Tag Archives: Piper Rayne

False Start by Piper Rayne

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: False Start
Author: Piper Rayne
Series: Kingsmen Football Stars #0.5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance, Sports romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2022

Thoughts

False Start is the beginning to Lee and Shayna’s story and one that I think is going to give the first book in this series a whole heap of wonderful texture. After reading this, I just can’t wait to dive into You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows and see what happens when they reconnect years later. Particularly since all of the bumbles in this come from youth and misunderstandings. It creates a story that is so angsty and makes you want both Lee and Shayna to be happy and complete in their lives. I absolutely adored this and I’m hanging to get my teeth into yet another fun and awesome Piper Rayne sports romance.

If I’m being totally honest, Lee is a total and utter fool. He just can’t seem to get his head around the fact that he comes from a place of privilege and that him and his friends might be able to hurt someone else’s feelings. Then, there’s the fact that if he was just honest, he would probably have been able to fix things with Shayna and not waster so much time. I’m also programmed to trust and like Shayna more anyway as the geeky girl who always felt a little overlooked. So I most definitely get that feeling of betrayal that she experiences at the end of this story.

I did love the organic nature of Shayna and Lee getting to know one another. They spend time together learning, and then get to know one another through this. it’s also nice that it’s away from all of the pomp and circumstance that Lee is used to. Thus, a much more genuine and sweet budding romance. And now on to see what happens after all of the drama of False Start.

<- More Piper RayneYou Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows ->

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Countdown to a Kiss by Piper Rayne

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Countdown to a Kiss
Author: Piper Rayne
Series: Hockey Hotties #0.5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance, Sports romance
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

As with On the Defense, I love how Countdown to a Kiss follows three couples in one night. And, in doing so, introduces a whole new series that I can’t wait to dive into! There is something about getting that teaser of each couples’ beginning dynamics that makes me want to dive into the series. The fact that this also establishes the connections between the six people just draws me in all that more wonderfully.

Not only does this beautifully set up the first three couples for the Hockey Hotties series, it is also a great little New Years Eve story. One that was all about the countdown and midnight kisses and ringing in the New Year. Plus, there’s just the usual sense of mayhem to the whole story line and tale. It gives a great part of beginnings and the beauty of potential.

This is almost a bit of a series of short snapshots in time for six different people. It’s all about the hockey world and being on the precipice of change. And I absolutely loved this!

<- More Piper RayneMy Lucky #13 ->

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Something Like Hate by Piper Rayne

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Something Like Hate
Author: Piper Rayne
Series: Chicago Grizzlies #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Sports romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2023

Thoughts

After reading On the Defense, I couldn’t wait to dive into Something Like Hate, Bryce and Miles’ story. I mean, they are fantastic and filled with conflict from the beginning. And they’re definitely a couple that I want to work out from the very beginning. But, they do take a little bit of time to find their feet and find their way to one another. And then, when they do and you realise that there is a whole lot more story to come… it’s definitely a bit of a battle to put the book down.

This was a fairly typical sports romance, which is what I kind of loved about it if I’m being honest. There is something easy and enjoyable about reading a sports romance, particularly when the male leads are hockey players. There is something so appealing about the sport, and I love that they encompass all of the “alpha” male traits that I enjoy without the toxicity of real life. Plus, the predictability of a good sports romance is one of the reasons it is a pleasant diversion from real life. However, Piper Rayne still managed to throw in enough curveballs to stop it from being boring, and make it hard to put down.

The biggest spicing up of this story is the conflict of interest that Bryce experiences with work. It makes it hard to figure out just how Miles and Bryce are going to make things work and have a future together. Plus, it makes the double cross at the end even more frustrating and sad. I mean, it was obvious that there was going to be something thrown up, but just what it would be was a surprise. Luckily, as with all good romances, this is resolved fairly nicely, but it still leads to some uncomfortable and worrying moments.

I absolutely adored this story, and now I can’t wait to read the next two books in this series – Miles’ two friends both deserve their own happy endings, and I really want to read their stories. Plus, there’s a whole interrelated universe with a number of romances to dive into. A whole new world of happiness and happily ever afters to dive into.

<- On the DefenseSomething Like Lust ->

Image source: Amazon

On the Defense by Piper Rayne

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: On the Defense
Author: Piper Rayne
Series: Chicago Grizzlies #0.5
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Sports romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2023

Thoughts

I normally enjoy a good prequel novel, but the fact that this one is the prequel to the three different romances in this series? Absolutely brilliant. As a hint to the rest of the story, and a prequel for a whole series, this is brilliant. I mean, it made me incredibly keen to dive straight into the series and find out just how each of the three couples find their happily ever after moments.

Even though there are a number of open endings and hints at the greater story throughout this, I did get particularly fixated on Miles and Bryce. Probably because they are the first story in the series and they are the ones that are right on the cusp of action. I love that it’s a hate to love dynamic with a whole heap of unexplained history. How could I not be intrigued and drawn in immediately?

This novel is filled with open endings and potential. I think that Piper Rayne is brilliant in that they are able to set up three prequels in the one storyline. And make you just want to dive right into the series without a second thought.

<- More Piper RayneSomething Like Hate ->

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Single and Ready to Jingle by Piper Rayne

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Single and Ready to Jingle
Author: Piper Rayne
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2022

Thoughts

There is always something about grumpy/sunshine romances that I love. That goes extra for when those romances are grinch/sunshine romances. I mean, who wouldn’t love a romance that is based on someone who hates Christmas falling for someone who loves Christmas? The fact that it starts with a blind date that goes epically wrong in a very short amount of time just made it so much better and more entertaining. I mean, who rocks up to a blind date in an elf costume?!?!

Single and Ready to Jingle is an incredibly sweet and easy to read romance. It’s one of those happy reads that makes it nice to have a bit of a break from reality and a cuppa. It also had the unexpected benefit of the best friend’s sister / brother’s best friend trope. I didn’t quite expect it, because it was approached in a slightly different way. But, it was still a light hearted and sweet read. One that I will probably dive into again next Christmas.

One of the reasons I’m particularly a fan of the grinch/sunshine trope is because I married a man who is a bit of a grinch. I absolutely adored that for the entirety of this story, it was about trying to get the grinch-man to fall back in love with Christmas. It’s definitely a battle that I’ve fought over the years and it made me incredibly happy to know that it is probably some other peoples’ experience as well. Plus, it was a really nice way for Piper Rayne to highlight all of the things that they love about Christmas.

It was kind of surprising how late into the story the conflict hit. I was expecting, with the personality differences, the tragic first date and all of the other challenges this couple faces for the conflict to occur much, much earlier. As a result, I spent a lot of the time reading this book in a feeling of unrelenting suspense. Which worked really well, I would have enjoyed this writing regardless, but keeping me in suspense for the point of conflict ended up making me read this a whole lot quicker. In fact, I barely put this down from the moment I cracked it. Because suspense.

I absolutely adored Single and Ready to Jingle, not only is it one of the catchiest titles in my collection, but it was also a really sweet story. This was one of those tales that just works well at Christmas. But, it also had the conflict and the character development that I always crave in a really good read.

<- Claus and EffectMore Piper Rayne ->

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