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series Reading Order

Play-By-Play Books in Order

18 Books
2011 – 2018 Published
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Reading order

Start Here: Recommended Reading Order

Jaci Burton’s bestselling Play-By-Play series is a cornerstone of modern sports romance. Spanning football fields, baseball diamonds, hockey rinks, and race tracks, the series delivers a high-heat, emotionally rich look at professional athletes finding love. While each novel is written as a self-contained, standalone romance focusing on a different couple, reading them in publication order is highly recommended.

Because the characters are members of tight-knit families and close teammate circles, they frequently reappear in later books as supporting characters. Reading the books out of order will expose spoilers regarding which past couples got married, who had children, and how their careers progressed. Following the publication timeline allows you to watch the Riley and Cassidy family trees grow organically while enjoying the series’ overarching timeline.

The Play-By-Play Books in Publication Order

  1. The Perfect Play (2011) – The book that started it all. Professional football star Mick Riley falls hard for single mother and event planner Tara Lincoln, setting the stage for the series' signature mix of family bonds and athletic drama.
  2. Changing the Game (2011) – Focuses on Mick's brother, Gavin Riley, a pro baseball player who clashes—and falls in love—with ambitious sports agent Liz Darnell.
  3. Taking a Shot (2012) – Focuses on Jenna Riley, the sister who runs the family sports bar. Despite her strict rule against dating athletes, she finds herself falling for professional hockey player Tyler Anderson.
  4. Playing to Win (2012) – Cole Riley, a former NFL quarterback, tries to repair his public image with the help of public relations expert Sierra Grayson, leading to an intense office romance.
  5. Thrown by a Curve (2013) – Moves outside the immediate Riley family to baseball pitcher Garrett Connor and physical therapist Alicia Richardson, who is tasked with getting him back in the game.
  6. One Sweet Ride (2013) – Shifts gears to the fast-paced world of motor sports, following championship race car driver Gray Preston and PR representative Evelyn Brooks.
  7. Holiday Games (2013) – The first novella in the series (often numbered as Book 6.5). It brings the Riley family back together for a festive holiday gathering filled with love and life updates.
  8. Melting the Ice (2014) – Focuses on professional hockey player Drew Miller and Carolina Preston (sister of racer Gray Preston), who must overcome their pasts to build a future together.
  9. Straddling the Line (2014) – Professional football player Trevor Sherborn is determined to win over Haven Braden, the sister of one of his teammates.
  10. Holiday on Ice (2014) – A festive novella (Book 8.5) focusing on the Preston family holiday celebrations, bringing back characters from One Sweet Ride and Melting the Ice.
  11. Quarterback Draw (2015) – Introduces the Cassidy family. Star NFL quarterback Grant Cassidy navigates a high-profile romance with hard-working supermodel Katrina Koslova.
  12. All Wound Up (2015) – Focuses on Grant’s brother, star baseball pitcher Tucker Cassidy, who falls for Dr. Aubry Ross, the daughter of the team's owner.
  13. Hot Holiday Nights (2015) – A tropical holiday novella (Book 10.5) following sports agent Victoria Baldwin as she matches wits and hearts with professional surfer Jaxson Prescott.
  14. Unexpected Rush (2016) – Follows Barrett Cassidy, a football player for the Tampa Hawks, who falls for Harmony Evans, the sister of his best friend and teammate.
  15. Mistletoe Games (2016) – A holiday collection that brings together the three previously published holiday novellas (Holiday Games, Holiday on Ice, and Hot Holiday Nights) in one volume.
  16. Rules of Contact (2016) – Focuses on Flynn Cassidy, a defensive end for the San Francisco Sabers, who falls for professional chef Amelia Lawrence.
  17. The Final Score (2017) – A friends-to-lovers romance that beautifully merges the two core families, following Nathan Riley (star quarterback and son of Gavin and Liz from Book 2) and his longtime friend Mia Cassidy.
  18. Shot on Gold (2018) – Expands the series to the international stage at the Winter Games, tracking the chemistry between professional hockey player Will Kincaid and figure skater Amber Spenser.

Understanding the Main Character Connections

To help navigate the sprawling list of characters, the series can be broken down into distinct narrative arcs and family units:

  • The Riley Family (Books 1–4, 7): These early books follow the siblings Mick, Gavin, Jenna, and Cole as they find their matches. Their loving, sports-oriented parents act as the glue holding the stories together.
  • Teammates and Crossovers (Books 5, 6, 8, 9, 10): These entries expand the universe to include professional baseball players, hockey players, and race car drivers connected to the Rileys' social and professional circles.
  • The Cassidy Family (Books 11, 12, 14, 16): This subseries centers around the Cassidy siblings—Grant, Tucker, Barrett, and Flynn—navigating their high-profile athletic careers and romantic lives.
  • The Next Generation (Book 17): The Final Score serves as a grand crossover and next-generation romance, pairing Mick and Gavin’s extended family circle with the Cassidys as Nathan Riley falls for Mia Cassidy.

What to Know Before You Start

The Play-By-Play series is celebrated for its highly authentic sports settings. Jaci Burton integrates real game-day tension, locker room camaraderie, and sports-world logistics into the narratives. Beyond the sports, these are high-heat contemporary romances with strong, independent heroines who have their own careers, from PR agents and chefs to physical therapists and event planners.

While the three holiday novellas are optional, they are highly recommended for fans who want to check in on their favorite couples. The easiest way to read them is through the Mistletoe Games anthology, which compiles them chronologically. If you are looking for similar books after finishing the series, Jaci Burton's Hope series offers a similar blend of emotional depth, small-town community, and family warmth.

Frequently Asked

QCan Jaci Burton’s Play-By-Play books be read as standalones?

Yes, every book in the series features a self-contained romance with a clear resolution, meaning they can be enjoyed individually. However, reading them in publication order is recommended to avoid spoilers about previous couples' marriages, children, and careers.

QWhich families are at the center of the Play-By-Play series?

The series primarily follows two large, interconnected families: the Riley family (featured in the early books) and the Cassidy family (introduced in the later books).

QWhere is the best place to start reading the series?

The ideal starting point is The Perfect Play (2011), which introduces the Riley family, establishes the tone of the sports romance world, and sets up recurring characters who appear throughout the series.

QWhat is the difference between the main novels and the holiday novellas?

The main novels are full-length, standalone romances focusing on new couples. The holiday novellas (like Holiday Games) are shorter stories designed to check back in on previously established couples and show how their families are growing.

QWhat is the Mistletoe Games book?

Mistletoe Games is a 2016 holiday anthology that collects three previously published Play-By-Play novellas: Holiday Games, Holiday on Ice, and Hot Holiday Nights.

QDoes the series feature different professional sports?

Yes, the series showcases a wide variety of athletics, including professional football, baseball, hockey, auto racing, surfing, and Olympic figure skating.