- Baseball romance
- Best friend's brother
- Mutual pining
- Fake relationship
- Single guardian
- Meeting in the closet

I have been looking forward to this new series, in the same world as The Nest, which is one of my favorite series! This is the first book in the baseball era of the iconic apartment complex behind Peepers.

Let me tell you, Hayes is absolutely an amazing MMC. He is the perfect blend of flawed angstiness and cinnamon roll. He has recently returned to Chicago and has the very large job ahead of him of restoring his reputation after a less than stellar previous year.

I cannot even describe how much I loved Leighton, though. She stepped up in a big way when her cousin passes and requests Leighton raise her three children. Leighton has to navigate not only her own emotions, but has to figure out how to be an instant working mother.

When circumstances arise that make Hayes blurt out that he and Leighton are in a relationship, no one is more surprised than Leighton herself. Not that she minds too much since she has been pining for the catcher since they were teenagers.

The emotions and growth of a relationship in this story are so real that I felt like I was part of the story. I cannot wait to see how the other players find their loves!

A slow-burn baseball romance that knocks it clean out of the park and straight into your heart.

The dynamic duo of Piper Ryan have stepped up to the plate with The Hotshot, the first book in their brand-new sports series The Dugout—and honestly? I don’t know how they’ve managed to level up from perfection, but they have.

They admitted to being slightly nervous about writing their first-ever baseball romance… but let me tell you, they didn’t just hit the ball—they sent it soaring. This story is everything I crave in a sports romance: emotional depth, electric chemistry, layered characters, and that delicious slow burn that simmers until it owns you.

We return to familiar ground—Ruby’s bar, Peeper’s Alley, nestled on the ground floor of the Chicago Colts’ condo building. Ruby, with her razor-sharp wit and perfectly timed dry humour, is once again the heartbeat of the building. Watching yet another wave of athletic chaos unfold above her bar is priceless—and knowing more Colts drama is coming? I am READY.

Up first in this series is Hayes Carlisle, the newly transferred catcher for the Chicago Colts. After a turbulent year and a trade that brings him back home, Hayes needs to rebuild his reputation and keep his head down. But fate has other plans. Because home means Leighton.

Years ago in college, Hayes and Leighton shared a kiss—one that ended abruptly but was never forgotten. Now they’re face-to-face again, older, changed, carrying scars life never warned them about.

Leighton’s world has shifted in the most heartbreaking way. A nurse by profession, she is now raising her cousin’s three children—a responsibility she never planned for but embraced with fierce, selfless love. Her life is no longer her own. It’s school runs, legal meetings, exhaustion, and the constant fight to hold everything together. Hayes walking back into her life? Not part of the plan.

And yet… watching these two navigate second chances, unspoken history, and the fragile hope of something more is utterly captivating.

The slow burn between them is exquisite. Hayes isn’t just a hotshot athlete—he’s tender, patient, and quietly determined. Seeing him step into the children’s world, building trust one moment at a time, melted me. The scenes with his new teammates and the kids? Absolute gold. It’s the perfect introduction to the Colts—this found family dynamic already feels iconic.

But what truly elevates this story is the emotional weight woven through it. The custody case hanging over the children adds an undercurrent of tension that never lets you fully relax. The stakes are real. The love is hard-earned. Every step forward feels fragile and precious.

Hayes and Leighton aren’t just falling in love—they’re building something in the middle of chaos, grief, responsibility, and redemption. They’re both treading unfamiliar ground, both learning who they are now, and whether they’re brave enough to risk their hearts again.

This isn’t just a sports romance. It’s a story about healing. About stepping up when life throws you curveballs. About found family, second chances, and the kind of love that chooses you—even when you’re scared to choose it back.

If The Dugout starts like this, I cannot wait to see what Piper Ryan have in store for the rest of the Chicago Colts.

Consider me fully benched, emotionally wrecked, and already desperate for the next book. ⚾💙

The Hotshot is pro baseball player Hayes and Leighton’s fake to real romance and it’s book one in The Dugout Series. From the moment I picked this book up I knew I was in for an exciting and entertaining story, the chemistry was sizzling and the characters easy to love.
Leighton suddenly finds herself guardian to three adorable children and she really needs some help. Surprisingly the offer of help comes from her best friend’s brother and what follows is a tale of fake dating that turns into so much more.
I fell hard and fast for Hayes and I adored Leighton but it was three adorable chicken who stole my heart. This is a well written, entertaining and engaging journey but it was the camaraderie from Hayes teammates that added depth and left me excited for what’s to come.

The Hotshot is pro baseball player Hayes and Leighton’s fake to real romance and it’s book one in The Dugout Series. From the moment I picked this book up I knew I was in for an exciting and entertaining story, the chemistry was sizzling and the characters easy to love.
Leighton suddenly finds herself guardian to three adorable children and she really needs some help. Surprisingly the offer of help comes from her best friend’s brother and what follows is a tale of fake dating that turns into so much more.
I fell hard and fast for Hayes and I adored Leighton but it was three adorable chicken who stole my heart. This is a well written, entertaining and engaging journey but it was the camaraderie from Hayes teammates that added depth and left me excited for what’s to come.

The Hotshot is pro baseball player Hayes and Leighton’s fake to real romance and it’s book one in The Dugout Series. From the moment I picked this book up I knew I was in for an exciting and entertaining story, the chemistry was sizzling and the characters easy to love.
Leighton suddenly finds herself guardian to three adorable children and she really needs some help. Surprisingly the offer of help comes from her best friend’s brother and what follows is a tale of fake dating that turns into so much more.
I fell hard and fast for Hayes and I adored Leighton but it was three adorable chicken who stole my heart. This is a well written, entertaining and engaging journey but it was the camaraderie from Hayes teammates that added depth and left me excited for what’s to come.

The Hotshot is pro baseball player Hayes and Leighton’s fake to real romance and it’s book one in The Dugout Series. From the moment I picked this book up I knew I was in for an exciting and entertaining story, the chemistry was sizzling and the characters easy to love.
Leighton suddenly finds herself guardian to three adorable children and she really needs some help. Surprisingly the offer of help comes from her best friend’s brother and what follows is a tale of fake dating that turns into so much more.
I fell hard and fast for Hayes and I adored Leighton but it was three adorable chicken who stole my heart. This is a well written, entertaining and engaging journey but it was the camaraderie from Hayes teammates that added depth and left me excited for what’s to come.
The duet narration by CJ Bloom and JF Harding was wonderful but once you add in a full cast of Teddy Hamilton, Sean Masters, Connor Crais, Erin Mallon, Willa Jaymes, Meg Sylvan and Austin Stone you get a performance that brings this whole book to life.

The Hotshot is pro baseball player Hayes and Leighton’s fake to real romance and it’s book one in The Dugout Series. From the moment I picked this book up I knew I was in for an exciting and entertaining story, the chemistry was sizzling and the characters easy to love.
Leighton suddenly finds herself guardian to three adorable children and she really needs some help. Surprisingly the offer of help comes from her best friend’s brother and what follows is a tale of fake dating that turns into so much more.
I fell hard and fast for Hayes and I adored Leighton but it was three adorable chicken who stole my heart. This is a well written, entertaining and engaging journey but it was the camaraderie from Hayes teammates that added depth and left me excited for what’s to come.

I love this new series with the guys being in baseball. I thought the hockey one would be my favorite, still love it but this was a great story. I loved the old Mest had a new name too! I really liked Hayes and Leighton. Lots of laughs and a surprise at the end I didn’t expect to find out near the end with Leighton’s cousin. No spoilers here so read the book, you will enjoy it. I liked it so much finished the book in a day.

The Hotshot the first book in The Dugout series by the duo writing team, Piper Rayne is just a sweet as it is spicy! We have now switched to baseball in Chicago with Hayes Carlisle up at bat first and oh my is he swoon worthy!
Hayes is new to the Chicago team and is trying to repair his reputation from the chaos he caused from his old team. Adding on to that is his big heart as he steps up to help his sisters best friend, Leighton with the three young children that have been put in her care with the sudden death of their parents. Both of their lives have been upended but they are stepping up and doing the best they can to care for the children, but the spicy part is the turn their relationship takes when they finally overcome what pushed them both apart before and take the ‘fake’ relationship plunge that isn’t so fake when their feelings get involved. I thoroughly enjoyed their journey and am so excited to see where else this new series takes us.
I also had the added benefit of listening to the audio version of this story and the narrators did an amazing job that absolutely added to my enjoyment of this book!

Love the story only it was wayyy to short

I received an ARC for this book. I'm already loving this new series! Hayes and Leighton had so much chemistry and I loved their past history. Hayes is such a great guy. He is sweet and charming and has been in love with his sister's best friend. Leighton has some issues to work through. Trauma from her parents. She gets what she has always wanted, but has to work through her issues to keep it. This book was so much fun and sweet! Can't wait for the next one with that cliffhanger ending!

I received an ARC for this book. I'm already loving this new series! Hayes and Leighton had so much chemistry and I loved their past history. Hayes is such a great guy. He is sweet and charming and has been in love with his sister's best friend. Leighton has some issues to work through. Trauma from her parents. She gets what she has always wanted, but has to work through her issues to keep it. This book was so much fun and sweet! Can't wait for the next one with that cliffhanger ending!

Loved the duet narration. Listened to it in one day! CJ Bloom and JF Harding did an amazing job.

I received an ARC for this book. I'm already loving this new series! Hayes and Leighton had so much chemistry and I loved their past history. Hayes is such a great guy. He is sweet and charming and has been in love with his sister's best friend. Leighton has some issues to work through. Trauma from her parents. She gets what she has always wanted, but has to work through her issues to keep it. This book was so much fun and sweet! Can't wait for the next one with that cliffhanger ending!

I loved the voices of each character. They fit and I love the duet narration. CJ Bloom and JF Harding did amazing!

Gives a little more detail and insight into the family. Very enjoyable

Great story and loved seeing the other characters from Plain Daisy Ranch.