Duet Narration by JF Harding, CJ Bloom, with Teddy Hamilton, Sean Masters, Connor Crais, Erin Mallon, Willa Jaymes, Meg Sylvan, & Austin Stone
The Dugout, Book 1
From the author:
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.
I love duet narration, where each narrator consistently voices their own character instead of simply alternating chapters. The full cast narration made this even more fun—especially with this lineup, which includes some of the best voices in the romance audio world.
Rayne has built an entire fictional Chicago sports universe, beginning with The Nest, a four-book hockey series centered on the Chicago Falcons, followed by the Grizzlies football series. The Dugout, the newest series, shifts into the world of baseball. While the series overlap a bit, you can easily jump into any of them without feeling lost—though longtime readers will catch plenty of fun Easter eggs along the way.
Hayes is the catcher for the fictional Chicago Colts baseball team and has secretly been crushing on his sister’s best friend, Leighton, for years. He’s never acted on it because he doesn’t want to risk disrupting their friendship. Leighton, meanwhile, is a nurse whose life is turned upside down when her cousin unexpectedly passes away and names her guardian of their three children. She steps in immediately — she’s been part of their lives for so long that the transition, while heartbreaking, is relatively smooth.
Things become more complicated when the children’s uncle and his wife contest the will and seek custody themselves. After struggling to have children, they see this tragedy as a chance to finally build a family of their own. But Leighton refuses to give up the kids she loves without a fight.
Hayes immediately steps in to support her. When the judge suggests that a single woman raising three children alone may struggle compared to an established married couple, Hayes impulsively claims that he and Leighton are in a committed relationship, which they absolutely are not. At least, not yet.
Being a professional baseball player means Hayes spends long stretches on the road, but whenever he’s home, he’s fully invested in building a life with Leighton and the kids. The more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to deny their feelings. There’s some family drama, challenges with the children, and the inevitable third-act breakup, but the journey to their happy ending is warm, charming, and fun. I’m already excited for the next book in the series.
There are a few things that came up that drew me out of the story, like Leighton’s ability to open her cousin’s cell phone, not to mention the husband’s cell phone, plus his secret, hidden cell phone. Not sure what world that happens in, and while I am usually happy to suspend my disbelief and move on, I found it annoying. And…
Note to the authors! If you are going to write baseball romances, yay! But please keep in mind that there are elements in this book that are just plain wrong – having a “surprise” pitcher show up in the middle of a game after a trade that no heard about? That would NEVER happen. It couldn’t happen. And the baseball award is called the Gold Glove, not the Golden Glove, which is awarded in boxing and soccer. Feel free to ask if you have any baseball-related questions – I’m no expert, but I am a librarian, and if I don’t know, I can find out. Thank you.
5/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE HOTSHOT by Piper Rayne. Duet Narrators: JF Harding, CJ Bloom, Teddy Hamilton, with Sean Masters, Connor Crais, Erin Mallon, Willa Jaymes, Meg Sylvan, & Austin Stone. Piper Rayne Inc. (February 13, 2026). ASIN: B0GNB77X7R. Listening Length: 8 hours and 48 minutes.
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