SUMMARY
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.
Image and summary from Goodreads.
REVIEW
The Hotshot was my first book by Piper Rayne and I picked this up as I saw that someone I follow on instagram had reposted a post from Piper Rayne with some quotes from the book. It intrigued me and when I needed something to read, I figured it was time to pick this one up and it was even easier to get as it is on Kindle Unlimited. I have to say, it was a really enjoyable introduction to her writing. Her style is easy to get into, the chapters flew by and by the time I finished, I was already adding more of her books to my TBR.
This was also the first baseball romance I’ve ever read, which surprised me because I’ve read quite a few sports romances over the last couple of years. I wasn’t sure how much I’d enjoy the baseball side of things, but I actually found it added a fun backdrop to the story without ever feeling overwhelming. It definitely made me want to pick up more baseball romances in the future.
One of my favourite things about this book was the characters. I really liked both Hayes and Leighton, and I found it so easy to root for them. Hayes especially won me over. On paper he has all the qualities you’d expect from a professional athlete, but underneath that he’s incredibly thoughtful and dependable. One of the things I loved most about him was how naturally he stepped in to help Leighton whenever she was overwhelmed. He never did it because he expected something in return or because he wanted recognition, he simply cared. I think those quiet acts of kindness said so much more about his character than any grand romantic gesture could.
I also really liked Leighton. She had so much on her plate and I appreciated that the story didn’t shy away from showing how overwhelming life can become when you’re trying to juggle responsibilities while still looking like you have everything under control. Watching Hayes become someone she could lean on without taking away her independence made their relationship feel genuine.
Their romance was probably my favourite part of the book. I loved watching their relationship develop naturally over time. The chemistry between them felt believable and I enjoyed seeing them slowly let their walls down and become comfortable with each other. Those quieter moments where they were simply talking, supporting one another or learning about each other’s lives ended up being some of my favourite scenes in the book.
The story also includes some of my favourite romance tropes, including friends to lovers, fake dating and found family. Those are the kinds of romances I always find myself gravitating towards because they give the characters time to build a real connection.
The only reason this ended up being a 3 star read for me was the third act breakup. Unfortunately it’s one of my least favourite romance tropes and this book didn’t quite change my mind. After spending so much time watching Hayes and Leighton build such a strong relationship, the conflict near the end felt a little frustrating. I found myself wishing they had simply talked things through rather than creating unnecessary distance between them. It didn’t ruin the story for me, but it did take away a little of the enjoyment I’d been feeling up until that point.
Overall, I had a really lovely time with The Hotshot. It introduced me to a new author whose writing I genuinely enjoyed, gave me my first baseball romance and introduced me to two characters I couldn’t help but root for. While the third-act breakup stopped this from becoming a favourite, it definitely didn’t stop me from wanting to read more from Piper Rayne.
This was a solid 3 star read for me. If you’re looking for a sweet sports romance with lovable characters, plenty of heart and a hero who’s always willing to show up when it matters most, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a go. I know I’ll be picking up another Piper Rayne book before too long.
-Rachelle
I’m on Instagram at @rachellesbookshelf
