What do you think?
Rate this book
The Mercer Family #1
Holding Ground
I’ve been a single dad for five years. Then the wrong woman rented the guest cabin behind my house, and I knew right then she was going to ruin everything.
When Baylor's mother walked out, I made a promise—I'd be enough. Just the two of us. No one to disappoint her. No one else to leave.
Then Emelia Greene rolled into Echo Lake in a Mercedes and a power suit to convince the townspeople to change what makes our small town great. She’s everything this place isn't.
Emelia's not supposed to be kind. She's not supposed to be good with my daughter. She's definitely not supposed to be the one I find myself confiding in at the end of my dock every night.
She's leaving in three months. I know that.
The problem is, I can't stop wondering what it would be like if a woman like her belonged in a place like this.
In a life like mine.
When Baylor's mother walked out, I made a promise—I'd be enough. Just the two of us. No one to disappoint her. No one else to leave.
Then Emelia Greene rolled into Echo Lake in a Mercedes and a power suit to convince the townspeople to change what makes our small town great. She’s everything this place isn't.
Emelia's not supposed to be kind. She's not supposed to be good with my daughter. She's definitely not supposed to be the one I find myself confiding in at the end of my dock every night.
She's leaving in three months. I know that.
The problem is, I can't stop wondering what it would be like if a woman like her belonged in a place like this.
In a life like mine.
Audiobook
First published September 10, 2026
About the author
Piper Rayne
177 books8,336 followersPiper Rayne is an Amazon Top 50 and USA Today Bestselling Author duo who believes in soft places to land, big laughs, and happily-ever-afters.
Piper’s the one who turns up the heat and humor—spinning tension, spark, and steam into moments that make you blush into your pillow and grin through the next chapter.
Rayne’s the one who tugs on your heartstrings—mixing locker-room laughs, brotherhood banter, and the kind of heart-punch moments that hit when you least expect them.
Together, they create stories that feel like family—sometimes found, sometimes blood—but always the kind that stays with you long after the final word.
At the end of the day, Piper and Rayne write love stories that they hope feel real, funny, with just the right amount of steam… ones that make your heart race and your world a little warmer.
Piper’s the one who turns up the heat and humor—spinning tension, spark, and steam into moments that make you blush into your pillow and grin through the next chapter.
Rayne’s the one who tugs on your heartstrings—mixing locker-room laughs, brotherhood banter, and the kind of heart-punch moments that hit when you least expect them.
Together, they create stories that feel like family—sometimes found, sometimes blood—but always the kind that stays with you long after the final word.
At the end of the day, Piper and Rayne write love stories that they hope feel real, funny, with just the right amount of steam… ones that make your heart race and your world a little warmer.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,048 reviews
September 13, 2026
“Thank you for reminding me that there’s more to life than the way I’ve been living for the past five years.”
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
“ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ” x ᴊᴏᴇ ʙᴜᴄᴋ
0:47 ───♥──────── 2:47
Elliot has spent the last five years raising his daughter on his own and keeping his life firmly rooted in the small town he calls home. Then Emelia arrives, renting the cabin behind his house while working on a project that could completely change Echo Lake. She’s determined to help the town, he’s convinced she’s going to ruin it... but he can’t help but be drawn to her. And somehow they’re having nightly conversations by the dock that turn into something neither of them expected.
This was my second book by this author, and yep… I’m officially convinced I need to read everything. 🥹 Holding Ground was such a cute, soft, comforting small-town romance, and the atmosphere was EVERYTHING. Echo Lake genuinely felt like a little town full of real people, with all the little shops, local businesses, familiar faces, and that warm, everyone-knows-everyone feeling. I wanted to move there immediately.
I’ve been craving a good grumpy MMC, and Elliot delivered. 🙂↕️ His protectiveness over his town made so much sense, especially considering how suspicious he was of Emelia at first, but I loved watching her slowly prove that his assumptions about her were completely wrong. Not everyone who comes into a small town has selfish intentions, and I really loved that Emelia was genuinely there because she cared and wanted to help.
And Elliot as a dad??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME. This man was so good to Baylor. Playing Barbies, attempting to do her hair, constantly questioning whether he was doing enough when he was clearly doing EVERYTHING. 😭 I loved how deeply he loved his daughter and how intentional he was about being there for her. He was such a natural caretaker too. Even when he didn’t exactly like Emelia, he still took care of her because that’s simply who he is.
Emelia was such a strong, determined, honest heroine, and I really respected how willing she was to ask questions and call things out instead of quietly making assumptions. I especially loved watching her find a sense of belonging in Echo Lake when she initially felt like she didn’t have a place there.
But Baylor was honestly one of my favorite parts of the entire book. That girl completely stole my heart. 🥹 She was so sweet, funny, and full of personality, and I loved how real she felt. Her relationship with Elliot was so special, and her warmth and honesty made every scene with the three of them feel meaningful. I loved watching her connect with Emelia and effortlessly bring her and Elliot closer together. She added so much heart to the book and made the found-family aspect even more meaningful.
I also loved the Mercer brothers and getting little glimpses into their dynamic, and obviously Uncle Roy deserves a mention because I loved him. I’m already excited for more of them (COLLINS AND ANSEL IM LOOKING AT YOU)
One thing I really appreciated was the lack of some ridiculous third-act breakup caused by one giant misunderstanding. Emelia didn’t decide for Elliot how he was going to react or take that choice away from him. She gave him the benefit of the doubt and chose to act even when she was scared. YES. THANK YOU. 🙌🏼
This was just such a soft, cozy read. The lake, the nighttime conversations, the warm breezes, the small-town warmth, the people slowly becoming home… I loved it 🥹
favorite quotes ↓
“I love you, Daddy. I don’t need a mommy cause I have you.”
“I’m scared, Mom.”
“Then do it scared. Sometimes you just have to do it scared.”
things to know about the book ↓
🩷 single dad
🩷 grumpy x sunshine
🩷 forced proximity
🩷 MCs in their 30s
🩷 small town
🩷 found family
🩷 opposites attract
🩷 dual POV
swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 24, 25, 30, 32, bonus scene
Thank you Valentine PR, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
september 12th- i have until tomorrow evening to read this... oops
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
“ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ” x ᴊᴏᴇ ʙᴜᴄᴋ
0:47 ───♥──────── 2:47
Elliot has spent the last five years raising his daughter on his own and keeping his life firmly rooted in the small town he calls home. Then Emelia arrives, renting the cabin behind his house while working on a project that could completely change Echo Lake. She’s determined to help the town, he’s convinced she’s going to ruin it... but he can’t help but be drawn to her. And somehow they’re having nightly conversations by the dock that turn into something neither of them expected.
This was my second book by this author, and yep… I’m officially convinced I need to read everything. 🥹 Holding Ground was such a cute, soft, comforting small-town romance, and the atmosphere was EVERYTHING. Echo Lake genuinely felt like a little town full of real people, with all the little shops, local businesses, familiar faces, and that warm, everyone-knows-everyone feeling. I wanted to move there immediately.
I’ve been craving a good grumpy MMC, and Elliot delivered. 🙂↕️ His protectiveness over his town made so much sense, especially considering how suspicious he was of Emelia at first, but I loved watching her slowly prove that his assumptions about her were completely wrong. Not everyone who comes into a small town has selfish intentions, and I really loved that Emelia was genuinely there because she cared and wanted to help.
And Elliot as a dad??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME. This man was so good to Baylor. Playing Barbies, attempting to do her hair, constantly questioning whether he was doing enough when he was clearly doing EVERYTHING. 😭 I loved how deeply he loved his daughter and how intentional he was about being there for her. He was such a natural caretaker too. Even when he didn’t exactly like Emelia, he still took care of her because that’s simply who he is.
Emelia was such a strong, determined, honest heroine, and I really respected how willing she was to ask questions and call things out instead of quietly making assumptions. I especially loved watching her find a sense of belonging in Echo Lake when she initially felt like she didn’t have a place there.
But Baylor was honestly one of my favorite parts of the entire book. That girl completely stole my heart. 🥹 She was so sweet, funny, and full of personality, and I loved how real she felt. Her relationship with Elliot was so special, and her warmth and honesty made every scene with the three of them feel meaningful. I loved watching her connect with Emelia and effortlessly bring her and Elliot closer together. She added so much heart to the book and made the found-family aspect even more meaningful.
I also loved the Mercer brothers and getting little glimpses into their dynamic, and obviously Uncle Roy deserves a mention because I loved him. I’m already excited for more of them (COLLINS AND ANSEL IM LOOKING AT YOU)
One thing I really appreciated was the lack of some ridiculous third-act breakup caused by one giant misunderstanding. Emelia didn’t decide for Elliot how he was going to react or take that choice away from him. She gave him the benefit of the doubt and chose to act even when she was scared. YES. THANK YOU. 🙌🏼
This was just such a soft, cozy read. The lake, the nighttime conversations, the warm breezes, the small-town warmth, the people slowly becoming home… I loved it 🥹
favorite quotes ↓
“I love you, Daddy. I don’t need a mommy cause I have you.”
“I’m scared, Mom.”
“Then do it scared. Sometimes you just have to do it scared.”
things to know about the book ↓
🩷 single dad
🩷 grumpy x sunshine
🩷 forced proximity
🩷 MCs in their 30s
🩷 small town
🩷 found family
🩷 opposites attract
🩷 dual POV
swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 24, 25, 30, 32, bonus scene
Thank you Valentine PR, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
september 12th- i have until tomorrow evening to read this... oops
September 7, 2026
Ok, I’m not mad at the Echo Lake crew 👍🏽. This book did what I needed it to. I like both the FMC Emelia and MMC Elliot. I really like Elliot’s character because although he was billed as a sort-of “grumpy single-dad”, he was a pretty big softie and super romantic 💘 . I also liked that he created (AND communicated!) clear boundaries when it came to Baylor. Also, little Baylor was adorbs as per usual in these romance books 👧🏼💞
Highlights of this book were the colorful townspeople (The Thermos Crew 👨🏼🦳👴🏻🧔🏼♂️🩶!), the banter between Elliot and his bros, and the scenes on the lake 🌊 ❤️🔥. I am a SUCKER for a boat scene in a lakeside town 🌅💓.
🎧📖: I did an immersive read for this one. Jason Clarke is perfect 🤌🏽 in EVERYTHING he narrates. If all my MMC’s were voiced by Jason, I wouldn’t complain 👂🏽✨. Unfortunately, I was NOT a fan of the narrator for Emelia. At all. I found her voice to be so nasally and robotic. It’s a shame because I liked Emelia’s story, but I found my mind wandering during some of her chapters because I hated the narrators voice 🫠🫣. Otherwise, I enjoyed the full-cast, duet narration 👍🏽.
Overall I enjoyed this book. This is my first book by this author, and I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. The pacing was good, and it was the perfect length. I’m glad this is the first book for this new Echo Lake series. I love the setting 🌲 🛶 🌊, and this book set up Ansel’s story in the next book in the series very well. Highly recommend if you are looking for a sweet story with a lot of heart 💖. I’m punching my ticket back to Echo Lake 🧳✨!
Thank you to VPR Audio & Hambright PR for the ARC/ALC 📖🎧💞💫.
📖: 4.25 ⭐️
🎧: 4 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Highlights of this book were the colorful townspeople (The Thermos Crew 👨🏼🦳👴🏻🧔🏼♂️🩶!), the banter between Elliot and his bros, and the scenes on the lake 🌊 ❤️🔥. I am a SUCKER for a boat scene in a lakeside town 🌅💓.
🎧📖: I did an immersive read for this one. Jason Clarke is perfect 🤌🏽 in EVERYTHING he narrates. If all my MMC’s were voiced by Jason, I wouldn’t complain 👂🏽✨. Unfortunately, I was NOT a fan of the narrator for Emelia. At all. I found her voice to be so nasally and robotic. It’s a shame because I liked Emelia’s story, but I found my mind wandering during some of her chapters because I hated the narrators voice 🫠🫣. Otherwise, I enjoyed the full-cast, duet narration 👍🏽.
Overall I enjoyed this book. This is my first book by this author, and I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. The pacing was good, and it was the perfect length. I’m glad this is the first book for this new Echo Lake series. I love the setting 🌲 🛶 🌊, and this book set up Ansel’s story in the next book in the series very well. Highly recommend if you are looking for a sweet story with a lot of heart 💖. I’m punching my ticket back to Echo Lake 🧳✨!
Thank you to VPR Audio & Hambright PR for the ARC/ALC 📖🎧💞💫.
📖: 4.25 ⭐️
🎧: 4 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
September 3, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Piper Rayne is becoming an auto read author duo. Something about their books, they’re so easy for me to inhale.
Here we go with a new series.
Echo Lake
Small town extraordinaire in Maine
The Thermos Crew might be my favorite gossip group
Elliot & Emelia
Single dad & Summer camp owner
She works for a developer from Boston
But she’s secretly a small town girl
There’s some enemies vibes in the beginning
Forced proximity
She’s leaving. He’s not. Sneaky sneaky.
His daughter, Baylor, is adorable.
There’s a connection between his daughter and Emelia. And it felt almost too coincidental for me 🤣 that’s my missing .5 star
But I’m excited for the other I’m assuming siblings books!
Arc review ✨
Piper Rayne is becoming an auto read author duo. Something about their books, they’re so easy for me to inhale.
Here we go with a new series.
Echo Lake
Small town extraordinaire in Maine
The Thermos Crew might be my favorite gossip group
Elliot & Emelia
Single dad & Summer camp owner
She works for a developer from Boston
But she’s secretly a small town girl
There’s some enemies vibes in the beginning
Forced proximity
She’s leaving. He’s not. Sneaky sneaky.
His daughter, Baylor, is adorable.
There’s a connection between his daughter and Emelia. And it felt almost too coincidental for me 🤣 that’s my missing .5 star
But I’m excited for the other I’m assuming siblings books!
Arc review ✨
September 14, 2026
4.25🌟 | 3🌶️
ARC Review 📖
Cozy small-town vibes and a single dad who is completely devoted to his daughter? Consider me settled in.
Elliott and Emelia had such a fun dynamic as they went from being completely at odds to slowly letting their guard down, and their quieter moments together, especially by the lake, were some of my favorites.
Elliott was such a devoted dad, and his relationship with Baylor was easily one of the sweetest parts of the story. I also adored Emelia’s bond with Baylor and how naturally that brought another layer to the romance. The Mercer family and Echo Lake’s quirky little community added plenty of warmth and personality too.
Their feelings developed a little faster than I usually prefer, but the emotional connection and everything happening around the romance kept me invested.
The romance, family relationships, and small-town atmosphere came together for a really satisfying read.
~~~~
ALC Review (Audiobook) 🎧
The full-cast audio made this such a fun listen! Callie Dalton and Jason Clarke were a great pairing for Emelia and Elliott, and Jason especially suited Elliott’s protective single-dad energy. Connor Crais, JF Harding, Aaron Shedlock, and Jill Smith also added so much personality to the supporting cast, making the family and small-town scenes feel lively and immersive. I enjoyed how easily the different voices pulled me into the world, and the production worked especially well for all the banter, family dynamics, and quieter emotional moments. This was exactly the kind of cozy, entertaining audiobook that made me want to keep listening, and I’d happily return to Echo Lake for the next one.
~~~~
I was so excited to experience this one in both formats. Having the ARC and ALC meant I could fully sink into the story, and honestly, it made the experience that much better.
~~~~
A sincere thank you to Piper Rayne and Valentine PR for the ARC & ALC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
ARC Review 📖
Cozy small-town vibes and a single dad who is completely devoted to his daughter? Consider me settled in.
Elliott and Emelia had such a fun dynamic as they went from being completely at odds to slowly letting their guard down, and their quieter moments together, especially by the lake, were some of my favorites.
Elliott was such a devoted dad, and his relationship with Baylor was easily one of the sweetest parts of the story. I also adored Emelia’s bond with Baylor and how naturally that brought another layer to the romance. The Mercer family and Echo Lake’s quirky little community added plenty of warmth and personality too.
Their feelings developed a little faster than I usually prefer, but the emotional connection and everything happening around the romance kept me invested.
The romance, family relationships, and small-town atmosphere came together for a really satisfying read.
~~~~
ALC Review (Audiobook) 🎧
The full-cast audio made this such a fun listen! Callie Dalton and Jason Clarke were a great pairing for Emelia and Elliott, and Jason especially suited Elliott’s protective single-dad energy. Connor Crais, JF Harding, Aaron Shedlock, and Jill Smith also added so much personality to the supporting cast, making the family and small-town scenes feel lively and immersive. I enjoyed how easily the different voices pulled me into the world, and the production worked especially well for all the banter, family dynamics, and quieter emotional moments. This was exactly the kind of cozy, entertaining audiobook that made me want to keep listening, and I’d happily return to Echo Lake for the next one.
~~~~
I was so excited to experience this one in both formats. Having the ARC and ALC meant I could fully sink into the story, and honestly, it made the experience that much better.
~~~~
A sincere thank you to Piper Rayne and Valentine PR for the ARC & ALC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
September 10, 2026
Holding Ground was a good read with nice characters that I finished too soon.
Emelia arrives at Echo Lake for work: she has to persuade the town's council to approve her expansion project around the lake. Elliott, a single dad and a Summer camp owner, doesn't trust her from the very start because he loves his town as it is. Unfortunately Emelia rent a place bunkie on Elliott's property, so they see each other every day; slowly and reluctantly they know each other better and they find out that they completely misjudged each other.
Emelia and Elliott are perfect for each other, they have quite the emotional buggage, but while he stayed in the small town he was brought up, she has wandered around a bit to find her place in the World. Fortunately they met, and slowly they got over their disagreements and finally realize the good persons they are. It's heartwarming to see their connection and feelings grow page after page, to the point where they cannot deny it.
It's the first time I read a not sports novel of Piper Rayne and I can easily affirm that they write small town romance beautifully too.
I've enjoyed the detailed portrayal of Echo Lake, and the quirks and closeness of its little community.
I'm looking forward to next book in the series, I hope it comes quickly.
Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author.
September 17, 2026
Holding Ground by Piper Rayne
The Mercer Family #1
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Chili Peppers
🎧 Audiobook | ~8 hours
Duet Narration: Jason Clarke & Callie Dalton
Also Featuring: Connor Crais, JF Harding, Aaron Shedlock & Jill Smith
ALC gifted in exchange for an honest review
I love me some Piper Rayne, and Holding Ground was such a fun start to a new small-town world. I really enjoyed Elliott and Amelia together. From the beginning, this one was engaging, easy to listen to, and had that perfect mix of romance, family, banter, and small-town chaos that I love.
Elliott has been a single dad for years after Baylor’s mother left when she was just a baby. He’s convinced that he and Baylor are perfectly fine on their own until Amelia Greene comes rolling into Echo Lake. Amelia is there working for a development company that’s trying to convince the town to make some pretty major changes, which immediately puts her on Elliott’s bad side. She also happens to be renting the guest cabin behind his house, so avoiding each other isn’t exactly an option.
The beginning of this book was probably one of my favorite parts because Elliott did not like this woman. The banter and tension were so good, and I loved watching Amelia slowly break down the walls of this grumpy man who is actually just a giant softy underneath it all.
One of my favorite parts of the story was the relationship between Amelia and Baylor and the parallels between their childhoods. Amelia grew up without her birth mother being a real part of her life, but she had an incredible stepmother who became her mom in every way that mattered. Baylor has also grown up without knowing her birth mother after she left when Baylor was just a baby. Amelia understands what it’s like to have that missing piece and those questions about where you came from, and I loved how that allowed her to connect with Baylor in a way other people couldn’t. Their relationship was so sweet and added such a great emotional layer to the story.
Once Elliott and Amelia finally stop fighting their feelings, the romance moves pretty quickly, so there is definitely a little insta-love happening here. But I honestly didn’t mind it. Their chemistry worked for me, the banter stayed fun, and I loved watching Elliott go from wanting absolutely nothing to do with Amelia to falling completely.
I’m also really interested in the larger storyline surrounding the development company and what’s happening with Echo Lake. There are definitely pieces that haven’t completely fallen into place yet, which makes me think we’re setting up a bigger story that will continue throughout the series.
And the Mercer family?! Give me all of these brothers. The side characters brought so much personality and comic relief, and I’m already excited to see whose story we’re getting next. Echo Lake is exactly the kind of small-town romance setting that makes me want to stay in this world for several books.
At around eight hours, the audiobook was the perfect length for this story. The pacing was really well done, and there wasn’t a point where I felt like things were dragging. The multicast production made the audiobook even more fun. Jason Clarke and Callie Dalton were fantastic as Elliott and Amelia, and having Connor Crais, JF Harding, Aaron Shedlock, and Jill Smith featured in the cast really helped bring the whole Mercer family world to life.
Piper Rayne is slowly becoming one of those authors I know I can pick up when I’m craving contemporary small-town romance. If you enjoy authors like Laura Pavlov and Catherine Cowles, Piper Rayne gives me that same addictive, family-centered romance vibe that keeps me coming back for the next book.
Definitely recommend the audiobook, and I am 100% continuing The Mercer Family series.
The Mercer Family #1
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Chili Peppers
🎧 Audiobook | ~8 hours
Duet Narration: Jason Clarke & Callie Dalton
Also Featuring: Connor Crais, JF Harding, Aaron Shedlock & Jill Smith
ALC gifted in exchange for an honest review
I love me some Piper Rayne, and Holding Ground was such a fun start to a new small-town world. I really enjoyed Elliott and Amelia together. From the beginning, this one was engaging, easy to listen to, and had that perfect mix of romance, family, banter, and small-town chaos that I love.
Elliott has been a single dad for years after Baylor’s mother left when she was just a baby. He’s convinced that he and Baylor are perfectly fine on their own until Amelia Greene comes rolling into Echo Lake. Amelia is there working for a development company that’s trying to convince the town to make some pretty major changes, which immediately puts her on Elliott’s bad side. She also happens to be renting the guest cabin behind his house, so avoiding each other isn’t exactly an option.
The beginning of this book was probably one of my favorite parts because Elliott did not like this woman. The banter and tension were so good, and I loved watching Amelia slowly break down the walls of this grumpy man who is actually just a giant softy underneath it all.
One of my favorite parts of the story was the relationship between Amelia and Baylor and the parallels between their childhoods. Amelia grew up without her birth mother being a real part of her life, but she had an incredible stepmother who became her mom in every way that mattered. Baylor has also grown up without knowing her birth mother after she left when Baylor was just a baby. Amelia understands what it’s like to have that missing piece and those questions about where you came from, and I loved how that allowed her to connect with Baylor in a way other people couldn’t. Their relationship was so sweet and added such a great emotional layer to the story.
Once Elliott and Amelia finally stop fighting their feelings, the romance moves pretty quickly, so there is definitely a little insta-love happening here. But I honestly didn’t mind it. Their chemistry worked for me, the banter stayed fun, and I loved watching Elliott go from wanting absolutely nothing to do with Amelia to falling completely.
I’m also really interested in the larger storyline surrounding the development company and what’s happening with Echo Lake. There are definitely pieces that haven’t completely fallen into place yet, which makes me think we’re setting up a bigger story that will continue throughout the series.
And the Mercer family?! Give me all of these brothers. The side characters brought so much personality and comic relief, and I’m already excited to see whose story we’re getting next. Echo Lake is exactly the kind of small-town romance setting that makes me want to stay in this world for several books.
At around eight hours, the audiobook was the perfect length for this story. The pacing was really well done, and there wasn’t a point where I felt like things were dragging. The multicast production made the audiobook even more fun. Jason Clarke and Callie Dalton were fantastic as Elliott and Amelia, and having Connor Crais, JF Harding, Aaron Shedlock, and Jill Smith featured in the cast really helped bring the whole Mercer family world to life.
Piper Rayne is slowly becoming one of those authors I know I can pick up when I’m craving contemporary small-town romance. If you enjoy authors like Laura Pavlov and Catherine Cowles, Piper Rayne gives me that same addictive, family-centered romance vibe that keeps me coming back for the next book.
Definitely recommend the audiobook, and I am 100% continuing The Mercer Family series.
September 11, 2026
This was my first time reading a Piper Rayne book (even though I have so many on my TBR lol) and I'm so glad I started with this one! I loved this story so much!
Elliott and Emelia get off to a rough start since she works for a developer and Elliott is fiercely protective of his small town, Echo Lake. However, when his uncle rents out the bunk behind his house to Emelia and his daughter ends up befriending her, staying away isn't so easy.
I loved how good a father Elliott was to his little girl, Baylor! He made the best of a bad situation with his family's help. His relationship with his brothers and uncle was one of my favorite parts and I can't wait to see more of them in the next books! Emelia was so sweet and I loved the relationship she had with Baylor and being there for her, especially since Baylor lacked a mother figure in her life.
Emelia and Elliott needed each other more than they ever thought they would. I loved that they were able to be vulnerable with each other and how they gave it a chance and fell for each other!
I was able to listen to the audio for this one as well and it was SO good!! Callie Dalton & Jason Clarke were perfect as Emelia and Elliot and I loved the rest of the cast who really brought the story to life - JF Harding, Connor Crais, Aaron Shedlock & Jill Smith!
Thank you to Piper Rayne for the ALC/ARC! That epilogue has me so excited for the next book!
Elliott and Emelia get off to a rough start since she works for a developer and Elliott is fiercely protective of his small town, Echo Lake. However, when his uncle rents out the bunk behind his house to Emelia and his daughter ends up befriending her, staying away isn't so easy.
I loved how good a father Elliott was to his little girl, Baylor! He made the best of a bad situation with his family's help. His relationship with his brothers and uncle was one of my favorite parts and I can't wait to see more of them in the next books! Emelia was so sweet and I loved the relationship she had with Baylor and being there for her, especially since Baylor lacked a mother figure in her life.
Emelia and Elliott needed each other more than they ever thought they would. I loved that they were able to be vulnerable with each other and how they gave it a chance and fell for each other!
I was able to listen to the audio for this one as well and it was SO good!! Callie Dalton & Jason Clarke were perfect as Emelia and Elliot and I loved the rest of the cast who really brought the story to life - JF Harding, Connor Crais, Aaron Shedlock & Jill Smith!
Thank you to Piper Rayne for the ALC/ARC! That epilogue has me so excited for the next book!
September 6, 2026
When I saw Hambright PR’s email for this book, I instantly filled out the request form. Small town romance, single dad, and the opportunity to receive an ALC. Needless to say, I was excited when I received their email with the link to the ALC.
Holding Ground is the first book in the Mercer Family, a new series by Piper Rayne. Coincidentally, this is also the first book I read by this author. I didn’t know what to expect, but I had a feeling I would enjoy this. And in many ways, I have. The small town atmosphere was definitely there, and I enjoyed the scenes with Baylor and pretty much everyone, especially her father, Elliott. The pacing was fast and enjoyable (in fact, I read it in a day!), made even more so by the cast of narrators chosen to perform the book. It seems I have a particular weakness for Jason Clarke.
However, the part I enjoyed the least about the book is the romance itself. The shift between in Elliott and Emelia’s dynamic seems to come on rather abruptly, and as much as I liked some of their scenes, I didn’t feel the chemistry.
I am curious about the next book in the series, which will likely follow Ansel, the Elliott’s brother I enjoyed the most. There was a small tease of his potential romance arc that intrigued me.
Here are some tropes!
Small Lakeside Town
Single Dad
Opposites Attract
Forced Proximity
Troubled Past
Thank you Hambright PR for gifting me an eARC and ALC of this book. Opinions are my own.
Holding Ground is the first book in the Mercer Family, a new series by Piper Rayne. Coincidentally, this is also the first book I read by this author. I didn’t know what to expect, but I had a feeling I would enjoy this. And in many ways, I have. The small town atmosphere was definitely there, and I enjoyed the scenes with Baylor and pretty much everyone, especially her father, Elliott. The pacing was fast and enjoyable (in fact, I read it in a day!), made even more so by the cast of narrators chosen to perform the book. It seems I have a particular weakness for Jason Clarke.
However, the part I enjoyed the least about the book is the romance itself. The shift between in Elliott and Emelia’s dynamic seems to come on rather abruptly, and as much as I liked some of their scenes, I didn’t feel the chemistry.
I am curious about the next book in the series, which will likely follow Ansel, the Elliott’s brother I enjoyed the most. There was a small tease of his potential romance arc that intrigued me.
Here are some tropes!
Small Lakeside Town
Single Dad
Opposites Attract
Forced Proximity
Troubled Past
Thank you Hambright PR for gifting me an eARC and ALC of this book. Opinions are my own.
September 9, 2026
This was my first book by Piper Rayne, and I enjoyed it so much! I loved the cozy small-town feel, the side characters, and, of course, Emelia and Elliott. Their relationship developed in a way that felt really natural, and I also adored Baylor and the sweet dynamic she had with Emelia.
The story flowed really well and kept me engaged from beginning to end. It had all the feel-good vibes I love in a small-town romance while still having emotional undertones that gave the story more depth. I’m definitely looking forward to continuing this series!
The story flowed really well and kept me engaged from beginning to end. It had all the feel-good vibes I love in a small-town romance while still having emotional undertones that gave the story more depth. I’m definitely looking forward to continuing this series!
September 10, 2026
I can never fault a Piper Rayne audiobook. They are always full narration and guaranteed to tick your boxes. This ALC came at a perfect time, just when I needed a palate cleanser from thriller heavy reqding list lately. This book had tropes for days! Cozy vibes aplenty, small town, single hot Dad, dislike to lovers, found family, cute kid, mummy issues, stopping corporate takeover and of course a couple of steamy scenes.
I thought the story was well delivered and paced, never felt slow or too rushed. I alsobliked that both Elliott, Emilia, little Baylor and even the town all had their own problems and side storylines. This wasn't just a straight up story about how 2 people met and fell in love, there was genuinely other stuff going on to keep you invested whilst also rooting for a couple with indeniable chemistry.
As always 2 big thumbs up for Piper Rayne!
Many thanks to Valentine PR and Piper Rayne for providing me with a copy of the audiobook for review.
I thought the story was well delivered and paced, never felt slow or too rushed. I alsobliked that both Elliott, Emilia, little Baylor and even the town all had their own problems and side storylines. This wasn't just a straight up story about how 2 people met and fell in love, there was genuinely other stuff going on to keep you invested whilst also rooting for a couple with indeniable chemistry.
As always 2 big thumbs up for Piper Rayne!
Many thanks to Valentine PR and Piper Rayne for providing me with a copy of the audiobook for review.
September 4, 2026
Small town romance, grumpy sunshine AND single dad? SOLD!!
This was my first Piper Rayne book and it will not be my last! It was a classically delicious small town (Echo Lake) romance between Elliot and Emelia. He owns a children’s camp and she works for a developer who wants to build some condos on the lake. Can you see where we are headed?
It was a very sweet story. The romance was there. The spice was there. But most importantly, it dealt with some heavier themes which made for a meatier subplot. Baylor was adorable as was the relationship she developed with Emilia. The supporting cast was funny and heartwarming and the very end of the epilogue was one of the highlights of the book. The grumpy sunshine turned into insta-love REALLY fast which is not a favorite for me. But there was a lot of story outside of that so it didn’t take away from the experience too much! She also did a great job laying the foundation for the series. It made me want to know more each of the family members!
I was lucky enough to receive an ALC and E-ARC from Piper Rayne and Hambright PR, so I was able to do an immersive read. The ALC is a full cast audio which I love! But I didn’t love the female narrator’s performance. It came off very robotic.
Overall, this was a 3.5⭐️ book for me!! I’m so excited to see what is in store for the rest of the series!
This was my first Piper Rayne book and it will not be my last! It was a classically delicious small town (Echo Lake) romance between Elliot and Emelia. He owns a children’s camp and she works for a developer who wants to build some condos on the lake. Can you see where we are headed?
It was a very sweet story. The romance was there. The spice was there. But most importantly, it dealt with some heavier themes which made for a meatier subplot. Baylor was adorable as was the relationship she developed with Emilia. The supporting cast was funny and heartwarming and the very end of the epilogue was one of the highlights of the book. The grumpy sunshine turned into insta-love REALLY fast which is not a favorite for me. But there was a lot of story outside of that so it didn’t take away from the experience too much! She also did a great job laying the foundation for the series. It made me want to know more each of the family members!
I was lucky enough to receive an ALC and E-ARC from Piper Rayne and Hambright PR, so I was able to do an immersive read. The ALC is a full cast audio which I love! But I didn’t love the female narrator’s performance. It came off very robotic.
Overall, this was a 3.5⭐️ book for me!! I’m so excited to see what is in store for the rest of the series!
September 2, 2026
4.5⭐️
What a fun audio!! I loved Jason Clarke & Callie Dalton in this narration!! They definitely brought this one to life & were perfect for these characters! Plus the rest of the full cast was so good!!
You guys know I love single dad romance and this one had all the good things!! All the Forced proximity, small town, enemies to lovers vibes!
Elliott is a top tier man! His love for his daughter Baylor was the sweetest! He was willing to show up for her even when it felt hard. Emelia! She comes into town and is forced to stay with Elliott & Baylor. The close proximity gave this one perfect moments & banter that I just loved!!
Emelia & Baylor’s relationship & the things they had in common just pulled at my heartstrings and gave this one emotional depth that I loved!! This was a sweet, spicy,
heartfelt romance with a perfect little small town with lots of lovable characters! A great start to this new series! I cannot wait for more & I’m so excited for what’s to come!!
Thank you Piper Rayne for this early arc & alc opportunity!!
What a fun audio!! I loved Jason Clarke & Callie Dalton in this narration!! They definitely brought this one to life & were perfect for these characters! Plus the rest of the full cast was so good!!
You guys know I love single dad romance and this one had all the good things!! All the Forced proximity, small town, enemies to lovers vibes!
Elliott is a top tier man! His love for his daughter Baylor was the sweetest! He was willing to show up for her even when it felt hard. Emelia! She comes into town and is forced to stay with Elliott & Baylor. The close proximity gave this one perfect moments & banter that I just loved!!
Emelia & Baylor’s relationship & the things they had in common just pulled at my heartstrings and gave this one emotional depth that I loved!! This was a sweet, spicy,
heartfelt romance with a perfect little small town with lots of lovable characters! A great start to this new series! I cannot wait for more & I’m so excited for what’s to come!!
Thank you Piper Rayne for this early arc & alc opportunity!!
September 6, 2026
3.5 stars. Piper Rayne knows how to write a single Dad. This is a small town romance, that is spicy yet gives all the warm feels.
Thank you to the Piper Rayne for the ARC for a honest review.
Can’t wait to continue this series
Thank you to the Piper Rayne for the ARC for a honest review.
Can’t wait to continue this series
September 8, 2026
I received the ALC for my honest opinion
4.5 rounded up for GR
I will always be a sucker for a single parent trope . It just touches my heart to see found family come together. It gave me all the small town vibes with a bit of self discovery. Absolutely loved the Audio
4.5 rounded up for GR
I will always be a sucker for a single parent trope . It just touches my heart to see found family come together. It gave me all the small town vibes with a bit of self discovery. Absolutely loved the Audio
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to Valentine PR & Piper Rayne for the complimentary copy of this and the ALC!
This book will be out on Sept 10th.
Piper Rayne is back again with a new small town family series set in the country. The Mercer family is made up of brothers, Elliott, Ansel, Hollis and sister Sutton, all whom I'm assuming will be getting their own book. What Piper Rayne does so well is creating these families that you can't help but get invested in and want happy endings for them all. And not only families but side characters and the small town as well.
Elliott has a bunkie (which I had to look it up just to get a visual) that is rented out and this time it was rented to a young woman Emelia who works for a real estate development company. She has a reputation of going into small towns and making them more touristy. This makes Elliott very upset and doesn't want any part of what she is up to and is even more mad at his uncle for booking her stay on his property. The tension between Emelia and Elliott is so good! But what ultimately cools their tension is Elliott's daughter Baylor. Baylor has rules for when guest stay at the bunkie but they seem to disappear when Emelia shows up. And then they really became non existent when a storm caused a tree to fall on the bunkie making Emelia to stay in the main house with Baylor and Elliott.
The relationship between Emelia and Baylor is just so sweet. Emelia knows what it is like to grow up without her biological mom and Baylor's mom left when she was 6 months old so they have this underlying bond. Baylor trusts her and opens up to her about struggles at school. Elliott sees this relationship and doesn't want Baylor to get attached especially knowing that Emelia will be leaving once her project is complete. He also has to remind that for himself because he is starting to fall for her. They have their moments when they have late night talks where he gets to know Emelia the person and not the destroyer of his town.
Just like with the last series the audio is a full cast! All of my favorite narrators are back to tackle the Mercer Family series - Jason Clarke and Callie Dalton, with Connor Crais, JF Harding, Aaron Shedlock, and Jill Smith. Jason's voice is so rich and feels like the eldest son voice. Callie has this tone that comes off as snippy which works well with her character. I'm not sure who did the voice of Baylor, but she sounded so good and like a child!
I recommend this book if you are looking for a new series to start that set in a small time with a full cast of characters!
PS - How good does Elliott and Emelia look on this cover?! His gaze! Her hair blowing!
This book will be out on Sept 10th.
Piper Rayne is back again with a new small town family series set in the country. The Mercer family is made up of brothers, Elliott, Ansel, Hollis and sister Sutton, all whom I'm assuming will be getting their own book. What Piper Rayne does so well is creating these families that you can't help but get invested in and want happy endings for them all. And not only families but side characters and the small town as well.
Elliott has a bunkie (which I had to look it up just to get a visual) that is rented out and this time it was rented to a young woman Emelia who works for a real estate development company. She has a reputation of going into small towns and making them more touristy. This makes Elliott very upset and doesn't want any part of what she is up to and is even more mad at his uncle for booking her stay on his property. The tension between Emelia and Elliott is so good! But what ultimately cools their tension is Elliott's daughter Baylor. Baylor has rules for when guest stay at the bunkie but they seem to disappear when Emelia shows up. And then they really became non existent when a storm caused a tree to fall on the bunkie making Emelia to stay in the main house with Baylor and Elliott.
The relationship between Emelia and Baylor is just so sweet. Emelia knows what it is like to grow up without her biological mom and Baylor's mom left when she was 6 months old so they have this underlying bond. Baylor trusts her and opens up to her about struggles at school. Elliott sees this relationship and doesn't want Baylor to get attached especially knowing that Emelia will be leaving once her project is complete. He also has to remind that for himself because he is starting to fall for her. They have their moments when they have late night talks where he gets to know Emelia the person and not the destroyer of his town.
Just like with the last series the audio is a full cast! All of my favorite narrators are back to tackle the Mercer Family series - Jason Clarke and Callie Dalton, with Connor Crais, JF Harding, Aaron Shedlock, and Jill Smith. Jason's voice is so rich and feels like the eldest son voice. Callie has this tone that comes off as snippy which works well with her character. I'm not sure who did the voice of Baylor, but she sounded so good and like a child!
I recommend this book if you are looking for a new series to start that set in a small time with a full cast of characters!
PS - How good does Elliott and Emelia look on this cover?! His gaze! Her hair blowing!
September 17, 2026
4 ⭐️
2 🌶️
🌟ARC Read🌟
This was just such a cute, wholesome small-town romance. 🥹 I loved Echo Lake and all the people in it!
Elliot is a single dad to his adorable 5-year-old daughter, Baylor, and he owns Anchor Point Camp. Emelia comes to Echo Lake working for a developer who wants to help expand the town, and Elliot wants absolutely NOTHING to do with it. 😆
He already has it in his head that developers only want to bulldoze everything, build up the town, and completely take away everything that makes Echo Lake a small town. Emelia swears that isn’t what she’s there to do and that she genuinely wants to help the town, but Elliot isn’t buying it.
Sooo needless to say, they do not get off on the right foot. 😆
Then they discover that Elliot’s uncle rented out the bunkie on his property to Emelia.
So now the woman he doesn’t trust is living in his backyard. 💀😆
And of course, Baylor gets attached to her almost immediately. Honestly, Elliot does too, even if he doesn’t want to admit it. 🫠
Then a tree falls on the bunkie, which means Emelia has to move into the house with Elliot and Baylor. 👀 I loved watching Elliot slowly realize that he completely misjudged her and was way too harsh on her from the beginning.
And poor Elliot, but especially poor Baylor. 😭 Elliot was only with Baylor’s mom for about a year before she got pregnant, and after Baylor was born, she decided she didn’t want to be a mom. My heart absolutely broke for that sweet little girl.
I also LOVED all the side characters and the whole Echo Lake community. The Thermos Crew had me cracking up. 😂 The fact that this group of old men has a name and they’re basically the town gossip squad is hilarious.
Then we have Elliot’s brothers, Hollis and Ansel, plus their sister who doesn’t live in town. Ansel is definitely the loud, funny, playboy brother, and I already know his book is going to be so much fun. 😆
Overall, this was just sweet, cozy, and wholesome. I loved the single-dad aspect, Baylor completely stealing the show, the forced proximity, and the whole small-town atmosphere.
And Ansel is NEXT?! 👀 I cannot wait!
Spicy Chapters 🔥
24
25
30
32
2 🌶️
🌟ARC Read🌟
This was just such a cute, wholesome small-town romance. 🥹 I loved Echo Lake and all the people in it!
Elliot is a single dad to his adorable 5-year-old daughter, Baylor, and he owns Anchor Point Camp. Emelia comes to Echo Lake working for a developer who wants to help expand the town, and Elliot wants absolutely NOTHING to do with it. 😆
He already has it in his head that developers only want to bulldoze everything, build up the town, and completely take away everything that makes Echo Lake a small town. Emelia swears that isn’t what she’s there to do and that she genuinely wants to help the town, but Elliot isn’t buying it.
Sooo needless to say, they do not get off on the right foot. 😆
Then they discover that Elliot’s uncle rented out the bunkie on his property to Emelia.
So now the woman he doesn’t trust is living in his backyard. 💀😆
And of course, Baylor gets attached to her almost immediately. Honestly, Elliot does too, even if he doesn’t want to admit it. 🫠
Then a tree falls on the bunkie, which means Emelia has to move into the house with Elliot and Baylor. 👀 I loved watching Elliot slowly realize that he completely misjudged her and was way too harsh on her from the beginning.
And poor Elliot, but especially poor Baylor. 😭 Elliot was only with Baylor’s mom for about a year before she got pregnant, and after Baylor was born, she decided she didn’t want to be a mom. My heart absolutely broke for that sweet little girl.
I also LOVED all the side characters and the whole Echo Lake community. The Thermos Crew had me cracking up. 😂 The fact that this group of old men has a name and they’re basically the town gossip squad is hilarious.
Then we have Elliot’s brothers, Hollis and Ansel, plus their sister who doesn’t live in town. Ansel is definitely the loud, funny, playboy brother, and I already know his book is going to be so much fun. 😆
Overall, this was just sweet, cozy, and wholesome. I loved the single-dad aspect, Baylor completely stealing the show, the forced proximity, and the whole small-town atmosphere.
And Ansel is NEXT?! 👀 I cannot wait!
Spicy Chapters 🔥
24
25
30
32
September 12, 2026
🏡"I thought this kiss was something to get out of my system, but now I’m pretty sure I never want to live without knowing I can kiss her whenever I want." 🏡
“You didn’t just steal my heart—you made it your home.” — Unknown 🤍
I couldn’t wait to read this book! ❤️ I love the single dad, small town, and enemies to lovers tropes, so I was incredibly excited about this one ✨ And now that I’ve read it, I can honestly say it did not disappoint! These tropes were done so well, and I absolutely loved watching everything come together 😍
I loved both the FMC and the MMC, but the supporting characters were just as wonderful. The Thermos Crew, Elliott’s brothers, and Dottie all brought so much to the story 🥰 But the real star of the book was definitely Baylor! She is such a sweet, wonderful girl and an absolute ray of sunshine ☀️💕
Elliott is a single dad who would do absolutely anything for his daughter 🫠 She is his whole world, and I loved seeing how devoted he is to her 🥹 I also loved his connection to his small town and the relationships he has with his brothers and uncle 💙
Emelia is a young woman trying to build a career while feeling a little lost and figuring out where she belongs 😍 I loved how close she is to her parents, her relationship with Trey, and how important family is to her 🫶🏻
One of my favorite parts was watching Elliott and Emelia’s relationship slowly change day by day. Going from enemies to lovers was so much fun to read, especially with the instant attraction they felt from the moment they met 🔥 And I absolutely loved their evenings together by the lake—they were some of my favorite moments in the book 🌙✨
I already can’t wait for Ansel and Collins’ book! I have a feeling their story is going to be very interesting, and I’m definitely curious to see what happens next 👀
I highly recommend this one, especially if you love single dad, small town, enemies to lovers, and forced proximity! 🏡🏞️📚
📖 Holding Ground by Piper Rayne (ARC) 💜
“You didn’t just steal my heart—you made it your home.” — Unknown 🤍
I couldn’t wait to read this book! ❤️ I love the single dad, small town, and enemies to lovers tropes, so I was incredibly excited about this one ✨ And now that I’ve read it, I can honestly say it did not disappoint! These tropes were done so well, and I absolutely loved watching everything come together 😍
I loved both the FMC and the MMC, but the supporting characters were just as wonderful. The Thermos Crew, Elliott’s brothers, and Dottie all brought so much to the story 🥰 But the real star of the book was definitely Baylor! She is such a sweet, wonderful girl and an absolute ray of sunshine ☀️💕
Elliott is a single dad who would do absolutely anything for his daughter 🫠 She is his whole world, and I loved seeing how devoted he is to her 🥹 I also loved his connection to his small town and the relationships he has with his brothers and uncle 💙
Emelia is a young woman trying to build a career while feeling a little lost and figuring out where she belongs 😍 I loved how close she is to her parents, her relationship with Trey, and how important family is to her 🫶🏻
One of my favorite parts was watching Elliott and Emelia’s relationship slowly change day by day. Going from enemies to lovers was so much fun to read, especially with the instant attraction they felt from the moment they met 🔥 And I absolutely loved their evenings together by the lake—they were some of my favorite moments in the book 🌙✨
I already can’t wait for Ansel and Collins’ book! I have a feeling their story is going to be very interesting, and I’m definitely curious to see what happens next 👀
I highly recommend this one, especially if you love single dad, small town, enemies to lovers, and forced proximity! 🏡🏞️📚
📖 Holding Ground by Piper Rayne (ARC) 💜
September 9, 2026
Thank you to Hambright PR & Piper Rayne for the arc
This book had quite literally everything I love about romance.
-Grumpy single dad
(𝘏𝘦’𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘱 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮. 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦)
-Sunshine + relatable FMC
(𝘚𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 - 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦)
-Cozy small town
(𝘨𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺)
-Grumpy single dad
(𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭)
-Enemies to lovers
(𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧)
-Forced proximity
(𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭. 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘺𝘢𝘳𝘥)
- great characters
(𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 + 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘴. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵)
-an adorable child
(𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 + 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴)
-Did I mention there’s a grumpy single dad?
Here’s the thing. He was 𝙨𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙭𝙮. I mean, frothing at the mouth sexy. The balance between his grumpy overall demeanor and softness was so well done. Not to mention the mouth on that man! Woof.
Elliot & Emelia’s banter was so addicting. The enemies to lovers was top tier, and their push & pull was done so well. I 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 when an FMC gives as good as she gets. She def made our man Elliot work for it.
I do feel like the last 85% or so was a little rushed. It was still SO good, I just would’ve liked a little more detail/depth in some parts of the story.
It needs to be mentioned that Baylor was so cute. For me, how a child is written can make or break a book. She was so genuinely five & added such a cozy + cutesy feel to the story. Their dad/daughter relationship added such an authentically deeper layer & made me love it that much more.
This was my first Piper Rayne book and it definitely so f be the last. I’m running to go read Ansel’s story!
This book had quite literally everything I love about romance.
-Grumpy single dad
(𝘏𝘦’𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘱 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮. 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦)
-Sunshine + relatable FMC
(𝘚𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 - 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦)
-Cozy small town
(𝘨𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺)
-Grumpy single dad
(𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭)
-Enemies to lovers
(𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧)
-Forced proximity
(𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭. 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘺𝘢𝘳𝘥)
- great characters
(𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 + 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘴. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵)
-an adorable child
(𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 + 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴)
-Did I mention there’s a grumpy single dad?
Here’s the thing. He was 𝙨𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙭𝙮. I mean, frothing at the mouth sexy. The balance between his grumpy overall demeanor and softness was so well done. Not to mention the mouth on that man! Woof.
Elliot & Emelia’s banter was so addicting. The enemies to lovers was top tier, and their push & pull was done so well. I 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 when an FMC gives as good as she gets. She def made our man Elliot work for it.
I do feel like the last 85% or so was a little rushed. It was still SO good, I just would’ve liked a little more detail/depth in some parts of the story.
It needs to be mentioned that Baylor was so cute. For me, how a child is written can make or break a book. She was so genuinely five & added such a cozy + cutesy feel to the story. Their dad/daughter relationship added such an authentically deeper layer & made me love it that much more.
This was my first Piper Rayne book and it definitely so f be the last. I’m running to go read Ansel’s story!
September 6, 2026
audio / 4.5* / hambright pr
I am going to miss Elliott, Baylor and Emelia. I absolutely loved entering this new town! Piper Rayne - you gals have my attention, once again early on!
Echo Lake is exactly what you expect from a small town - a bunch of people opposed to change, many who have grown up and never left, who spend their weekends together and their weekdays helping one another. They speak strongly about their neighbours and gossip spreads like wildfire - and they wouldn’t have it any other way. While this is set on a lake, the underlying humour gave me Gilmore Girls vibes - my fav!
I loved that Emelia was able to pull from her experiences and mis-haps to help give Baylor a different future. There was a bit of a twist, that I should have seen coming but I loved how flawlessly it was entwined in the pages. The poker games being not just for the guys was such a step in the right direction - because girls is players too!
Seeing Elliott open up his home and his heart to someone he actually despised from the moment they met, made this grumpy x sunshine really twinkle. His walls were broken down one day at a time, and that chemistry was hot.
Duet narration and full cast really helps to bring the series to life! I loved Jadon Clarke as Elliott, Callie Dalton was not my favourite, but I was able to look past it because the story was just that good. Connor Crais, JF Harding, Aaron Shedlock & Jill Smith supporting were great and I’m so excited for what is next to come.
The epilogue teaser for the next book was absolutely incredible.
I was gifted a digital and audio copy of this book from the author and Hambright PR in exchange for my honest review. I cannot say enough fabulous things, thank you for the opportunity - all opinions are my own.
I am going to miss Elliott, Baylor and Emelia. I absolutely loved entering this new town! Piper Rayne - you gals have my attention, once again early on!
Echo Lake is exactly what you expect from a small town - a bunch of people opposed to change, many who have grown up and never left, who spend their weekends together and their weekdays helping one another. They speak strongly about their neighbours and gossip spreads like wildfire - and they wouldn’t have it any other way. While this is set on a lake, the underlying humour gave me Gilmore Girls vibes - my fav!
I loved that Emelia was able to pull from her experiences and mis-haps to help give Baylor a different future. There was a bit of a twist, that I should have seen coming but I loved how flawlessly it was entwined in the pages. The poker games being not just for the guys was such a step in the right direction - because girls is players too!
Seeing Elliott open up his home and his heart to someone he actually despised from the moment they met, made this grumpy x sunshine really twinkle. His walls were broken down one day at a time, and that chemistry was hot.
Duet narration and full cast really helps to bring the series to life! I loved Jadon Clarke as Elliott, Callie Dalton was not my favourite, but I was able to look past it because the story was just that good. Connor Crais, JF Harding, Aaron Shedlock & Jill Smith supporting were great and I’m so excited for what is next to come.
The epilogue teaser for the next book was absolutely incredible.
I was gifted a digital and audio copy of this book from the author and Hambright PR in exchange for my honest review. I cannot say enough fabulous things, thank you for the opportunity - all opinions are my own.
September 15, 2026
Spice: 3
Tropes:
single dad
grumpy x sunshine
small town romance
hate to lovers
forced proximity
Dual POV
I love nosey small town romances lol. The town of Echo Lake is definitely one where the gossip train probably moves faster than those bullet trains in Japan. Literally you tell one person something and before you've even finished your cup of coffee, the whole town knows everything about you... probably even your SS number lol. And the biggest gossips of all? The Thermos Crew. OH Yes, you heard that right, a group of retired old men, just sitting in their camp chairs on Main St are the source of these rounds of the game telephone. And I loved every second of them lol.
I really liked Holding Ground and I realize I really got to go back and read Emelia's family's books. Emelia and Elliott were like water and oil... until lightning struck and made them realize they fit better together like puzzle pieces instead. I really liked their banter, their dislike for one another, their attraction, and how they were together. Then throw in an adorable little girl, and you've won me over. I will say I was worried about Baylor's bio mom's storyline there for a minute but I think Piper Rayne, as always, does such an excellent job with writing children and their storylines into their books. I loved the side stories with the development and the biological family backgrounds. I think a lot of people will connect with this book.
Now, someone tell me how Dottie came to Echo Lake ROFL!
Tropes:
single dad
grumpy x sunshine
small town romance
hate to lovers
forced proximity
Dual POV
I love nosey small town romances lol. The town of Echo Lake is definitely one where the gossip train probably moves faster than those bullet trains in Japan. Literally you tell one person something and before you've even finished your cup of coffee, the whole town knows everything about you... probably even your SS number lol. And the biggest gossips of all? The Thermos Crew. OH Yes, you heard that right, a group of retired old men, just sitting in their camp chairs on Main St are the source of these rounds of the game telephone. And I loved every second of them lol.
I really liked Holding Ground and I realize I really got to go back and read Emelia's family's books. Emelia and Elliott were like water and oil... until lightning struck and made them realize they fit better together like puzzle pieces instead. I really liked their banter, their dislike for one another, their attraction, and how they were together. Then throw in an adorable little girl, and you've won me over. I will say I was worried about Baylor's bio mom's storyline there for a minute but I think Piper Rayne, as always, does such an excellent job with writing children and their storylines into their books. I loved the side stories with the development and the biological family backgrounds. I think a lot of people will connect with this book.
Now, someone tell me how Dottie came to Echo Lake ROFL!
September 4, 2026
Small town, a grumpy single dad, and some forced proximity had me ready to devour this book! Emelia finds herself in Echo Lake for work as her company wants to build some developments in town. And she just so happens to have rented her accommodations from the grumpy single dad who already despises her and why she's here. But as things start to shift, that pull becomes much harder to resist. My favorite part of their relationship might be those moments spent out on the dock, especially as they start to open up to each other. And Baylor had me loving her instantly! The relationship between her and her dad is literally so precious and it's painfully obvious how much Elliott will do for his little girl.
The audio is performed in a full cast with Callie Dalton and Jason Clarke as Emelia & Elliott! They did such a wonderful job with this performance and I loved being able to do an immersive read! I'm excited to see how the rest of this series goes and am already itching for book 2!
What to expect:
-grumpy x sunshine
-small town
-single dad
-forced proximity
-not so meet cute
-will they or won't they
-emotional healing
Thank you to Piper Rayne & Valentine PR for letting me read/listen to an early copy of this book!
The audio is performed in a full cast with Callie Dalton and Jason Clarke as Emelia & Elliott! They did such a wonderful job with this performance and I loved being able to do an immersive read! I'm excited to see how the rest of this series goes and am already itching for book 2!
What to expect:
-grumpy x sunshine
-small town
-single dad
-forced proximity
-not so meet cute
-will they or won't they
-emotional healing
Thank you to Piper Rayne & Valentine PR for letting me read/listen to an early copy of this book!
September 11, 2026
🧡 Holding Ground 🧡
((Spoiler-Free ARC Review))
Title- Holding Ground
Author- Piper Rayne
Genre- Contemporary Romance
Series- Mercer Family Book 1
Trope City-
🧡 Forced Proximity
🧡 Single Dad
🧡 Return of the Mom
🧡 Small Town
🧡 Opposites Attract
PIPER RAYNE CANNOT MISS. The Mercer Family series is an instant favorite for me. I love the grouchy, stubborn locals. I love the balance of the sweet, welcoming locals. Elliott Mercer (MMC) is a single, hardworking Dad. His daughter Baylor is the center of his universe. Elliott is against any changes to his sweet hometown. Enter Emelia (FMC). Emelia is from Chicago and visiting the lake town working for a developer. Emelia ends up renting Elliott’s guest house during his professional stay. Baylor attaches to Emelia and bonds with her. She fills a void for Baylor. Her mother ran out on them. I love the way Emelia is able to break down the walls Elliott has understandably built up. I can’t wait to get more from this town. The people are EVERYTHING.
Thank you Valentine Pr and Hambright Pr for sharing this ALC with me! 🧡
((Spoiler-Free ARC Review))
Title- Holding Ground
Author- Piper Rayne
Genre- Contemporary Romance
Series- Mercer Family Book 1
Trope City-
🧡 Forced Proximity
🧡 Single Dad
🧡 Return of the Mom
🧡 Small Town
🧡 Opposites Attract
PIPER RAYNE CANNOT MISS. The Mercer Family series is an instant favorite for me. I love the grouchy, stubborn locals. I love the balance of the sweet, welcoming locals. Elliott Mercer (MMC) is a single, hardworking Dad. His daughter Baylor is the center of his universe. Elliott is against any changes to his sweet hometown. Enter Emelia (FMC). Emelia is from Chicago and visiting the lake town working for a developer. Emelia ends up renting Elliott’s guest house during his professional stay. Baylor attaches to Emelia and bonds with her. She fills a void for Baylor. Her mother ran out on them. I love the way Emelia is able to break down the walls Elliott has understandably built up. I can’t wait to get more from this town. The people are EVERYTHING.
Thank you Valentine Pr and Hambright Pr for sharing this ALC with me! 🧡
September 2, 2026
Thank you to Hambright PR for the ALC/ARC!
Holding Ground was such a wonderful start to this small town series! You have the best parts of a small town—the goofy towns folk that know everything and gossip about everyone, but will always protect their own. The grumpy single dad who is turned off love with his three hottie brothers and the goofy but wise uncle. The girl from out of town who comes to change things, but falls in love with the town, the grumpy dad and his daughter!
This is was small town romance is, and I enjoyed every minute of Elliott and Emelia’s story. Elliott knows everyone leaves and he can’t trust love. Emelia has experienced loss, and questions who she is and where if any where she belongs. These two while fun were also so vulnerable, you can’t help but love them. Baylor was cute, sassy and quirky. I can’t wait for book two!
Read: ALC 🎧/EARC 📱
MMC: Elliott
FMC: Emelia
Spice: 2🌶️
Tropes:
Small Town
Single Dad
Forced Proximity
Enemies to Lovers
Holding Ground was such a wonderful start to this small town series! You have the best parts of a small town—the goofy towns folk that know everything and gossip about everyone, but will always protect their own. The grumpy single dad who is turned off love with his three hottie brothers and the goofy but wise uncle. The girl from out of town who comes to change things, but falls in love with the town, the grumpy dad and his daughter!
This is was small town romance is, and I enjoyed every minute of Elliott and Emelia’s story. Elliott knows everyone leaves and he can’t trust love. Emelia has experienced loss, and questions who she is and where if any where she belongs. These two while fun were also so vulnerable, you can’t help but love them. Baylor was cute, sassy and quirky. I can’t wait for book two!
Read: ALC 🎧/EARC 📱
MMC: Elliott
FMC: Emelia
Spice: 2🌶️
Tropes:
Small Town
Single Dad
Forced Proximity
Enemies to Lovers
Read
September 7, 2026Elliot is the ultimate grumpy single dad. After Baylor’s mom walked out five years ago, he made a promise to give his daughter the most stable life possible. And Elliot does NOT do change. So, of course, Emelia showing up in Echo Lake and shaking everything up is basically his worst nightmare.
Emelia couldn’t be more different from Elliot. She arrives in a Mercedes and power suit with plans to change the town, while Elliot is determined to keep everything exactly as it is. But watching these two slowly get past their first impressions and start opening up to each other was so good.
I especially loved seeing Emelia with five year old Baylor. Their relationship was so sweet, and I loved how Emelia became someone Elliot could actually trust and confide in.
If you love a grumpy dad who absolutely does not want his life disrupted… only to have the right woman completely turn it upside down, add this one to your TBR!
Thank you @valentine_pr_ and @hambright_pr for providing me with an eARC & ALC before release day!
Emelia couldn’t be more different from Elliot. She arrives in a Mercedes and power suit with plans to change the town, while Elliot is determined to keep everything exactly as it is. But watching these two slowly get past their first impressions and start opening up to each other was so good.
I especially loved seeing Emelia with five year old Baylor. Their relationship was so sweet, and I loved how Emelia became someone Elliot could actually trust and confide in.
If you love a grumpy dad who absolutely does not want his life disrupted… only to have the right woman completely turn it upside down, add this one to your TBR!
Thank you @valentine_pr_ and @hambright_pr for providing me with an eARC & ALC before release day!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2026
A cute little dad + daughter duo, when a developer arrives in town. This book has a little enemies to lovers, a little forced proximity, and all the small town romance vibes 🥹❤️
I always love a good relationship build between a child and their parent’s partner, and watching this one develop was honestly one of my favourite parts of the book. Elliot’s protectiveness in parts had me in awe!
I loved reading Elliot turn to the other men in his life whenever he needed advice🥹 It was such a refreshing thing to see from a MMC. I loved how thoughtful and emotionally mature the responses were from the other men.
This whole book just gave me healthy communication, wholesome moments and a romance that felt genuinely sweet. And when the daddy-daughter duo slowly turned into a trio 😭 My heart!!!
Overall, this was such a wholesome, feel good romance that I really enjoyed! 💕
I always love a good relationship build between a child and their parent’s partner, and watching this one develop was honestly one of my favourite parts of the book. Elliot’s protectiveness in parts had me in awe!
I loved reading Elliot turn to the other men in his life whenever he needed advice🥹 It was such a refreshing thing to see from a MMC. I loved how thoughtful and emotionally mature the responses were from the other men.
This whole book just gave me healthy communication, wholesome moments and a romance that felt genuinely sweet. And when the daddy-daughter duo slowly turned into a trio 😭 My heart!!!
Overall, this was such a wholesome, feel good romance that I really enjoyed! 💕
September 10, 2026
LOOOVED this book! So so so good! Elliot and Emelia are the perfect enemies to lovers! She works for a developer to help make Echo Lake better, not change it but bring in more money for the small town, Elliot is not convinced and knows these big developers are never there to help the town but run small businesses out.
Emelia needs somewhere to stay in town while she sees this project through, where else is there to stay but in Elliot’s bunkie? The tension between these two made this impossible to put down!
Let’s not forget about the best single dad trope! Yes Elliot has a 5 year old daughter that is as cute as a button and named Baylor! Mother left them when she was a baby and Elliot is protective over her getting too close to their new housemate.
This story was just so sweet and can not wait for more in this series!
Emelia needs somewhere to stay in town while she sees this project through, where else is there to stay but in Elliot’s bunkie? The tension between these two made this impossible to put down!
Let’s not forget about the best single dad trope! Yes Elliot has a 5 year old daughter that is as cute as a button and named Baylor! Mother left them when she was a baby and Elliot is protective over her getting too close to their new housemate.
This story was just so sweet and can not wait for more in this series!
September 14, 2026
Thank you to Valentine PR for the ALC in exchange for my review!
Holding Ground by Piper Rayne was such a cute, feel-good small-town romance! I’m always a sucker for the small-town single dad × big-city girl trope, and this one was a quick and enjoyable listen.
I really enjoyed the small-town setting and the overall cozy, easygoing feel of the story. I do wish we had gotten a little more of the drama surrounding her work toward the end. I felt like there was more potential there that could have been explored.
As an audiobook, I personally wasn’t a huge fan of the female narrator. Her narration sounded a little robotic to me at times, which made it harder for me to fully connect with her character.
Overall, though, this was a cute, quick, feel-good listen that was perfect when I wanted something light and easy!
Holding Ground by Piper Rayne was such a cute, feel-good small-town romance! I’m always a sucker for the small-town single dad × big-city girl trope, and this one was a quick and enjoyable listen.
I really enjoyed the small-town setting and the overall cozy, easygoing feel of the story. I do wish we had gotten a little more of the drama surrounding her work toward the end. I felt like there was more potential there that could have been explored.
As an audiobook, I personally wasn’t a huge fan of the female narrator. Her narration sounded a little robotic to me at times, which made it harder for me to fully connect with her character.
Overall, though, this was a cute, quick, feel-good listen that was perfect when I wanted something light and easy!
September 10, 2026
I wanted to love this book, it had some of my favorite tropes, but I just didn’t. I didn’t like the characters, I didn’t like the plot, it just wasn’t for me. I thought Baylor was a cutie and the relationship between the MMC and his daughter was cute. The small town had a cute vibe and cute residents. I enjoyed some of the side characters more than the primary ones.
This series has the potential to be really good, I just wish the plot had more depth. I felt like there was so much there and then it was underwhelming when it could’ve been so much more!
I was gifted the ALC for this book, it’s a full cast with the main characters for book one being Jason Clarke and Callie Dalton. I love Jason Clarke as a male narrator. He did amazing. I wasn’t as in love with the FMC narration. It just rubbed me the wrong way..I would recommend reading this one and skipping the audio.
If you love small town, single dad, enemies to lovers vibes, then I say give this one a try and see how you like it!
This series has the potential to be really good, I just wish the plot had more depth. I felt like there was so much there and then it was underwhelming when it could’ve been so much more!
I was gifted the ALC for this book, it’s a full cast with the main characters for book one being Jason Clarke and Callie Dalton. I love Jason Clarke as a male narrator. He did amazing. I wasn’t as in love with the FMC narration. It just rubbed me the wrong way..I would recommend reading this one and skipping the audio.
If you love small town, single dad, enemies to lovers vibes, then I say give this one a try and see how you like it!
September 9, 2026
arc/alc review | 4.5⭐️ 2🌶️
☀️ small town romance
🩷 enemies to lovers
☀️ single dad
🩷 forced proximity
☀️ will they/won’t they
🎧 duet narration: jason clarke & callie dalton
& featuring connor crais, jf harding, arron shedlock, and jill smith
what a great start to a new series!!! i love me a small town romance and add in the enemies to lovers aspect made me love it even more. AND there’s a grumpy single dad who falls for the one woman he doesn’t want around…SOLD 😍
the way these two start off disliking each other to them slowly growing a connection and the way emelia was with elliot’s daughter baylor…LOVED IT ALL!!!
reading this book reaffirmed my love for small town romances and made me wish echo lake was real. i loved all these characters and can’t wait for the next book in this series
also the narration was AMAZING!!! like i could listen jason clarke read the phone book and it’d be the hottest thing i’ve ever listen to
thank you piper rayne for this arc & alc ♡
☀️ small town romance
🩷 enemies to lovers
☀️ single dad
🩷 forced proximity
☀️ will they/won’t they
🎧 duet narration: jason clarke & callie dalton
& featuring connor crais, jf harding, arron shedlock, and jill smith
what a great start to a new series!!! i love me a small town romance and add in the enemies to lovers aspect made me love it even more. AND there’s a grumpy single dad who falls for the one woman he doesn’t want around…SOLD 😍
the way these two start off disliking each other to them slowly growing a connection and the way emelia was with elliot’s daughter baylor…LOVED IT ALL!!!
reading this book reaffirmed my love for small town romances and made me wish echo lake was real. i loved all these characters and can’t wait for the next book in this series
also the narration was AMAZING!!! like i could listen jason clarke read the phone book and it’d be the hottest thing i’ve ever listen to
thank you piper rayne for this arc & alc ♡
September 9, 2026
Thank you Piper Rayne and Valentine PR for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I read every book that Piper Rayne wrote with the Dugout series and loved every single one so I’m super excited about this one! This one is a little different small town romance instead of sports romance but still I ATE IT ALL UP! ❤️
Elliot is the perfect dad. He’s a little protective of the people and things he loves and will do anything for Baylor. Baylor is just the cutest little girl! She is just adorable. Emilia our fmc is also so lovable and super nice. They are just the perfect little family and I enjoyed getting to meet them and slowly fall in love with them.
Now…. I KNOW Ansel and Collins will be a hotttttt one! I CAN’T WAIT.
I read every book that Piper Rayne wrote with the Dugout series and loved every single one so I’m super excited about this one! This one is a little different small town romance instead of sports romance but still I ATE IT ALL UP! ❤️
Elliot is the perfect dad. He’s a little protective of the people and things he loves and will do anything for Baylor. Baylor is just the cutest little girl! She is just adorable. Emilia our fmc is also so lovable and super nice. They are just the perfect little family and I enjoyed getting to meet them and slowly fall in love with them.
Now…. I KNOW Ansel and Collins will be a hotttttt one! I CAN’T WAIT.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,048 reviews