Something Like Hate: an enemies to lovers football romance

Something Like Hate is the first book in the Chicago Grizzlies series by Piper Rayne. Miles Cavanaugh is the best safety in the league and when he was traded to the Chicago Grizzlies, Bryce Burns was ecstatic. She couldn’t be happier. They have had a love-hate relationship since college. Finally, she has breathing room. That is until she lands her dream job with a national sport magazine in Chicago. The city is big enough for both of them…right? The best laid plans soon go awry when she temporarily takes over reporting on the Chicago Grizzlies which means traveling with the team, interviewing the players and all with an all-access pass. Miles and Bryce decide to play nice for the sake of both of their jobs. However, they soon realize that the attraction between them is stronger than their mutual hate. 

The Chicago Grizzlies series is a spin off of the Kingsmen Football Stars series and picks up after that series ends. Something Like Hate is a spicy enemies to lovers romance. Bryce is a nonsense reporter so calls it how she sees it, regardless of the players’ ego. Miles takes criticism very seriously and he is still steaming from an article Bryce wrote in college. However, he feels drawn to her as she builds a fire under his feet to be better, to do better. As they spend time together, they both realize there is more to the other than meets the eye. Miles isn’t your typical football player and Bryce is fighting past hurts. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this series and I look forward to the rest of the series. If you enjoy enemies to lovers, football romance, I highly recommend Something Like Hate. 

Something Like Hate is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

Lessons from a One Night Stand: can one wild night turn into a forever love?

Lessons from a One Night Stand is the first book in The Baileys series by Piper Rayne. Austin Bailey came home to Lake Starlight, Alaska to take care of his younger siblings after the tragic death of their parents. Now as his younger sisters are graduating, he is looking to start his dream job as a collegiate baseball coach. Over the weekend, he had a wild night with an amazing woman. They exchanged no names and no identifying information. Imagine his surprise when Monday morning, he meets her as the temporary principal at the high school where he teaches biology. Holly Radicliffe is in town on a mission of her own and didn’t expect to see him again, but she is determined to keep their relationship as professional as possible. It turns out it is easier said than done as their attraction is strong. Neither is planning to stay in town after the school year ends, so they can certainly stay apart…right? 

Piper Raye has become my go-to author for great stories with amazing emotional depth and steamy romance. Lessons from a One Night Stand is more than a steamy romance. It is a story with laughs, smiles and heartbreak. It is a story where we find where we truly belong while on the search of what we think we want and need. I loved Austin for his commitment to his younger siblings while also still keeping his own dream in mind. I also loved Holly as a woman who is searching for a part of herself and discovering it was better that she didn’t have it in the first place. I enjoyed their supportive friends who were quick with a kick in the pants when they needed it as well as a shoulder to cry on. I loved the rest of the Bailey siblings and I am looking forward to reading their own love stories. I highly recommend Lessons from a One Night Stand. 

Lessons from a One Night Stand is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows: an enemies-to-lovers, second chance romance

You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows is the first book in the Kingsmen Football Stars series by Piper Rayne. Lee Burrows may be the Kingsmen’s star quarterback with the legendary arm. He may have six-pack abs and kissable lips. But to Shayna Kudrow, Lee Burrows is the man who broke her heart in college. She has spent the years since recovering from his actions and worked hard to become a sport therapist for a professional team. However, her new job is with the San Francisco Kingsmen. Determined to be the cool professional, Shayna won’t give him the time of day. Unfortunately, Lee refuses to take the hint. He is also determined. Determined to apologize for what happened in college and convince her for a second chance because what they had going then is still burning bright. 

You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows is an enemies-to-lovers, second chance love story filled with fun banter, laughs and steamy, sweet romance. After reading the prequel, False Start, last year, I could not wait to dive into the Kingsmen Football series. You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows does not disappoint. I loved Lee’s determination to explain and redeem himself to Shayna. It is evident that the torch still burns bright for him. I also loved Shayna’s resolve to not let their past keep her from her dream job as she fights to acknowledge her feelings for Lee are still there. When the barriers are finally broken, it is romantic, sweet and very touchy. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. If you love romance and football, I highly recommend You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows. I also recommend False Start, although you do not need to read it to enjoy You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows. 

You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

False Start is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Trouble with #9: a spicy sports romance

The Trouble with #9 by Piper Rayne is the second book in the Hockey Hotties series. Trouble with a capital T describes Maksim Petrov. As the Florida Fury’s enforcer, it is his job. He protects and watches out for his teammates, one and off the ice. As his time in the penalty box increases, the team owner isn’t happy and orders Maksim to therapy. To make matters worse, the team therapist is the woman he kissed on New Year’s Eve and talking about his feelings isn’t the thing he wants to do with her. Paisley Pearce is just trying to get through the mandated three sessions with Maksim; however, he is making it difficult and she is losing the battle against her own attraction. As their professional relationship ends, they pursue a more personal one. As their relationship heats up, Maksim’s family makes a request that forces him to make a choice: follow his heart or follow his family’s request. 

The Trouble with #9 picks up right where My Lucky #13 ended. Filled with flirty moments, spicy love scenes and even deep emotional moments, The Trouble with #9 is a fast paced romance with great characters. Maksim feels he needs his pain and anger to play his role as enforcer on the ice. Paisley has her own hurts and wounds as she believes she isn’t good enough for Maksim. When they get together, they find more than just a way to release the sexual tension, but a deeper emotional connection. Even though I am not a hockey fan, I enjoyed the shop talk and the interaction between the players. Overall, I loved this book. I read late into the night as I could not put it down and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I also enjoyed the hint into the next book of the series. If you enjoy sports romances, I highly recommend The Trouble with #9. 

The Trouble with #9 is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

My Lucky #13: a spicy sports romance with witty, flirty moments

My Lucky #13 is the first book in the Hockey Hotties series by Piper Rayne. Aiden Drake has been lucky his entire career. He didn’t believe in luck. It’s why he wears #13. He never needed a superstition to help his game. That is until his game spiraled downward and now he faces a trade. After an eventful New Year’s Eve with an amazing woman who threw a drink in his face, he had a great game with three goals! Aiden is convinced it was the drink in his face and he needs to track down the woman so she can do it again before every game. Saige Fowler runs a social media business for athletes and other high profile individuals. Imagine her surprise when Aiden Drake walks into her office with a bottle of wine and a proposition. She thinks it’s ridiculous but can’t seem to turn him down. As they spend time together, it gets harder and harder to deny the spark between them. 

After reading about the New Year’s Eve moments between Aiden and Saige in the prequel novella, Countdown to a Kiss, I jumped My Lucky #13 up on my TBR list and it did not disappoint! Piper Rayne is my new go-to author for spicy sports romance! I’m not even a hockey fan but I might just start watching games after this book! My Lucky #13 is so good! It was flirty. It was witty. It had great banter and awesome spicy moments and even so romantic moments that will make any reader swoon! There were moments when the smile never left my face! I loved Aiden and Saige as individuals and as a couple. I even enjoyed their supporting cast of characters! I am looking forward to the rest of the series. My Lucky #13 is a book I will return to and read again and again. If you enjoy fun, spicy romance, even if you don’t like sports, I highly, highly recommend My Lucky #13. 

My Lucky #13 is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Countdown to a Kiss: a prequel novella introducing a new series

Countdown to a Kiss by Piper Rayne is a prequel novella introducing the Hockey Hotties series. Three professional hockey players from the Florida Fury attend a New Year’s Eve party given by the team’s owner. Each man comes across a woman who sparks their interest. As the countdown to midnight begins, each man is hoping to start the new year right with a kiss. What’s the harm? They aren’t going to see these women again, right? 

Countdown to a Kiss is twelve short chapters and yet, it is such an engaging read that I immediately put the first book of the series higher on my TBR list. I can’t wait to read what happens with the first couple of the series. They are talented men with chips on their shoulders and the women they meet aren’t swayed by their status as professional hockey players. The banter between each man and woman is fun, flirty and so electric. If you love quick, engaging stories, I highly recommend Countdown to a Kiss. 

Countdown to a Kiss is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Flirting with Fire: it is possible to have a second chance with a high school crush?

Flirting With Fire by Piper Rayne is the first book in the Blue Collar Brothers series. What started out as a playful prank among friends ends up with Madison Kelly winning a date with her high school crush. In high school, she was “Fatty Maddie,” and crushed on Mauro Bianco, the hot quarterback of their football team. Now, ten years later, Mauro is a firefighter and turned into a rugged, muscled man. One date and she is ready to put her crush away like the old shoebox of high school memories in her closet. But a twist of fate has Maddie and Mauro entering into a business partnership. Maddie is determined to keep it professional, the sparks still fly. Only this time, Mauro feels them too.

Flirting With Fire is a sweet, spicy romance. I related to Maddie as the introverted ugly duckling, or so she had been told, high school student who still carries those insecurities. Mauro doesn’t recognize Maddie but once he realizes who she is, he is determined to make it right. While it dragged in parts, it definitely picked up speed as the sparks flew between Maddie and Mauro. There is, of course, drama and a big misunderstanding which led to a sweet, grand gesture that brought a smile to my face. By the end of the story, I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading the rest of this series. If you like sweet, spicy romance with first responders, I recommend Flirting With Fire. 

Flirting With Fire is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

False Start: when tutoring sessions turn romantic and leads to heartbreak

False Start by Piper Rayne is a prequel story to the Kingsmen Football series. Lee Burrows is the most popular guy on campus. The starting quarterback who needs tutoring. He is in trouble of failing his biology class and losing his scholarship. Enter Shayna, the quiet, studious introvert in his class. The study sessions start off fine until Lee starts flirting and acting jealous when he sees her with other guys and asking personal questions. When their tutoring sessions turn romantic, it is every girl’s fantasy and her heart is on cloud nine. Until she overhears a conversation that reveals the truth. Shayna vows that Lee Burrows will never hurt her again. Lee is determined to win her back. 

False Start is a quick romance story which ends in heartbreak; however, it immediately leads into the first book of the series, You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows. Lee is a big man on campus; however, he does care about his education. He reluctantly agrees to tutoring until he is face to face with Shayna, then he’s all in. Shayna is the typical introvert who doesn’t believe a guy like Lee would ever look twice at her. As they spend time together, the sparks are evident. Just as their romantic relationship gets off the ground, Shayna learns a shocking secret that tears them apart. I look forward to reading their second chance. I highly recommend False Start. 

False Start is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook