Sports Romance – World of Bai

Book Review: “Game Changer” Rachel Reid

This series was recommended to me by my best friend Syd before this series ever got popular. I sadly kept pushing the books off till after the TV series started and I immediately had FOMO. On top of that it was near impossible to get my hands on a physical copy and no way was I paying Amazon kindle for a 16$ E-book when I could get it for the same price physically at my local Indy Book Store.

“What’s wrong with the closet? It’s a wonderful place crammed full of professional athletes.”
Rachel Reid, Game Changer

About The Book

Author: Rachel Reid

Publisher: Karina Press

Published Date: November 26th, 2024

Page Count: 368 Pages

Main Genre: Sports Romance

GoodReads Rating: 3.80

Format: Physical

“Thank god,” Huff said. “I thought you were gonna say you were secretly dating Rozanov.” “Rozanov wishes,” Scott said.”
Rachel Reid, Game Changer

Synopsis

Pro hockey star Scott Hunter knows a good thing when he sees it. So, when a smoothie made by juice bar barista Kip Grady precedes Scott breaking his on-ice slump, he’s desperate to recreate the magic…and to get to know the sexy, funny guy behind the counter.

Kip knew there was more to Scott’s frequent visits than blended fruit, but he never let himself imagine being invited back to Scott’s penthouse. Or kissed with reckless abandon, nevermind touched everywhere all at once. When it happens it’s red-hot, incredible and frequent, but also only on Scott’s terms and always behind his closed apartment doors.

Scott needs Kip in his life, but with playoff season approaching, the spotlight on him is suddenly brighter than ever. He can’t afford to do anything that might derail his career…like introducing the world to his boyfriend. Kip is ready to go all-in with Scott—but how much longer will he have to remain a secret?

Synopsis From Goodreads

Rating

I watched the TV series before reading this. And while the Show really only focuses on this couple for one episode they somehow got enough of the story in for you to fall in love with them anyways.

While the book does expand a bit more on their relationship I did feel like the one episode encapsulated the whole book, while rushed I didn’t hate it. Watching the show first also gave me the cast to visualize which helped me grow more invested in their characters.

I truly regret reading these books after they gained all the hype. I wish I would have been fan girling before it was the cool thing to do but oh well.

While I thought their story was cute I did feel like it was rushed. They start dating super fast and honestly I think I am more of a slow burn girlie. I just wanted more of the will they won’t they at the coffee shop or a few more gala’s that Scott attends and Kit works at. The tension I wanted was spent waiting for a third act breakup.

While I am someone who hates a third act break up I was actually thankful for this one. I knew it was coming and because of that the breakup truly needed to happen, even if it was more of a separation rather than a breakup. I think both characters needed time to realize what was the more important thing in their lives and what they were willing to give up for it. So I guess you could say I liked the ending better than the beginning.

I loved that Ilya was mentioned several times in this book. His small portions made me crack up! I love him and can’t wait to get to his books!

“He could only imagine what it would be like to not be burdened by his…otherness. He wished he could just magically be what people expected hockey players to be.”
Rachel Reid, Game Changer

QOTD: Did you hop on the Heated Rivalry band Wagon?

Book Review: “Play Along” By Liz Tomforde

This is the fourth book in the “Windy City” Series by Liz Tomforde. This book is the most recent one to come out with only one book left in the series that will release April 2025. I honestly have no clue how I am going to wait till April to read the next book, how unfair?!

“Mmm,” he hums. “I should warn you, Ken, I like it when you’re mean. It does something to me.”
Liz Tomforde, Play Along

My “Windy City” Series Reviews

Mile High – By Liz Tomforde

The Right Move – By Liz Tomforde

Caught Up – By Liz Tomforde

About The Book

Author: Liz Tomforde

Publisher: Golden Boy Publishing

Published Date: July 11th, 2024

Page Count: 384 Pages

Main Genres: Romance

GoodReads Rating: 4.51

Format: E-books

“You’re allowed to be mad at me. It won’t change how I feel about you.”
Liz Tomforde, Play Along

Synopsis

Kennedy

I’m the only woman on staff for the Windy City Warriors, and after years of putting up with a sexist lead doctor, I’m desperate to land my dream job with a new team next year. All I have to do is maintain my professional reputation for my final season in Chicago.

But a Las Vegas run-in with the team’s shortstop threatens it all, leaving me with a fuzzy memory and a ring on my left hand.

Now, not only am I legally bound to the most persistent man I’ve ever met, but thanks to Isaiah’s scheme to save my job, I have to pretend the whole thing was a planned elopement and not a drunken mistake.

Isaiah Rhodes is reckless, impulsive, and frustratingly charming. He’s also my brand-new husband.

They got the saying wrong. What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas… sometimes it follows you right back home.

Isaiah

As the shortstop for Chicago’s professional baseball team, I’ve had my fair share of fun. But that all ended the day Kennedy Kay became a single woman.

I’ve crushed on the team’s athletic trainer for years. I’ve flirted to no avail, so imagine my surprise when I woke up in Sin City with a ring on my finger and my favorite redhead in my bed.

We agree to stay married for one baseball season, just long enough to keep her job safe, but in my mind, I’m using our time together to prove to her I’m husband material.

Kennedy might be reluctant to join in on our game, but it’s one I refuse to lose.

So come on, wife… play along.

Synopsis From GoodReads

“C’mon wife. Play along.”
Liz Tomforde, Play Along

Rating

“You’ve never gotten a say in your own life, and the last thing I’m going to do is take that away from you again. Every option is yours, Kenny. Whatever you want to do, I will be your biggest supporter. But I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t allow you the space to fulfill your goals, to live up to everything you’ve worked so hard for.”

Liz Tomforde, Play Along

Review

Possible Spoilers Ahead

This book is also a baseball romance like the third one that I reviewed. The third book made me realize that I actually might like any sports romance you give me even if I am not a huge fan of the sport in general. However, I did not have nearly as high of hopes for this book because the snippets you get of Isaiah before this book really show off an arrogant immature man which was not appealing to me at all but once I got into his book and could hear his own personal narrative my tune turned real quick! This is probably my favorite book to date hehe.

We learned a bit about Isaiah and Kennedy’s relationship in Kai’s book (book 3) but it was very surface level but still very important to the narrative of this book. Isaiah crushing on Kennedy for years might have seemed pathetic to some in Kai’s book but as soon as Isaiah finds out she is no longer engaged he becomes the man he was destined to be and that’s when I knew I was done for! Well, that and the fact that they fake date… We all know how i feel about fake dating!

When they went to get married in Vegas and Isaiah kept asking if she was sure this was what she wanted my heart literally melted! We love a respectful king!

I do think Kennedy treated him so unfairly at the beginning of this book even if it was due to the pressures of her own family life. However, I do think this made way for an interesting plot point. Isaiah may not have known Kennedy all that well before he fell for her but he believed in fate and just knew she was the one, so he was ready to dive head first into anything she threw at him. I have no clue how he could “fake Date” his own wife who he was madly in love with only to make her ex fiancé jealous… That is just pure torture.

I really like the fact that they were married yet still trying to become each others friend. They were given the perfect opportunity to really get to know one another and grow into love which I felt was a really interesting plot point. Most Fake Dating books I read have this in some level but this book really pulled it off as they were already married so what does it hurt to get to know one another’s deeper secrets and even explore a bit with their intimacy.

Kennedy had a rough childhood, as did Isaiah but different in their own ways. This was a great way for them to connect. Especially because Kennedy was never taken care of directly by a parental figure whereas Isaiah had his older brother Kai who took on that role. Kennedy didn’t need anyone to take care of her but it was nice for her to finally have someone who she knew she could count on to take care of her when she need it and Isaiah was able to provide that for her because of the love he received from his brother.

These characters are probably my favorite so far in this series, which I have probably said before but I can’t help it, they are just so good together! However, the next and final book coming out in April 2025 is about Rio finally getting his chance at love and I don’t know how any of these other love stories could hold a flame to Rio’s.

I will see you in 2025 with my final review for this series! Goodbye, for now, Windy City.

“Grief seems like a privilege, in a way,” she says. “To have loved someone so much that you can’t imagine life without them.”
Liz Tomforde, Play Along

QOTD: What series do you wish never ended?

Book Review: “Caught Up” By Liz Tomforde

This is my Review for the third book in the “Windy City” Series by Liz Tomforde. This series has quickly became one of my favorites. The characters are so well written that they have me falling for each and every one of them!

I read this book about a month ago so I figured today, the one year anniversary of its publishing, would be the perfect day to release this review!

“You said it was my choice if I wanted to live up to expectations, and I do. But now, the only expectations I’m going to worry about are the ones I set for myself. And the only expectations I have for myself are to be happy and to chase the things I want.”
Liz Tomforde, Caught Up

My “Windy City” Series Reviews

Mile High – By Liz Tomforde

The Right Move – By Liz Tomforde

Play Along – Liz Tomforde

About The Book

Author: Liz Tomforde

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Published Date: October 10th, 2023

Page count: 408 Pages

Main Genres: Romance

GoodReads Rating: 4.44

Format: E-Book

“How the hell am I supposed to forget what her laugh sounds like? What her lips taste like? I want her. Fuck, do I want her.”
Liz Tomforde, Caught Up

Synopsis

Kai

I’m a single dad and starting pitcher for Chicago’s MLB team.
I’m stretched too thin, but I don’t want help raising my son.

Each of his previous nannies only lasted a few weeks before I let them go.
Now, my coach is putting his foot down by hiring the one person I can’t fire—his daughter.

Miller Montgomery is the last woman I should fall for. Too wild, too young, and too unattached.

Chicago is just a quick stop for her. I thought I’d be counting down the days until she left, but summer feels too short when I start thinking about forever.

Miller

As a high-end pastry chef who recently won the most prestigious award in my industry, I’m desperate to prove I deserve it. But with a new title comes new pressure, and I can’t create a fresh and inspiring dessert to save my life.

With only two months to get back on track, I should be focusing in the kitchen, but instead, I let my dad talk me into using my time off to nanny for his star player’s kid.

Kai Rhodes forgot how to have fun, and I’m eager to jog his memory. But when he and his son start to feel like home, I have to remind us both that my time in Chicago ends with the summer.

Besides, I’ve always been a runner, and the last thing I want is to get caught.

Synopsis From GoodReads

“Know what’s better than being the best at something you don’t love?
Being mediocre at something you do.”
Liz Tomforde, Caught Up

Rating

“He’ll be on his hands and knees most of the time.” “As all men should be.”
Liz Tomforde, Caught Up

Review

Possible Small Spoilers Ahead
No surprises here, I of course rated this book Five Stars!

The surprise is that I actually enjoyed a book about Baseball. I am not a huge baseball fan, nine innings is just a tad too much for me. I just don’t find it the most entreating to watch. However, I would much rather go to a baseball game over a football game!

This book is the single dad trope, if I am being honest with you, I have only ever read one other book with this trope and I did enjoy it but this book handled this trope so well! I will be taking recs for any and all single dad tropes from here on out!

Kai only wants what’s best for his son and if that means leaving baseball behind then that’s just what he will do! But of course his team doesn’t want this so they have been very accommodating of his situation, But Kai can not find a nanny he trusts enough with his son. That is until Monty, the head coach, hires his daughter Miller as the nanny and Kai doesn’t have a choice but to let her stay.

Kai can be a bit of a grump but that is exactly why I love him! He might be kind of rough edged on the outside but on the inside he is a true sweetheart! He is everything I want from a male lead! This man is like a walking teddy bear that makes my heart melt. He truly cares so much about every person in his life but because of his past it is really hard to let new people in which made it so much fun to see him let down his guard and see him fall in love with his hot nanny!

Miller was not my favorite character at the start. She is pretty stand off ish so I guess that makes sense haha. She struggles being in one place for too long which we learn from the start so I knew that we would have a rough third act “Breakup” and if you know anything about me its that I hate a third act breakup. Luckily the way it was written I didn’t mind this one. I think the third act break up was more along the lines of this famous proverb , “If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it’s yours. If not, it was never meant to be.”

Both of our main characters are highly successful adults who are truly independent people. Kai does have his found family to support him but he makes it clear that he is strong enough to handle his own problems but having someone like Miller by his side really brought out the best in him and ultimately brought some much needed joy to him and his sons lives.

This book really focuses on these characters goals and passions in life but what I love most is that it shows that even if you are passionate about your career you may not be happy with that life style. Miller is constantly trying to prove herself to people but most importantly herself. She sets unreasonable goals and expectations for her career because she is great at what she does but being the best at what you do isn’t nearly as rewarding as stepping back and finding joy in the basics again. Sometimes our expectations for ourselves can ruin our true happiness and you got to remove yourself from those situations and find where your true passion began and let go of some of your unrealistic goals to find yourself again.

“Pressure is a privilege, Miller. Expectations are high because you’re successful. If you were average, no one would be waiting on bated breath for you. I think about that every night I take the mound. You just have to decide if your dreams and goals are worth the pressure. If you want to live up to the expectations set for you.”
Liz Tomforde, Caught Up

With every new book I pick up by this author the more and more I fall in love with her writing and character building. I leave each book with a deep love for her characters to the point where I get so sad when I finish her books. I really love that this world is interconnected so I can see everyone’s relationships grow and flourish. I hope you come back for my fourth review for this series “Play Along”, this will be my last review for this author until the fifth and final book comes out in April 2025, so stay tuned!

“I’m not telling you what you should or shouldn’t do with your life. I just don’t want you to be so afraid to fail at something new that it keeps you from finding your happiness when you’re the reason I found mine.”
Liz Tomforde, Caught Up

QOTD: If you had to choose between Football and Baseball, Which do you like more?

“If you ever decide to stop running and make a home…” His eyes are begging, pleading. “Make it with me.”
Liz Tomforde, Caught Up