Book: The Hotshot by Piper Rayne
Reviewed by Maggie Hayes
Rating: 4.5/5
ARC REVIEW
The Hotshot by Piper Rayne
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (4.5/5)
I fell hard for the men of The Nest (who didn’t?), so my expectations for The Dugout were sky-high. Thankfully, Piper Rayne delivered again. Hayes Carlisle? Absolute dreamboat. The man has been quietly pining after Leighton for years — and very much not quietly lusting after her — and I was melting.
But what makes Hayes irresistible isn’t just the chemistry. It’s the way he shows up. Leighton’s life flips overnight when she becomes guardian to her late cousin’s three kids, and Hayes doesn’t just offer words — he proves, again and again, that he’s in it. The court date. The chaos. The everyday moments. He understands that loving her means stepping fully into her life. That kind of steady devotion? Super sexy.
I was worried Leighton would let her friendship with Hayes’s sister, Callie, hold her back, and I’ve never been happier to be wrong. Between her demanding nursing career, the custody battle, and the grief of losing her cousin, she’s carrying so much. Watching her finally let herself lean on Hayes felt earned and deeply satisfying.
But the real heart of this story? The family they built. Leighton, Hayes, and the kids forming a genuine unit absolutely melted me. Add in found family teammates Decker and Easton, and I was done for.
And that ending? I am desperate for Callie’s book. Her mystery man better bring the same heart and heat Hayes delivered.
Thank you to the author and @valentine_pr_ for an ARC!
For fans of: ⚾️ Baseball Romance | 💙 He Falls First | 👶 Single Guardian | 👫 Best Friend’s Brother | 💘 Fake Relationship | 🔥 Slow Burn | 🏠 Close Proximity | 🩺 Nurse FMC | ⚾️ Catcher MMC
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