ARC Review
Pub date: April 23

This was a debut?? I'm so excited to see what else comes from Ally Wiegand if THAT was her very first book! First Base completely captivated me from the first chapter and had its claws in me the entire story. Maybe it was the fake dating, reformed player, forced proximity plot? Idk, but I literally couldn't put it down.

Maggie is floating through life- she has her dream job as a photographer for her favorite baseball team, the Chicago Cougars, she has her best friend as her coworker and she is perfectly fine spending her free time laying on her couch, watching romcoms. After her life was turned upside down four years prior, she has come to the conclusion that she is content with never dating again. That is until Tommy Mikals, MLB bad-boy and new Cougars player, almost knocks her out with a foul ball. After the paparazzi see Tommy driving Maggie home one night and Tommy's reputation is once again tainting the organization he plays for, the two are forced into a fake relationship by the Cougar's PR team to prove that Tommy is not the party crazed womanizer the media makes him out to be. Tommy is instantly infatuated with Maggie, Maggie is instantly infatuated with Tommy, but with the baggage they both bring to the table, are they able to move from a fake relationship into a healthy, real one?

What to expect:
- professional baseball
- celebrity/ athlete mmc
- fake dating
-forced proximity (workplace)
- reformed player
- overcoming grief

Thank you so much NetGalley and Ally Wiegand for the advanced copy!

Book Review: First Base
Pub date: April 23

I'm in the minority, but FINALLY A ROMANCE BOOK WITH NO/MINIMAL SPICE. It has been more then difficult finding a closed door adult romance book that I have almost given up, but thankfully we were approved for this arc and we couldn't be happier.
A reformed playboy baseball player and a stadium photographer are setup to fake date to revamp Tommy's public image. One more strike and he is out of professional baseball. The writing was great, plot was strong, and you can connect with the characters. Basically a cute and fun sport romance about 2nd chances. Check it out if sport romances are up your alley!

Ally Wiegand’s debut novel First Base is an adorable fake dating baseball romance with a sweetie pie FMC and a golden retriever MMC. This book was full of relatable and lovable characters, from the main couple to the ensemble cast. I wanted them all to be my friends and loved the found family dynamic going on with the team. I think the mental health representation in the form of anxiety, trauma, and grief added another layer to these characters and their story, and it was done really well. I loved reading Maggie’s healing journey and opening herself back up again after tremendous loss.

That being said, while this was a fluffy and cute story, I felt that the actual romantic connection was lacking. From the very beginning, it was too “insta-lovey” for me. I expected to get a slow-burn reformed playboy arc from Tommy based on how he was described in the synopsis, but he basically falls in love with Maggie after a 30 second interaction. While the writing was good, the characters well fleshed-out, and the story sweet and tender, something was just missing in the romantic connection between Tommy and Maggie. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Separately they are fantastic characters, but I felt like I struggled to see this “deep relationship” and “insane chemistry” they supposedly have. More time was spent exploring their individual backstories than building the romance between them. It was a whole lot of telling, not showing. They were cute, but certainly not earth shattering and deep. I just didn’t see the sparks between them. The random miscommunication trope in the last 90% was also totally unnecessary and made the ending feel rushed. Overall, this was a sweet, well-written story, but there were some things that just weren’t for me personally.

Pros:
Well-written characters
Good backstories
Lovable found family
Mental health/healing representation

Cons:
Insta love
No  chemistry between the main couple
Not really dual POV… Tommy only had 6 chapters out of 34
Rushed ending


A cute, fast paced closed-door baseball romance. I liked the story (baseball photographer meets baseball player) especially with Maggie's grief and background, but felt that the instant attraction and interest was a bit underdeveloped for me. Tommy is rehabbing his bad boy image, but doesn't really explain why he's so drawn to Maggie (she's hot with no makeup on, of course), and with Maggie swearing off men due to her previous experience, I felt that there needed to be more than insta-love for these two.

There were a few one-off issues I had as well, like, what time period is this? Maggie didn't drive but seemed to never take Ubers when she needed to (i.e. calling a friend to pick her up in an emergency from across town in Chicago? I don't feel like that's realistic - call an Uber, girl!)

All that aside, a quick read and didn't make me want to scream from corniness.
3.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and 8th Note Press for providing an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was an adorable fake dating debut romance between Maggie, the team's photographer and Tommy, the recently traded star player with a bad reputation. I am a sucker for a good fake dating sports romance and this one hit all the right notes for me! Full of heart, lots of emotions and a swoony love story to boot. Perfect for fans of authors like Liz Tomforde or Sarah Adams' The cheat sheet. I'm excited to red the next book in the Chicago Heartbreakers series! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digtal copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: mostly PG/fade to black (mild details)

Fantastic debut romance by Ally Wiegand written around baseball. Start with a shy team photographer who is all that is kind and polite to everyone around her. Definitely, add in a bad boy player who is on his last option. Include pictures of them together that turn both of their lives upside down and you have a charming romance. Of course, there is trouble along the way to continue to stir and confuse their relationship. But, they are adorable and connect in a way that neither expected.

The only caveat that was just a tad unbelievable was Maggie not being able to afford a car, living in a dingy apartment with a sagging couch. I would think a photographer with a MLB team would be able to afford a bit more. Regardless, I loved this romance and am looking forward to Ms. Wiegand’s next book!

This was the first baseball romance I have read and it definitely won’t be my last! I’m already so excited for the next book in this series. The chemistry between Tommy and Maggie was undeniable and the fact that this book also touched on moving on from grief really hit this out of the park! *pun intended* I found myself falling in love with these characters and wanting to know more about them and the thing that Ally did was give me that background I wanted to get to understand them better. So many cutesy moments where I was kicking my feet and giggling. The perfect little sports rom com that I’m sure Maggie would have watched on repeat. 10/10 highly recommend!

This was a great book. A great storyline and plot with great characters. It was a quick read and a page turner. A great sports romance. I absolutely loved it!!

First Base, a debut novel by Ally Wiegand, felt like all the coziest things: coming home, a warm hug, the first sip of a warm beverage on a cold day. After an eventful evening last night, it was the perfect companion to the high of an adrenaline rush because it was just fun and easy to read.

I read the previous reviews, and I have some things to say. It's not insta-love. Its insta-lust. I believe 100% in insta-lust after watching Joe Manganiello make his True Blood debut in S3E3. Its a real thing and I stand behind Tommy's instant infatuation with Maggie (great name by the way).

The story was cute. It wasn't twisty or turny, but the pages were easy to flip. There was enough intrigue built in the first act that I wanted more ASAP and I kept going. I liked that a lot of the conflict was resolved quickly and easily and felt heartwarming. There was no villain or person you just despised with a passion, just obstacles that Tommy and Maggie overcame. Sometimes they overcame them together, sometimes they did it separately.

Mostly, I enjoyed the writing style of Ally Wiegand. Her voice felt like I chatting with a friend and he or she was telling me a story. I felt like the story moved easily and the flow was great. I do prefer a book with a bit higher of a spice level, but this was open door and you do get some heat starting at the 75% mark.

First Base was a fun read and a breath of fresh air. It will appeal to romance readers who prefer mild spicy scenes and a strong HEA. The HEA itself had me SWOONING. Check the tropes, if they aren't for you then pass on reading. But for me? Ally Wiegand found a new fan!

4.5 Stars rounded up.

First Base by Ally Wiegand is a heartfelt and fast paced baseball romance. This quick read, 285 pages, is ideal for the reader who wants to enjoy a fake dating sports read in an afternoon. I’d also recommend this book to someone who is interested in getting into the sports romance world. It’s an easy read for someone to pick up and get lost in the dual point of view narration of this fake dating baseball couple who are very much dropped into the public eye.

This is probably one of my favorite tropes, the 'no, I don't date' to 'falling' to 'in love'. This is the perfect summer read for any chick lit/romancey kind of readers out there.

From being set in Chicago, to baseball (just the right amount of sports/dating/regular life kind of vibe) to the fake dating, to falling in love, this book has it all. Super easy and quick read.

I really enjoyed getting to read this one, and cannot wait to see what the rest of the series will be like!

Thank you NetGalley for me E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had high hopes for this one! Baseball romance, fake dating--the makings for a good romance. But the characters were lacking connection and chemistry and I found their falling hard and fast a bit unbelievable. It was cute, but not a fave!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for ARC in exchange for honest review!

I love this cover!!!

I live sports romances but when you throw fake dating in the plot I am so there! This was a cute read and how can you not love the characters!!!

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review

First Base

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“ Baseball photographer Maggie Redford is happy to watch life from the stands. At twenty-five, she's already lost the love of her life and is content to focus on her job snapping shots of Chicago's MLB team instead of her lovelife. But Maggie's thrown a curveball when the team signs Tommy Mikals, a tattooed hotshot whose talent for making plays is matched by a playboy reputation.”

Wow! What a great start to a series. I usually read cozy mysteries most of the time so I grabbed this arc to change it up a bit and I’m so glad I did. I loved the characters and how relatable they are and how detailed their feelings were written. And who doesn’t love a sports story with a little spice and a happy ending? Will be recommending this one.

Bad boy baseball player Tommy is traded to the Chicago Cougars where he meets Maggie, the team photographer.

I started this book just as spring training started and it was a perfect read for this time of year. The excitement for the sport is infectious and overall it’s well written.

Both main characters have baggage they work through. It’s a beautiful thing to see their character development and some surprises! Some parts in the middle felt like they were dragging but once I hit 70-75% I couldn’t put it down. I didn’t even hate the third act break up. No spoilers though.. you just have to read it.

I will say I loved the ending. It was so fitting and tied in baseball and, yes, I got a little teary eyed!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

First Base had me at sports romance but then threw in one of my favorite tropes—fake dating—and I was sold. This was such a cute read, and I really loved the banter and dynamic between Maggie and Tommy!

This was such a cute read that had me kicking my feet like a little girl. First Base follows our two main characters, Tommy and Maggie. Tommy is a pro baseball player who has just moved to this new team due to some scandalous behaviors he committed while on his last team. He’s determined to change his ways and make a fresh start in Chicago. Enter Maggie who is a photographer for the new team that Tommy is playing on. When Maggie almost gets taken out by a baseball at a practice while she’s taking photos, sparks ensue between our two love interests.
This book was so fun. I randomly came across First Base while browsing Netgalley and knew it sounded like something I would enjoy. Upon finishing this book, I came to the realization that I’ve never read a baseball romance before now!
Gasps and disbelief!
I’m very much a sports romance girly which is why I was so shocked when I came to this realization. I was super satisfied with the outcome of this book. It was a super sweet romance that had me oooing and awing at all points of the reading experience.
I wouldn’t say this is closed door, but this is very limited in its descriptions and imageries of the intimate scenes. I found that the story was building on the journey that the characters went on and the story was pushed that way instead of relying on sexy times to push the plot.
Tommy and Maggie grow a lot in the story with both of them dealing with inner demons and past traumas together. I loved Tommy’s character so much. He never tried to hide his feelings or beat around the bush when it came to how he felt about Maggie. He was a sweetheart from the beginning which automatically made me root for him.
I think I would have given this 5 stars if not for the miscommunication trope thrown in at the end. It kind of seemed like the author threw it in there just to have a third act break up, but it was pretty unnecessary. I liked Maggie up until the last few chapters where that miscommunication trope was thrown in.
The whole thing could have been easily fixable had she spoken to Tommy about the issue (which wasn’t a huge one, IMO.) I really liked Olivia (Maggie’s best friend) at the end of the story because she talked some sense into Maggie before she did something really stupid.
Luckily, the miscommunication was squashed quickly with a pretty amazing grand gesture from Tommy. I automatically went back to the oooing and awing due to Tommy’s act.
Overall, I really enjoyed this cute book and I will definitely be checking out the next books in this series!

I received this as an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and 8th Note Press for the ARC of First Base.

Although this was a sports romance about baseball it had way more depth than that. Maggie and Tommy both have emotional baggage and events they need to overcome to be the best they can today. There’s a great story of forgiving yourself and focusing on the future not the past. This was a cute story that flowed nicely. I enjoyed it!

2.75 stars 𝜗𝜚

💌 tropes — this is a fake dating, sports romance, with no smut.

🌺 thoughts — tbh this sounded like a sweet combo to me bc I love all those things but idk something didn’t click. the characters didn’t have much chemistry and honestly? they didn’t even seem to like eachother at all. (not in the enemies to lovers kinda way)

📖 quote —
”Her energy made me feel at ease, like I had known her for years rather than a few days.” 🎀

now this quote. this, I LOVED. it’s literally the only thing I have highlighted help.!!

you cannot tell me this isn’t giving lover:
<i>have I known you twenty seconds, or twenty years?🤭

🫶🏼romance — tommy and maggie were pretty cutesie 🧸
I don’t actually have many complaints I just didn’t feel very committed to the story or particularly liked many characters. but generally, it is pretty adorable so there’s that <33

🥀 conclusion — would I recommend?probably not personally ❤️‍🩹 but taste is subjective so if this sounds like your thing, go for it!! it just wasn’t for me 💛

thank you to netgalley and 8th note press for this arc in exchange for an honest review!!

I knew from page 3 or 4 that I would love this book. The way Ally described her characters and their immediate attraction had me hooked. I am so glad I finished it because it was a really good, fun read.

Tommy and Maggie both have some real issues that they need to work through, and they do just that with each other's support.

I like to go into books with a bit of mystery, so I am a big "don't read the back cover" kind of gal, and when I realized that this was had the fake-dating trope, I was even more in love!

This will be good in the summertime while you're on summer vacation, by the beach, or visiting the city.