Very cute story but felt like it was missing more info. Many plots started and never finished making me wonder why it was even brought up in the first place. Overall all, quick easy listen

Book 4 in the More Than a Game series. Works as a stand alone.

Hazel is a nanny for the children of a professional football player. She is without a job once he gets traded, since she cannot leave her younger sister alone in Nashville with their neglectful parents.
Professional baseball player Emmet needs a nanny. Perfect timing. The more time they spend each around each other, the stronger the pull.

I'd rank this one as second favorite in the series. Though Hazel and her crying drove me nuts!!! June was adorable and made up for it though.

Tim Paige and Charlotte North narrate the audiobook. I always enjoy their narrations.

Baseball Grumpy/Sunshine? Yes please! Add in an adorable 5 year old and a moody teenager to get the perfect sweet romance. This book is also a reminder that we all deserve good things and people to help us along the way.

Audiobook Pub Date 6/24
ebook and paperback currently available

#thedoubleplay
#annahconwell
#morethanagame
#grumpysunshine
#sweetromance
#baseballromance
#netgalley

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.

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 deeply connected to her. And being the eldest daughter? Yeah, that 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.

Emmett. I get him. Honestly, if I had his past, 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.

This was so cute - 3.5 stars!

Tim Paige has really grown on me as a narrator, and I enjoy Charlotte North, too!

A sweet, closed door, light-hearted nanny/single dad romance. I adored June and really think she brought the whole story together.

That was a cute book, but could have been so much better. It was two sugary sweet for me and I’m not a fan of the Insta love trope. I think the book was just too short and if it were longer, it could’ve done deeper into some of the emotional aspects that it is grazed over. I would have loved a more emotional connection to the characters which was really lacking due to the surface level nature of the book. It was very clean, which I appreciated. However, some parts were so sugary sweet that it was cringey. The narration was done great. I recommend this book for anyone that’s looking for a very easy, super sweet, clean romance. It could easily be consumed in one day at the beach.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)
The Double Play by Annah Conwell was a quick and sweet read that blended single dad/nanny and grumpy-sunshine tropes with a fun touch of sports romance. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Hazel and Emmett—their chemistry was undeniable, and their banter brought a smile to my face.

One of the highlights for me was getting dual POVs. It was great to see both Hazel’s and Emmett’s sides of the story. I thought Hazel’s character had some solid development as she found her place in Emmett’s world. Emmett, on the other hand, felt a little underdeveloped, and I would have liked to see more depth to his arc. I also felt like their relationship moved a bit too fast, and I wished for more buildup to really feel those emotional beats.

I listened to the audiobook, which featured dual narration, and both narrators did a lovely job bringing the characters to life. If you’re in the mood for a light, heartwarming romance with a sporty edge, this is worth a listen!

SO ADORABLE! I really loved the way this story panned out. There were a couple other things I would have enjoyed seeing in it, but overall they weren't significant enough for me to redact any stars.

Emmett was such a tender loving character it made me swoon so hard. The single dad x nanny gets me every time, but especially when he starts falling for her because of the way she loves and cares for his kid.

The narrators did a perfect job at portraying the character's emotions and distinguishing between every character.

Love love LOVE It!! Tim Paige is one of my favorite narrators and this was such a cute summer read. My first baseball book, but I’m also a sucker for a single dad and nanny romance. Will be recommending this one

The Double Play was a such a quick and fun read. I loved the entire premise of the book. The setting also had my heart, being a Nashville native. The characters were awesome and I loved seeing their romance blossom and grow. There isn’t one thing I would change about this book. The Double Play was the first book I’ve read by Annah Conwell and I look forward to reading more from her. I listened to the audiobook and both of the narrators did an amazing job. 💛⚾️

I would like to thank Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for giving me an ARC (which did not sway my opinions or review).

Audio Review 🎧

A very quick, short timeline romance that will fill your heart with some joy! A great palate cleanser read! Our FMC is compassionate, silly, and sensitive. Our MMC is observant, kind, and reserved. The relationship we see with the FMC and MMC’s daughter is probably my favorite part of the story. As a part of any nanny romance, you expect there to be a loving relationship there but this was something extra special. The instant connection and protectiveness brought all the warm feelings!

Both Tim Paige and Charlotte North did an excellent job portraying these characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to receive an ALC and share my thoughts before The Double Play is released into the world on 6/24!

3.5/5 ⭐️

Cozy and Sweet Baseball Romance!

This book was giving Hallmark sports romance. It was a sweet story with zero spice following a baseball playing single dad and his nanny. Many sweet family moments with surface level conflict. It was an easy listen, and the narrators Tim Paige and Charlotte North were great.


Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ALC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Annah Conwell novels! They are sweet romances that I can count on to be closed door but still always include heartfelt connections and delightful characters. "The Double Play" is a sports romance and reminded me so much of a Jenny Proctor or Emma St. Clair series--I read (well, listened to because I had a audio ARC of this one) this in one day!! Told from dual POV (which don't we all love that??), this is a grumpy/sunshine, nanny, he falls first (kinda?) trope but done very tastefully. I loved every character and the narration was wonderful. A solid 4 star that I would highly recommend. **I received a complimentary audio ARC from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Swoon. Sigh. Swoon…aaannnd repeat until the very last word. This is the kind of grumpy/sunshine romance I am crazy for! Every delicious detail plays out to perfection. It’s funny and emotional and heart-palpitatingly romantical. Emmett and Hazel sizzle every time they are on page together and their inner conflicted musings are the kind that wrap a sensitive reader up in knots.

Love the way the story unfolds as their relationship slowly develops and I so appreciate the way the author avoids using cliche conflict to stymie the romantic progression. Every bump along the road is thoughtfully deliberate and understandable but not impossible to overcome.

And, oh my, but there is something so toe-curling about a grumpy, gruff, bear of a guy who is completely besotted with his pint-size pixie of a daughter. I melted so many times! And when Emmett goes into full protective mode – whether on behalf of his daughter or Hazel – well, hand me a fan and clear off my fainting couch!

Superb secondary characters including an all guy friend group for Emmett add depth and humour and occasional sage advice. This is the fourth book in Conwell’s ‘More Than a Game’ series but reads fine as a standalone. (I’ve only read one of the other books.) They each feature a different sport and the guy friends are all athletes. Oh — and no worries if you’re not a huge sports fan, the technical details are light and easy for a novice to grasp. And Hazel is just as clueless about baseball as I am, so that evened out the playing field (ha, see what I did there?!)

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition narrated by Tim Paige and Charlotte North. They captured the personalities of Emmett and Hazel and enhanced my ‘reading’ pleasure.

Sheer bibliophile bliss from start to finish!

My thanks to Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

The Double Play by Annah Conwell was the perfect blend of heart, humor, and healing. From the first page, I was hooked by the gentle rhythm of the story and the genuine warmth of the characters. This isn’t just a romance—it’s a story about second chances, emotional growth, and the quiet magic of love that builds over time.

What made it especially sweet and wholesome was how grounded the relationship felt. There was no unnecessary drama or toxic back-and-forth—just two people with real fears and flaws learning to trust again. The slow-burn tension was cozy rather than steamy, making it perfect for readers who love clean romance with emotional depth.

Annah Conwell has a gift for writing moments that feel tender and authentic—whether it’s a shared laugh over coffee, a vulnerable conversation under the stars, or a quiet act of kindness that speaks volumes. It’s the kind of book that leaves you smiling long after you turn the last page.

If you're looking for a feel-good read that will restore your faith in love and leave your heart full, The Double Play is a must.

What a sweet book! This book is a great sports themed single dad romance. This is a standalone in a four book sport romance series but as someone who didn’t realize that when I first downloaded it I believe it does a great job being a true standalone. I know that I will continue the series if we get more from this author I this series and I plan to go back and read the rest. Our book follows a single dad who is a professional baseball player. We have a sweet young girl in need of a nanny and that’s when we meet our female main character. As someone who knows nothing about baseball she is really thrown into a world she was not quite ready for. With everything going on in her own life their worlds slowly start to get entangled and before they know it they don’t know how split up they really wan their life to be.

I thought our main female character was sweet and had a lot of depth to her. The only thing I will say is the main male character felt a little under developed. We did not have a lot of insight into his decisions or emotions. I know we are not always meant to it was a little confusing when there was a big switch. This made the conclusion feel a little rushed. That being said it was a quick fun and romance read. I loved the connection that they shared and how a friendship really formed.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good single dad romance! Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This story is delightful. Just the kind of pleasant and yearny escapism that any good romance should be! An age gap, single father, grumpy/sunshine, nanny trope done so well. Excellent performances by the narrators. They really brought Hazel and Emmett to life and I wanted to live in their sweet story for way longer than the book lasted. This is the first Annah Connell romcom I’ve read and I’ll definitely plan to pick up the rest of the More Than a Game Series. Super wholesome, closed door as well for those who prefer less spice. Really lovely listen!

I absolutely ADORED this one from the queen of heat without spice-Annah Conwell! Seriously, this book was so swoony! Emmett was such a sweet girl dad and just a big, grumpy teddy bear! I loved the nanny/single dad trope, as well as, sweet June and Hazel’s dynamic!
The narrators really blew it out of the park with this one as well! love it!
Thank you Netgalley for my copy!!

This book had me smiling from beginning to end!

I love how protective Emmett is and how sweet he is under the protective shell he's created. I absolutely adore the relationships between each of the MCs and Emmett's daughter June. This really is just the sweetest love story all the way around.

I have loved this entire series, but this one is my favorite!

The narrators did an amazing job bringing the characters to life. They were engaging and emotive. I will definitely be listening to this one again!

Overall this book was cute, but it felt stuffed full of unnecessary details and what read like a stream of boring diary entries from the FMC despite the book being fairly short. the plot needed more meat