Book: The Troublemaker by Piper Rayne
Reviewed by Maggie Hayes
Rating: 5/5
ARC REVIEW
The Troublemaker by Piper Rayne
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
I am such a sucker for a marriage of convenience romance, and Easton and Hadley absolutely delivered.
Easton has always been the charismatic playboy of The Dugout, so I definitely didn't have surprise fatherhood on my bingo card for him. When a six-month-old baby is suddenly dropped into his life, he's scrambling to figure things out—but what impressed me most was how quickly he stepped up. Before the paternity test results are even back, he's already stocking his apartment with baby gear and preparing for the possibility that Tanner is his son. Watching him embrace fatherhood completely melted my heart. He doesn't see Tanner as an inconvenience or a problem to solve. He loves him almost immediately and wants nothing more than to give him the best life possible. Easton was already attractive, but seeing him become such a devoted dad took him to another level.
I really loved Hadley, too. All she wants is to run the children's bookstore her grandmother left her, but there's one catch: she has to be married for a year before ownership transfers to her. Hadley is kind, intelligent, and endlessly patient, even when her family treats her like the black sheep simply because she prefers adventure and travel over staying in one place. I admired how hard she worked to maintain those relationships despite everything. And the way she cares for Tanner? My heart. She loves him as if he's her own from the very beginning.
What I enjoyed most about Easton and Hadley's romance is that they genuinely become friends before they fully become lovers. While their relationship technically starts as friends-with-benefits, once the marriage arrangement begins, the story settles into a surprisingly slow burn. They build trust, friendship, and emotional intimacy before they're willing to admit that what they're feeling has become something real. That foundation made their relationship feel incredibly solid. Of course, this is Piper Rayne, so when the romance finally heats up, it heats up. The chemistry between Easton and Hadley is fantastic, and I loved every minute of it.
And then there was that twist. I genuinely did not see it coming. Not even a little bit. It completely blindsided me and left me staring at the page in shock.
I'm sad to say goodbye to The Dugout, but the hints about the upcoming hockey series have me incredibly excited for what's next.
Thank you to the authors and Valentine PR for providing an ARC!