Sacked by Surprise, ebook

She is only a friend. Then why does he risk his rugby career to keep her safe?

This ebook is on preorder and will be available on 10 April 2026.

Scottie

I stay in the background to make my teammates look like Gods. I keep to myself. But when a ballet dancer sits down next to me in a cinema in Stirling, I make a mistake: I let her in.

Ava's my teammate's girlfriend and off limits. She's bruised in places she won't let me see. All I'm supposed to be is her friend. But every Tuesday in that cinema, I fall harder for a woman I can't have.

I'd burn my career to keep her safe. What I can't do is tell her that I’m falling in love with her, because it would destroy our friendship – and my team.

Ava

I'm a professional dancer trapped in a toxic relationship. My boyfriend's temper is escalating. My injury is threatening my ballet career. And the only person I trust is the quietest, largest man in Scottish rugby.

Scottie doesn't ask questions. He shows up. When my relationship finally shatters, he gets me out, drives me to the Highlands, and opens the door to a family that treats me as one of their own.

The problem? I'm falling for my friend. And if I cross that line, I'll lose the only person who ever made me feel safe.

Sacked by Surprise is a friends-to-lovers rugby romance and the third standalone in the Scottish Rugby Rebels series.

A protective rugby hero who falls first. A ballet dancer rebuilding her life after a toxic relationship. A slow-burn love story set between Stirling and the Scottish Highlands.

FOR FANS OF sports romance with gut-punch emotional depth and a friends-to-lovers burn so slow it leaves scorch marks.

Reader Guide & Book Details

Genre & Mood

• Genre: Contemporary romance, Scottish romance, sports romance, rugby romance, friends to lovers romance
• Mood: Emotional, spicy, healing, banter-filled, hopeful
• Setting: Stirling, Oban, Scotland, rugby stadium, old cinema, ballet studio
• Heat Level: Open door / spicy

Key Tropes & Themes

• Friends to lovers: They become close friends – with all the banter – before they fall for each other
• Hurt/ comfort: He helps her escape and defends her
• Forced proximity: Staying at his family home in the Highlands
• Only one bed: He stays with her during a nightmare
• Healing from abuse: DV survivor arc handled with care
• Slow burn & high heat: Emotional buildup leading to intense chemistry
• Bonus elements: ballet, banter, Scottish rugby culture, disability rep

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sacked by Surprise a standalone?

Yes and no. This is Book 3 in the Scottish Rugby Rebels series. It features a complete story with a satisfying conclusion and can be read independently. But it's also part of a larger story.

Does it have a happy ending?

Yes. The book concludes with a cute and comforting happy ending for the couple, without any cliffhanger.

Do I need to understand rugby to enjoy this?

No. While the book features a rugby setting, the story focuses on the romance, chemistry, and characters. You don't need to know the rules of the sport to enjoy the love story. But bonus points if you do!