Cozy, swoon-worthy romance
I write romance to make you laugh, smile, and cry all at the same time!
First Base
chicago heartbreakers book #1
It was just a game... until the rules changed.
Baseball photographer Maggie Redford is happy to watch life from the stands. At twenty-five, she's already lost the love of her life and is content to focus on her job snapping shots of Chicago's MLB team instead of her lovelife. But Maggie's thrown a curveball when the team signs Tommy Mikals, a tattooed hotshot whose talent for making plays is matched by a playboy reputation.
Tommy knows he was traded because his last team grew tired of his tabloid escapades, but he's looking at this season as a chance at redemption. Vowing to give up his party-boy ways, he can't afford to be distracted by the gorgeous team photographer.
When a wild team outing leads to Maggie getting caught on the wrong side of the camera with Tommy, the photo goes viral—making Maggie look like just another of Tommy’s hook-ups. With his reputation and her job at risk, the PR team devises a plan: fake a romance to convince the world that the two are an established couple.
But as their pretend relationship plays out in the spotlight, real feelings come into play. Maggie's already loved and lost, Tommy's never learned to commit: Can they even make it past first base?
Going for Two
chicago heartbreakers book #2
From the author of First Base comes the second swoon-worthy romance in the Chicago Heartbreakers series.
Legendary quarterback Nolan Hill has one last shot at a Super Bowl, but it means rehabbing the old injury that's threatening to end his career. When he meets his new physical therapist, Lottie Thompson, his guard goes up. This beautiful and infuriating woman says he needs a new game plan--and stubborn Nolan isn't willing to concede.
Charlotte “Lottie” Thompson has turned a love of football into a successful career as a physical therapist. When Lottie gets her dream job with the Chicago Bobcats, she's assigned to work with Nolan--and the two immediately clash. But neither will back down, and the more time they spend together, the more these sworn enemies realize that the sparks between them aren’t hatred, but something else entirely...
Coming soon!
chicago heartbreakers book #3
From the author of First Base comes the third swoon-worthy romance in the Chicago Heartbreakers series.
Full blurb coming soon!
I have been writing stories since I was a kid on my parents' desktop computer and then later on in my journals in high school. Once I went off to college, I ended up getting into Bookstagram where I reviewed for Penguin Random House. I graduated college in 2020, the year of Covid, and when my senior softball season was cut short, I was left trying to figure out what was next after all my plans post-graduation were canceled.
After struggling for some time, my fiancé encouraged me to try to write after listening to me talk about it for months. So I sat down in August of 2022 and started the first draft of what is now known as FIRST BASE. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. Google, Reddit, and blogs were my best friend while I tried to figure out the process. I eventually started querying my finished draft in October of 2022. After 101 no's I ended up getting a flurry of interest late June 2023, which led me to my wonderful agent, Saskia Leach with Kate Nash Literary Agency. Saskia and I worked on FIRST BASE for a month before we went on submission the third week of September in 2023.
One week later I had my first offer of publication, which is still hard for me to comprehend. Two days later, I had my second offer of publication. Then all of a sudden a girl from a small, rural town in the middle of Illinois was going to auction with her debut novel. My deal was announced in February 2024 (finally) and I haven't gotten off the roller coaster ride since.
Hi, I'm Ally!
I'm so glad you're here!
welcome to my little corner of the internet.
diet dr. pepper supporter
i am the #1
huge video gamer
i am a
as a crazy cat lady
i could be classified in some circles
retired collegiate softball pitcher
i am a
(to places I can hike specifically)
i love to travel
celiac disease
i have
"Are you kidding me?! This was SO CUTE. What an incredible debut novel. This book was heartwarming, sweet, and emotional in all the best ways. I read First Base in one sitting because I was hooked on Maggie + Tommy’s story from the very beginning. These MC’s were both easy to connect with, and so lovable. I empathized with each of them. Having a front row seat as they healed themselves and found true happiness made my heart so happy."
goodreads reviewer
"I could not put this book down!! I’m a sucker for a good sports romance! I literally devoured the book. The plot was so good. Maggie’s development throughout the book was so rewarding it had you hooked from the very beginning. I absolutely loved this book! One of my favorite reads of the year!"
goodreads reviewer
"Wow wow wow!!! I loved this!! I just sucked in from the first page and I don’t even like baseball! The writing was beautifully done, easy to read, the characters had some serious chemistry, the tension was through the roof, and it felt like it wasn’t long enough! I wanted more of them."
goodreads reviewer
"Grab a box of tissues. This book will give you all the feelings. I laughed and cried so much. It will hit you right in the heart. I really loved this book and it is in the running for my favorite book of April. I loved Maggie and Tommy. I usually don't like fake romances but this one was done so well. Add this to your must read list."
goodreads reviewer
"I was not expecting to feel so many emotions while reading this book - from happiness to sorrow to hope and everything in between. Maggie is recovering from a traumatic experience and Tommy is doing his best to shed his old image. Seeing both of them grow in their journey was so heartwarming and special to witness."
goodreads reviewer
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Get in touch
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Agent: saskia@katenashlit.co.uk
Email me at allywiegand@gmail.com
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