The Hotshot (The Dugout #1) Audiobook
The Hotshot (The Dugout #1) Audiobook
Piper Rayne
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- 8 hrs and 48 mins
- JF Harding, CJ Bloom
Book one in a new baseball romance series, The Dugout, from USA Today Bestselling Author Piper Rayne.
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.
Tropes:
- baseball romance
- fake relationship
- best friend's brother
- close proximity
- single guardian
- he falls first
This audiobook features full-cast narration performed by this top-tier ensemble:
- JF Harding
- CJ Bloom
- Teddy Hamilton
- Sean Masters
- Connor Crais
- Erin Mallon
- Willa Jaymes
- Meg Sylvan
- Austin Stone
Customer Reviews:
"I didn’t want to put this down. I thoroughly enjoyed this. The guardian trope gets me every time. Think Raising Helen vibes. Three kids. Dead parents. Emotional damage. But make it with a hottie MLB catcher ⚾️" - Megan Coggins, Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I absolutely flew through this one! I couldn’t stop - I loved Leighton & Hayes’ story! Highly recommend jumping into this new series from the fabulous duo, Piper Rayne! I have enjoyed everything I’ve read by them so far! Can’t wait to see what’s next!" - Amanda (_sunshine_reads_) Hengen, Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I loved every single character in this book!! Leighton and Hayes have my heart! I was giggling and swooning the whole time. There was so much to this story and all the elements and I just really enjoyed this one! I cannot wait to see what comes next too!!" - Samantha Draws, Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I absolutely LOVED this book! Cue all the emotions 🥹😭😍 And can we talk about the AUDIO?!? An ELITE audio lineup for the win! And let me tell you, they absolutely delivered!! 🩷" - Chelsea Adams, Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Okay, so I absolutely devoured this. I love Piper Rayne, and their writing. I absolutely loved the Plain Daisy Ranch series, I can't say enough good things about it. But they're going to steal hearts with The Dugout series, and I am ready for it! I can't wait for book two!!" - Megan Yerg, Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"The Hotshot by Piper Rayne kicks off The Dugout series with a warm, funny, and emotional small town sports romance that leans heavily into heart, family, and the kind of love that sneaks up on you when life gets messy. The Hotshot is sweet, comforting, and emotionally satisfying." - Cigi cini, Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I absolutely loved this book! I read it in one sitting staying up way too late but I don't regret it! At this point, anything Piper Rayne writes, I'm reading it! This one was heartfelt, funny, swoony, and emotional in all the best ways." - Getlitwithashleyz, Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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I loved it
I loved it and can’t wait for the next in the series
This is the first book in the new Dugout series by Piper Rayne.
When Leighton's cousin and her husband die, Leighton is named as guardian of their 3 children. Leighton and her cousin grew up together and were more like sisters. One minute she's a labor and delivery nurse, doing her best to navigate her single life and the next she is struggling to raise 3 children she lives dearly all while grieving the loss of her best friend, guardianship and everything else that her new life encompasses.
When Leighton's friend Callie sends her brother Hayes to help her out, things heat up. Leighton and Hayes secretly had a thing for each other years ago but nothing ever came of it. Hayes went on to become a major league baseball player. But Hayes cares for Leighton and wants to do what he can to help her. But can Leighton put aside her fears from her past and accept his help?
Hayes is so sweet. I loved this story and how hard he tried to do his best to help Leighton and the kids. Leighton was a good example of how parents can really mess their kids up.
I listened to the audio of this book as well as read it. The audio is performed in duet by JF Harding and CJ Bloom. They do such a great job. There are also multiple other fantastic narrators who voice parts throughout the story.
This is a definite do not miss 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 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 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!