3.5/5 for Ally Wiegand's debut!

Overall, I thought this "fake to real" relationship story was cute and fun!

I thought the sports setting/backdrop was nice, and even though I'm not a huge fan of baseball I was into it! The relationship was pretty wholesome, and I liked seeing Maggie's process moving forward from a past relationship.

I had some issues with the characters' personalities wavering a bit, sometimes within just a few paragraphs. The third act break-up felt really off, Maggie reacted so irrationally and I felt like that was out of character. There were a few small editing things and plot holes that I'm sure the editors will catch and fix for the published version!

Read this one if you love:

- sports romance
- fake dating
- he falls first

This story follows Maggie, a sports photographer for the Chicago Cougars baseball team, and Tommy is their newest shortstop who was recently canned from his former club for bad behavior off the field. Tommy is on thin ice with his new team, so after a complete paparazzi mishap right before opening day, the Cougars PR gives him an ultimatum--a very fake and very public relationship with Maggie, or he can pack his career up immediately.

Overall it was a cute, quick read--definitely one for the baseball lovers. Both characters are sorting through a lot of grief and past trauma while they navigate their relationship, so I feel like pacing was a little bit off as this book is on the shorter side. I did enjoy the writing , and would have loved to see a few more chapters from Tommy's perspective.

I honestly think this series is going to do really well in the sports romance genre! The only thing a bit off for me were the city-specific descriptors. I do not think a soul would notice unless they have spent a significant amount of time in Chicago (I have been a life-long resident), but many were definitely more "New York" than anything you'd actually experience here.

This was such a cute book! I couldn't put this down. My heart broke for Maggie and her struggle to move on after the tragedy with her fiancé. I absolutely love that both Tommy and Maggie grew in this book. Each one having their own struggles and troubles to overcome. I'm glad this one had a truly happy ending. I hope there are more books to come with these characters. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

If you love baseball romances, and fake dating this book is for you. :) I started and finished this book in under 24 hours. It is a sports romance that will have you crying, laughing, and falling in love with the characters each step of the way. I loved the MMC AND FMC and their growth along the way. This book didn’t contain a lot of spice, but I found that you didnt need any more than it had the connection you can feel through the characters and the plot of the story kept me intrigued I was so thankful to be able to read this book and give my honest review I will definitely be recommending and buying the physical copy #netgalley

Four stars

First Base delivers a blend of romance, sports drama, and so much more! Maggie Redford is a talented baseball photographer who prefers to keep her distance from the players' personal lives after experiencing heartbreak of her own. Tommy, determined to shed his bad-boy image, sets his sights on proving himself on and off the field, even if it means entering into a fake romance with Maggie to salvage both their reputations.

First Base stands out for its swoon-worthy romance and authentic portrayal of the pressures and challenges faced by professional athletes and those behind the scenes. The author seamlessly weaves in themes of redemption, forgiveness, and self-discovery, adding depth and dimension to the characters' journeys.

This book is for you if you want a super short, cute, fake dating sports romance!

Thank you, 8th Note Press, for the ARC copy.

Thank you @netgalley and @8thnote press for the eARC of First Base by @allywiegandauthor in exchange for an honest review!

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 First Base is a perfect spring read, just in time for Opening Day and the excitement baseball stadiums bring! Baseball is more than just a game for Maggie Redford, it’s her career as a sports photographer. I just love her nostalgia and sentiment from watching the game growing up, I think it’s something so many of us can relate to. When a new handsome player with a bad boy reputation joins the team, the shakeup that follows hits it out of the park! Just an absolutely fun and flawless sports romance and I am so happy to see that it is book #1 in a series because I am all in!

Review is posted on Goodreads and will be on Instagram in April!

This was such a cute book! I love sports romances with fake dating aspects so I definitely ate this story up!

I highly recommend this book to fans of sweet and heartwarming romances. It's a quick and enjoyable read that will leave you with a smile on your face!

The female main character, was relatable and likable. I appreciated her independence and determination in pursuing her passion for photography. She had a vulnerable side that made her feel real and human, and the way the author executed her journey of discovering how to open her heart to love someone again was so heartwarming! And I found myself rooting for her throughout the story. Her chemistry and romance with Tommy was undeniable, and their banter and interactions were so cure!!!

The fake dating aspect of the story was executed well, with believable reasons for why they would enter into this arrangement. It added an extra layer of tension and anticipation to their relationship, and I enjoyed seeing how their feelings developed and deepened over time.

As for the writing style, it was engaging and flowed smoothly, making it easy to get lost in the story but i'll admit sometimes it did get a bit bored by this book. But the author did a great job of balancing the romance with the emotional depth!

Overall, not really a stand out for me but definitely not a bad read at all! I had a good time for sure!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

I have to give a massive thank you to Netgalley & 8th Note Press for giving me the opportunity to read First base early, and I must give an ever bigger thank you to the author Ally Weigand for writing this magnificent masterpiece!!
I went into this book expecting to enjoy it, because i love baseball and i love romance books.. but i was not prepared for the way i fell completely and utterly in love with it! this was a perfectly written blend of cute romance, sporty baseball elements, loosely coworker/colleague romance (athlete and team photographer), fake dating turn real romantic feelings, he falls first and harder , helping each other heal from past trauma, and literally so much more! The bond that built from the ground up between Tommy and Maggie was so heartwarming because they started out as two completely polar opposite strangers who both experienced past dating trauma that made them each feel like they were unworthy of love, but they ultimately found home and unconditional love and respect in one another. I truly deeply loved every single aspect of this book and it will forever be in my top 3 of favorite romance books that i’ve ever read.

Maggie is a photographer for the Chicago Cougars MLB team who just acquired a new bad boy player named Tommy from San Diego. When the paparazzi snap a photo of Maggie and Tommy outside of a night club the MLB team decides that they need to pretend to date for Tommy to keep his baseball career and if Maggie agrees she'll get a much needed paycheck.

I am so freaking excited about this book because I love Chicago baseball. I grew up a Chicago Cubs fan (Go Cubs Go) and I've been to many games at Wrigley. Not only that but Spring Training games are happening as I'm typing this out.

I absolutely loved this book. Maggie's character is so relatable to me because I'm also an introvert. Tommy's character is entirely endearing. Even the supporting characters are very well written. The only constructive criticism that I really have is that I would have liked some more Chicago ambiance. Maybe some Italian Beef references instead of the pizza :) I can't wait for the next book

This book was so cute. It had two of my favorite tropes: sports and fake dating. It was a little a little too instalove for me but it was also a quick read so it makes sense things moved fast.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author & the publisher: 8th note press- for the chance to read this as an ARC,
In return here is my honest review 💖

This was my first baseball romance ⚾️ & I was a little skeptical at first because I’m not a huge fan of baseball in real life -
but honestly this book did not let me down, i was hooked from the very FIRST page!!

It was such a cute read and I loved the writing style.
It’s full of swoon moments, second chances for love and to be better people, as well as undeniable chemistry between two 💘

Tommy is one of my new book boyfriends 🙈😍 he was to cute, I’d say he definitely has the Golden retriever personality (which I LOVE)

I’m very excited to see what else this Author releases!!

Read if you like:

⚾️ Sports romance
⚾️ Fake dating
⚾️ Photographer x Baseball player

My rating: 5/5 🌟

Thank you to NetGalley and 8th Note Press for the advanced copy of this book.
This book is about reinventing yourself, stepping outside of your past mistakes, and becoming the person you want to be.
The story focuses on Tommy, a major league baseball player, who is a notorious bad boy. He is known as a partyer, womanizer, and has been dropped by his former team. In an attempt to turn things around, he vows abstinence from booze and woman. He seeks approval from his father and wants nothing more than to be seen for more than his past. When he gets picked up by a new team, he knows it is his last chance to revive his career and change the narrative that plagues him.
Maggie is the team photographer. She has become reclusive after a tragic accident four years ago. She is a shell of what she once was and her true joy in life is taking pictures.

Maggie and Tommy have a chance encounter involving some paparazzi. To avoid Tommy's reputation taking another hit, Maggie and Tommy are asked to pretend to be a couple to improve Tommy's image.
The fake dating trope works so well in this novel. I loved every second of Maggie and Tommy's relationship, including their celebrity nickname, Mommy.
The character development and growth in this book are so endearing. You can feel both characters let the weight of the past slip off of their shoulders. They develop a deeper, more realistic bond because of this.

Both characters are dealing with loss, mistakes, and learning to forgive themselves. They find solace in one another and together, form a bond that heals them both.

I read this book in one sitting and would highly recommend

If you are looking for a sweet baseball romance, this might be the book for you.

Our bad boy baseball player who is trying to reform his image in order to keep his career when he meets the shy traumatized team photographer. It's instant attraction between the two - but Maggie hasn't dated in 4 years and Tommy is trying to stay away from women. One paparazzi photo of them leaving a club together and the team's PR department decides to have them fake date to help Tommy's reputation. But Maggie has secrets and Tommy is trying to heal from his bad mistakes in the past. Will they let their attraction take control?

This is a cute slow burn story with some non descriptive or explicit spice (but also not fade to black). The story is well paced and the characters are interesting. I would definitely read another book focusing on the side characters in this story.

Thank you to 8th Note Press for the eARC of First Base in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

First Base is a sports romance focusing on a story between the “bad boy” new player and the team’s photographer. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect to this book and its story. I think there was a lot of potential in the story, but the characters felt a bit bland to me, making it difficult to really root for their love story.

⚾️ Sports romance

❤️ Fake dating

⚾️ Grief & loss

❤️ Celebrity/Normal person

Ally Wiegand, did we just become best friends?
"How could you not be romantic about baseball?"
"She was the Amy Poehler to my Tina Fey?"
"He wore his hat low over his eyes, and his pants were stopped around his knees, which I've always thought was much better than long pants."
I fell for your writing and this book three times over all with in the first few pages. First Base was impossible to put down. Instant fan!

Maggie is a team photographer for the Chicago Cougars. She loves what she does and has a strong love of the game. Tommy is the new player this season. He was just let go from his former team because of his bad boy reputation. The two meet on the field during a per-season practice and there is instant chemistry, but neither of them is looking for a relationship. Tommy is trying to shed his past and Maggie has scars on her heart. But when an innocent picture leads to speculation about their love life, they agree to fake date for the good of the team. But with a connection like theirs, it can't stay fake for long, can it?

This was such a fun sports romance with a lot of heart. The emotions and romance were so true. I did not expect to cry, but I did. Just a testament to the genius of the writing. First Base was such a strong start to this series, and Ally left behind a few seeds for future books. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Here are a few reasons to pick up this book:
-Sports Romance
-Fake Dating
-Instant Connection
-Undeniable Chemistry
-Right Person, Right Time
-Supporting the other to become the person they want to be
-Emotional Intelligence

I tried very hard to get into this but just couldn’t. The characters felt flat to me but with that being said, I will be trying to read this book again in the future because the cover is so beautiful I feel like I’m missing out

This was such a cute comfort read that flowed well, kept my attention, and had me invested in the “will they or won’t they” of Maggie and Tommy’s would be relationship.

@allywiegandauthor knocked it out of the park and did such a great job of capturing the reason people love baseball. This is her debut novel and I am already desperate for the next book of the Chicago Heartbreakers series!

4.75/5⭐️ 3/5🌶️

Wow wow wow!!! I loved this!! I just sucked in from the first page and I don’t even like baseball! The writing was beautifully done, easy to read, the characters had some serious chemistry, the tension was through the roof, and it felt like it wasn’t long enough! I wanted more of them. I loved Maggie’s story and her development throughout the book. I could practically feel her emotions as I was reading. Tommy is the most perfect golden retriever book boyfriend! I was swooning from the get go!! I CANT wait for more books! This was so so so good and everyone should read this book😍

Thank you Netgalley and Ally Wiegand for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is a fake dating baseball romance. Maggie is a photographer for the same baseball team that Tommy traded to this season. Tommy has a very strict contract due to previous bad press in his career, so when him and Maggie are photographed leaving a club together, in what was a completely innocent act of him simply offering her a ride, the team’s PR head decides that a fake relationship is the best way to save his public image. Maggie agrees to the ruse for fear of loosing her job if she declines, and partly for the generous bonus they offer her

This story was super cute and a load of fun to read. Only a tiny bit of spice, but it was done in such a sweet way that was perfect for the story.

I absolutely loved the way the relationship between Tommy and Maggie played out. Tommy was an absolute dreamboat

Roses: Tommy and Maggie were a 5 star couple! Their friendship was pretty fun and they definitely enjoyed each others company. I really liked that it came across natural even if the situation was unnatural for them. All of the side characters were great too. From Olivia and Jamil to their parents, they were all really enjoyable additions. The romance was sweet and simple. While some of their dates were out of the ordinary the ones that were the normal types of dates really had the characters shine the brightest. It was also amazing to see them help each other work through their separate issues that was clouding their future together. this story definitely makes you feel so many emotions which I loved. I’m really looking forward to the next book which I am hoping is about Olivia and possibly Jamil. Fingers crossed!

Thorns: I wanted this story to be longer definitely after they agreed to date for real. I just wanted more time to see them grow even more into a strong couple.