Series: The Royals #1
Author: Mariah Jolie
Published October 31st 2025
Goodreads Synopsis
Forrest “Tree” Barkley is a legend behind the plate.
And not just because he’s the New York Royals’ beloved catcher.
He’s steady under pressure, loyal to a fault, and, according to most of New York, the Royal with the best ass in baseball.
But off the field, Tree’s barely holding it together.
With the season ramping up and his mom’s diagnosis looming large, he doesn’t have time for anything else.
Until one night with a gorgeous stranger gives him something he didn’t know he was starving for… a break from reality.
Ainsley Hansen just moved to town after a messy divorce, hoping to rebuild her life on her own terms.
She’s a total free-spirit, a wildflower in a field of roses. The kind of beautiful that makes one night feel like nowhere near enough.
But one night is all either of them has to give.
Tree never expected to see her again. That was the deal, after all.
He certainly didn't expect to watch her walk onto the field a few days later…
Coach Hansen has one rule: His daughter, Ainsley, is off-limits.
Now the game’s changed.
One night was a mistake.
Falling for her? That might cost him his career.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via BookSirens. This in no way impacted on my view.
Meeting the love of her life in a bar when she least expects it, Ainsley Hansen is reluctant to let Tree Barkley into her heart. Wanting only to spend one night with him, to help her get over her ex and kickstart her rebuilding her life with her newly discovered father and brother, she never expects to see Tree again, but he happens to play for the New York Royals baseball team, the very team her dad coaches. Forrest "Tree" Barkley's life is crumbling around him. His mother's cancer diagnosis has turned terminal, and he and younger sister Pim are facing the unimaginable. He's trying to stay strong, but around Ainsley, he's found he can be vulnerable. Are they both willing to risk it to be together, or have they been burnt too much in the past.
I loved Foul Play when I read it in the summer, so when this one appeared on BookSirens, I knew I needed to read and review it. Tree is River's best friend (from Foul Play) and one of the players for the New York Royals. He's quite used to women taking him up on his offers, so when Ainsley doesn't immediately fall at his heels, it's quite refreshing. They are both great with each other, and I loved the way that Ainsley really connected with Tree's family, and with the rest of the Royals. She might have lived a very different life with her mother, and ex-husband, but she discovered her true self in New York. There was a third-act breakup, which I wasn't a fan of, but the conclusion was worth it.
Dates Read:
November 25, 2025
Rating
4 Stars
