preeettty spicy, with all those lessons they agreed to have. I liked how careful and pretty much obsessed Foster was with Callie, even if he tried so hard not to get too invested into what they had. Why? Well, he had some unsolved past issues which were still eating him up, making him reluctant in giving love a chance. Of course that the close proximity to Callie would make him change a little and maybe that would make him lower those walls he had built around him.
The full cast from "The Hot Shot" was present for this one too, but this time we had Sean Masters and Erin Mallon bringing Foster and Callie to life. They were amazing for these characters because they represented so good their personalities: Foster's grumpiness and broodiness and on the other side Callie's sweetness and fragility. Of course that I adoored this audiobook because of this whole cast, being the most amazing experience everytime I get the chance to listen to a sports romance by Piper Rayne🥰. I looved that there were some cute appearances of previous Piper Rayne characters, which made me laugh quite a bit 😂🤭.
I was mesmerized by another Piper Rayne's story, this one being as amazing as all of their previous books😍. I looved that mystery behind Foster's story, making me guessing what could he be hiding that affected him so much. I also adored his connection with Callie and with the other baseball players, this story having such amazing vibes🥰.
I must thank Piper Rayne, Valentine Pr and Hambright Pr for offering me the e-ARC and ALC of this cute book💜.
✨Tropes
▫️Accidental Pregnancy
▫️One Night Stand
▫️Enemies To Lovers
▫️Best Friend's Sibling
▫️Found Family
▫️Roommates To Lovers
▫️Secret Hookups
▫️Tortured Lead
▫️Sports Romance
▫️Baseball Player
4.8/5✨
3/5🌶️
Callie had a huge surprise when she saw that positive pregnancy test. She only had a one night stand with broody baseball player Foster Davis and she clearly didn't have more in plan for them, especially because he was friends and teammates with her older brother, Hayes. How will things work out for them when he learns about Callie's unexpected situation? Will they be able to ignore that insane chemistry present between them?
How much I loved the connection between Foster and Callie!! It was sweet and beautiful, but also preeettty spicy, with all those lessons they agreed to have. I liked how careful and pretty much obsessed Foster was with Callie, even if he tried so hard not to get too invested into what they had. Why? Well, he had some unsolved past issues which were still eating him up, making him reluctant in giving love a chance. Of course that the close proximity to Callie would make him change a little and maybe that would make him lower those walls he had built around him.
The full cast from "The Hot Shot" was present for this one too, but this time we had Sean Masters and Erin Mallon bringing Foster and Callie to life. They were amazing for these characters because they represented so good their personalities: Foster's grumpiness and broodiness and on the other side Callie's sweetness and fragility. Of course that I adoored this audiobook because of this whole cast, being the most amazing experience everytime I get the chance to listen to a sports romance by Piper Rayne🥰. I looved that there were some cute appearances of previous Piper Rayne characters, which made me laugh quite a bit 😂🤭.
I was mesmerized by another Piper Rayne's story, this one being as amazing as all of their previous books😍. I looved that mystery behind Foster's story, making me guessing what could he be hiding that affected him so much. I also adored his connection with Callie and with the other baseball players, this story having such amazing vibes🥰.
I must thank Piper Rayne, Valentine Pr and Hambright Pr for offering me the e-ARC and ALC of this cute book💜.
✨Tropes
▫️Accidental Pregnancy
▫️One Night Stand
▫️Enemies To Lovers
▫️Best Friend's Sibling
▫️Found Family
▫️Roommates To Lovers
▫️Secret Hookups
▫️Tortured Lead
▫️Sports Romance
▫️Baseball Player
April 5, 2026
I received a gifted ALC/ARC of this novel via Valentine PR and am voluntarily writing this review. THE WILDCARD is the second book in THE DUGOUT series by Piper Rayne. After a one night stand with her brother’s best friend and teammate, Foster Davis, results in pregnancy, Callie Hayes navigates coparenting boundaries as feelings begin to develop between them. This is a spicy, open door, first person, dual POV, contemporary sports romance with tropes that include baseball romance, one night stand, surprise pregnancy, brother’s best friend & teammate, forbidden relationship, enemies to lovers, roommates to lovers, spicy lessons... she teaches him, tortured hero, and found family. This was a classic Piper Rayne sports romance, with laughs, feels, and plenty of heat, and I enjoyed every moment. I loved Foster, the misunderstood bad boy of baseball with a difficult childhood, and Callie, who had so much love to give to someone who had lived without it. Their relationship happened so naturally, and I loved the gender bending spicy lessons where Callie was the teacher! This was a great follow-up to THE HOTSHOT, which was a best friend’s brother story about Callie’s brother and best friend. I loved reading as the tables were turned. I am really looking forward to the next story in the series as I can’t wait for Easton Bailey and Foster’s brother, Decker to get their HEAs as well. The full cast narration made this audiobook a delight with duet narration by Sean Masters and Erin Mallon while also featuring JF Harding, Teddy Hamilton, Connor Crais, Austin Stone, Carly Robins, Willa Jaymes, and Meg Sylvan. Sean and Erin stole the show, but the additional cast made it seem so real. The recording held up at different speeds and the audio quality was excellent. I really loved Callie and Foster together and if you are a reader of funny, spicy, baseball romance novels, then I think you will too! (4.5 rounded to 5 stars where necessary.)
April 5, 2026
ARC/ALC Review
4.5/5 ⭐️
Foster Davis is known to be the bad boy of baseball. He doesn’t catch feelings, and he definitely doesn’t do relationships. But there is one woman he can’t get his mind off. Too bad she’s his best friend’s sister and completely off limits.
Callie Carlisle is working on taking her podcast to the next level. She also has a secret. She’s pregnant with one of the Chicago Colts players baby. Not even the father knows that she is pregnant.
Neither of them thought that their one night stand would result in a pregnancy. Foster’s childhood wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine, but he will do everything he can to be the best father he can be. They agree to co-parent and the more time Callie spends with Foster, the more she realizes that she was wrong about him.
I loved Callie and Foster’s story! It was sweet and filled with so many emotions. You think Foster is this playboy and that he doesn’t care about the feelings of the women he sleeps with, but that’s not the case. He’s broken and afraid to love because one parent abandoned him and the other only loved him when he was doing good in baseball. When he’s with Callie, you see him start to open up. They both helped each other in more ways than one. I was glad that Callie’s brother, Hayes, didn’t have this huge over reaction to her and Foster being together. This book had me crying for Callie and Foster towards the end. They are perfect for each other. Callie and Foster still have a ways to go but you could see how much they grew by the end the of the book.
Sean Masters and Erin Mallon were perfect as Foster and Callie. They really embodied the emotions of the characters. The audiobook also has a full cast featuring Teddy Hamilton, JF Harding, Connor Crais, CJ Bloom, Willa Jaymes, Meg Sylvan, and Austin Stone.
Thank you Hambright PR and Piper Rayne for the ARC and ALC!
4.5/5 ⭐️
Foster Davis is known to be the bad boy of baseball. He doesn’t catch feelings, and he definitely doesn’t do relationships. But there is one woman he can’t get his mind off. Too bad she’s his best friend’s sister and completely off limits.
Callie Carlisle is working on taking her podcast to the next level. She also has a secret. She’s pregnant with one of the Chicago Colts players baby. Not even the father knows that she is pregnant.
Neither of them thought that their one night stand would result in a pregnancy. Foster’s childhood wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine, but he will do everything he can to be the best father he can be. They agree to co-parent and the more time Callie spends with Foster, the more she realizes that she was wrong about him.
I loved Callie and Foster’s story! It was sweet and filled with so many emotions. You think Foster is this playboy and that he doesn’t care about the feelings of the women he sleeps with, but that’s not the case. He’s broken and afraid to love because one parent abandoned him and the other only loved him when he was doing good in baseball. When he’s with Callie, you see him start to open up. They both helped each other in more ways than one. I was glad that Callie’s brother, Hayes, didn’t have this huge over reaction to her and Foster being together. This book had me crying for Callie and Foster towards the end. They are perfect for each other. Callie and Foster still have a ways to go but you could see how much they grew by the end the of the book.
Sean Masters and Erin Mallon were perfect as Foster and Callie. They really embodied the emotions of the characters. The audiobook also has a full cast featuring Teddy Hamilton, JF Harding, Connor Crais, CJ Bloom, Willa Jaymes, Meg Sylvan, and Austin Stone.
Thank you Hambright PR and Piper Rayne for the ARC and ALC!
April 8, 2026
4.25🌟, 3🌶️
This one pulled me in with the tension alone, and it didn’t take long before I was fully invested in Callie and Foster’s story.
What starts off complicated only gets more layered, and I really liked how their connection felt both messy and magnetic. Foster has that guarded, broody energy at first, but there’s so much more underneath, and watching him slowly soften around Callie was easily one of the best parts. Their banter felt natural, their chemistry was strong, and those quieter, more vulnerable moments balanced everything out really well.
Callie held her own in the story in a way I really appreciated. She’s confident, warm, and figuring things out as she goes, and I liked how her emotional journey was given space alongside the romance. Foster’s backstory added depth too, especially seeing how his past shaped the way he approaches relationships and himself. Together, they felt like two people learning, stumbling, and showing up for each other in ways that actually mattered.
It’s a mix of tension, heart, and just enough drama to keep things interesting without overwhelming the story. The found family element adds a lot of charm, and the side characters really round everything out. It doesn’t dive into everything as much as it could, but it still works.
It delivers the kind of romance that’s easy to get wrapped up in.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Piper Rayne & Valentine PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
This one pulled me in with the tension alone, and it didn’t take long before I was fully invested in Callie and Foster’s story.
What starts off complicated only gets more layered, and I really liked how their connection felt both messy and magnetic. Foster has that guarded, broody energy at first, but there’s so much more underneath, and watching him slowly soften around Callie was easily one of the best parts. Their banter felt natural, their chemistry was strong, and those quieter, more vulnerable moments balanced everything out really well.
Callie held her own in the story in a way I really appreciated. She’s confident, warm, and figuring things out as she goes, and I liked how her emotional journey was given space alongside the romance. Foster’s backstory added depth too, especially seeing how his past shaped the way he approaches relationships and himself. Together, they felt like two people learning, stumbling, and showing up for each other in ways that actually mattered.
It’s a mix of tension, heart, and just enough drama to keep things interesting without overwhelming the story. The found family element adds a lot of charm, and the side characters really round everything out. It doesn’t dive into everything as much as it could, but it still works.
It delivers the kind of romance that’s easy to get wrapped up in.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Piper Rayne & Valentine PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
April 10, 2026
Rating: Obsessed
🤰Accidental Pregnancy
⚾️Baseball Romance
👨👩👦👦 Found Family
🤫Secret Hookups
🧑🏻💼Brother's Best Friend
This is officially my favorite Piper Rayne book. Foster has entered the top 5 book boyfriends group chat and he’s not leaving.
First, Erin Mallon and Sean Masters?? UNREAL. I’ve listened to both before and they ARE Callie and Foster now. The full-cast narration already slaps, but they pushed this straight to obsession territory.
Y'all should know that I love a broken boy/girl and Callie and Foster are both so beautifully broken. Callie has sky-high walls from her past, but she’s also self-aware, communicative, and always trying to be better. Foster, though? Completely wrecked by his upbringing. Watching his story unfold and realizing just how deep it goes had my heart cracking more and more with every chapter. The details about him and his brother hit at just the right time adding yet another layer to this man.
Their journey hit hard. Foster learning he’s worthy of love while Callie learns what it feels like to be chosen first? Yeah, I was a little emotional. They’re so similar at their core, but completely opposite in how they’ve learned to cope and it just works. Watching them both unpack all their past trauma to figure out if they can be a good parent and coparent was beautiful. Such real-world worries that I imagine every new parent has at one point.
And then the humor?? Foster realizing he might not be the king in bed he thought he was and straight asking for sexy lessons had me cackling at first. The whole conversation around it felt real, refreshing, and honestly so needed. This conversation is important and more women need to have it because YOU ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. IT'S NOT EVEN A PROBLEM.
As we find out with Callie and Foster, asking for exactly what you want is 🥵🔥🥵🔥
I laughed, I swooned, I got emotionally wrecked. This one has it all (including my beloved Ruby)!
Ugh, everything about this book was amazing and I thank @authorpiperrayne and @valentine_pr_ for the ARC/ALC.
🤰Accidental Pregnancy
⚾️Baseball Romance
👨👩👦👦 Found Family
🤫Secret Hookups
🧑🏻💼Brother's Best Friend
This is officially my favorite Piper Rayne book. Foster has entered the top 5 book boyfriends group chat and he’s not leaving.
First, Erin Mallon and Sean Masters?? UNREAL. I’ve listened to both before and they ARE Callie and Foster now. The full-cast narration already slaps, but they pushed this straight to obsession territory.
Y'all should know that I love a broken boy/girl and Callie and Foster are both so beautifully broken. Callie has sky-high walls from her past, but she’s also self-aware, communicative, and always trying to be better. Foster, though? Completely wrecked by his upbringing. Watching his story unfold and realizing just how deep it goes had my heart cracking more and more with every chapter. The details about him and his brother hit at just the right time adding yet another layer to this man.
Their journey hit hard. Foster learning he’s worthy of love while Callie learns what it feels like to be chosen first? Yeah, I was a little emotional. They’re so similar at their core, but completely opposite in how they’ve learned to cope and it just works. Watching them both unpack all their past trauma to figure out if they can be a good parent and coparent was beautiful. Such real-world worries that I imagine every new parent has at one point.
And then the humor?? Foster realizing he might not be the king in bed he thought he was and straight asking for sexy lessons had me cackling at first. The whole conversation around it felt real, refreshing, and honestly so needed. This conversation is important and more women need to have it because YOU ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. IT'S NOT EVEN A PROBLEM.
As we find out with Callie and Foster, asking for exactly what you want is 🥵🔥🥵🔥
I laughed, I swooned, I got emotionally wrecked. This one has it all (including my beloved Ruby)!
Ugh, everything about this book was amazing and I thank @authorpiperrayne and @valentine_pr_ for the ARC/ALC.
April 3, 2026
4.5
This series just keeps getting better and the found family is truly chef’s kiss. I was so excited to finally get Callie’s story and uncover the baby daddy mystery, and when it turned out to be Foster I knew we were in for something good. The playboy player knocking up his best friend’s sister is exactly the kind of chaos I love.
I will say I missed a bit of Callie’s humor from The HotShot since she felt more spunky before, but I really enjoyed the edgier dynamic that came from Foster’s family history. It added depth and made their story feel a little more layered.
And of course, Piper Rayne does what they do best and leaves you needing the next book immediately. I’m fully hooked on this series.
This series just keeps getting better and the found family is truly chef’s kiss. I was so excited to finally get Callie’s story and uncover the baby daddy mystery, and when it turned out to be Foster I knew we were in for something good. The playboy player knocking up his best friend’s sister is exactly the kind of chaos I love.
I will say I missed a bit of Callie’s humor from The HotShot since she felt more spunky before, but I really enjoyed the edgier dynamic that came from Foster’s family history. It added depth and made their story feel a little more layered.
And of course, Piper Rayne does what they do best and leaves you needing the next book immediately. I’m fully hooked on this series.
April 2, 2026
I fully understand this is a me problem, but I just did not vibe with this book, I was just bored.
things I liked:
-we looove a tattooed, bad boy baseball player and Foster Davis is so yummy
-I did actually love all the characters individually, this found family is just so cute and wholesome and supportive
-the full cast audiobook!!!!!
things I didn’t like:
-Callie’s pregnancy seemed kind of irreverent to the story. sure, it’s what caused them to move in with each other and they went to doctor’s appointments together, but outside of that… it wasn’t really mentioned and I really just wanted to see more of that.
-normally I’m a spicy lessons lover, but this one gave me the ick and I don’t know why. again, it’s totally a me problem.
-on the note of spicy lessons, I have a very hard time believing that a reformed playboy needs spicy lessons. I appreciate that it was something different but as a whole, that trope just did not work for me in this one.
-the whole first 50% is Callie and Foster stressing about how her brother is going to take the news of her pregnancy, and then when he finds out, he’s literally mad for 2 pages and then it’s fine.
I’ve been reading lots of angst and stories with higher stakes, and so this was just… not that. but I’m still going to continue the series and hopefully the next one hits a little better for me!!!!!
things I liked:
-we looove a tattooed, bad boy baseball player and Foster Davis is so yummy
-I did actually love all the characters individually, this found family is just so cute and wholesome and supportive
-the full cast audiobook!!!!!
things I didn’t like:
-Callie’s pregnancy seemed kind of irreverent to the story. sure, it’s what caused them to move in with each other and they went to doctor’s appointments together, but outside of that… it wasn’t really mentioned and I really just wanted to see more of that.
-normally I’m a spicy lessons lover, but this one gave me the ick and I don’t know why. again, it’s totally a me problem.
-on the note of spicy lessons, I have a very hard time believing that a reformed playboy needs spicy lessons. I appreciate that it was something different but as a whole, that trope just did not work for me in this one.
-the whole first 50% is Callie and Foster stressing about how her brother is going to take the news of her pregnancy, and then when he finds out, he’s literally mad for 2 pages and then it’s fine.
I’ve been reading lots of angst and stories with higher stakes, and so this was just… not that. but I’m still going to continue the series and hopefully the next one hits a little better for me!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵. 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦.”
I’m not typically drawn to the surprise pregnancy trope, but after reading book one and falling in love with the characters, I needed to continue the series.
Foster Davis is swoon worthy. He is known as the teams bad boy, but he’s actually a big softy who is healing from past trauma. I adored how protective and possessive he was of Callie. I devoured this audio in one listen. It’s a sweet yet spicy read that was quick and addicting. Towards the end I started to lose interest, but still enjoyed this one overall. It just didn’t hit quite like the first book for me. The audio narration was great tho!
▪️ʙᴀꜱᴇʙᴀʟʟ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
▪️ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀ’ꜱ ʙᴇꜱᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ
▪️ᴏɴᴇ ɴɪɢʜᴛ ꜱᴛᴀɴᴅ
▪️ꜱᴜʀᴘʀɪꜱᴇ ᴘʀᴇɢɴᴀɴᴄʏ
▪️ʀᴏᴏᴍᴍᴀᴛᴇꜱ
▪️ʀᴇꜰᴏʀᴍᴇᴅ ᴘʟᴀʏʙᴏʏ
▪️ꜱᴘɪᴄʏ ʟᴇꜱꜱᴏɴꜱ
▪️ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ
▪️ᴅᴜᴀʟ ᴘᴏᴠ
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵. 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦.”
I’m not typically drawn to the surprise pregnancy trope, but after reading book one and falling in love with the characters, I needed to continue the series.
Foster Davis is swoon worthy. He is known as the teams bad boy, but he’s actually a big softy who is healing from past trauma. I adored how protective and possessive he was of Callie. I devoured this audio in one listen. It’s a sweet yet spicy read that was quick and addicting. Towards the end I started to lose interest, but still enjoyed this one overall. It just didn’t hit quite like the first book for me. The audio narration was great tho!
▪️ʙᴀꜱᴇʙᴀʟʟ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
▪️ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀ’ꜱ ʙᴇꜱᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ
▪️ᴏɴᴇ ɴɪɢʜᴛ ꜱᴛᴀɴᴅ
▪️ꜱᴜʀᴘʀɪꜱᴇ ᴘʀᴇɢɴᴀɴᴄʏ
▪️ʀᴏᴏᴍᴍᴀᴛᴇꜱ
▪️ʀᴇꜰᴏʀᴍᴇᴅ ᴘʟᴀʏʙᴏʏ
▪️ꜱᴘɪᴄʏ ʟᴇꜱꜱᴏɴꜱ
▪️ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ
▪️ᴅᴜᴀʟ ᴘᴏᴠ
April 16, 2026
4.75⭐️
Thank you so much Piper Rayne and HambrightPR for the ARC/ALC of The Wild Card. This is the second book in The Dugout series, a baseball romance, and like the first one Piper Rayne knocked it out of the park. I listened to the audio and it was wonderful. There was a full cast, with Sean Masters and Erin Mallon narrating for our MMC, Foster and FMC Callie.
Callie is Hayes' sister from the first book and Foster is Hayes' grumpy best friend. They have a one night stand which ends up with an accidental pregnancy. When Foster finds out he steps up like the man he really is, which he hides that from the public, and is there for Callie in every way.
I loved how this relationship progressed. So many fun times, like sex lessons! I enjoyed seeing all the characters from the first book in this one and the found family aspect is top notch!
I look forward to continuing this series and reading about all the other characters stories!
If you enjoy these tropes, you will love this book.
~ Accidental Pregnancy
~ Baseball Romance
~ Dislike to Lovers
~ Brother's Best Friend
~ Protective MMC
~ Found Family
~ Secret Hookups
~ Roommates
~ Forced Proximity
~ Spicy lessons
Thank you so much Piper Rayne and HambrightPR for the ARC/ALC of The Wild Card. This is the second book in The Dugout series, a baseball romance, and like the first one Piper Rayne knocked it out of the park. I listened to the audio and it was wonderful. There was a full cast, with Sean Masters and Erin Mallon narrating for our MMC, Foster and FMC Callie.
Callie is Hayes' sister from the first book and Foster is Hayes' grumpy best friend. They have a one night stand which ends up with an accidental pregnancy. When Foster finds out he steps up like the man he really is, which he hides that from the public, and is there for Callie in every way.
I loved how this relationship progressed. So many fun times, like sex lessons! I enjoyed seeing all the characters from the first book in this one and the found family aspect is top notch!
I look forward to continuing this series and reading about all the other characters stories!
If you enjoy these tropes, you will love this book.
~ Accidental Pregnancy
~ Baseball Romance
~ Dislike to Lovers
~ Brother's Best Friend
~ Protective MMC
~ Found Family
~ Secret Hookups
~ Roommates
~ Forced Proximity
~ Spicy lessons
April 3, 2026
Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I love Piper Rayne’s books and as a baseball fan, this series is a fave. Callie sleeps with her brother’s best friend and ends up pregnant. Foster is a bad boy in the baseball world but trying to change his image. Tropes: brothers best friend, forced proximity, accidental pregnancy, sports romance. Everything you could want in a book! Definitely read (or listen!) to this when it comes out! I cannot wait for there next one!!!
April 2, 2026
This book had my favorite tropes and I couldn’t recommend this book enough.
TROPES
Accidental Pregnancy
Baseball Romance
Enemies to Lovers
Found Family
Secret Hookups
Sibling’s Best Friend
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
TROPES
Accidental Pregnancy
Baseball Romance
Enemies to Lovers
Found Family
Secret Hookups
Sibling’s Best Friend
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
April 3, 2026
4.5✨️
I'm really loving this series so far!
Accidental pregnancy will always be one of my favourites🙂↕️
I'm really loving this series so far!
Accidental pregnancy will always be one of my favourites🙂↕️
April 11, 2026
I enjoyed every page of The Wild Card by Piper Rayne. It was a wonderful first experience with these authors. I picked it up during a busier time, but under normal circumstances, it’s the kind of book I would have devoured in one sitting.
I loved that illusion of unrequited love, which added so much emotion to the story. Being inside the characters’ minds, you can see how much they long for more, but it’s also easy to understand their fears. As a reader, it was so easy to want to yell at them to just say something, but putting myself in their place… I understood them. They both fear that they’re not enough.
The tension between the characters, the way they gravitate toward each other… the intensity! Foster completely won me over through the smallest details. He almost doesn’t even realize how irresistible he is through his actions. All this time, he feels unworthy of Callie, but I actually loved this approach because it takes you into such a vulnerable direction and leaves room for his growth. I loved getting to see the real Foster, beyond the Reaper image. And I loved being there with Callie as she realizes just how wrong she was about him.
📚 “The guy who wins you won’t treat loving you like a job. He’ll treat it like a privilege.”
I loved that Foster and Callie’s relationship is built slowly, step by step, even though they both want it deep down. It made everything feel much more natural, and it never felt like their relationship was simply a consequence of having a child together. I really connected with this approach, especially because it made the story even more emotional, particularly toward the end.
I also really loved their group and the support they show the two of them. Hayes was such a pleasant surprise for me, especially in the way he handles the news. And as for Decker, I found myself really wanting to learn more about him.
I truly recommend this book. Beyond the emotional side, we also get funny moments, but also a little bit of suspense, since we discover details about Foster almost at the same time as Callie does. And I really appreciated the focus on a different sport, one that isn’t explored as often, baseball.
● ● ● ● ◐
Thank you so much Piper Rayne and Valentine PR for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I loved that illusion of unrequited love, which added so much emotion to the story. Being inside the characters’ minds, you can see how much they long for more, but it’s also easy to understand their fears. As a reader, it was so easy to want to yell at them to just say something, but putting myself in their place… I understood them. They both fear that they’re not enough.
The tension between the characters, the way they gravitate toward each other… the intensity! Foster completely won me over through the smallest details. He almost doesn’t even realize how irresistible he is through his actions. All this time, he feels unworthy of Callie, but I actually loved this approach because it takes you into such a vulnerable direction and leaves room for his growth. I loved getting to see the real Foster, beyond the Reaper image. And I loved being there with Callie as she realizes just how wrong she was about him.
📚 “The guy who wins you won’t treat loving you like a job. He’ll treat it like a privilege.”
I loved that Foster and Callie’s relationship is built slowly, step by step, even though they both want it deep down. It made everything feel much more natural, and it never felt like their relationship was simply a consequence of having a child together. I really connected with this approach, especially because it made the story even more emotional, particularly toward the end.
I also really loved their group and the support they show the two of them. Hayes was such a pleasant surprise for me, especially in the way he handles the news. And as for Decker, I found myself really wanting to learn more about him.
I truly recommend this book. Beyond the emotional side, we also get funny moments, but also a little bit of suspense, since we discover details about Foster almost at the same time as Callie does. And I really appreciated the focus on a different sport, one that isn’t explored as often, baseball.
● ● ● ● ◐
Thank you so much Piper Rayne and Valentine PR for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 5, 2026
4.25 stars and really enjoyed this one !! So cute ! I do enjoy reading more baseball related sports romance books. I relate better since I know zero about hockey lol. Looking forward to the next one !!!
April 7, 2026
3.5 rounded down bc I didn’t feel like it actually ended. Like we didn’t find out what happened with the dad etc. however I loved the scene in the bookstore and the shameless self promotion and obviously seeing Conor and Eloise again. I’m sure there will be more to the family story in the next book bc it’s Decker but it felt unfinished to me.
March 30, 2026
✨ALC provided by Valentine PR for an honest review✨
The Wild Card is the second book in The Dugout series and I am loving the drama that goes along with these baseball players 😍 This book deals with the relationship between the bad boy of baseball Foster and his best friend/teammate’s little sister Callie. After months of flirting and then one drunken night that ends up in a fight and an unexpected quickie in a club bathroom, their forbidden relationship is cemented in stone when Callie ends up pregnant with Foster’s baby! Like I said before, I love the drama! And this book was filled with it from the unexpected pregnancy, secret relationship, off limits best friend’s little sister, along with some family rivalry thrown into the mix! 👀
The relationship between Foster and Callie was giving me anxiety with all the secrecy. I wanted them to come clean to their family and friends so bad, but they kept holding off! Foster has a reputation as a player, and Callie was so convinced that he wasn’t going to accept her and the baby. But Foster proved her completely wrong and was all in as soon as he was told. That closed off grumpy dude became the perfect caring partner and it just made my heart melt❤️ Having a rough childhood and a not so perfect father, Foster was terrified of becoming a dad. But he knew the type of father not to be, and was dead set on becoming the perfect father his child would need 🥰 And like the last book, the teammates were a shining light in the story! I absolutely love the brotherly friendships of these players and how they always step up for each other when needed!
The audiobook was duet narrated with a multicast of some of the best narrators and it’s fantastic! The stars of the book were narrated by Erin Mallon and Sean Masters who completely mastered their characters! The rest of the cast really brought this book together and you could feel the brotherly relationship between the teammates 🥰 Piper Rayne really knows how to weave drama and tension in their stories, but I love how they also add in a lot of humor and loving relationships that leave you smiling in the end. I definitely recommend this book and this series, and I can’t wait for the next book! ❤️
The Wild Card is the second book in The Dugout series and I am loving the drama that goes along with these baseball players 😍 This book deals with the relationship between the bad boy of baseball Foster and his best friend/teammate’s little sister Callie. After months of flirting and then one drunken night that ends up in a fight and an unexpected quickie in a club bathroom, their forbidden relationship is cemented in stone when Callie ends up pregnant with Foster’s baby! Like I said before, I love the drama! And this book was filled with it from the unexpected pregnancy, secret relationship, off limits best friend’s little sister, along with some family rivalry thrown into the mix! 👀
The relationship between Foster and Callie was giving me anxiety with all the secrecy. I wanted them to come clean to their family and friends so bad, but they kept holding off! Foster has a reputation as a player, and Callie was so convinced that he wasn’t going to accept her and the baby. But Foster proved her completely wrong and was all in as soon as he was told. That closed off grumpy dude became the perfect caring partner and it just made my heart melt❤️ Having a rough childhood and a not so perfect father, Foster was terrified of becoming a dad. But he knew the type of father not to be, and was dead set on becoming the perfect father his child would need 🥰 And like the last book, the teammates were a shining light in the story! I absolutely love the brotherly friendships of these players and how they always step up for each other when needed!
The audiobook was duet narrated with a multicast of some of the best narrators and it’s fantastic! The stars of the book were narrated by Erin Mallon and Sean Masters who completely mastered their characters! The rest of the cast really brought this book together and you could feel the brotherly relationship between the teammates 🥰 Piper Rayne really knows how to weave drama and tension in their stories, but I love how they also add in a lot of humor and loving relationships that leave you smiling in the end. I definitely recommend this book and this series, and I can’t wait for the next book! ❤️
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