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The Playground #5
Training His Babygirl
From USA Today best selling author Rory Reynolds comes a spicy second chance romance.
Four years ago, we were over. But he tortured me with his nearness, and my heart broke with every contact.
I need a clean break. I need to start over.
But he says I’m his and he’ll prove it to me.
He demands one week. One week to be his babygirl again. One week to prove his love to me…
One week that will tear my heart in two and piece it back together again.
At the end of the week will my heart be healed? Or will I be left in tatters again.
Four years ago, we were over. But he tortured me with his nearness, and my heart broke with every contact.
I need a clean break. I need to start over.
But he says I’m his and he’ll prove it to me.
He demands one week. One week to be his babygirl again. One week to prove his love to me…
One week that will tear my heart in two and piece it back together again.
At the end of the week will my heart be healed? Or will I be left in tatters again.
- GenresRomanceBDSMContemporary
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2022
245 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Rory Reynolds
45 books331 followersRory Reynolds is a stay-at-home mom of two little monsters. She's a ravenous reader of romance and firmly believes that you can never have too many book boyfriends.
She writes feisty heroines, alpha heroes, and panty drenching smut with happily ever afters.
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She writes feisty heroines, alpha heroes, and panty drenching smut with happily ever afters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 1, 2022
4.5⭐️
We back at the playground series and we are getting I believe 2 more books in this series!!!
But we finally get the story how Ransom and Tessa met or fight lol. I knew there story would be so good!! This couple knew one another and well Ransom was being a idiot with a promise he broke his girls heart and never let them move on. The tension between them is high and the snark and sassyness Tessa does just to get back at him. But when Tessa gets a chance to leave this behind and start fresh that wakes up Ransom in your going to lose your girl. So he has a plan show her how serious he is and prove how much he wants her.
Even if Tessa gives him a chance things are still rocky between the two it’s like they make progress and go back 2 steps, I felt bad for Tessa because I felt that if I wasn’t leaving would you have done anything.. so even if I hate push/pull a lot I was okay with this because she really needed to know would he just drop her if she stayed. As for Ransom I love her never gave up.. even if he was hurting them both.. my man knew what he wanted even if it took awhile to get there.
We also got to see the girls bond again and watch the guys punch some sense into Ransom lol.
Low angst, No ow/om drama, No cheating, slight secondary chars, drama, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Slowinsta
Pinning
Age gap
Push/pull from both
Daddy kink
No condom
Orgasm denial
Grief
Hea
Epilogue
We back at the playground series and we are getting I believe 2 more books in this series!!!
But we finally get the story how Ransom and Tessa met or fight lol. I knew there story would be so good!! This couple knew one another and well Ransom was being a idiot with a promise he broke his girls heart and never let them move on. The tension between them is high and the snark and sassyness Tessa does just to get back at him. But when Tessa gets a chance to leave this behind and start fresh that wakes up Ransom in your going to lose your girl. So he has a plan show her how serious he is and prove how much he wants her.
Even if Tessa gives him a chance things are still rocky between the two it’s like they make progress and go back 2 steps, I felt bad for Tessa because I felt that if I wasn’t leaving would you have done anything.. so even if I hate push/pull a lot I was okay with this because she really needed to know would he just drop her if she stayed. As for Ransom I love her never gave up.. even if he was hurting them both.. my man knew what he wanted even if it took awhile to get there.
We also got to see the girls bond again and watch the guys punch some sense into Ransom lol.
Low angst, No ow/om drama, No cheating, slight secondary chars, drama, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Slowinsta
Pinning
Age gap
Push/pull from both
Daddy kink
No condom
Orgasm denial
Grief
Hea
Epilogue
January 23, 2025
Hot book, shitty hero…Spoilers
Ransom is not a loving daddy, he’s is a selfish and spoiled man child who tears back into Tessa’s life when it’s convenient for him.
I love second chance romance, it's one of my favorite troupes. But you know what kills it for me? When the party who is CLEARLY at fault never takes responsibility or has any consequences for what is, at its core, a completely selfish act.
Dress it up and give it a makeover if you want, but Ransom's reasoning for dumping the 'love of his life' is faulty at best, and just plain crazy at worst and is ultimately pure selfishness - his guilt, his feelings...not once in his inner monologue does he even brush on HER feelings.
And the timing...the circumstances. He dumps her right after her brother dies, leaving her alone to deal with her grief for her brother and then the grief for the man she thought she could lean on in hard times.
Look, I love this author and up to now, I've loved this series. But Jesus Christ Ransom…he spends four years following her around like a stalker, treating her like crap, acting with all the emotional maturity of a boiled potato, and everyone is 1) just cool with this and 2) on his side the whole freaking time. Then, when she finally, FINALLY, has a chance to move on with her life he decides that he can’t let her pursue a life without him.
And everyone, from her long time confidant and boss, to her friends, is just o-freaking-Kay with this? Everyone is telling Tessa to forgive him, give him a chance, think hard about making drastic decisions…what the hell? This man has spent four years treating her like a toy that he doesn’t want but doesn’t want anyone else to play with either and everyone is totally cool with this.
And, because god forbid she actually have any agency in this whole mess, she doesn’t end up leaving for a promotion and a fresh start but that’s just fine because Ransom boinked the sense out of her.
Ransom learned nothing and suffered no real consequences for what he did. I don’t even recall him apologizing for what he put her through, and I actually finished the book. He didn’t sacrifice anything for her, didn’t have to give up anything at all, and basically gets everything he wants at the expense of four years of her life and her opportunities.
Mechanically, the book is well written and the steamy scenes were...well steamy. That has never been an issue for the author.
Ransom is not a loving daddy, he’s is a selfish and spoiled man child who tears back into Tessa’s life when it’s convenient for him.
I love second chance romance, it's one of my favorite troupes. But you know what kills it for me? When the party who is CLEARLY at fault never takes responsibility or has any consequences for what is, at its core, a completely selfish act.
Dress it up and give it a makeover if you want, but Ransom's reasoning for dumping the 'love of his life' is faulty at best, and just plain crazy at worst and is ultimately pure selfishness - his guilt, his feelings...not once in his inner monologue does he even brush on HER feelings.
And the timing...the circumstances. He dumps her right after her brother dies, leaving her alone to deal with her grief for her brother and then the grief for the man she thought she could lean on in hard times.
Look, I love this author and up to now, I've loved this series. But Jesus Christ Ransom…he spends four years following her around like a stalker, treating her like crap, acting with all the emotional maturity of a boiled potato, and everyone is 1) just cool with this and 2) on his side the whole freaking time. Then, when she finally, FINALLY, has a chance to move on with her life he decides that he can’t let her pursue a life without him.
And everyone, from her long time confidant and boss, to her friends, is just o-freaking-Kay with this? Everyone is telling Tessa to forgive him, give him a chance, think hard about making drastic decisions…what the hell? This man has spent four years treating her like a toy that he doesn’t want but doesn’t want anyone else to play with either and everyone is totally cool with this.
And, because god forbid she actually have any agency in this whole mess, she doesn’t end up leaving for a promotion and a fresh start but that’s just fine because Ransom boinked the sense out of her.
Ransom learned nothing and suffered no real consequences for what he did. I don’t even recall him apologizing for what he put her through, and I actually finished the book. He didn’t sacrifice anything for her, didn’t have to give up anything at all, and basically gets everything he wants at the expense of four years of her life and her opportunities.
Mechanically, the book is well written and the steamy scenes were...well steamy. That has never been an issue for the author.
Read
September 22, 2022whomp whomp. i dnfed this. I typically don't like the daddy dom stuff and didn't realize that this is what it was.
and what is the ISSUE with him not being able to be with her but you're hanging out at the place she works at every day haha! don't you got a J-O-B? anyhoo, i dnfed.
it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either
and what is the ISSUE with him not being able to be with her but you're hanging out at the place she works at every day haha! don't you got a J-O-B? anyhoo, i dnfed.
it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either
April 30, 2022
Who can get past the typos? And are they typos or does the author not know what the words mean? Starting on page 1.... I could not get through this. Subpar writing and typos galore.
January 28, 2024
Training His Babygirl, Book 5 of The Playground series, was about 24-year-old Breanna "Tessa" Lewis, a bartender at The Playground club, and Arnold (no wonder he went by his last name and not his first! LOL) Ransom, the head of security for The Playground.
Tessa and Ransom had been in a DD/lg relationship until four years earlier. When Tessa's brother, Josh, died while serving his country, Ransom broke all of his promises to her in order to honor "the bro code" with his BFF. He had told her brother he would take care of her should anything happen. What he hadn't realized was that his "little girl" just happened to be the sister of his BFF. That made him step away from their DD/lg relationship and he made himself more of a guardian instead. Unfortunately, that meant he kept everyone who ever showed interest in her away. He gave up their intimate relationship, but he wouldn't let either of them move on. That is until Tessa took matters into her own hands.
When Tessa's boss told her he was opening a new club in another city/state, he offered her the position of bar manager. Realizing it was her opportunity to finally move on, she accepted it. But when Ransom learned about it, he went ballistic and told her she couldn't take the promotion. After confronting her, only to be confronted by their mutual friends, Ransom asked her for one week to prove himself worthy of her love.
This was one book I couldn't wait to read. Throughout the first four books, the relationship between Tessa and Ransom tickled the reader's interest. That they finally got their own story was awesome. The fact that this was a bit different from the other books made perfect sense.
Both the main characters were fully developed and mature, with a lot of room for growth, which they both did. The story was full of angst, drama, and hints of the spiciness to come. I liked that they didn't go straight from enemies to lovers, but they both worked on the relationship. The usual push/pull between Tessa and Ransom went a bit too far at times, causing a bit of frustration for the reader. But once it was understood what happened, it made perfect sense. I gave this story a five-star rating and will be adding it to my Keeper for the Shelves collection.
Tessa and Ransom had been in a DD/lg relationship until four years earlier. When Tessa's brother, Josh, died while serving his country, Ransom broke all of his promises to her in order to honor "the bro code" with his BFF. He had told her brother he would take care of her should anything happen. What he hadn't realized was that his "little girl" just happened to be the sister of his BFF. That made him step away from their DD/lg relationship and he made himself more of a guardian instead. Unfortunately, that meant he kept everyone who ever showed interest in her away. He gave up their intimate relationship, but he wouldn't let either of them move on. That is until Tessa took matters into her own hands.
When Tessa's boss told her he was opening a new club in another city/state, he offered her the position of bar manager. Realizing it was her opportunity to finally move on, she accepted it. But when Ransom learned about it, he went ballistic and told her she couldn't take the promotion. After confronting her, only to be confronted by their mutual friends, Ransom asked her for one week to prove himself worthy of her love.
This was one book I couldn't wait to read. Throughout the first four books, the relationship between Tessa and Ransom tickled the reader's interest. That they finally got their own story was awesome. The fact that this was a bit different from the other books made perfect sense.
Both the main characters were fully developed and mature, with a lot of room for growth, which they both did. The story was full of angst, drama, and hints of the spiciness to come. I liked that they didn't go straight from enemies to lovers, but they both worked on the relationship. The usual push/pull between Tessa and Ransom went a bit too far at times, causing a bit of frustration for the reader. But once it was understood what happened, it made perfect sense. I gave this story a five-star rating and will be adding it to my Keeper for the Shelves collection.
April 5, 2022
training his babygirl
Aiden broke Tessa heart 4 years ago. They had dated 8 months so in love but things changed when her brother died. Aiden had been his best friend in the military. Aiden gut out a time before Joshua it knowing Tessa was his sister. When he died feeling guilty over her being his friends sister he breaks up with her they work st the same club he has kept a eye on her all this time thinking he was doing the right thing. She can’t take it any more so when given a chance to move for a better job she takes it. Aiden gets a wake up call that once she goes there will be no connection so he decides to try and win her back. But can she trust her heart a second time.
Aiden broke Tessa heart 4 years ago. They had dated 8 months so in love but things changed when her brother died. Aiden had been his best friend in the military. Aiden gut out a time before Joshua it knowing Tessa was his sister. When he died feeling guilty over her being his friends sister he breaks up with her they work st the same club he has kept a eye on her all this time thinking he was doing the right thing. She can’t take it any more so when given a chance to move for a better job she takes it. Aiden gets a wake up call that once she goes there will be no connection so he decides to try and win her back. But can she trust her heart a second time.
March 31, 2022
Training His Babygirl was a wonderful second chance romance. I always wondered what had happened between Tessa and Ransom and I finally got my answer. These two had a thing four years ago and Ransom broke Tessa heart. My heart went out to Tessa, she suffered a terrible loss and then lost Ransom. At the time, Ransom thought he was doing the right thing. These two just kept dancing around each other, push and pull. I loved Tessa and Ransom, they both grew throughout the story. A romance with heat but also heart. The characters were loveable with sizzling chemistry. And they have some amazing friends! This was a thoroughly enjoyable romance. Can't wait for Axel's book next.
October 2, 2022
Eh? It was OK
The characters were okay, but the premise was too weak for an entire story. Ransom breaks up with Tessa because he promised Tessa’s brother to look after her. First of all, what better way to look after her than to be her Daddy? And Ransom spends 4 years looking after her from a distance, sort of. Then Tessa gets a chance at a new start and a promotion and that’s when Ransom decides that he’s been an idiot. And then Tessa back and forth with the I love him, but what if he hurts me again? Wore thin real fast.
The characters were okay, but the premise was too weak for an entire story. Ransom breaks up with Tessa because he promised Tessa’s brother to look after her. First of all, what better way to look after her than to be her Daddy? And Ransom spends 4 years looking after her from a distance, sort of. Then Tessa gets a chance at a new start and a promotion and that’s when Ransom decides that he’s been an idiot. And then Tessa back and forth with the I love him, but what if he hurts me again? Wore thin real fast.
May 7, 2025
A second chance is all Tessa and Ransom need but can they get that? Tessa is a cute babygirl, who had the daddy of her dreams until the day her brother dies and she loses all the important people in her life. Ransom is ready to marry Tessa but findes out his best military buddy's sister, the one he promised to take care of, is his babygirl Tessa. Ransom is a good daddy but he needs to get his priorities in order. Tessa is ready to run from her problems after 4 years because she can't get over her love for her daddy.
I really like this book and how we get to follow the love story between two people, who are definitely made for each other
I really like this book and how we get to follow the love story between two people, who are definitely made for each other
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2022
Good book
I was really looking forward to this book so that could be why I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. Nonetheless, it was a good book. Ransom & Tessa are great and they’re even better together. I just wish there was more time of them spent together as a couple and not struggling through the hurt. That’s just a personal preference. It was well written and most would like seeing Tessa go through her emotions before finally giving them a try.
I was really looking forward to this book so that could be why I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. Nonetheless, it was a good book. Ransom & Tessa are great and they’re even better together. I just wish there was more time of them spent together as a couple and not struggling through the hurt. That’s just a personal preference. It was well written and most would like seeing Tessa go through her emotions before finally giving them a try.
March 31, 2022
I started reading this story and realized pretty quickly that ‘oh crud, this is gonna be a tearjerker’. And I was not wrong. I have to say that I read most of the first third with tears in my eyes. My favorite part was when Ransom and Tessa visited Gran, who was my favorite character in the book. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 17, 2022
I love second chance romance, and Ms. Reynolds tugged my heart strings with this one!
Tessa's leaving for Chicago is the fire Ransom needed lit under his butt!
However, will one week prove she's his, or was it too late!?!
Yeah, I know, you guessed it...I certainly was hopeful he could pull it off! Tessa definitely deserved a Good One!
Tessa's leaving for Chicago is the fire Ransom needed lit under his butt!
However, will one week prove she's his, or was it too late!?!
Yeah, I know, you guessed it...I certainly was hopeful he could pull it off! Tessa definitely deserved a Good One!
April 5, 2022
Quick Read
Ransom finally is going to get his baby girl back, he's only got a week to do it because Tessa's moving to Chicago for a new job, does he have what it takes to get over the past?
Ransom finally is going to get his baby girl back, he's only got a week to do it because Tessa's moving to Chicago for a new job, does he have what it takes to get over the past?
June 21, 2022
great read
I enjoyed the story it was a good read the character development was good. Overalls good story and i love how the writer makes you feel like your not reading a book but watching a movie
I enjoyed the story it was a good read the character development was good. Overalls good story and i love how the writer makes you feel like your not reading a book but watching a movie
October 13, 2022
It's a good book! Definitely helps that it's been building suspense since the first book! It also helps that it didnt tell us exactly why they seemed to not like each other and I love how this book slowly clarifies it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2022
❤️.
I always like a second chance. Stubborn men with women that finally just say enough is enough. Ransom and Tessa are struggling to coexist. They are made for each other but have so much to work out. Loss and old hurts keep them apart. Watching them heal each other. Perfect.
I always like a second chance. Stubborn men with women that finally just say enough is enough. Ransom and Tessa are struggling to coexist. They are made for each other but have so much to work out. Loss and old hurts keep them apart. Watching them heal each other. Perfect.
November 15, 2022
Amazing
I loved the second chance story of Ransom and Tessa. We got to know them in the other books and then we got to know exactly what was going on with them in this book. I loved it.
I loved the second chance story of Ransom and Tessa. We got to know them in the other books and then we got to know exactly what was going on with them in this book. I loved it.
May 5, 2023
I didn't like Ransom. 😕
I definitely didn't feel like he earned Tessa's forgiveness.
Loved Tessa though. She held on as long as she could before she decided to move on. I loved that she stuck to her guns until she was sure Ransom was reason enough to stay.
I definitely didn't feel like he earned Tessa's forgiveness.
Loved Tessa though. She held on as long as she could before she decided to move on. I loved that she stuck to her guns until she was sure Ransom was reason enough to stay.
April 1, 2022
A whole lot of back and forth only to realize they were meant for each other.
June 11, 2022
intriguing series
Tessa & ransom story had so many different facets. Their story was relatable to people in so many ways. I loved ransoms relationship with his grandmother.
Tessa & ransom story had so many different facets. Their story was relatable to people in so many ways. I loved ransoms relationship with his grandmother.
July 6, 2022
This book was a spur of the moment choice thanks to a Facebook ad and I am so happy I made the decision to click on it. The story was such a surprise and an absolute enjoyment.
July 13, 2022
I love Ransom and Tessa,they're soo good and soo H.O.T together! Such a sexy,steamy and beautiful healing love story! I absolutly loved it soo soo much! 🥰🔥❤😍
dnf
August 16, 2022Dnf,you definitely need to read the whole series because I wasn't attached at allll to the Characters
January 31, 2023
4.5 stars
April 7, 2024
Story 3.5⭐️ Spice 2.5🌶️
So glad to finally get Tessa and Ransom’s story, but it turned out to be my least favorite of the series so far.
So glad to finally get Tessa and Ransom’s story, but it turned out to be my least favorite of the series so far.
January 13, 2025
Love love
Such a slow burn but with a huge explosion when it finally happens for random and Tessa! Love love it! Such a cute story with so much they had to get through!
Such a slow burn but with a huge explosion when it finally happens for random and Tessa! Love love it! Such a cute story with so much they had to get through!
April 11, 2024
Training His Babygirl by Rory Reynolds is the 5th standalone novella in the Playground series which is not complete.
Tropes:
✔️ FM Romance
✔️ Second Chance Romance
✔️ Brothers Best Friend
✔️ Daddy Dom/ Baby Girl
✔️ Available on KU
POV: First Person Duel 👩🧑
Rating: 6/10 (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
🌶🌶️/3
🌶️ starts about 10%
Definitely not my favorite. Which surprised me.
✨“Haven’t you figured it out yet? There’s no moving on from you. I can’t do it. I won’t.”✨
Tropes:
✔️ FM Romance
✔️ Second Chance Romance
✔️ Brothers Best Friend
✔️ Daddy Dom/ Baby Girl
✔️ Available on KU
POV: First Person Duel 👩🧑
Rating: 6/10 (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
🌶🌶️/3
🌶️ starts about 10%
Definitely not my favorite. Which surprised me.
✨“Haven’t you figured it out yet? There’s no moving on from you. I can’t do it. I won’t.”✨
January 6, 2025
3.5 stars rounded to 4
Oohhh Ransom, you idiot 🤣 I feel like I said that a quite a few times in this one lol. He did get his head out of his ass finally but I did get a little frustrated before he finally got it together. Tessa was so sweet and so stubborn. These 2 bumped heads more than they had sexy times but when they finally go all in its so good. This wasn't my favorite in the series but I am glad to finally know Tessa and Ransom's back story
Oohhh Ransom, you idiot 🤣 I feel like I said that a quite a few times in this one lol. He did get his head out of his ass finally but I did get a little frustrated before he finally got it together. Tessa was so sweet and so stubborn. These 2 bumped heads more than they had sexy times but when they finally go all in its so good. This wasn't my favorite in the series but I am glad to finally know Tessa and Ransom's back story
June 19, 2023
Just one week..
This was my absolute favorite book to the series. Tessa and Ransom have always had the kind of dynamic where you’d think they absolutely hate each other..which of course is a total lie. I’m so glad we finally got their story and to read about it all unfolding. I wasn’t sure Tessa was going to give Ransom the time of day with his offer, but I’m so glad she finally decided too. Definitely a must read!
This was my absolute favorite book to the series. Tessa and Ransom have always had the kind of dynamic where you’d think they absolutely hate each other..which of course is a total lie. I’m so glad we finally got their story and to read about it all unfolding. I wasn’t sure Tessa was going to give Ransom the time of day with his offer, but I’m so glad she finally decided too. Definitely a must read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews