What do you think?
Rate this book
More Than a Game #4
The Double Play
I have no business falling in love with Emmett Foster.
The man is an incredibly wealthy professional baseball player who’s ten years older than me and has a daughter.
But when he hires me to take care of said daughter, I find myself catching feelings for the star pitcher.
He’s gruff, but sweet, and has a big heart that he shows in small pieces. Pieces I’d like to collect and call mine.
Unfortunately, he has no plans on marrying again after his ex-wife cheated on him then abandoned him and June.
So even though I think there’s a hint of chemistry between us, nothing will ever come of it. I’ll be stuck crushing on him in silence until we part ways.
The Double Play is a grumpy/sunshine romcom for fans of sweet sports romance. It has all the sizzling chemistry you love, without any of the explicit scenes. Check out the fourth book in the More Than a Game series, an interconnected standalone series based around four men in four different sports.
The man is an incredibly wealthy professional baseball player who’s ten years older than me and has a daughter.
But when he hires me to take care of said daughter, I find myself catching feelings for the star pitcher.
He’s gruff, but sweet, and has a big heart that he shows in small pieces. Pieces I’d like to collect and call mine.
Unfortunately, he has no plans on marrying again after his ex-wife cheated on him then abandoned him and June.
So even though I think there’s a hint of chemistry between us, nothing will ever come of it. I’ll be stuck crushing on him in silence until we part ways.
The Double Play is a grumpy/sunshine romcom for fans of sweet sports romance. It has all the sizzling chemistry you love, without any of the explicit scenes. Check out the fourth book in the More Than a Game series, an interconnected standalone series based around four men in four different sports.
267 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 6, 2025
298 people are currently reading
1651 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 442 reviews
July 13, 2025
╰┈➤ 4 stars!
he’s a wealthy, professional baseball player—ten years older and a single father. when he hires her to care for his young daughter, she doesn’t expect to develop feelings for the famously gruff star pitcher. but despite his guarded nature, he reveals glimpses of a softer side—a quiet sweetness and a big heart shown in small, fleeting moments. and those are the pieces she finds herself wanting to keep.
still, his past holds him back. after being betrayed and abandoned by his ex-wife, he has no intention of marrying again. so even if there’s a spark between them—and she’s convinced there is—she knows it will never be more than that. their story, whatever it is, has an expiration date.
this book gave me all the feels—the kind that sit heavy in your chest but still manage to leave a soft smile on your face. the characters? chef's kiss. let’s talk about hazel and emmett, because they truly carried the heart of this story.
౨ৎ hazel. she is in every sense, born to be a mom—not just in the literal sense but in the way she moves through life. there’s a quiet strength in her that feels so natural, it’s impossible not to love her for it. she radiates what I can only describe as scream mom energy—loud, soft, sensitive, and incredibly nurturing all at once.
as someone who also cries over small things, i found myself connected to her. and being the eldest daughter? yeah, that kinda hit hard. hazel bears so much weight in silence, especially when her younger sister needs her to be strong—and yet, you can tell she aches for someone to carry some of that burden with her too.
౨ৎ emmett. i get him. honestly, if i had his past similar to him, i’d probably be just as guarded. he’s the kind of character who seems tough at first glance, but once the walls start to lower, you realize he’s a total sweetheart. there’s something so relatable about how private he is—especially with the pressures of being a known baseball player. he’s learned to show only what’s necessary, to protect both his image and himself.
what i loved most is how emmett’s circle of friends completely balances him out—they’re his opposites in many ways, and it’s adorable to see how they bring a different side of him forward. he’s steady, dependable, the kind of man you want around when everything feels too heavy. firm but gentle—yes, that does make sense. it has to.
everything about this book was really great, except for the nickname emmett gave hazel. it is a bit cringey for my liking, but i do get where the nickname came from. hazel is very much would be that type of flower if she was one. lastly, this was a character-driven story that truly shone because of how real and emotionally resonant hazel and emmett were. i saw myself in them, and that’s what made this such a standout read.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the author for the ALC in exchange of my honest review.
・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・
pre-read:
my first time ever listening to an audiobook! 🥹🫶🏼 i’m so excited to get into audiobooks and i’ll listen to this book with ashlyn 💕 this is my second buddy read with her and i hope we both have the best time!
he’s a wealthy, professional baseball player—ten years older and a single father. when he hires her to care for his young daughter, she doesn’t expect to develop feelings for the famously gruff star pitcher. but despite his guarded nature, he reveals glimpses of a softer side—a quiet sweetness and a big heart shown in small, fleeting moments. and those are the pieces she finds herself wanting to keep.
still, his past holds him back. after being betrayed and abandoned by his ex-wife, he has no intention of marrying again. so even if there’s a spark between them—and she’s convinced there is—she knows it will never be more than that. their story, whatever it is, has an expiration date.
this book gave me all the feels—the kind that sit heavy in your chest but still manage to leave a soft smile on your face. the characters? chef's kiss. let’s talk about hazel and emmett, because they truly carried the heart of this story.
౨ৎ hazel. she is in every sense, born to be a mom—not just in the literal sense but in the way she moves through life. there’s a quiet strength in her that feels so natural, it’s impossible not to love her for it. she radiates what I can only describe as scream mom energy—loud, soft, sensitive, and incredibly nurturing all at once.
as someone who also cries over small things, i found myself connected to her. and being the eldest daughter? yeah, that kinda hit hard. hazel bears so much weight in silence, especially when her younger sister needs her to be strong—and yet, you can tell she aches for someone to carry some of that burden with her too.
౨ৎ emmett. i get him. honestly, if i had his past similar to him, i’d probably be just as guarded. he’s the kind of character who seems tough at first glance, but once the walls start to lower, you realize he’s a total sweetheart. there’s something so relatable about how private he is—especially with the pressures of being a known baseball player. he’s learned to show only what’s necessary, to protect both his image and himself.
what i loved most is how emmett’s circle of friends completely balances him out—they’re his opposites in many ways, and it’s adorable to see how they bring a different side of him forward. he’s steady, dependable, the kind of man you want around when everything feels too heavy. firm but gentle—yes, that does make sense. it has to.
everything about this book was really great, except for the nickname emmett gave hazel. it is a bit cringey for my liking, but i do get where the nickname came from. hazel is very much would be that type of flower if she was one. lastly, this was a character-driven story that truly shone because of how real and emotionally resonant hazel and emmett were. i saw myself in them, and that’s what made this such a standout read.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the author for the ALC in exchange of my honest review.
・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・
pre-read:
my first time ever listening to an audiobook! 🥹🫶🏼 i’m so excited to get into audiobooks and i’ll listen to this book with ashlyn 💕 this is my second buddy read with her and i hope we both have the best time!
June 23, 2025
Hot nanny x grumpy baseball dad??? Say less. I was already sold by the trope and then Emmett Foster walked in all broody and emotionally unavailable and I said yep, that’s my roman empire.
This book gave me exactly what I wanted: tension, a slow burn that actually burns, and a single dad who shows love in quiet little ways that make your heart ache. And the grumpy x sunshine dynamic? Immaculate. She’s all warmth and chaos, and he’s just trying not to fall in love with the woman who’s making his life brighter (and a little messier).
I lived for the little glances, the shared silences, and the way Emmett kept showing up for her without needing to say much. And little June? Scene stealer 10/10 would babysit.
Now… the reason I knocked off a star? One of the side characters annoyed the absolute hell out of me but to be fair, she’s a hormonal teenager so maybe that was the point. Also, some of the nicknames gave me the ick. Like I get the vibe was “cute and flirty” but my brain said absolutely not.
Second buddy read with my bb Rei!💗
Thank you Netgalley for the arc
This book gave me exactly what I wanted: tension, a slow burn that actually burns, and a single dad who shows love in quiet little ways that make your heart ache. And the grumpy x sunshine dynamic? Immaculate. She’s all warmth and chaos, and he’s just trying not to fall in love with the woman who’s making his life brighter (and a little messier).
I lived for the little glances, the shared silences, and the way Emmett kept showing up for her without needing to say much. And little June? Scene stealer 10/10 would babysit.
Now… the reason I knocked off a star? One of the side characters annoyed the absolute hell out of me but to be fair, she’s a hormonal teenager so maybe that was the point. Also, some of the nicknames gave me the ick. Like I get the vibe was “cute and flirty” but my brain said absolutely not.
Second buddy read with my bb Rei!💗
Thank you Netgalley for the arc
September 5, 2025
I'm a sports romance girlie now. I don't even like baseball. Or should I stop saying things like this?
I'm sure this is your run of the mill age gap/nanny/single dad sports romance, but I couldn't get enough. I guess I love clichés. Bye now.
🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media
I'm sure this is your run of the mill age gap/nanny/single dad sports romance, but I couldn't get enough. I guess I love clichés. Bye now.
🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media
May 12, 2025
Okay, y’all… THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING!!!
Annah Conwell has officially outdone herself. I’m a huge fan of all her books, but this one might just take the crown. I loved every second of it, and I mean EVERY SINGLE SECOND. It had me laughing, crying, swooning, and kicking my feet like a total giddy mess!
Hazel is my girl. My new favorite FMC. The kind of character you instantly want to text memes to and grab coffee with. And don’t even get me started on Emmett. Oh my gosh, we need more men like him in books. He sees Hazel for who she really is, and the way he loves her is exactly how we all want to be loved. Honestly, everyone deserves an Emmett.
Also, shoutout to sweet little June! That kid had me laughing out loud one second and getting misty-eyed the next. She’s an absolute scene-stealer and deserves her own fan club.
And I have to mention how much I loved the dedication to eldest daughters. I felt that deep in my soul. It was such a small touch, but it made the whole story hit even harder.
I don’t even have a list of favorite moments because the whole thing was perfection. I loved every word, every scene, every tiny detail. If it’s not on your TBR yet, fix that immediately!
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
❤️🔥 Baseball Romance
❤️🔥 Grumpy x Sunshine
❤️🔥 Single Dad x Nanny
❤️🔥 She Falls First, He Falls Harder
🚨🚨 TW: Alcoholism, Neglectful parents, Cheating (not between MCs), Divorce
Annah Conwell has officially outdone herself. I’m a huge fan of all her books, but this one might just take the crown. I loved every second of it, and I mean EVERY SINGLE SECOND. It had me laughing, crying, swooning, and kicking my feet like a total giddy mess!
Hazel is my girl. My new favorite FMC. The kind of character you instantly want to text memes to and grab coffee with. And don’t even get me started on Emmett. Oh my gosh, we need more men like him in books. He sees Hazel for who she really is, and the way he loves her is exactly how we all want to be loved. Honestly, everyone deserves an Emmett.
Also, shoutout to sweet little June! That kid had me laughing out loud one second and getting misty-eyed the next. She’s an absolute scene-stealer and deserves her own fan club.
And I have to mention how much I loved the dedication to eldest daughters. I felt that deep in my soul. It was such a small touch, but it made the whole story hit even harder.
I don’t even have a list of favorite moments because the whole thing was perfection. I loved every word, every scene, every tiny detail. If it’s not on your TBR yet, fix that immediately!
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
❤️🔥 Baseball Romance
❤️🔥 Grumpy x Sunshine
❤️🔥 Single Dad x Nanny
❤️🔥 She Falls First, He Falls Harder
🚨🚨 TW: Alcoholism, Neglectful parents, Cheating (not between MCs), Divorce
July 6, 2025
⋆˚࿔ 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
3⭐️
Maybe I went into this expecting too much, but it just didn’t leave a lasting impression. The progression of the romance felt rushed one minute they were barely speaking, and the next they were in love? I wanted more development, more tension, more something.
It felt undercooked. I honestly think if the author had made it longer and fleshed things out more, it could’ve been a solid story. The age gap wasn’t even acknowledged, which felt like a missed opportunity and low-key irritated me.
There was so much potential here, but it just didn’t hit the mark.
At least the kid was cute that’s about all I really enjoyed.
⋆. 𐙚 ˚ pre read ⋆. 𐙚 ˚
I heard “single dad” and “age gap” and I’m sat 🙂↕️
3⭐️
Maybe I went into this expecting too much, but it just didn’t leave a lasting impression. The progression of the romance felt rushed one minute they were barely speaking, and the next they were in love? I wanted more development, more tension, more something.
It felt undercooked. I honestly think if the author had made it longer and fleshed things out more, it could’ve been a solid story. The age gap wasn’t even acknowledged, which felt like a missed opportunity and low-key irritated me.
There was so much potential here, but it just didn’t hit the mark.
At least the kid was cute that’s about all I really enjoyed.
⋆. 𐙚 ˚ pre read ⋆. 𐙚 ˚
I heard “single dad” and “age gap” and I’m sat 🙂↕️
May 10, 2025
The Double Play by Annah Conwell
Book 4 in the More than a Game series but can be read as a standalone
4 Stars
OK Y'ALL this was SO cute! 😍
This sports rom-com had me smiling and giggling the whole time! 💕 Emmett Foster is your classic grumpy single dad (we love to see it!), and the sunshine-y FMC, Hazel, brought so much heart to the story. Their chemistry? SO CUTE.
Even though Emmett is guarded due to his ex-wife leaving him and their daughter June when she was born....💔 you feel the tenderness behind his gruffness....especially when it comes to his daughter. When his parents who have helped watch June decide they are going to take time to travel, they start interviews for a nanny to help out. Just in time, Hazel is looking for a new job after the family she has been working for is moving back home. Hazel starts working for Emmett and the rest is history.
I loved June's addition to the story. Y'all know I am a BIG FAN of the single parent trope and this delivers so much to the story with June's interactions and love front and center.
If you love:
⚾ Single dad sports romance
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
💌 Slow-burn, sweet chemistry
💬 Heartfelt moments + witty banter
💕Closed-door, clean romance
Then this book is for YOU! Add this to your TBR if you want a feel-good, swoon-worthy read with depth and heart. 💛
The only reason this isn't a 5 star fav for me is just because I wanted a little bit more of Emmett and Hazel getting to know each other outside of her nanny job before the feelings started and some of the make out/romantic desire is a bit more then I usually prefer, but overall, a solid closed door romance I recommend!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
Book 4 in the More than a Game series but can be read as a standalone
4 Stars
OK Y'ALL this was SO cute! 😍
This sports rom-com had me smiling and giggling the whole time! 💕 Emmett Foster is your classic grumpy single dad (we love to see it!), and the sunshine-y FMC, Hazel, brought so much heart to the story. Their chemistry? SO CUTE.
Even though Emmett is guarded due to his ex-wife leaving him and their daughter June when she was born....💔 you feel the tenderness behind his gruffness....especially when it comes to his daughter. When his parents who have helped watch June decide they are going to take time to travel, they start interviews for a nanny to help out. Just in time, Hazel is looking for a new job after the family she has been working for is moving back home. Hazel starts working for Emmett and the rest is history.
I loved June's addition to the story. Y'all know I am a BIG FAN of the single parent trope and this delivers so much to the story with June's interactions and love front and center.
If you love:
⚾ Single dad sports romance
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
💌 Slow-burn, sweet chemistry
💬 Heartfelt moments + witty banter
💕Closed-door, clean romance
Then this book is for YOU! Add this to your TBR if you want a feel-good, swoon-worthy read with depth and heart. 💛
The only reason this isn't a 5 star fav for me is just because I wanted a little bit more of Emmett and Hazel getting to know each other outside of her nanny job before the feelings started and some of the make out/romantic desire is a bit more then I usually prefer, but overall, a solid closed door romance I recommend!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
July 22, 2025
⚾️ Bookish Thoughts
The Double Play is a sweet sports romance. Grumpy MMC pro baseball player and sunshine nanny FMC!
While it was a bit too cheesy for my personal taste, I think readers who enjoy heartfelt, low-angst books will enjoy it.
The audiobook was great. I liked the narrator for the FMC more though.
💛 What to Expect
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• Single Dad MMC
• Nanny FMC
• Baseball romance
• Found family vibes
🎧 Audio Score: 3.5 stars
🎙️ Narration Style: Dual
📅 Pub Date: June 24, 2025
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.
The Double Play is a sweet sports romance. Grumpy MMC pro baseball player and sunshine nanny FMC!
While it was a bit too cheesy for my personal taste, I think readers who enjoy heartfelt, low-angst books will enjoy it.
The audiobook was great. I liked the narrator for the FMC more though.
💛 What to Expect
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• Single Dad MMC
• Nanny FMC
• Baseball romance
• Found family vibes
🎧 Audio Score: 3.5 stars
🎙️ Narration Style: Dual
📅 Pub Date: June 24, 2025
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.
June 18, 2025
“Jason is always going on and on about some phrase his old coach used to say. ‘Worth the risk.’ I know Hazel is worth the risk, so im gonna put aside my fears and commit.”
Okay I want to start this review of by saying this book is part of a series, which I did not notice when I requested the ALC. That is on me. I also have not read any other books by this author at all so that might affect my experience while reading.
I was initially going to give this 2 stars but after reading some other reviews and seeing how positive they were I was left a little confused. I truly think that because I did not read the first three books of the series, I might be missing some sort of important backstory so im giving this the benefit of the doubt and therefore 3 stars.
Now im going to be brutally honest about this. I think this book was too short. The characters were plain and boring. There was no backstory explained in the book. There was soooooo much potential for a better storyline! Like we had all the right starting points to make it a little bit more dramatic but they were never followed up on. This was supposed to be a ‘grumpy x sunshine’ trope but he was grumpy for 2 chapters and she was barely sunshine. Mostly she was rain??? She kept crying 75% of the time. There was a brief mention of a 10 year age gap???? HELLO?? But I guess we’re just going to ignore that because why wouldn’t we. This whole book happened in about a month. They fell in love within the first week of meeting, he proposed after 3 weeks and they got married a week after that. There was absolutely ZERO buildup to the romance. They basically fell in love instantly. I also really didn’t like any of the characters except June but she was not enough to safe it for me.
We barely get to know the characters. At around 80% the fmc mentions she likes to crochet in her free time. And during the proposal the mmc mentions how much he loves her loving to crochet. Like okay??? She never touched a single thread of crochet and besides that one mention we don’t even know she loves it. Neither of them had any personality. Like there was no depth of character. Yes the fmc had parent issues. Which was still barely talked about. The dad makes it into this book about 2 or 3 times. Mom ends up in the hospital which was supposed to be a sad scene I guess but because we had not at all been introduced to her, it just felt very flat. The mmc is scared to love because his wife left him after June was born. Sooooooo afraid to love actually that he falls in love with Hazel within a week???
I also would have liked a little more back story on the mmc’s parents. The grandma makes a brief appearance in the first 2 chapters and is never heard from again. For how close they are supposed to be I would have thought they would at least call or something. Sure they went to Europe but theres wifi in Europe? Not a single call or text was made. Maybe one?? But if there was it was so insignificant that I don’t even remember. Once they left they were just poof gone.
Idk i just felt absolutely no chemistry between the characters. They were forced upon each other by a 5 year old and decided why not just get married. At not one point did I giggle, get butterflies or even anything remotely close. I just felt it was extremely boring.
One thing I did find very cute was that he calls her “Wildflower” and mostly his reasoning for it. I think that fits very well and is also a pretty unusual nickname compared to things like “sunshine” or “princess”. For those interested, this book has no spice which in my opinion was a plus. It would not have fit the style of this book.
Again I want to make clear this is the first book of this series I’ve read. This very possibly affected my experience and overall opinion!
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and the author of this book Annah Conwell, for allowing me the opportunity to listen to this ALC!!
Okay I want to start this review of by saying this book is part of a series, which I did not notice when I requested the ALC. That is on me. I also have not read any other books by this author at all so that might affect my experience while reading.
I was initially going to give this 2 stars but after reading some other reviews and seeing how positive they were I was left a little confused. I truly think that because I did not read the first three books of the series, I might be missing some sort of important backstory so im giving this the benefit of the doubt and therefore 3 stars.
Now im going to be brutally honest about this. I think this book was too short. The characters were plain and boring. There was no backstory explained in the book. There was soooooo much potential for a better storyline! Like we had all the right starting points to make it a little bit more dramatic but they were never followed up on. This was supposed to be a ‘grumpy x sunshine’ trope but he was grumpy for 2 chapters and she was barely sunshine. Mostly she was rain??? She kept crying 75% of the time. There was a brief mention of a 10 year age gap???? HELLO?? But I guess we’re just going to ignore that because why wouldn’t we. This whole book happened in about a month. They fell in love within the first week of meeting, he proposed after 3 weeks and they got married a week after that. There was absolutely ZERO buildup to the romance. They basically fell in love instantly. I also really didn’t like any of the characters except June but she was not enough to safe it for me.
We barely get to know the characters. At around 80% the fmc mentions she likes to crochet in her free time. And during the proposal the mmc mentions how much he loves her loving to crochet. Like okay??? She never touched a single thread of crochet and besides that one mention we don’t even know she loves it. Neither of them had any personality. Like there was no depth of character. Yes the fmc had parent issues. Which was still barely talked about. The dad makes it into this book about 2 or 3 times. Mom ends up in the hospital which was supposed to be a sad scene I guess but because we had not at all been introduced to her, it just felt very flat. The mmc is scared to love because his wife left him after June was born. Sooooooo afraid to love actually that he falls in love with Hazel within a week???
I also would have liked a little more back story on the mmc’s parents. The grandma makes a brief appearance in the first 2 chapters and is never heard from again. For how close they are supposed to be I would have thought they would at least call or something. Sure they went to Europe but theres wifi in Europe? Not a single call or text was made. Maybe one?? But if there was it was so insignificant that I don’t even remember. Once they left they were just poof gone.
Idk i just felt absolutely no chemistry between the characters. They were forced upon each other by a 5 year old and decided why not just get married. At not one point did I giggle, get butterflies or even anything remotely close. I just felt it was extremely boring.
One thing I did find very cute was that he calls her “Wildflower” and mostly his reasoning for it. I think that fits very well and is also a pretty unusual nickname compared to things like “sunshine” or “princess”. For those interested, this book has no spice which in my opinion was a plus. It would not have fit the style of this book.
Again I want to make clear this is the first book of this series I’ve read. This very possibly affected my experience and overall opinion!
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and the author of this book Annah Conwell, for allowing me the opportunity to listen to this ALC!!
April 29, 2025
If there were ever a five-star read… this was THE ONE! I picked it up late last night, woke up early just to keep going, and even snuck in a few pages during work (shhh!). I genuinely couldn’t put it down. Not once was I bored...I was smiling the whole way through, always excited for the next scene. And yes… I may have "pulled a Hazel" and teared up once or twice! I absolutely ADORED this book and need it on my shelf in print. Now that I’ve met some of the other guys in the series, you better believe I’ll be reading all their stories. And don’t even get me started on how excited I am for Brock’s book!
In this heartwarming story, Emmett, a single dad and pro athlete, needs a nanny for his sweet little daughter, June. Hazel, recently out of a job after the family she worked for moved away, steps into their lives. At first, Emmett is cautious about leaving June with someone new while he's away for practices and games. But it doesn’t take long for Hazel and June to form a bond that melts hearts... and Emmett’s walls. Cue the magic of forced proximity!
Hazel’s warmth and loving spirit shine through every scene, while Emmett's protective side quickly turns toward her. Both characters carry emotional scars, Hazel from a difficult past, and Emmett from heartbreak, but watching them slowly open up to love again was so touching. Of course, the added tension of Emmett’s fame and public scrutiny brings its own challenges, but their journey toward love is all the more meaningful for it. It’s a story of trust, growth, and finding family in unexpected places.
And let me just say… the chemistry! The sweet, slow unraveling of emotions. Emmett letting down his guard. Hazel’s quiet strength. Their moments with June and Hazel’s sister, Raven... completely heart melting. And that first kiss? 10 STARS. Pure perfection.
Oh, shoutout to the book cover. Yellow is my favorite color, and it fits this book's sunshine vibes perfectly.
Here’s what made it extra special:
⚾ Grumpy/Sunshine dynamic
⚾ Forced proximity
⚾ Single Dad + Nanny pairing
⚾ A sweet age gap romance
⚾ Protective male main character
⚾ The BEST first kiss
⚾ Tender, sweet family moments
⚾ Healing and a beautiful found family
I received a complimentary copy of this book. This is my honest review. 💛
In this heartwarming story, Emmett, a single dad and pro athlete, needs a nanny for his sweet little daughter, June. Hazel, recently out of a job after the family she worked for moved away, steps into their lives. At first, Emmett is cautious about leaving June with someone new while he's away for practices and games. But it doesn’t take long for Hazel and June to form a bond that melts hearts... and Emmett’s walls. Cue the magic of forced proximity!
Hazel’s warmth and loving spirit shine through every scene, while Emmett's protective side quickly turns toward her. Both characters carry emotional scars, Hazel from a difficult past, and Emmett from heartbreak, but watching them slowly open up to love again was so touching. Of course, the added tension of Emmett’s fame and public scrutiny brings its own challenges, but their journey toward love is all the more meaningful for it. It’s a story of trust, growth, and finding family in unexpected places.
And let me just say… the chemistry! The sweet, slow unraveling of emotions. Emmett letting down his guard. Hazel’s quiet strength. Their moments with June and Hazel’s sister, Raven... completely heart melting. And that first kiss? 10 STARS. Pure perfection.
Oh, shoutout to the book cover. Yellow is my favorite color, and it fits this book's sunshine vibes perfectly.
Here’s what made it extra special:
⚾ Grumpy/Sunshine dynamic
⚾ Forced proximity
⚾ Single Dad + Nanny pairing
⚾ A sweet age gap romance
⚾ Protective male main character
⚾ The BEST first kiss
⚾ Tender, sweet family moments
⚾ Healing and a beautiful found family
I received a complimentary copy of this book. This is my honest review. 💛
May 12, 2025
It had potential. I wanted to DNF but it was so short I stuck with it. I think if it had been longer and more developed it could’ve been considerably better. Things I had issues with…
-There was an age gap but it was barely mentioned and no one really made a big deal about it like they usually do in age gap stories.
-it’s supposed to be grumpy sunshine. She’s somewhat sunshine and he’s barely grumpy. And then he’s just sunshine too. Also, the woman’s allowed to cry but she tears up at literally everything. It got old fast.
-the pacing is off. I think if this had been longer it would’ve been more believable. He goes from disliking the idea of having a nanny to hiring her to telling her he loves her in less than a month. Nothing happened to make me believe it was true. The whole thing felt like the author was in a rush to tie everything up in a HEA bow.
-with as short as the story was, there was scenes I felt unnecessary that to me didn’t add any value to the story. Like the agent showing up at the game, throwing money around mentioning how rich baseball players are and leaving.
-There was an age gap but it was barely mentioned and no one really made a big deal about it like they usually do in age gap stories.
-it’s supposed to be grumpy sunshine. She’s somewhat sunshine and he’s barely grumpy. And then he’s just sunshine too. Also, the woman’s allowed to cry but she tears up at literally everything. It got old fast.
-the pacing is off. I think if this had been longer it would’ve been more believable. He goes from disliking the idea of having a nanny to hiring her to telling her he loves her in less than a month. Nothing happened to make me believe it was true. The whole thing felt like the author was in a rush to tie everything up in a HEA bow.
-with as short as the story was, there was scenes I felt unnecessary that to me didn’t add any value to the story. Like the agent showing up at the game, throwing money around mentioning how rich baseball players are and leaving.
September 7, 2025
I LOVE THIS BOOOOOK
June 27, 2025
2.5 stars
-Single dad x nanny
-Sports romance
-Age gap
-Grumpy x sunshine
I was super excited going into this one, but it left me feeling disappointed. This was VERY insta-love. That is definitely not my favorite trope, but I can usually get on board with it if the characters and relationship can carry it through. Hazel and Emmett’s relationship lacked any kind of depth for me. I couldn’t see any reason for the immediate jump from a working relationship to being in love. Especially with a child involved and them tossing around “mom” instantly it was kind of hard for me to swallow. Things that I expected to be huge to their story were mentioned very briefly once or twice and glossed over. Also, I am a fairly easy crier, and I was completely over Hazel crying every 5 minutes.
With all that being said, there were some cute moments throughout. If you are looking for a quick fluffy read and don’t care too much about a lot of depth then you might enjoy this one.
I listened to this as an audiobook and the narration was done really well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
-Single dad x nanny
-Sports romance
-Age gap
-Grumpy x sunshine
I was super excited going into this one, but it left me feeling disappointed. This was VERY insta-love. That is definitely not my favorite trope, but I can usually get on board with it if the characters and relationship can carry it through. Hazel and Emmett’s relationship lacked any kind of depth for me. I couldn’t see any reason for the immediate jump from a working relationship to being in love. Especially with a child involved and them tossing around “mom” instantly it was kind of hard for me to swallow. Things that I expected to be huge to their story were mentioned very briefly once or twice and glossed over. Also, I am a fairly easy crier, and I was completely over Hazel crying every 5 minutes.
With all that being said, there were some cute moments throughout. If you are looking for a quick fluffy read and don’t care too much about a lot of depth then you might enjoy this one.
I listened to this as an audiobook and the narration was done really well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2025
Started this morning and finished it in nearly one sitting. No brain power involved. I enjoyed the dynamic between the two characters but overall it felt a little shallow and insta-lovey.
Anything Annah Conwell writes is an auto-buy for me and that has not changed, but this wasn’t my favorite from her. There was a lot of showing and not telling, if that makes sense. So much of the time the main characters—Emmett and Hazel—had these huge inner monologues about how they felt but it was not really communicated well with each other.
Their relationship went from 0-100 at about the 150 page mark. Their relationship was purely professional, at least from the Emmett’s pov, and then suddenly he called her “his brave girl” 🤨. Like brooooo that happened too fast—I had whiplash.
The side plots were not explored nearly enough either in my opinion. There was a lot going on with Hazel’s mom and they were supposed to have had a big conversation but we weren’t even in the room for it???? Like cmonnnn I want to know what was said…why is the mother an alcoholic? Why is the dad absent? We got like no explanation for Hazel’s parents behavior.
Also, Emmett ex-wife? She cheated, but why? With whom? Where is she now? Why doesn’t she want to be a part of their daughter’s life? Just soooo many questions left unanswered.
Anything Annah Conwell writes is an auto-buy for me and that has not changed, but this wasn’t my favorite from her. There was a lot of showing and not telling, if that makes sense. So much of the time the main characters—Emmett and Hazel—had these huge inner monologues about how they felt but it was not really communicated well with each other.
Their relationship went from 0-100 at about the 150 page mark. Their relationship was purely professional, at least from the Emmett’s pov, and then suddenly he called her “his brave girl” 🤨. Like brooooo that happened too fast—I had whiplash.
The side plots were not explored nearly enough either in my opinion. There was a lot going on with Hazel’s mom and they were supposed to have had a big conversation but we weren’t even in the room for it???? Like cmonnnn I want to know what was said…why is the mother an alcoholic? Why is the dad absent? We got like no explanation for Hazel’s parents behavior.
Also, Emmett ex-wife? She cheated, but why? With whom? Where is she now? Why doesn’t she want to be a part of their daughter’s life? Just soooo many questions left unanswered.
June 13, 2025
Overall, 3 stars, this was a light and easy read with no spice. The story felt very surface-level and lacked depth to me. Hazel's character was developed, with background, best friend, sister, and her job, but Emmet's character felt flat. He was a single dad pro baseball player with an absentee ex-wife and a daughter, but that was it. All of a sudden, something happens to Hazel's mom and he decides that he's all in. Hrmm, color me skeptical.
The single dad and nanny trope is interesting, it's not one of my favorites, but I get how seeing someone else love your child(ren) could make you fall in like/respect/love the nanny.
Format: audiobook
Thank you so much NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced audiobook!
The single dad and nanny trope is interesting, it's not one of my favorites, but I get how seeing someone else love your child(ren) could make you fall in like/respect/love the nanny.
Format: audiobook
Thank you so much NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced audiobook!
April 26, 2025
What a beautiful book!! 😍 I loved every moment of it, and couldn’t stop reading! Emmett was a dream 😍 I loved his character so much, and it was fun seeing his side of all the ribbing between him and his friends. Hazel was such a great character, fun, cute, and kind (plus I relate to all the crying lol). I really enjoyed her relationship with sweet little June. The romance was perfection!! It’s clean while still bringing the heat, and Annah’s writing is amazing! I’m sad this series is coming to an end with the next one, but I’m really looking forward to Brock’s story. 😆
/I received an ARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own/
/I received an ARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own/
May 15, 2025
This was so freaking cute (some silly things that are nowhere near reality BUT cute nonetheless)
Rtc!
Rtc!
April 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Annah is one of my favorite no spice romance authors and I’m so thankful to have received this ARC a couple weeks early!
This is the fourth book in the More Than A game Series! This book follows MLB baseball player, Emmet and his daughter’s nanny, Hazel.
I have never really been a big baseball fan, but this book was so much fun to read! There are so many things that Annah does well in her books and the best one in my opinion is having really good communication between her characters!
Miscommunication is one of my absolute least favorite tropes. But when times got tricky, Emmet and hazel laid everything on the table and came together as a team.
Anna’s writing gets better and better after each book and this one did not disappoint!
I’m so excited to see what she will writes next!
This book is set to release on May 6th!
💫⚾️🧢🫶🏻🌸
Annah is one of my favorite no spice romance authors and I’m so thankful to have received this ARC a couple weeks early!
This is the fourth book in the More Than A game Series! This book follows MLB baseball player, Emmet and his daughter’s nanny, Hazel.
I have never really been a big baseball fan, but this book was so much fun to read! There are so many things that Annah does well in her books and the best one in my opinion is having really good communication between her characters!
Miscommunication is one of my absolute least favorite tropes. But when times got tricky, Emmet and hazel laid everything on the table and came together as a team.
Anna’s writing gets better and better after each book and this one did not disappoint!
I’m so excited to see what she will writes next!
This book is set to release on May 6th!
💫⚾️🧢🫶🏻🌸
May 2, 2025
Hazel and Emmett’s fairytale romance was complete with a castle (with a backyard perfect for a midnight rendezvous), a fair maiden (Hazel), a knight in shining armor (Emmett), a princess (June), a few court jesters (the Halo crew and Emerson), a dragon in need of slaying (overcoming the fear of letting go and letting someone else take care of you), and of course, a happily ever after (with plenty of swoonworthy moments). I’m not normally a fan of the single-dad trope, but this one won me over quite easily.
Warning: May induce random squealing, giggling, and feet-kicking
I received an ARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Warning: May induce random squealing, giggling, and feet-kicking
I received an ARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 15, 2025
The book had potential. I really like Hazel’s story line until she actually met Emmett. The chemistry was off because it just felt icky to me. Like they are both single and yet I felt like they were having an affair. I really didn’t believe the insta love (I don’t usually) but like it was crazy. They both wanted to remain professional and yet they stare at the other one and suddenly common sense is flying out the window. Also let’s be so honest Emmett is not grumpy the bro is just guarded and emotionally scared from a past marriage. And do not get me wrong I LOVE the single dad trope but again the vibes did not vibe.
Also why did Hazel have a fleshed out story line but Emmett was blander than bread. The books that were leading up to this really made it seem like he was this scary character but there was none of that shown. Also it sounds like he hates his friends literally everything he thinks and says about them is negative except when they give him advice. Idk this book was all over the place just like my review.
Also why did Hazel have a fleshed out story line but Emmett was blander than bread. The books that were leading up to this really made it seem like he was this scary character but there was none of that shown. Also it sounds like he hates his friends literally everything he thinks and says about them is negative except when they give him advice. Idk this book was all over the place just like my review.
May 14, 2025
5000 stars. Actually teared up. Never ever wanted it to end 🥹❤️
April 30, 2025
GENRE
-sports romcom
CONTENT
-🤬: none
-❤️: make outs
-⚠️: divorce (past), negligent parents, alcohol poisoning (side character)
We've met Emmett, just briefly, in the three earlier books in this series. From those short encounters, we knew he didn't talk much, and he was kind of gruff. In this book, we delve into more of his background.
When Emmett's parents decide to travel the world and are no longer able to care for his daughter, June, he hires Hazel to step in.
Things I loved:
-the stinkin' adorable interactions between Hazel and June
-Emmett's hug at the hospital
-Hazel going all mama bear on the school principal
-the entire family hand sign at the baseball game
I did wish the connection between Hazel and Emmett had a bit more of a build up. It felt to me like a flip just switched one day, and all of the sudden Emmett had feelings for Hazel. Regardless, I loved how once Emmett made up his mind, he was all in. He cared for Hazel so well! Also, the proposal scene with June was soooo adorable. SO adorable! I loved that.
I am so curious to see what Annah does with Brock's story because, from what we saw, that poor guy had a rough go of things during this book!
Favorite Quotes:
-A place to rest. That's what I want. A soft place to land after dealing with my parents. The quiet of my apartment isn't the sanctuary I once thought it would be. I want a home filled with life, laughter, and joy.
-"You are not a coward, Hazel. You're the strongest woman I've ever met." His words hold a conviction that makes my breath catch
"You really think that?" I whisper.
"I don't say things I don't mean."
-When I arrived, my first thought was that Hazel looked like she needed a hug. I'm not a touchy-feely person, but I know she is, and when I saw her, my instincts said that was the best way I could help her. So I did. That hug ruined me.
-Her face is close to mine-too close-when she whispers, "I thought you didn't like nicknames.”…
"I don't," I murmur.
"But you just gave me one."
"I find myself doing a lot of things don't normally do with you."
-He sets the rest down on the plate in my lap. Then presses his lips to my forehead. My whole body stills.
"Rest for me, Wildflower. You can go back to taking care of everyone tomorrow," he whispers against my skin.
-She watches the stars and I watch her.
"It's beautiful out here."
"Mmm," I agree.
The profile of her face against the night sky is breathtaking.
-"I'd like to be yours," I say in a low voice. "And for you to be mine.”
-If I could personally thank the designer of baseball pants, I would.
-“We can do this together.
Us against the world. You don't have to do it alone anymore."
I swallow down my ever-rising emotions. "Emmett, you're everything I've ever wanted in a man, but-"
He cuts me off with a soft, but full kiss. "Then let me help you, Hazel. Let me love you."
-sports romcom
CONTENT
-🤬: none
-❤️: make outs
-⚠️: divorce (past), negligent parents, alcohol poisoning (side character)
We've met Emmett, just briefly, in the three earlier books in this series. From those short encounters, we knew he didn't talk much, and he was kind of gruff. In this book, we delve into more of his background.
When Emmett's parents decide to travel the world and are no longer able to care for his daughter, June, he hires Hazel to step in.
Things I loved:
-the stinkin' adorable interactions between Hazel and June
-Emmett's hug at the hospital
-Hazel going all mama bear on the school principal
-the entire family hand sign at the baseball game
I did wish the connection between Hazel and Emmett had a bit more of a build up. It felt to me like a flip just switched one day, and all of the sudden Emmett had feelings for Hazel. Regardless, I loved how once Emmett made up his mind, he was all in. He cared for Hazel so well! Also, the proposal scene with June was soooo adorable. SO adorable! I loved that.
I am so curious to see what Annah does with Brock's story because, from what we saw, that poor guy had a rough go of things during this book!
Favorite Quotes:
-A place to rest. That's what I want. A soft place to land after dealing with my parents. The quiet of my apartment isn't the sanctuary I once thought it would be. I want a home filled with life, laughter, and joy.
-"You are not a coward, Hazel. You're the strongest woman I've ever met." His words hold a conviction that makes my breath catch
"You really think that?" I whisper.
"I don't say things I don't mean."
-When I arrived, my first thought was that Hazel looked like she needed a hug. I'm not a touchy-feely person, but I know she is, and when I saw her, my instincts said that was the best way I could help her. So I did. That hug ruined me.
-Her face is close to mine-too close-when she whispers, "I thought you didn't like nicknames.”…
"I don't," I murmur.
"But you just gave me one."
"I find myself doing a lot of things don't normally do with you."
-He sets the rest down on the plate in my lap. Then presses his lips to my forehead. My whole body stills.
"Rest for me, Wildflower. You can go back to taking care of everyone tomorrow," he whispers against my skin.
-She watches the stars and I watch her.
"It's beautiful out here."
"Mmm," I agree.
The profile of her face against the night sky is breathtaking.
-"I'd like to be yours," I say in a low voice. "And for you to be mine.”
-If I could personally thank the designer of baseball pants, I would.
-“We can do this together.
Us against the world. You don't have to do it alone anymore."
I swallow down my ever-rising emotions. "Emmett, you're everything I've ever wanted in a man, but-"
He cuts me off with a soft, but full kiss. "Then let me help you, Hazel. Let me love you."
July 18, 2025
4.25/4.5 ⭐️
I actually can't even tell you what this book did for me. I LOVE a single parent romance, as a single mom it cures something in my soul to relate to a parent who lives the life I live. This book will have you laughing, kicking your feet, giggling, crying, swooning, and everything in between!
Emmett Foster is a broody, emotionally unavailable MMC until it came to Hazel and BOY WAS HE SMITTEN. Emmett sees Hazel for exactly who she is. He is protective without it being weird or possessive, but also let's her be who she is. The way he immediately knew she would be his just had my heart SWOONING. Everyone needs an Emmett.
This was my first by Annah Conwell, and I LOVED it. I will absolutely be going back to read the previous books in the series. You can read this as a standalone, though. Her writing is so bingable and addictive. The book was quick and kept you invested from start to finish.
Audiobook was well done, and the narrators did a great job at bringing the story to life! Def recommend checking out the audiobook if you're an audiobook girly!
The Vibes:
-Baseball Romance
-Single Dad x Nanny
-He Falls Harder
-She Falls First
TW: alcoholism, Neglectful parents, divorce, cheating (off page, not with MCs)
I actually can't even tell you what this book did for me. I LOVE a single parent romance, as a single mom it cures something in my soul to relate to a parent who lives the life I live. This book will have you laughing, kicking your feet, giggling, crying, swooning, and everything in between!
Emmett Foster is a broody, emotionally unavailable MMC until it came to Hazel and BOY WAS HE SMITTEN. Emmett sees Hazel for exactly who she is. He is protective without it being weird or possessive, but also let's her be who she is. The way he immediately knew she would be his just had my heart SWOONING. Everyone needs an Emmett.
This was my first by Annah Conwell, and I LOVED it. I will absolutely be going back to read the previous books in the series. You can read this as a standalone, though. Her writing is so bingable and addictive. The book was quick and kept you invested from start to finish.
Audiobook was well done, and the narrators did a great job at bringing the story to life! Def recommend checking out the audiobook if you're an audiobook girly!
The Vibes:
-Baseball Romance
-Single Dad x Nanny
-He Falls Harder
-She Falls First
TW: alcoholism, Neglectful parents, divorce, cheating (off page, not with MCs)
June 14, 2025
I received an advanced listeners copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a very enjoyable listen. The audio was clear and the narrators did a great job. This book had dual narration which is one of my favorites. Both male and female were great and it was pretty easy to differentiate between various characters. I would say the most difficult to follow was when the MMC and his four friends were playing video games together and having conversations but it wasn’t a distraction.
This was a sweet single dad/nanny, age gap romance. While it is the fourth in a series, it could be read as a standalone. Hazel and Emmett were so sweet together and I loved that it was his mom’s subtle meddling that got them together. I loved how much Emmett wanted to take care of Hazel and understood her well enough to know how hard to push. Hazel was such a strong character who was a caretaker to everyone around her, especially her younger sister who was in desperate need for a parental figure. I really enjoyed seeing the softer side of Emmett as he was a side character in the previous three books. Such a fun, sweet story.
This was a sweet single dad/nanny, age gap romance. While it is the fourth in a series, it could be read as a standalone. Hazel and Emmett were so sweet together and I loved that it was his mom’s subtle meddling that got them together. I loved how much Emmett wanted to take care of Hazel and understood her well enough to know how hard to push. Hazel was such a strong character who was a caretaker to everyone around her, especially her younger sister who was in desperate need for a parental figure. I really enjoyed seeing the softer side of Emmett as he was a side character in the previous three books. Such a fun, sweet story.
June 10, 2025
An emotionally deep single dad x nanny baseball romance that captured my heart from the start! I loved the relationship between baseball pitcher Emmett and his daughter June and the woman he hires to be June's nanny, Hazel. Hazel has a lot to deal with as she takes on more and more of her younger sister, Raven's care as their parents aren't well enough to look after her themselves. Emmett can't help falling for Hazel as she becomes such an integral part of his life and has the biggest place in her heart for his daughter. Sweet, swoony and good on audio! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy. This is part of a series but can easily be read as a standalone!
July 3, 2025
Wow, I really enjoyed this audiobook. Emmett, Hazel, & June were just so sweet together, & I’m always a sucker for a tall, broody baseball player. I do kinda feel like their relationship progressed pretty quickly, there wasn’t really a slow burn, but it really worked for them. Overall this was a quick and super cute read, & I can’t wait to read more from this author!
Thank you to Dreamscape Media & NetGalley for the advanced audio!
Thank you to Dreamscape Media & NetGalley for the advanced audio!
June 7, 2025
3.5⭐️ | I love Annah Conwell’s books so much and I always look forward to a new release from her! + this one is a baseball romance? Sign me up!!! I love this sports romance series by Annah and had so much fun reading this one! I also love a single dad/nanny and this was so well done! I can’t wait for the next book!!!
June 17, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ Adorable Story!
🌷I binged this! I was on 30% yesterday and had to finish it!
🌷I adore the MMC and FMC but let me tell you June (5-year-old) is amazing! She brings a whole new level of emotion to the story!
🌷This story definitely will pull at your heartstrings and make you cheer for their HEA! Also be warned you will swoon! 🥰
🌷Spice:0
🌷Language:0
🌷I binged this! I was on 30% yesterday and had to finish it!
🌷I adore the MMC and FMC but let me tell you June (5-year-old) is amazing! She brings a whole new level of emotion to the story!
🌷This story definitely will pull at your heartstrings and make you cheer for their HEA! Also be warned you will swoon! 🥰
🌷Spice:0
🌷Language:0
April 23, 2025
Did I just devour this romcom in 2 hours? Yes, yes I did. I think this might be Annah Conwell’s best to date. It's got the slow burn, the good communication (PRAISE THE LORD for grownups acting like grownups), heartfelt situations (I know l'm preggo but seriously would have teared up regardless), and the wonderful cast of side characters. ARC received-read-reviewed, publishes 6/25!
Want to read
June 23, 2025Sports romance and single dad? Count me in.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 442 reviews