Imagine lying in a hospital bed and the doctor who pulls the curtain back to treat you is the one who got away. Even if you never really had her in the first place. She’s not only your high school crush, she’s the ex-girlfriend of your ex-best friend. The one girl you’ve always wanted.Here’s a step-by-step list to finally win her over… she snuck back into town without telling you—six months ago.
Key to win #2: Rekindle the friendship to ease the awkwardness. But… DO NOT enter the friend zone.
Key to win #3: Ignore the fact that she went speed dating the night before. Take it as good a sign—maybe she’s looking for a relationship.
Key to win #4: Attempt to keep the two of you out of the town gossip blog and away from your large family.
Make sure you don’t let this last one throw you off your mission.
Key to win #5: Don’t get deterred when you find out the past is about to repeat itself. Because the man she met at the speed dating night is your best buddy from work.
Just remember, you sat back and let her slip away once, you won’t do it a second time. Failure is not an option.
Author Note: This book does NOT contain cheating.
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Go Kingston!!
When I started to read Winning my Best Friend’s Girl I didn’t know what to expect. But as I continued reading the story between Kingston and Stella my love for them grew. This whole book is just sweet and passionate. I loved the dynamic between Kingston and Stella and even their interactions with their friends and family.
Winning my Best Friend’s Girl is beautiful and heartfelt. I’m totally in love with Kingstella (and yes I created my own ship name). So GO KINGSTELLA!!
I listened to the audiobook on Hoopla, but this was not one of my favs. I had been waiting to read Kingston and Stella story. I liked Kingston, but all the “stepping aside” for his best friend a SECOND time was a bit much.
I didn’t get much of a feeling of chemistry between Kingston and Stella at all. Stella was a medical resident, and she behaved like she was still in high school. She was still holding on to crap from 8-10 years ago. Ridiculous! Hiding out because she wasn’t ready to face him. Then dating Lou but not really liking him that way, yet knowing he was interested in a relationship.
Also, Stella didn’t need to be AA. There was nothing about her other than her “locs” and skin tone to indicate her race. She had no friends other than the Bailey’s or the nurse at the hospital. She seemed to be the only paid in the entire town, or in Anchorage. I didn’t see the point.
They couldn’t communicate or didn’t communicate, couldn’t be honest with one another, etc. It was entirely to frustrating. By the time they got together, I didn’t care. Also, I think this would have been better if Grandma Dori had been a bigger part of the book.
When it was finally revealed what happened between Kingston and Owen, I was so over the whole thing.
The amazing duo that is Piper Rayne has done it again!! Kingston’s story is one that both broke my heart and sewed it back together again. A truly great love story.
So since I’ve heard the mention of Kingston I have wanted his story! Piper and Rayne have just killed me with all the little snippets they would drop in previous books. And I needed his story. And of course I knew they wouldn’t disappoint all my questions were answered. I learned all of what happened with him and Stella. I appreciate how every single one of Piper Rayne’s book touches on something that we all need to open are eyes to. And this one actually has multiple lessons you can learn. Kingston and Stella will worm their way all the way to one of your favorite couples. As usual this book is freakin amazing and 5 stars isn’t enough!! A must read for sure!!!-By Tina
I absolutely love the Baileys series by Piper Rayne and always look forward to the next book. Kingston and Stella’s story in Winning My Best Friend’s Girl did not disappoint and was so worth the wait. I really enjoyed Kingston and Stella’s first encounter scenes and I could just feel the chemistry between them that apparently did not go away after all their years apart. The storytelling was amazing, full of emotions, humor and swoon worthy moments. I really enjoyed learning of Kingston and Stella’s backstory of how they first met and became friends. I loved seeing all the other Baileys throughout the book as Kingston and Stella finally admitted their love and got their HEA. And that ending was a doozy and I am so excited to read Sedona’s story next.
We finally get to know and understand, the infamous Kingston Bailey! And this Romeo doesn’t disappoint! So many new characters are introduced. This is an adrenaline junkies dream come true.
This was such a sweet, emotional story. I loved Kingston and Stella’s second chance. They drove me a bit crazy by getting in their own heads. I wanted to smack them! (And don’t get me started on Owen and his part in everything.) But they eventually got past it and once they got together, they couldn’t stay apart. They are obviously meant to be. I can’t wait for the final book! I have a feeling it will be a doozy!
As we get further into this series it seems it would be hard to give us another strong love story for this family, however it is still going strong.
Stella is the best fit for Kingston. She’s strong and stubborn while he kind of holds back on his emotions.
The chemistry sets fire to the pages and makes this an easy read. I’m dying to know the next love story…
Oooh.. The angst of unrequited love! Well thats what Kingston believes, that his love and dedication were never returned. Now with Stella back he is starting to get more of a picture of what really happened all those years ago.
A few challenges stand in his way…..another friend infatuated with her….his adventure loving craziness…..
I have fell in love with all of the Bailey’s. But Kingston and Stella’s story. WOW!! I think this one may be my favorite one out of all of the series. I love Kingston’s wild side and Stella’s innocence….The opposites attract.
Kingston and Stella’s story has a bit of angst and will tug at your heart. The characters in this story are perfect for one another.
Winning my Best Friends girl is the eighth book in the Bailey’s Series. I cannot wait for more of the Bailey’s and get my hands on Sedona’s and Jamieson’s story.
This time around in Lake Starlight we get the Kingston Bailey’s story…the one quiet sibling in the series who is a smoke jumper and fire fighter. His heart was taken by a girl he fell for back in high school; however, Stella Harrison ends up being his best friend’s girl.
Fast forward years later and their paths cross again. Everyone seem to know except Kingston and is not surprised that Stella kept her return on the down low. Now that the secret is out can they start over and let the past go? When their past history is reveal we have an understanding why all the hesitation is present. This is a second chance for Kingston and Stella and when they are seeing more of each other and they are face with the reality of why or why it may or may not work. They always had a strong chemistry but is that enough to risk for more? Cannot help what the heart wants and needs.
Get ready for some Bailey family and friends antics and meddling between Kingston and Stella. Cannot help but appreciate the love they have for one another. I cannot believe that we are getting close to the end of the series. That snippet on the next book will have your jaw dropping for more!
I totally devoured this book! I am so thrilled that I discovered this series because it is a total gem. Kingston and Stella’s story was so fitting for them. I will be so sad when this series ends.
Read: 7/28/2020
Winning My Best Friend’s Girl was the eighth book in the Bailey’s series by the authors Piper Rayne.
I liked both Kingston and Stella but I didn’t understand why they weren’t together. That part of the plot didn’t make sense to me. And I really liked Kingston but it was hard to understand how he was so alpha in everything but Stella. And with Stella,
It was well written and well developed. It was told from a double POV; however, we had splashes of the past sporadically to provide perspective. I enjoyed seeing glimpses of their childhood – how they met, the connection from day one, and their friendship. To understand their love, you have to understand their childhood. Their bond started young.
Overall I liked Kingston and Stella as people. A lot. But their reasons for not being together was frustrating. Kingston was an adrenaline junkie alpha – but not with Stella. And she was strong and independent, but she made stupid decisions…a lot. Once the authors weaved through the maze of everything Kingston and Stella, I enjoyed them as a couple.
I also enjoyed Allie and Lou. I’d love to see a storyline for them – together or separately, they are both awesome characters and would make a great start to a new spinoff series. But I digress…
I love the Bailey clan. All of them. And we’re finally getting Sedona’s story next in Rules For Dating Your Ex. And leave it to the authors to leave us with another twist. I can’t wait to read Buzzwheel’s perspective. I have an angle – but I’ll have to wait for it to come out to see whether I’m right!
Stella and Kingston has always had a complicated relationship. Until they graduated high school and Kingston thought this would finally be his chance. But then Stella decided to leave Lake Starlight and Kingston lost his scholarship to follow her.
Now eight years later and Stella is back but she didn’t tell Kingston and now it seems like history is bound to repeat itself. Or has Stella decided that she loves Ki gston more than being scared of losing him. And has Kingston finally decided to face his feelings for Stella and fight for the women he loves.
This book didn’t hold my attention like the previous books did. I found that Stella and Kingston were talking in circles with eac other. That if the just admitted to their insecurities and their feelings they didn’t have to repeat the same mistakes from their pasts. I am excited for Sedona story. I know it’s going to be an amazing one. Especially with Jamison wanting a second chance
Kingston Bailey, the one we know so little about. Every time Kingston’s name and what he does has been mentioned, I always hear “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins playing in my head. But what I wasn’t ready for was the emotions that I felt while reading Kingston and Stella’s story.
These two can’t seem to get their timing right but now that Kingston knows Stella is back in town, is it their time, or is Stella not ready for her adventure?
Like every other book in this series, you will have so many fun family moments. Plus, Grandma D and her NEW fan club (wink, wink). I don’t think I’m ready for this series to end but I know I need the final book ASAP!
Kingston Bailey is the most daring of the Bailey clan with being a firefighter and spending his summers as a smoke jumper fighting forest fires. He’s never gotten in a serious relationship as he was in love with someone that was never his but instead belonged to his ex-best friend.
When Kingston gets injured in a work accident he wonders how hard he hit his head when Stella Harrison walks into his hospital room as his doctor. Now Kingston will do whatever it takes to get Stella to finally give him the chance he’s been looking for all these years before she moves onto his current best friend.
This is another awesome book in the Bailey family and I really think we need to get more siblings as I never want this series to end!
I really like Kingston and have been wanting his book for a long time! He’s the most daring of the Bailey clan with not having any relationship to make him rethink his career choices but he is also so loyal to his family and I loved that he had Sedona living with him once Juneau moved out.
I felt bad for Kingston that he had wanted Stella for so long but his ex-best friend Owen beat him to ask her out, even though Owen knew how Kingston felt. It was interesting to see all the interactions between them all as it really seemed like Owen was jealous of the Bailey clan and Kingston which was why he went after Stella.
I liked Stella but I was pretty confused on why she didn’t want Kingston to know she was back in town for so long. Then when history began to repeat itself I was so frustrated!! I liked Stella and I was so mad that she was trying to keep Kingston at a distance when it was obvious how much she did care about him.
I knew that the ski hill was either going to be a complete disaster or the most wonderful thing that could happen!! It was definitely a mix and it completely kept me entertained!
There was a moment where Kingston confesses how he feels and he’s been chasing Stella for so long and my heart broke for him. I loved his honesty and I felt horrible for him and I knew it was up to Stella to figure out what she wanted in her own life.
Towards the end of the book we began to get a peek into what was coming next with Sedona and news that Jamieson was not doing well and making bad choices so I knew more would be coming!!!
I loved the end when Kingston is involved in something that scares the heck out of him and how that made him re-evaluate everything!!!
Can’t wait for the next book!!
Friends from the day they met, Kingston and Stella shared an immediate bond. But, years later when Stella becomes caught between best friends Kingston and Owen and their former friendship is torn apart, Stella runs and doesn’t look back.
It’s now 8 years later, and Stella is back in Lake Starlight to help her mom . . . and once again, finds herself caught between Kingston and one of his friends.
Can King and Stella be only friends? Can they be more? Should the try to be either? They have so much baggage and seem to come from different life philosophies. King is an adrenaline junkie and Stella is terrified of losing the person she loves too early. Can he give up his adventurous ways? Will she let fear rule her life?
Piper Rayne knocked it out of the park with this second chance love story! I loved seeing all of the glimpses into King and Stella’s past to give insight into their personalities. I adored watching them compromise to try and find a future together and to take a chance at a relationship to re-evaluate what really matters in life.
And for series fans, all I have to say is Sedona! This author duo just dropped a bomb on this Baily sibling and I cannot wait! 5 stars!
I HATE Stella!! Really, the book is good because the authors are excellent and the Baileys sibling too. Nevertheless Stella in a shame for us women. Kingston is great and he deserves better. I was disappointed for the first time in this series. Sorry Piper & Rayne! I hope he divorces her and meets someone really great for him
Winning My Best Friend’s Girl by Piper Rayne was a good read for me. This was my first time reading a book by this author. This is book 8 of her popular The Baileys series. I would suggest reading the previous books in this series. I will have to go back and read them because I was a little lost when beginning this book.
Winning My Best Friend’s Girl is about the romance between used to be best friends Stella Harrison and Kingston Bailey. Stella is a doctor and Kingston is a firefighter. The book begins when Kingston and his fellow firefighters are talking about a speed dating event while they are out fighting a fire. When he finds out who his fellow coworker who the woman he met name, Kingston gets injured in the fire. While he is in the hospital, which is when he finds out that his best friend Stella is back in town.
When Stella and Kingston see each other for the first time, it is at the hospital where she works and Kingston is a patient there. The chemistry between the pair is still hot between them. When Kingston wants to pursue something mote with Stella, she tells him that they can only be friends. Kingston knows that Stella is the woman for him and so he begins his campaign to win her back.
Will Kington be able to win Stella’s heart? You will have to read Winning My Best Friend’s Heart by Piper Rayne. I really enjoyed the book once I got into it. It had plenty of romance. The storyline was awesome and it moved seamlessly. Overall, it is an awesome book.
Make sure to grab a copy of Winning My Best Friend’s Heart by Piper Rayne.
Piper Rayne have gifted us with another Bailey! This is book 8 out of the 9 siblings. Yes. That means only one more Bailey after this. I’m sad as well. However, let’s push that to the side for a long time and get excited about Kingston and Stella’s story. Let’s just say – FINALLY!!!
Kingston is the baby of the family and has flirted in and out of his siblings’ books. As a Bailey series reader would come to expect, all the siblings have their noses in King’s book at some point and in some form. With that said, this is a stand alone novel. While the siblings are close and feature in the plot and movement of the story, a reader can pick this off the shelf to read and won’t feel lost. Although…a family tree in the beginning of the Bailey’s books would be a cool add.
Kingston and Stella stretch over a few different genres. They are friends to lovers, a second chance romance, and a best friend’s ex story. King and Stella met in elementary school. Stella was paired with King and Owen to help get her settled on her first day. Stella was already drawn to King, but sharing losses of parents cemented their friendship from the start.
Stella left Alaska after graduation and moved to New York City for college and her residency. She decides to move back to Alaska when her mom is diagnosed with lupus. Stella doesn’t alert King that she’s back and it’s a great surprise moment for them when he winds up in her ER.
Piper and Rayne have written such a great plot that moves in and out of present day and the past. We finally get King’s background as well as who Stella is. The memories of different aged King, Stella and Owen add a richness to the plot as well as showcasing how these two have loved each other all their lives, they just don’t recognize it.
Stella’s character is driven by so much. Grieving her father who died when she was young and watching her mom never date or remarry has left her with some deep fears. Layered on that is guilt that Stella feels over dating Owen in high school. She blames herself for the fight that Owen and King had which cost King his scholarship and college education. As the very topping of the cake of guilt, love, regrets, and fears? Stella just started dating King’s new best friend. It seems that history is repeating itself.
King is shocked when Stella walks into his ER room as his treating physician. He’s hurt that she didn’t tell him she was back in Alaska. His family is ecstatic to have Stella back as she was such a huge part of King’s life.
These two friends circle cautiously around each other as King never stopped loving Stella but refuses to go another round of her dating his best friend. Stella is horrified to essentially find herself back home and in the exact situation she left in.
King and Stella eventually do find their way through to the relationship that they are meant to have. They wok through the concerns over their fears and the concerns their families point out gently, regarding any relationship they would have being an interracial one. They talk about the past hurts of Stella leaving without a goodbye and a return home without a hello. They each come to terms with how the entire situation with Owen occurred and what they wished they had done. It also takes Stella opening up to King about how his adrenaline rush hobbies scare her to death because they mean he may not come back home to her. This is truly the last roadblock she has to committing to him. For his part, King has to live through a bigger and scarier moment while chasing his adrenaline high to recognize where his real priorities and love are.
As a Bailey family reader needs, there are the unavoidable Bailey sibling input sessions and Grandma Dori. These alone could carry a book without any other plot Austin drove me crazy in King and Stella’s story. He’s in overprotective big bother mode for the most part, but keeps giving King conflicting advice. Then there are the rest of them who don’t understand why Stella isn’t already a family member. Throw in some fun and unique situations with his female family members…such as when he thought Holly was seducing him in her office…and you have honest laugh out loud funny yet fully familial comedy.
The best line ever from King was:
“Hey, Holly, I know I can look a little like Austin, but I can’t fill his shoes in every way.”
Denver also tries to take credit for a seduction scene that he did not set up or plan. He’s caught out pretty quickly on that one though.
My biggest tangent piece that touched me was the afterword from Piper and Rayne.
King and Stella are obviously an interracial couple. This is still a reason for comment today. It shouldn’t be but it is. Piper and Rayne wrote this fact into the story quietly for the most part. Stella’s skin tone is mentioned a few times as a point of physical attraction King sees. And his character also mentions her locs and different hair styles that an African American woman would wear. At the end of the day though, King and Stella’s story is about human to human interaction, their emotions, their attraction to each other and their love.
Piper and Rayne let us know the process they went through in finalizing this book to make sure they got things right for Stella. I liked that they were open about this. They genuinely have love and respect for this woman they’ve created and just like if she were a living soul, they made sure to treat all of her with respect. Thank you ladies. For Stella, for making sure she was cared for, and for the Baileys.