I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
The Hotshot by Piper Rayne Series: The Dugout #1
Published by Piper Rayne Inc. on February 17, 2026
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Raising my cousin’s three kids wasn’t in my five-year plan.
Actually, it wasn’t in any plan.One minute I’m a single labor and delivery nurse living a quiet life and the next, I’m navigating guardianship hearings, meltdowns, and homework I’m pretty sure requires a math degree.
Enter Hayes Carlisle.
My best friend’s older brother.
Chicago Colts newest catcher.
And the man I once kissed and immediately pretended I didn’t.So, when the custody battle I’ve been dreading becomes a reality, I shouldn’t be surprised that Hayes swoops in with a wild idea—a fake relationship. According to him, pretending we’re together will polish his image and prove to the court I’m not taking on an instant family alone.
But pretending to be Hayes’ girlfriend is a terrible idea.
Because he remembers how to make me laugh.
Because he looks at me like our kiss wasn’t a one-time mistake.
Because the kids start asking him to read bedtime stories.
Because my heart starts wanting things my life doesn’t have room for.I can manage the chaos. I can fight for these kids.
But pretending not to fall for Hayes Carlisle?That might be the one thing I can’t do.
Heart-wrenching, but sassy and addictive! In my first read by new to me author Piper Rayne, I dove into the first book in a brand new baseball series The Dugout and I was not disappointed! I left knowing I will definitely be reading more and looking forward to book two in the series dropping, hopefully soon! The characters and core plot were very quick to catch my attention and hold it throughout the entire story. It’s a cliche secretly crushing on your best friends older brother trope, but there’s so much more depth to it with heartbreak, healing and so much humor.
With a full cast of family, friends and teammates, there was a whole lot to sink your teeth into with this story. Each main character had a backstory that caught our attention, hers was more developed than his with the kiddos she now had in her care. I felt like the little mystery surrounding her cousin was a bit distracting and didn’t really add to the story, but the kids were so key in adding the heart to the entire book that really made them all come together and shine. I would have liked more details up front on what made his prior year so gutting to his career, but we eventually got enough of the story to satisfy our curiosity even if not all the details. His parents, particularly his mom was a doll and I hope we’ll see a lot more of them when we get Callie’s story in book two.
Overall, I enjoyed Hayes and Leighton and the kiddos very much and can’t wait to see them again down the road! Highly recommend to fans of sports romance, rom coms with heart and lusting from afar for many years.
TROPES ✨
⚾️ Baseball Romance
🤫 Fake Relationship
👀 Best Friend’s Brother
🙋♂️ He Falls First
👩👧👧 Single Guardian
🤞🏼Close Proximity
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Pub date is February 17, 2026
BLURB✨
Raising my cousin’s three kids wasn’t in my five-year plan.
Actually, it wasn’t in any plan.
One minute I’m a single labor and delivery nurse living a quiet life and the next, I’m navigating guardianship hearings, meltdowns, and homework I’m pretty sure requires a math degree.
Enter Hayes Carlisle.
My best friend’s older brother.
Chicago Colts newest catcher.
And the man I once kissed and immediately pretended I didn’t.
So, when the custody battle I’ve been dreading becomes a reality, I shouldn’t be surprised that Hayes swoops in with a wild idea—a fake relationship. According to him, pretending we’re together will polish his image and prove to the court I’m not taking on an instant family alone.
But pretending to be Hayes’ girlfriend is a terrible idea.
Because he remembers how to make me laugh.
Because he looks at me like our kiss wasn’t a one-time mistake.
Because the kids start asking him to read bedtime stories.
Because my heart starts wanting things my life doesn’t have room for.
I can manage the chaos. I can fight for these kids.
But pretending not to fall for Hayes Carlisle?
That might be the one thing I can’t do.
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