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The Baller: A Down and Dirty Football Novel
From New York Times & USA Today Bestseller, Vi Keeland, comes a sexy new standalone novel.
The first time I met Brody Easton was in the men's locker room.
It was my first interview as a professional sportscaster.
The famed quarterback decided to bare all.
And by all, I don't mean he told me any of his secrets.
No. The arrogant ass decided to drop his towel, just as I asked the first question. On camera.
The Super Bowl MVP quickly adopted a new hobby--screwing with me.
When I pushed back, he shifted from wanting to screw with me, to wanting to screw me.
But I don't date players.
And it's not because I'm one of the few women working in the world of professional football.
I'd date an athlete.
It's the other kind of player I don't date.
You know the type. Good looking, strong, cocky, always looking to get laid.
Brody Easton was the ultimate player.
Every woman wanted to be the one to change him.
But the truth was, all he needed was a girl worth changing for.
Turned out, I was that girl.
Simple right? Let's face it. It never is.
There's a story between once upon a time and happily ever after...
And this one is ours.
Author's note - The Baller is a full-length standalone novel. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.
The first time I met Brody Easton was in the men's locker room.
It was my first interview as a professional sportscaster.
The famed quarterback decided to bare all.
And by all, I don't mean he told me any of his secrets.
No. The arrogant ass decided to drop his towel, just as I asked the first question. On camera.
The Super Bowl MVP quickly adopted a new hobby--screwing with me.
When I pushed back, he shifted from wanting to screw with me, to wanting to screw me.
But I don't date players.
And it's not because I'm one of the few women working in the world of professional football.
I'd date an athlete.
It's the other kind of player I don't date.
You know the type. Good looking, strong, cocky, always looking to get laid.
Brody Easton was the ultimate player.
Every woman wanted to be the one to change him.
But the truth was, all he needed was a girl worth changing for.
Turned out, I was that girl.
Simple right? Let's face it. It never is.
There's a story between once upon a time and happily ever after...
And this one is ours.
Author's note - The Baller is a full-length standalone novel. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.
ebook
First published January 18, 2016
About the author
Vi Keeland
114 books31k followersVi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and
USA Today
Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles have appeared in over one hundred Bestseller lists and are currently translated in twenty-six languages. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.
Stop by and meet Vi in her private reader group on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/ViKee...
Stop by and meet Vi in her private reader group on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/ViKee...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,851 reviews
January 26, 2016
::: FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED ::::
Sports romance fans! If you’re looking for a fun, sexy, addictive new book with awesome banter and just enough angst to keep you flipping those pages, you have to try this!
I’m gonna admit, it was the blurb that totally sold me on the book. Here, see for yourself:
Teehee! Seeeeee??
I loved that even though this was a hot and sexy romance, it still had a really strong story at it’s core. I loved that they they didn’t just jump straight into bed together without a second thought. I loved that she set her standards and kept them. I loved that he showed himself to be such an amazing guy over the course of the book. They began as opposites — she was looking for something more than just a fun night, and that was pretty much exactly what he was offering. But the more she refused him, the more he began to realize that he cared for her enough to want a little more. It was a fun transition to watch! Especially given how they kept running into each other professionally in their roles of reporter/player.
Now normally, I’d be a little annoyed at the heroine for pushing the hero away that much at first, but I gotta say that in this case, I was firmly on her side of the line. I understood her concerns. They were valid and made sense, because as much as a hot and dirty night with a famous sports player might sound good in theory, I can totally see why she’d want either more or nothing. I got her.
Naturally though, this forced him to face the fact that what he wanted from her was genuinely more than just a quick lay and it made him realize that he’d have to offer up more of himself if he ever actually wanted a chance with the girl he couldn’t stop thinking about.
I also really liked that even though it was a more light-hearted type of romance, there was a bit of a more serious backstory to do with his past. I though this was very well balanced and helped give the story more depth as we found out more of his past in bits and pieces over the book when he slowly began to open up to her over their dates and nights together.
There is a wee bit of a triangle scare — but it doesn’t go anywhere. I was worried it would (which is why I didn’t say anything about this book until I was done reading) because Brody’s past comes back into his life in a big way — but I actually really loved the way he handled it. Even though I’ll admit that I actually wasn’t fond of this part of the story and did get frustrated with it. But I understand it’s purpose in creating tension and admittedly it did keep me flipping those pages. Honestly I think most readers would be totally fine with it though and looking back on the book now, it doesn’t bother me. So basically, if you’re reading and you’re not a fan of triangles and you get worried… this is just me reassuring you. It’s all good.
I have to say though that this book was really addictive. I read it in one sitting and didn’t want to stop reading. It was fun and flirty, hot and sexy, and laced with feels that tugged my heart strings. Not to mention that the epilogue was reeeeeally sweet. This was definitely a really great read!
If you’re a fan of hot, addictive sports romance, then this book is a must-read!
Rating: 4 — 4.5 stars.
Standalone sports romance.
__________________________
For more of my reviews, book news and updates:
✦ Main blog: Aestas Book Blog
✦ Facebook Blog Page
✦ Twitter
✦ Subscribe by email
Sports romance fans! If you’re looking for a fun, sexy, addictive new book with awesome banter and just enough angst to keep you flipping those pages, you have to try this!
I’m gonna admit, it was the blurb that totally sold me on the book. Here, see for yourself:
"The first time I met Brody Easton was in the men’s locker room. It was my first interview as a professional sportscaster. The famed quarterback decided to bare all. And by all, I don’t mean he told me any of his secrets. No. The arrogant ass decided to drop his towel, just as I asked the first question. On camera. The Super Bowl MVP quickly adopted a new hobby—screwing with me.
When I pushed back, he shifted from wanting to screw with me, to wanting to screw me. But I don’t date players. And it’s not because I’m one of the few women working in the world of professional football. I’d date an athlete. It’s the other kind of player I don’t date. You know the type. Good looking, strong, cocky, always looking to get laid.
Brody Easton was the ultimate player. Every woman wanted to be the one to change him. But the truth was, all he needed was a girl worth changing for. Turned out, I was that girl.
Simple right?
Let’s face it. It never is.
There’s a story between once upon a time and happily ever after… And this one is ours."
Teehee! Seeeeee??
I loved that even though this was a hot and sexy romance, it still had a really strong story at it’s core. I loved that they they didn’t just jump straight into bed together without a second thought. I loved that she set her standards and kept them. I loved that he showed himself to be such an amazing guy over the course of the book. They began as opposites — she was looking for something more than just a fun night, and that was pretty much exactly what he was offering. But the more she refused him, the more he began to realize that he cared for her enough to want a little more. It was a fun transition to watch! Especially given how they kept running into each other professionally in their roles of reporter/player.
“Does dinner mean sleeping with you?”
“Hopefully when it’s over. But if you want to switch things up a bit and get to the f*ckng first, I’m happy to oblige.”
“No, thanks.”
“Relax, I’m joking. Dinner means dinner. You know, I take you out to some overpriced restaurant where we share a meal and I tell you how great I am.”
“Gee. How can I turn that invitation down?”
He winked. “That’s what I thought. I am sort of irresistible.”
“If you don’t say so yourself.”
Now normally, I’d be a little annoyed at the heroine for pushing the hero away that much at first, but I gotta say that in this case, I was firmly on her side of the line. I understood her concerns. They were valid and made sense, because as much as a hot and dirty night with a famous sports player might sound good in theory, I can totally see why she’d want either more or nothing. I got her.
Naturally though, this forced him to face the fact that what he wanted from her was genuinely more than just a quick lay and it made him realize that he’d have to offer up more of himself if he ever actually wanted a chance with the girl he couldn’t stop thinking about.
“I don’t think women want romance as much as they think they do.”
I cackled. “You don’t know women very well.”
“Oh, but I think I do. I think most women, especially women who work hard and have a lot on their mind, prefer a man to come home, lift her off her feet and take her against the wall rather than hand her some bullshit flowers and pussyfoot around with sweet gestures all night.”
“We like bullshit flowers and sweet gestures.”
“Then you haven’t been fucked properly against a wall.”
I also really liked that even though it was a more light-hearted type of romance, there was a bit of a more serious backstory to do with his past. I though this was very well balanced and helped give the story more depth as we found out more of his past in bits and pieces over the book when he slowly began to open up to her over their dates and nights together.
There is a wee bit of a triangle scare — but it doesn’t go anywhere. I was worried it would (which is why I didn’t say anything about this book until I was done reading) because Brody’s past comes back into his life in a big way — but I actually really loved the way he handled it. Even though I’ll admit that I actually wasn’t fond of this part of the story and did get frustrated with it. But I understand it’s purpose in creating tension and admittedly it did keep me flipping those pages. Honestly I think most readers would be totally fine with it though and looking back on the book now, it doesn’t bother me. So basically, if you’re reading and you’re not a fan of triangles and you get worried… this is just me reassuring you. It’s all good.
I have to say though that this book was really addictive. I read it in one sitting and didn’t want to stop reading. It was fun and flirty, hot and sexy, and laced with feels that tugged my heart strings. Not to mention that the epilogue was reeeeeally sweet. This was definitely a really great read!
“So you really don’t have anything against women in the locker room?”
“I have something against you in the locker room.” He pulled me from sitting to lying on top of him.
“Why?”
“Because the only dick I want you seeing these days in mine.”
“That’s an oddly sweet statement.”
“I’m an oddly sweet kinda guy. Now shut up and kiss me.”
If you’re a fan of hot, addictive sports romance, then this book is a must-read!
Rating: 4 — 4.5 stars.
Standalone sports romance.
__________________________
For more of my reviews, book news and updates:
✦ Main blog: Aestas Book Blog
✦ Facebook Blog Page
✦ Subscribe by email
April 12, 2022
3.75-4 stars
This was a very cute, very decent sports romance...That said, this about sums it up beyond that:
In other words, by next week, I fully expect to have forgotten practically everything about this book, with the exception of two things that reallyirkedstuck out to me:
1) As I said in a status update, one of the main characters here, Marlene, watches The Price is Right (every day apparently). For those who don't know what that is, it's a famous, long running game show that films on the west coast of the US. And I used to watch it every single day when off school during the summer.
However, in one scene of this book, Bob Barker is mentioned as being on screen. Which is great... Except Bob Barker hasn't hosted the show since 2007. So either they were watching taped re-runs or Drew Carrey (the current host) has suddenly morphed into a 92-year old man who cares about the spay and neutering of the pet population.
Another thing? At one point, the credits of the show are supposedly rolling and immediately after it's mentioned as being 1pm or something...
Except, whelp, the Price is Right films in LA. And airs at 10am. Meaning it would be over at 11am and not 1pm.
Re-runs? Perhaps. Taped previously? Perhaps. Still took me out of story? Indeed.
2) Two of the characters have a conversation about how one of them thinks it's lame that they have "bi-weeks" in the NFL.
Well, if they are referring to when a football team has on off-week, namely during play-off season - which IS what they are referring to here - then it is BYE-WEEK. Not a "bi-week..."
Loose definition:
"Each NFL team has one "bye week" during a normal season; this is placed on the team's schedule between Week 4 and Week 12. The NFL has used the bye week since 1990 so as to extend the 16-game regular season schedule to span 17 weeks. The 1993 NFL season spanned 18 weeks with each team having 2 bye weeks."
Now, are both of these things completely unimportant to the story line?
Yes.
But did these things still annoy me?
Yes.
And here's why.
When simple, seemingly meaningless details like these are jacked the fuck up in a story, it takes me out of the story...and makes me start wondering what the fuck else is jacked the fuck up.
It makes the story feel unreliable to me. Especially when that story isn't meant to be tongue in cheek.
Does this make me a picky bitch.
Mebbe.
But you know what?
Other than those things, I DID enjoy the story well enough.
Brody was a great H and I really liked him. I also liked Delilah.
I could have done without the whole love triangle aspect that popped up in this too, but regardless. If you are looking for a super decent, safe sports read, this is a good bet.
This was a very cute, very decent sports romance...That said, this about sums it up beyond that:
In other words, by next week, I fully expect to have forgotten practically everything about this book, with the exception of two things that really
1) As I said in a status update, one of the main characters here, Marlene, watches The Price is Right (every day apparently). For those who don't know what that is, it's a famous, long running game show that films on the west coast of the US. And I used to watch it every single day when off school during the summer.
However, in one scene of this book, Bob Barker is mentioned as being on screen. Which is great... Except Bob Barker hasn't hosted the show since 2007. So either they were watching taped re-runs or Drew Carrey (the current host) has suddenly morphed into a 92-year old man who cares about the spay and neutering of the pet population.
Another thing? At one point, the credits of the show are supposedly rolling and immediately after it's mentioned as being 1pm or something...
Except, whelp, the Price is Right films in LA. And airs at 10am. Meaning it would be over at 11am and not 1pm.
Re-runs? Perhaps. Taped previously? Perhaps. Still took me out of story? Indeed.
2) Two of the characters have a conversation about how one of them thinks it's lame that they have "bi-weeks" in the NFL.
Well, if they are referring to when a football team has on off-week, namely during play-off season - which IS what they are referring to here - then it is BYE-WEEK. Not a "bi-week..."
Loose definition:
"Each NFL team has one "bye week" during a normal season; this is placed on the team's schedule between Week 4 and Week 12. The NFL has used the bye week since 1990 so as to extend the 16-game regular season schedule to span 17 weeks. The 1993 NFL season spanned 18 weeks with each team having 2 bye weeks."
Now, are both of these things completely unimportant to the story line?
Yes.
But did these things still annoy me?
Yes.
And here's why.
When simple, seemingly meaningless details like these are jacked the fuck up in a story, it takes me out of the story...and makes me start wondering what the fuck else is jacked the fuck up.
It makes the story feel unreliable to me. Especially when that story isn't meant to be tongue in cheek.
Does this make me a picky bitch.
Mebbe.
But you know what?
Other than those things, I DID enjoy the story well enough.
Brody was a great H and I really liked him. I also liked Delilah.
I could have done without the whole love triangle aspect that popped up in this too, but regardless. If you are looking for a super decent, safe sports read, this is a good bet.
August 15, 2017
4.5 STARS! Love, love love Brody! No time to write a review.
Me rushing to Amazon to get my copy:
Geeh, I hope Brody did not see that. I want to make a good impression!
Stand-alone
LIVE:
iBooks ➜ http://apple.co/1QM9TfP
B&N ➜ http://bit.ly/1Yi2xmp
Kobo ➜ http://bit.ly/1SEiOhC
***
Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 4.5 stars
Sexual tension rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Plot rating: 4 stars
Dialogue rating: 4.5 stars
Storytelling rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 4.5 stars
***********************************************
Overall rating: 4.5 stars
Would I recommend this book: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
January 20, 2016
2.5 to 3 stars!
To be fair, I did enjoy this book. At least some parts of it. But there were a few things that really bothered me and it just ruined the whole book for me. And what made me even more upset is that it was so unnecessary.
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Delilah is a newly minted sportscaster tasked with the plum job of interviewing the players of New York Steel football team. Brody Easton is the quarterback. He's cocky, arrogant and it's clear that he wants Delilah. She on the other hand has some reservations. He's a player and isn't the relationship type of guy while she doesn't do casual sex.
I was enjoying their banter. Brody had some cringe-worthy lines but he still made me laugh. And I really, really loved Delilah. She's driven, committed, funny as hell and fun. Her antics with her best friend Indie were hilarious.
So I was cruising along and liking what's happening. And even though it's pretty obvious something bad is going to happen and derail the romance between, I was still enjoying it and was looking forward to the upcoming conflict. Plus, it was only 48% or 50% or so on my Kindle. Plenty of time for Brody and Delilah to pull their heads out of their ass and resolve whatever conflict was coming.
Full disclosure: I already had an idea what the conflict was because I asked for spoilers. So I was prepared. What I wasn't prepared for was
SPOILERAGE AHEAD. Please don't open the spoiler tags if you don't want to get spoiled, FtLoG!
But it's not the reason why I was annoyed and upset with the whole thing. Like I said, I was anticipating it. The reason for my annoyance was
WTELF!
It was totally unnecessary. The connection I had to the romance between Brody and Delilah just went poof! The excitement and connection I had with the two protagonists just deflated. I mean, why would you do that? I don't really care to know about
To add insult to injury,
In fact, during some of the most crucial and heartrending scenes in book, It totally messed up the dynamics for me. Just no. I've enjoyed books where there's another person competing for the heroine/hero's place and enjoyed it. Loved it even but here...it fell flat. Again because I didn't feel that the hero desperately wants to be with the heroine.
But there's more...
Fortunately, the epilogue was really sweet and it kinda tempered my rage over that POV a little bit, which is why I gave this book 3 stars instead of 2. Plus, I enjoyed the other side characters and loved Delilah. I just hated that glitch in the middle.
To be fair, I did enjoy this book. At least some parts of it. But there were a few things that really bothered me and it just ruined the whole book for me. And what made me even more upset is that it was so unnecessary.
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Delilah is a newly minted sportscaster tasked with the plum job of interviewing the players of New York Steel football team. Brody Easton is the quarterback. He's cocky, arrogant and it's clear that he wants Delilah. She on the other hand has some reservations. He's a player and isn't the relationship type of guy while she doesn't do casual sex.
I was enjoying their banter. Brody had some cringe-worthy lines but he still made me laugh. And I really, really loved Delilah. She's driven, committed, funny as hell and fun. Her antics with her best friend Indie were hilarious.
So I was cruising along and liking what's happening. And even though it's pretty obvious something bad is going to happen and derail the romance between, I was still enjoying it and was looking forward to the upcoming conflict. Plus, it was only 48% or 50% or so on my Kindle. Plenty of time for Brody and Delilah to pull their heads out of their ass and resolve whatever conflict was coming.
Full disclosure: I already had an idea what the conflict was because I asked for spoilers. So I was prepared. What I wasn't prepared for was
SPOILERAGE AHEAD. Please don't open the spoiler tags if you don't want to get spoiled, FtLoG!
But it's not the reason why I was annoyed and upset with the whole thing. Like I said, I was anticipating it. The reason for my annoyance was
WTELF!
It was totally unnecessary. The connection I had to the romance between Brody and Delilah just went poof! The excitement and connection I had with the two protagonists just deflated. I mean, why would you do that? I don't really care to know about
To add insult to injury,
In fact, during some of the most crucial and heartrending scenes in book, It totally messed up the dynamics for me. Just no. I've enjoyed books where there's another person competing for the heroine/hero's place and enjoyed it. Loved it even but here...it fell flat. Again because I didn't feel that the hero desperately wants to be with the heroine.
But there's more...
Fortunately, the epilogue was really sweet and it kinda tempered my rage over that POV a little bit, which is why I gave this book 3 stars instead of 2. Plus, I enjoyed the other side characters and loved Delilah. I just hated that glitch in the middle.
January 19, 2016
4 ~ 4.5 STARS
"I am sort of irresistible."
This is my first book by this author and I have say that the humor and chemistry was spot on fantastic. I even loved the backgrounds on both characters and of course sweet Marlene. I somewhat struggled when I got through the biggest hurdle in the story only to find that the heroine needed to let go of her past further and of course the addition of another character's POV into the story didn't thrill me either.
Still, the story got back on track and made for a good read which I recommend not only to sport fans but reader’s looking for their next sexy book boyfriend, Brody Easton.
"I am sort of irresistible."
This is my first book by this author and I have say that the humor and chemistry was spot on fantastic. I even loved the backgrounds on both characters and of course sweet Marlene. I somewhat struggled when I got through the biggest hurdle in the story only to find that the heroine needed to let go of her past further and of course the addition of another character's POV into the story didn't thrill me either.
Still, the story got back on track and made for a good read which I recommend not only to sport fans but reader’s looking for their next sexy book boyfriend, Brody Easton.
January 20, 2016
4.5 Stars!!
“The Baller” was such an enjoyable read! It was funny, sexy and pure and simple awesome. Needless to say I enjoyed the heck out of it. This book has a little bit of everything and exactly what I usually enjoy – fantastic characters, entertaining dialogue, a lovely romance and a great storyline. That being said, I have to admit I was a little reluctant to start this one since my first experience with this author was a bust. So, yeah I was more than surprised I enjoyed this one so much.
Delilah Maddox is a professional sportscaster who loves sports and enjoys her job very much. After all her father was a famous quarterback. She works hard to prove everyone that she can be professional in a world where men are misogynistic a**holes. When she meets Brody Easton, a famous quarterback, one of the most media fallowed athlete she is taken aback not only by his good looks, but also but his charm and colorful personality. She tries hard to stay cool and unaffected, but she doesn’t stand a chance.
Brody is smitten with Delilah from the moment he meets her. He more than likes her and he wants to have her no matter what. Delilah can’t lie – she’s attracted with the cocky quarterback more than she wants to admit, but she can’t get involved with a player, especially one who’s only interested in sex. She’s not looking exactly to be in a serious relationship, not after, years ago she lost the man she loved. But Brody knows what he wants and he’s not the man that will take no for answer.
This book was pure and simple awesooome!! I smiled, grinned, swooned and smiled again from start to (almost) finish. It goes without saying it was a very entertaining read and like I mentioned above I had a very hard time putting it down. Both main characters were endearing, well developed and very fun to read about. What I really enjoyed and appreciated was their backgrounds. I love when I get to totally know a character. And here I was lucky enough to fully know both of these characters.
I was charmed by our hero Brody from the start. He is sex on a stick, arrogant and most of the time crass, but he never was an a**hole. I really liked how funny and easy-going he was and I loved his silly questions. I also adored his relationship with Marlene. He has such a big heart! His relationship with Delilah was lovely and he was simply wonderful with her. Delilah was very easy to like as well. She’s hardworking, determined to prove herself and everyone else than she can be professional, confident and she’s sweet, supportive and attentive with Brody. I loved her feistiness and how she handled herself at some point.
I really enjoyed how everything unfolded between these two and I loved them together. The romantic aspect was really well done here. Their first encounter was entertaining to say the least and their dialogue was so much fun. I loved their banter and all the sexual innuendos. I couldn’t get enough of them. They were really great together – in and out of bed.
Brody won me over not only with his god looks and fun personality, but also with his dirty mouth. The man definitely knows how to make a woman hot and bothered. The chemistry between these two characters was fantastically done, off the charts, so needless to say the sexy scenes were hot as hell.
The writing was flawless, the pace of the story was perfect and the angst and drama weren’t annoying or overwhelming.
So why not 5 Stars? –
All in all, “The Baller” was a fun and entertaining read and if you love sport romance sub-genre you will not be disappointed.
“The Baller” was such an enjoyable read! It was funny, sexy and pure and simple awesome. Needless to say I enjoyed the heck out of it. This book has a little bit of everything and exactly what I usually enjoy – fantastic characters, entertaining dialogue, a lovely romance and a great storyline. That being said, I have to admit I was a little reluctant to start this one since my first experience with this author was a bust. So, yeah I was more than surprised I enjoyed this one so much.
Delilah Maddox is a professional sportscaster who loves sports and enjoys her job very much. After all her father was a famous quarterback. She works hard to prove everyone that she can be professional in a world where men are misogynistic a**holes. When she meets Brody Easton, a famous quarterback, one of the most media fallowed athlete she is taken aback not only by his good looks, but also but his charm and colorful personality. She tries hard to stay cool and unaffected, but she doesn’t stand a chance.
“Every time I see you, you try to sabotage my interview.”
“Every time I see you, I expose myself to you.” He flashed me his trademark smile. “That’s how we show girls we like them where I’m from.”
“Where are you from, the jungle?”
Brody is smitten with Delilah from the moment he meets her. He more than likes her and he wants to have her no matter what. Delilah can’t lie – she’s attracted with the cocky quarterback more than she wants to admit, but she can’t get involved with a player, especially one who’s only interested in sex. She’s not looking exactly to be in a serious relationship, not after, years ago she lost the man she loved. But Brody knows what he wants and he’s not the man that will take no for answer.
“You want me inside of you as much as I want to bury myself. You just haven’t admitted it to yourself…” He craned his neck down so we were nose to nose. “Yet. But you will.”
This book was pure and simple awesooome!! I smiled, grinned, swooned and smiled again from start to (almost) finish. It goes without saying it was a very entertaining read and like I mentioned above I had a very hard time putting it down. Both main characters were endearing, well developed and very fun to read about. What I really enjoyed and appreciated was their backgrounds. I love when I get to totally know a character. And here I was lucky enough to fully know both of these characters.
“Yes, Tarzan.” I playfully rolled my eyes.
“Come here, Jane.” Brody’s hand squeezed the back of my neck while his mouth devoured mine.
I was charmed by our hero Brody from the start. He is sex on a stick, arrogant and most of the time crass, but he never was an a**hole. I really liked how funny and easy-going he was and I loved his silly questions. I also adored his relationship with Marlene. He has such a big heart! His relationship with Delilah was lovely and he was simply wonderful with her. Delilah was very easy to like as well. She’s hardworking, determined to prove herself and everyone else than she can be professional, confident and she’s sweet, supportive and attentive with Brody. I loved her feistiness and how she handled herself at some point.
“Brody Easton, the man who’d entered my life like a storm, had turned out to be my calm. How was that for irony?”
I really enjoyed how everything unfolded between these two and I loved them together. The romantic aspect was really well done here. Their first encounter was entertaining to say the least and their dialogue was so much fun. I loved their banter and all the sexual innuendos. I couldn’t get enough of them. They were really great together – in and out of bed.
“As much as I’d love to watch you ride me, I think on top is what I’ll like best with you. And probably missionary. Because for some reason, there’s nothing more I want to do than watch your face as I sink deep inside of you.”
Brody won me over not only with his god looks and fun personality, but also with his dirty mouth. The man definitely knows how to make a woman hot and bothered. The chemistry between these two characters was fantastically done, off the charts, so needless to say the sexy scenes were hot as hell.
The writing was flawless, the pace of the story was perfect and the angst and drama weren’t annoying or overwhelming.
So why not 5 Stars? –
All in all, “The Baller” was a fun and entertaining read and if you love sport romance sub-genre you will not be disappointed.
January 18, 2016
It's LIVE
Amazon ➜http://amzn.to/1V2sh3F
iBooks ➜ http://apple.co/1QM9TfP
B&N ➜ http://bit.ly/1Yi2xmp
Kobo ➜ http://bit.ly/1SEiOhC
August 10, 2017
5★★★★★Brody Spoons Stars
Genre: Sports Romance
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person – Dual
I saw this hot cover and the author’s name and I didn’t even have to think twice or even read the blurb to know I will love it and I was right I am totally fangirling. Little did I know that cocky Brody was going to be my next new book boyfriend. Damn do I want to have his babies?! Hell to the yes! Haha. This book was funny as hell, hot and sexy, and just pure awesomeness.
From beginning this book sucked me in with so much funny stuff I was giggling from the start. When Delilah Maddox a professional sportscaster had to have her first interview with all the football players specially the star Quarterback of the team Brody Easton; she tried to be cool and professional. Having her job as a female reporter was the highlight of her career and she wanted to do a good job but Brody made the first interview so intimidating he was hitting on her and it was just hilarious to watch these too.
Delilah’s father was a famous quarterback like Brody and she knew the sport so well it was one of the things Brody loved about her and she caught his attention instantly; he wasn’t going to take no as an answer. He liked the way she looked and he wanted to have her. However; very soon he found out Delilah was not a one night stand kind of girl which is what I loved about her. Brody Easton was the best on his team and had a reputation with woman. He was just perfection in my eyes though because behind his, cocky, sarcastic ways, and obviously a hot ass athlete he was sweet and carrying. Delilah ends us spending a lot of time with Brody because of the football season and her career but the time she spent with him made her liked him not just as a player but as a person. She realized he was so much more than she could have imagined but she had a broken heart that she couldn’t sacrifice another breakout.
Brody ‘s past left his heart hurt and damaged and he wasn’t letting anyone in either because of it but he also knew if he really wanted Delilah he had to open up. However his past comes out and I was a nervous wrecked; it was a bit angsty that had you worried how this was going to play out for these two. The chemistry between Brody and Delilah was undeniable thought and the sexy scenes were super HOT omg Brody was the best in every sense of the word. He spoon me off my feet and I am forever in love with this male. Brody messed with Delilah and it was just hilarious, just loved everything about him.
This book was an amazing read about finding love and getting over insecurities of the past. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a funny read with sexiness; with a Hot Hero and a cool heroine. The heroine’s friend Indie so totally deserved a book because she was hilarious as shit loved her. If you are looking for your next book boyfriend well look no more Brody is the shit!
Book Order: Standalone
Available Now:
Amazon ➜ amzn.to/1PBF2hG
iBooks ➜ http://bit.ly/iBooksBaller
B&N ➜ http:// bit.ly/BarnesBaller
Kobo ➜ http:// bit.ly/KoboBaller
Google Play ➜ http:// bit.ly/GoogleBaller
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
Genre: Sports Romance
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person – Dual
”Peace wasn’t about avoiding things. It was about making the choice to live life with all it’s chaos around you, and in the midst of it all, having calm in your heart.”
I saw this hot cover and the author’s name and I didn’t even have to think twice or even read the blurb to know I will love it and I was right I am totally fangirling. Little did I know that cocky Brody was going to be my next new book boyfriend. Damn do I want to have his babies?! Hell to the yes! Haha. This book was funny as hell, hot and sexy, and just pure awesomeness.
From beginning this book sucked me in with so much funny stuff I was giggling from the start. When Delilah Maddox a professional sportscaster had to have her first interview with all the football players specially the star Quarterback of the team Brody Easton; she tried to be cool and professional. Having her job as a female reporter was the highlight of her career and she wanted to do a good job but Brody made the first interview so intimidating he was hitting on her and it was just hilarious to watch these too.
”His lips curled up into a full-blown wicked smile. “Before I could catch myself, my eyes dropped to his naked lower half. Shit. He was dangling in the wind….”.
Delilah’s father was a famous quarterback like Brody and she knew the sport so well it was one of the things Brody loved about her and she caught his attention instantly; he wasn’t going to take no as an answer. He liked the way she looked and he wanted to have her. However; very soon he found out Delilah was not a one night stand kind of girl which is what I loved about her. Brody Easton was the best on his team and had a reputation with woman. He was just perfection in my eyes though because behind his, cocky, sarcastic ways, and obviously a hot ass athlete he was sweet and carrying. Delilah ends us spending a lot of time with Brody because of the football season and her career but the time she spent with him made her liked him not just as a player but as a person. She realized he was so much more than she could have imagined but she had a broken heart that she couldn’t sacrifice another breakout.
“I can do exclusive. Hell, the thought of you with anyone else makes me fucking insane…I’ll probably fuck up and piss you a lot, but I’d like to try.” Brody
Brody ‘s past left his heart hurt and damaged and he wasn’t letting anyone in either because of it but he also knew if he really wanted Delilah he had to open up. However his past comes out and I was a nervous wrecked; it was a bit angsty that had you worried how this was going to play out for these two. The chemistry between Brody and Delilah was undeniable thought and the sexy scenes were super HOT omg Brody was the best in every sense of the word. He spoon me off my feet and I am forever in love with this male. Brody messed with Delilah and it was just hilarious, just loved everything about him.
“I showed up an hour before our planned departure time…pretending that she had gotten the times mixed up.” “I’m sorry. I thought you said eleven.” I did. “Nope. Ten.” She was dressed in a pair of logoed steel sweats and a pink ribbed tank top-sans bra. “Nice sweats.” Nice tits. the damn things were saluting me.”
This book was an amazing read about finding love and getting over insecurities of the past. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a funny read with sexiness; with a Hot Hero and a cool heroine. The heroine’s friend Indie so totally deserved a book because she was hilarious as shit loved her. If you are looking for your next book boyfriend well look no more Brody is the shit!
Book Order: Standalone
Available Now:
Amazon ➜ amzn.to/1PBF2hG
iBooks ➜ http://bit.ly/iBooksBaller
B&N ➜ http:// bit.ly/BarnesBaller
Kobo ➜ http:// bit.ly/KoboBaller
Google Play ➜ http:// bit.ly/GoogleBaller
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
January 26, 2016
2 Confused Stars.
Delilah is a sports reporter that in one of her jobs had to interview the players of a big football team in the locker rooms after the game. There she meets Brody, he’s sexy, obviously but she doesn’t date players, the metaphorical ones, not the actual athletes. Until Brody makes sure he changes her mind… but what Brody didn’t expect is that while he was convincing her not to resist him, he was unwillingly falling for her as well.
This book started out great and if all of it had been like the first chapters it had probably been a five star reading. But towards the middle, with the addition of a completely unnecessary POV that only added stupid drama and made me immediately disbelieve the connection between the MC’s, the book was ruined for me. I know that everyone seemed to love it and I’m probably the special snowflake in this scenario, but I’m trying to be honest here.
I’m giving it one star for the beginning and the premise, another star for the epilogue that was really sweet. All the rest meanwhile, was just a failed romance book for me. I love romances with athletes, I love romances where the guy is a bad-boy about to chance, I love some chase…. And while this book started exactly like that, it went downhill pretty fast when the author decided that two people in a romance book weren’t enough and decided to add a third one. Not even all the problems and losses that happened trough the story made me change my mind: the romance was lost for me. And when that happens in a romance book…. Well, its purpose is kind of ruined, isn’t it?
Rating: 2 Stars.
Characters Development: Brody was sweet but his POV make hard for me to trust his feelings, which killed the connection between him and Delilah for me. Delilah was nice but in my opinion she should have stand up more for herself when everything happened. There was some characters in the book I really did not understand their presence at all in the book.
Steam: Hot.
Sensible Subjects:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
Delilah is a sports reporter that in one of her jobs had to interview the players of a big football team in the locker rooms after the game. There she meets Brody, he’s sexy, obviously but she doesn’t date players, the metaphorical ones, not the actual athletes. Until Brody makes sure he changes her mind… but what Brody didn’t expect is that while he was convincing her not to resist him, he was unwillingly falling for her as well.
This book started out great and if all of it had been like the first chapters it had probably been a five star reading. But towards the middle, with the addition of a completely unnecessary POV that only added stupid drama and made me immediately disbelieve the connection between the MC’s, the book was ruined for me. I know that everyone seemed to love it and I’m probably the special snowflake in this scenario, but I’m trying to be honest here.
I’m giving it one star for the beginning and the premise, another star for the epilogue that was really sweet. All the rest meanwhile, was just a failed romance book for me. I love romances with athletes, I love romances where the guy is a bad-boy about to chance, I love some chase…. And while this book started exactly like that, it went downhill pretty fast when the author decided that two people in a romance book weren’t enough and decided to add a third one. Not even all the problems and losses that happened trough the story made me change my mind: the romance was lost for me. And when that happens in a romance book…. Well, its purpose is kind of ruined, isn’t it?
Rating: 2 Stars.
Characters Development: Brody was sweet but his POV make hard for me to trust his feelings, which killed the connection between him and Delilah for me. Delilah was nice but in my opinion she should have stand up more for herself when everything happened. There was some characters in the book I really did not understand their presence at all in the book.
Steam: Hot.
Sensible Subjects:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
February 9, 2019
4 stars
The Baller is not your typical sports romance. Sure it’s got the shirtless guy on the cover and has some sexy times, but IMO the cover does not match the book. It was so much more emotional than I expected it to be.
Brody Easton is the irresistible quarterback of one of the hottest NFL teams, and Delilah is a new sports reporter. They have an interesting meeting in the locker room… from the moment they meet, it’s apparent that the two are attracted to one another, but what Brody has in mind and what Delilah has in mind are two different things.
Brody is the type to do no strings/no relationships, but Delilah needs more. After a little back and forth and banter, Brody decides to give things a try. Maybe for once after being hurt, he can make a girlfriend work. I loved the relationship between Brody and Delilah. Loved it. But my favorite thing about this book was Brody’s heart. He appeared to be a big jerk at first, but the more you saw him, the more you saw how huge his heart was. I melted.
I listened to this on audio book, and I absolutely loved the female narrator that voiced Delilah, but the one that narrated Brody I didn’t love. I didn’t feel like his voice quite fit him. Still, it didn’t impact the overall enjoyment of the story for me. If you’re looking for a sexy and sweet book that will give you all the feels, look no further. I laughed, cried, and everything in between
The Baller is not your typical sports romance. Sure it’s got the shirtless guy on the cover and has some sexy times, but IMO the cover does not match the book. It was so much more emotional than I expected it to be.
Brody Easton is the irresistible quarterback of one of the hottest NFL teams, and Delilah is a new sports reporter. They have an interesting meeting in the locker room… from the moment they meet, it’s apparent that the two are attracted to one another, but what Brody has in mind and what Delilah has in mind are two different things.
Brody is the type to do no strings/no relationships, but Delilah needs more. After a little back and forth and banter, Brody decides to give things a try. Maybe for once after being hurt, he can make a girlfriend work. I loved the relationship between Brody and Delilah. Loved it. But my favorite thing about this book was Brody’s heart. He appeared to be a big jerk at first, but the more you saw him, the more you saw how huge his heart was. I melted.
I listened to this on audio book, and I absolutely loved the female narrator that voiced Delilah, but the one that narrated Brody I didn’t love. I didn’t feel like his voice quite fit him. Still, it didn’t impact the overall enjoyment of the story for me. If you’re looking for a sexy and sweet book that will give you all the feels, look no further. I laughed, cried, and everything in between
“When life knocks you down, stop and look around for one thing that’s good, because there is always something. Then cling to that good.”
January 18, 2016
★★★★★ 5 Stars ★★★★★
Now LIVE!
Amazon US | Amazon UK
Oh my goodness! I just can't seem to get enough of the sport romance sub-genre, I cannot resist when faced with these huge muscular men the size of a mountain and the strength of a bear. Watching these tough jocks fall hard for their heroines is an addiction for me.
Brody Easton. His name alone gives me goosebumps - he was perfection. Obviously he's hot, that's a given, as well as the fact that he's built like a brick shit-house and an amazing athlete. But it was his personality that won me over, and Brody Easton made me swoon and swoon again.
Delilah Maddox is a professional sportscaster who's father, like Brody, was also the star Quarterback of his team, so she knows the score, there are women everywhere trying to tame the big bad Football star.
Brody and Delilah had banter and plenty of it, it was funny and added wonderfully to the amazing sexual chemistry that was present throughout the whole book, I found myself smiling at their interactions and really rooting for them to get it on. Delilah is naturally hesitant to moves things along, she lost her one true love at a young age and although she isn't particularly eager to get into a long lasting relationship she isn't one for one night stands either.
Brody also has a past that is preventing him from opening up his heart, but he wants Delilah, so Delilah he shall have.
I also loved the backstory, it was angsty enough but not so much that you were worried about the outcome. I always knew Brody would pull through and his huge heart of pure gold was such a great attribute, I adored him.
This was a little different to Vi's previous works, it focused much more on the emotional connection and had a little less of the erotic scenes that are present in her other books, but that is what ultimately made me fall in love with this story, I really felt a strong connection, not only between the two main characters but also with Delilah and Brody's close friends.
Sports romance lovers will not be disappointed!
The Baller is a standalone Sports Romance told in alternating POVs.
ARC gratefully received from the author in exchange for an honest review
Images featured in this review were created by me using stock images either purchased from deposit photo or from free stock sites.
Now LIVE!
Amazon US | Amazon UK
Oh my goodness! I just can't seem to get enough of the sport romance sub-genre, I cannot resist when faced with these huge muscular men the size of a mountain and the strength of a bear. Watching these tough jocks fall hard for their heroines is an addiction for me.
Brody Easton. His name alone gives me goosebumps - he was perfection. Obviously he's hot, that's a given, as well as the fact that he's built like a brick shit-house and an amazing athlete. But it was his personality that won me over, and Brody Easton made me swoon and swoon again.
Delilah Maddox is a professional sportscaster who's father, like Brody, was also the star Quarterback of his team, so she knows the score, there are women everywhere trying to tame the big bad Football star.
Brody and Delilah had banter and plenty of it, it was funny and added wonderfully to the amazing sexual chemistry that was present throughout the whole book, I found myself smiling at their interactions and really rooting for them to get it on. Delilah is naturally hesitant to moves things along, she lost her one true love at a young age and although she isn't particularly eager to get into a long lasting relationship she isn't one for one night stands either.
"You're spooning me? Brody Easton spoons?"
"Only you, baby. But don't be surprised if you get woken up by my fork later."
Brody also has a past that is preventing him from opening up his heart, but he wants Delilah, so Delilah he shall have.
I also loved the backstory, it was angsty enough but not so much that you were worried about the outcome. I always knew Brody would pull through and his huge heart of pure gold was such a great attribute, I adored him.
"This shit was not over. And I was going to find out once and for all why she was pretending it was."
This was a little different to Vi's previous works, it focused much more on the emotional connection and had a little less of the erotic scenes that are present in her other books, but that is what ultimately made me fall in love with this story, I really felt a strong connection, not only between the two main characters but also with Delilah and Brody's close friends.
Sports romance lovers will not be disappointed!
The Baller is a standalone Sports Romance told in alternating POVs.
ARC gratefully received from the author in exchange for an honest review
Images featured in this review were created by me using stock images either purchased from deposit photo or from free stock sites.
July 17, 2016
"Brody Easton, the man who'd entered my life like a storm, had turned out to be my calm. How was that for irony?"
3.5 Stars
What can I say? This book was a guilty-pleasure read yet at the same time it was overloaded with angst and so much more.
The Baller tells the story of Delilah Maddox, a football sportscaster of World Media Broadcasting and Brody Easton, quarterback of New York Steel. These two met when Delilah interviewed Brody at the locker room live after the game and Brody teased her by dropping his towel and showing her his 'big rock'. Since that day, Brody didn't stop chasing her. They eventually dated and got to know each other. Their relationship seemed perfect at some point but like any high-profile relationships, it's not all rainbows and butterflies always. They both carry emotional baggage and Brody can't seem to get past his history with his first love named Willow while Delilah still hasn't moved on from her boyfriend who already passed away.
I think it's fair to say that this book surprised me in a good and bad way. Good, because it started off with a nice flow. It was light-hearted and sexy with lots and lots of humor in it. Brody was so funny even though he was an arrogant ass and so full of himself. He was still swoon-worthy (but who doesn't love hunky sports men?). All throughout the first half of the book, I was also grinning from ear to ear because I thought the storyline and its tone was simply the one that I was looking for in a sports romance book. I loved their sexy banters and the sexual tension and frustration all rolled into one.
Now on to the bad side. I hated how everything turned out in the second half of the book, mainly because of the unexpected random POV of that certain character.
What in the world just happened??? Why on earth did the author include that certain character in the story? It was so annoying and completely unnecessary!
While I'm also a fan of angsty novels, I thought the level of angst and drama in this book was over-the-top. I wished the book just focused on Brody and Delilah's love story and not on the secondary ones because this book is THEIR story after all, isn't it?
With everything being said, the book still captured me. It kept me gripped and it managed to make me stick my head in it until the very last page. It was, as a whole, a whirlwind of emotions kind of book. Not what I have expected but still, a good sports romance.
(I buddyread this book with my sweet friend Allie.)
January 22, 2016
★4.5 Baller Stars★
Full of humor, steam, and creatively crafted writing, The Baller packs one powerful punch. This is one contemporary romance read you will not want to miss!
Cocky, confident, and quick witted Brody Easton is THE MAN! As a professional football player, who has worked hard to achieve success, he has no boundaries when it comes to women. He gets who he wants and does what he wants (where he wants). But when Brody Easton meets Delilah, his playing skills are truly put to the test.
The advance retreat between Delilah and Brody was quite entertaining. Both stubborn, smart, and passionate about football, they became equitable opponents and they end up stuck in a stalemate. Brody is quite complex and has a past that he is not quite ready to share. Delilah has learned to portray the part of a confident woman so well that even she is surprised when Brody begins to tear her walls down. Through the development of their relationship, they discover solace in being together.
Overall, I highly recommend The Baller to all contemporary romance lovers. It made me laugh. It made me hurt. It made me swoon. It made me smile! This was my second Vi Keeland read and I am hooked! I will certainly be back for more!
*ARC graciously provided via author for BLOG Tour!*
*This was a BR with my girl LOYDA!
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
"When life knocks you down, stop and look around for one thing that's good, because there is always something. Then cling to that good."
Full of humor, steam, and creatively crafted writing, The Baller packs one powerful punch. This is one contemporary romance read you will not want to miss!
Cocky, confident, and quick witted Brody Easton is THE MAN! As a professional football player, who has worked hard to achieve success, he has no boundaries when it comes to women. He gets who he wants and does what he wants (where he wants). But when Brody Easton meets Delilah, his playing skills are truly put to the test.
"I expected him to be a dick. I didn't expect him to show me his dick."Delilah, a sportscaster with World Media Broadcasting, is assigned to cover the happenings of the NFL teams across the country. Her first day on the job, she finds herself interviewing THE PLAYER, Brody, himself! He makes quite an introduction by allowing her a "full access view" to ALL of him! There is an instant tug of war between the two. Despite his best efforts, Brody is unable to shake the indestructible Delilah! Brody is intrigued and immediately has set his sight directly on her. She is no stranger to "the players" of the game and makes it clear that he is to keep his hands off.
"What's it going to take to get you underneath me, Delilah?"
The advance retreat between Delilah and Brody was quite entertaining. Both stubborn, smart, and passionate about football, they became equitable opponents and they end up stuck in a stalemate. Brody is quite complex and has a past that he is not quite ready to share. Delilah has learned to portray the part of a confident woman so well that even she is surprised when Brody begins to tear her walls down. Through the development of their relationship, they discover solace in being together.
"There's nothing else I would like to do than fuck you full of sorry."
"You're spooning me? Brody Easton spoons?" "Only you, baby. But don't be suprised if you get woken up by my fork later."The Baller was an exceptional read. It is overflowing with humor, witty dialogue, and a truly complex plot. Although there was a heavy hand of "insta-lust/love", I wasn't distracted by it in the least. Their relationship was well paced throughout the story and the conflicts were natural and sincere. Told in mostly dual POV, both Brody and Delilah can be compared to watching "Lucy and Ricky" or "Harry and Sally" carrying out a verbal smack down. The intensity these two characters maintained only ignited the sexual tension between the two. When they finally came together, I found myself actually cheering (out loud)! It was not steamy. It was explosive! In addition to my adoration for the main characters, the secondary characters enhanced this read ten-fold. They brought more depth to the plot and were critical to the story, as opposed to, the extra happening on the side! (Thank you for that Ms. Keeland!)
"I was totally falling for him."
Overall, I highly recommend The Baller to all contemporary romance lovers. It made me laugh. It made me hurt. It made me swoon. It made me smile! This was my second Vi Keeland read and I am hooked! I will certainly be back for more!
*ARC graciously provided via author for BLOG Tour!*
*This was a BR with my girl LOYDA!
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
February 7, 2016
I love this Author but this one fell a bit short for me,it was just too bloody predictable.
Hot,sexy,dirty talking Guy....check
Hot,drop dead gorgeous girl....check
They skirt around each other.....he doesn't want a relationship,she doesn't just want sex.....add into the mix a beautiful ex with issues and I could totally see where this was going and I found myself skimming and didn't even finish it.
I think,again,it's a case of a popular book just not doing it for me.
I found it an enjoyable enough read( what I actually read ) but it definitely didn't have the WOW factor for me...
DNF @ around 90%....
November 9, 2021
Do I like love triangles?
Of fucking course not.
Was I afraid this was going to turn into one?
YES I WAS
Am I spoiling this book to you my dear friend and telling you how this unravels?
I am evil, so NO.
But I will let you know that now I know I don’t like high profile h’s, office romances or that kind of stuff, I like my h weird, nerdy, bookish and wearing sneakers. I feel more comfortable with them and I feel like I could befriend them.
Yes, I know you wanted that information and couldn’t live another second without knowing it.
🥸
Of fucking course not.
Was I afraid this was going to turn into one?
YES I WAS
Am I spoiling this book to you my dear friend and telling you how this unravels?
I am evil, so NO.
But I will let you know that now I know I don’t like high profile h’s, office romances or that kind of stuff, I like my h weird, nerdy, bookish and wearing sneakers. I feel more comfortable with them and I feel like I could befriend them.
Yes, I know you wanted that information and couldn’t live another second without knowing it.
🥸
July 13, 2019
The dirty talker can sweet talk too.
I've decided after reading The Baller that Brody should be our first cloning candidate. I really, really like him. The Brody is a smart bloke and knows how to get people on his side. A smile and a compliment to the ladies, a pat on the back and man talk for the lads. The Brody doesn't talk down to kids and is respectful to the older generation. There's a slight malfunction that might need to get tweaked in the cloning process though. The Brody turns into an arrogant jerk when a possible mating candidate comes into touching distance. His second brain also causes strife when said mating candidate is close. The Brody's second brain wants to escape from its cover and rise into attack position...in case mating candidate needs him urgently. The Brody's first brain also goes into a default setting of testing tolerance, by making the mating candidate put up with sexist drivel. Luckily, once mating candidate has been matched and successfully caught in The Brody's clutches, he reverts back to perfect, or near to perfect, Brody.
Delilah has a tough job. She works in an industry where it's a bit of a men's club and she's one of very few women who steps in to the club and dares to do the job as well, if not better. She isn't a stranger to the game. Her father was a star football player when she was growing up and because she takes her job seriously, goes out of her way to know as many statistics as possible about football and the players. As a sports reporter, one part of her job is to walk into the locker room after a game for an interview. Some of the players are respectful, while others go out of their way to make her uncomfortable. One of those players that do an excellent job of making her uncomfortable is the quarterback, Brody Easton.
Brody has spent the last few years concentrating on his career. Football is a very important part of his life, but for awhile there, real life and issues intruded that nearly took it all away. After having a few seasons on the sidelines, he knows where his head needs to be. Women have a place in his bed, but relationships are not high on his list of priorities. His priorities change when a curly haired, beautiful woman tells him straight that she doesn't do hook ups. What's a bloke to do? Try and have a relationship of course.
Brody is fond of walls. Especially if there's a woman between him and the wall. Especially, especially when that woman has her legs around his waist. Brody is a DIRTY TALKER. He does it extremely well. I was feeling hot and bothered before the action even started...and the action definitely lived up to the words.
Brody is also a sweetheart. He's been going to a nursing home to visit a woman every Tuesday for years. Marlene, was there for him throughout his life and now she has dementia. His dedication to her is only one of the many things that demonstrate how sweet he is.
This review is mostly a dedication to Brody. I can't help myself, he was a bloody good character. He wasn't perfect, but he tried his hardest to be a good man and find goodness in other people. Delilah was also pretty cool. She has faced her own challenges and heartbreak, but by the end is stronger and more confident in herself and the relationship between herself and Brody.
There are interesting additional characters and some of them I loved. I would like to see Indie get her own story and maybe even Michael too...but not together. There were a few people and their stories that felt a little unfinished. I kind of wanted to know what happened to them in the end and wouldn't mind a story for them too. I'm thinking of joining the Vi Keeland fan club too. This will definitely not be my last story by this author.
I've decided after reading The Baller that Brody should be our first cloning candidate. I really, really like him. The Brody is a smart bloke and knows how to get people on his side. A smile and a compliment to the ladies, a pat on the back and man talk for the lads. The Brody doesn't talk down to kids and is respectful to the older generation. There's a slight malfunction that might need to get tweaked in the cloning process though. The Brody turns into an arrogant jerk when a possible mating candidate comes into touching distance. His second brain also causes strife when said mating candidate is close. The Brody's second brain wants to escape from its cover and rise into attack position...in case mating candidate needs him urgently. The Brody's first brain also goes into a default setting of testing tolerance, by making the mating candidate put up with sexist drivel. Luckily, once mating candidate has been matched and successfully caught in The Brody's clutches, he reverts back to perfect, or near to perfect, Brody.
Delilah has a tough job. She works in an industry where it's a bit of a men's club and she's one of very few women who steps in to the club and dares to do the job as well, if not better. She isn't a stranger to the game. Her father was a star football player when she was growing up and because she takes her job seriously, goes out of her way to know as many statistics as possible about football and the players. As a sports reporter, one part of her job is to walk into the locker room after a game for an interview. Some of the players are respectful, while others go out of their way to make her uncomfortable. One of those players that do an excellent job of making her uncomfortable is the quarterback, Brody Easton.
Brody has spent the last few years concentrating on his career. Football is a very important part of his life, but for awhile there, real life and issues intruded that nearly took it all away. After having a few seasons on the sidelines, he knows where his head needs to be. Women have a place in his bed, but relationships are not high on his list of priorities. His priorities change when a curly haired, beautiful woman tells him straight that she doesn't do hook ups. What's a bloke to do? Try and have a relationship of course.
Brody is fond of walls. Especially if there's a woman between him and the wall. Especially, especially when that woman has her legs around his waist. Brody is a DIRTY TALKER. He does it extremely well. I was feeling hot and bothered before the action even started...and the action definitely lived up to the words.
Brody is also a sweetheart. He's been going to a nursing home to visit a woman every Tuesday for years. Marlene, was there for him throughout his life and now she has dementia. His dedication to her is only one of the many things that demonstrate how sweet he is.
This review is mostly a dedication to Brody. I can't help myself, he was a bloody good character. He wasn't perfect, but he tried his hardest to be a good man and find goodness in other people. Delilah was also pretty cool. She has faced her own challenges and heartbreak, but by the end is stronger and more confident in herself and the relationship between herself and Brody.
There are interesting additional characters and some of them I loved. I would like to see Indie get her own story and maybe even Michael too...but not together. There were a few people and their stories that felt a little unfinished. I kind of wanted to know what happened to them in the end and wouldn't mind a story for them too. I'm thinking of joining the Vi Keeland fan club too. This will definitely not be my last story by this author.
January 28, 2016
3.75 "Available or taken?" Stars!
I was so excited, SO FREAKING EXCITED about this book. I love Vi Keeland and her stories but I am sorry to say this was not what I was expecting.
The Baller is a sports stand-alone novel that tells the story of Brody Easton (a very famous football player, a man who has become a playboy after some stuff that happened in his past and now a cocky man who drops the towel around his waist everytime the heroine tries to interview him) and Delilah Maddox (said sports interviewer, daughter of an athlete legend, a woman who --inside-- still suffers and who is now very atracted to said ass hottie player).
“You have a funny way of showing that you like me. Every time I see you, you try to sabotage my interview.”
“Every time I see you, I expose myself to you.” He flashed me his trademark smile. “That’s how we show girls we like them where I’m from.”
“Where are you from, the jungle?”
Let's first start with the aspects that I actually enjoyed. It's kind of ironic: the first half of the book was 5-stars-worth for me, seriously. It was what I expected from Vi: compelling characters, great story, off-the-charts chemistry and super funny. I fell in love with this couple: Brody is so hot, so cocky and at the same time, he is sort of sweet and he adapts very quickly (and well) to his relationship with Delilah. And Delilah is a kick-ass sports reporter, who at first denies her pulling towards Brody but at the end she gets caught in his charms. These two together: OH MY GOD. HOT! And sooooo funny!
“If I could do anything I wanted on a day off, I’d do... you.”
“You have a dirty mouth.”
“This dirty mouth wants to do dirty things to you.”
“Available or taken?”
“Taken.” [...] “I plan to tell her about our new relationship right after this interview.”
However, the love I felt instantly for The Baller practically died in the second half of the novel. Honestly, I did not expect all that to happen. All of a sudden, we have another character's POV in the game (a character that really got on my nerves and who, to me, was completely unnecessary) and also the two main characters having difficult moments because of that and also because they do not mention their feelings for each other. Not even in their minds or POV's. No feelings, no emotions, AT ALL (especially Brody's).
Brody and Delilah have amazing sex scenes, funny scenes, friendly scenes and even sad scenes but where were their feelings for each other? Where was that pull that they had at the beginning? Well.. Thank you Willlow for ruining this for me. She has too many importance in this book (I mean having chapters in her POV? Seriously?). The past of both protagonists is too much involved in this book.
My fingers brushed over each letter in the dark. E-a-s-t-o-n. I was totally falling for him. There was no way to stop it at this point. I just had to hope that when this fall was over, Brody was there to catch me.
I really needed more emotion involved in this. I loved the first half but I did not like the second half. And I hated that the situation did not change until after the 85% of the novel. The ending was super sweet (finally!!) but still, it felt rushed to me. I wanted more of these two together, as in TOGETHER. Sorry, it's just that I hate not loving this book (crazy, right?).
With Brody, I couldn’t find the words to describe what I felt about him. I could probably make a list of a million reasons I should have stayed away. Yet I knew in my heart he was the one. My soul had picked him, not my mind.
“I’d give you every fucking chance I own to be with you again.”
So, sadly, my rating for The Baller is 3.75 stars. Not a 3.5 but also not a 4, I just don't know any other way to rate it. I really loved the first part and the ending, and also the chemistry between our main couple but the other 'stuff' that I talked about in the review, really got on my nerves. This definitely is not my favourite book by Vi Keeland but I hope the next one will be as good as the other stories that I have read by her. Of course, you can still enjoy Vi's writing and the hot chemistry between Brody and Delilah so maybe you should give this one a try!
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
I was so excited, SO FREAKING EXCITED about this book. I love Vi Keeland and her stories but I am sorry to say this was not what I was expecting.
The Baller is a sports stand-alone novel that tells the story of Brody Easton (a very famous football player, a man who has become a playboy after some stuff that happened in his past and now a cocky man who drops the towel around his waist everytime the heroine tries to interview him) and Delilah Maddox (said sports interviewer, daughter of an athlete legend, a woman who --inside-- still suffers and who is now very atracted to said ass hottie player).
“You have a funny way of showing that you like me. Every time I see you, you try to sabotage my interview.”
“Every time I see you, I expose myself to you.” He flashed me his trademark smile. “That’s how we show girls we like them where I’m from.”
“Where are you from, the jungle?”
Let's first start with the aspects that I actually enjoyed. It's kind of ironic: the first half of the book was 5-stars-worth for me, seriously. It was what I expected from Vi: compelling characters, great story, off-the-charts chemistry and super funny. I fell in love with this couple: Brody is so hot, so cocky and at the same time, he is sort of sweet and he adapts very quickly (and well) to his relationship with Delilah. And Delilah is a kick-ass sports reporter, who at first denies her pulling towards Brody but at the end she gets caught in his charms. These two together: OH MY GOD. HOT! And sooooo funny!
“If I could do anything I wanted on a day off, I’d do... you.”
“You have a dirty mouth.”
“This dirty mouth wants to do dirty things to you.”
“Available or taken?”
“Taken.” [...] “I plan to tell her about our new relationship right after this interview.”
However, the love I felt instantly for The Baller practically died in the second half of the novel. Honestly, I did not expect all that to happen. All of a sudden, we have another character's POV in the game (a character that really got on my nerves and who, to me, was completely unnecessary) and also the two main characters having difficult moments because of that and also because they do not mention their feelings for each other. Not even in their minds or POV's. No feelings, no emotions, AT ALL (especially Brody's).
Brody and Delilah have amazing sex scenes, funny scenes, friendly scenes and even sad scenes but where were their feelings for each other? Where was that pull that they had at the beginning? Well.. Thank you Willlow for ruining this for me. She has too many importance in this book (I mean having chapters in her POV? Seriously?). The past of both protagonists is too much involved in this book.
My fingers brushed over each letter in the dark. E-a-s-t-o-n. I was totally falling for him. There was no way to stop it at this point. I just had to hope that when this fall was over, Brody was there to catch me.
I really needed more emotion involved in this. I loved the first half but I did not like the second half. And I hated that the situation did not change until after the 85% of the novel. The ending was super sweet (finally!!) but still, it felt rushed to me. I wanted more of these two together, as in TOGETHER. Sorry, it's just that I hate not loving this book (crazy, right?).
With Brody, I couldn’t find the words to describe what I felt about him. I could probably make a list of a million reasons I should have stayed away. Yet I knew in my heart he was the one. My soul had picked him, not my mind.
“I’d give you every fucking chance I own to be with you again.”
So, sadly, my rating for The Baller is 3.75 stars. Not a 3.5 but also not a 4, I just don't know any other way to rate it. I really loved the first part and the ending, and also the chemistry between our main couple but the other 'stuff' that I talked about in the review, really got on my nerves. This definitely is not my favourite book by Vi Keeland but I hope the next one will be as good as the other stories that I have read by her. Of course, you can still enjoy Vi's writing and the hot chemistry between Brody and Delilah so maybe you should give this one a try!
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
February 11, 2016
4 "Brody, Brody, Brody!" STARS
I had so much fun reading this with Maida. Let's just start by saying thatI (sorry forgot to share) we LOVED Brody. Seriously, what's not to love about a sexy-as-f*ck athlete with the swagger, attitude and charm to boot!
There's a locker room scene early on in the book that was just priceless! Boy, what this girl would have done to be there!
Delilah Maddox, professional sportscaster and Brody Easton, famed quarterback, had a lot of chemistry and their humour and banter was really enjoyable. Both gave as good as they got.
And the secondary characters were fantastic and really added to the story! I just loved Marlene, Indie and Grouper. Heck even little Grouper who had a small part had my attention and let's not forget the security guard, HI!
Both Delilah and Brody have past issues with significant loss that help them bond but also leave them with some mighty hurdles to overcome. Some of these issues are definitely in the past but some...not so much. These two developed not only a scorching hot connection but also an endearing friendship. For the most part, this book had all the feels I like in a book. I smiled, smirked, swooned and sighed with satisfaction.
"You said liquor and all I heard was 'lick her'."
"You have a dirty mouth."
"This dirty mouth wants to do dirty things to you."
So this would have definitely been 4.5 stars if not for one little detail, well maybe not so little because it seriously ticked me off.
Without giving too much away, there's an addition of a third POV halfway into the book and I really didn't see the point.
I felt we lost some of Brody's POV, which I think would have been WAY MORE interesting and also, if felt like this added unnecessary angst and ambiguity. Okay, I'll stop now, I got most of my rant out with Maida, poor girl!
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I'm hoping Ms. Keeland gives us more stories with some of the secondary characters. For instance, Indie (just loved that girl) and the other players, like maybe Colin (the douchebag!)? If you like sports romances, a sassy heroine, sexy jock, laughter, hot sex and a little angst, you should read this!
------------------------------
BR with my girl, Maida!
I had so much fun reading this with Maida. Let's just start by saying that
There's a locker room scene early on in the book that was just priceless! Boy, what this girl would have done to be there!
Delilah Maddox, professional sportscaster and Brody Easton, famed quarterback, had a lot of chemistry and their humour and banter was really enjoyable. Both gave as good as they got.
And the secondary characters were fantastic and really added to the story! I just loved Marlene, Indie and Grouper. Heck even little Grouper who had a small part had my attention and let's not forget the security guard, HI!
Both Delilah and Brody have past issues with significant loss that help them bond but also leave them with some mighty hurdles to overcome. Some of these issues are definitely in the past but some...not so much. These two developed not only a scorching hot connection but also an endearing friendship. For the most part, this book had all the feels I like in a book. I smiled, smirked, swooned and sighed with satisfaction.
"You said liquor and all I heard was 'lick her'."
"You have a dirty mouth."
"This dirty mouth wants to do dirty things to you."
So this would have definitely been 4.5 stars if not for one little detail, well maybe not so little because it seriously ticked me off.
Without giving too much away, there's an addition of a third POV halfway into the book and I really didn't see the point.
I felt we lost some of Brody's POV, which I think would have been WAY MORE interesting and also, if felt like this added unnecessary angst and ambiguity. Okay, I'll stop now, I got most of my rant out with Maida, poor girl!
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I'm hoping Ms. Keeland gives us more stories with some of the secondary characters. For instance, Indie (just loved that girl) and the other players, like maybe Colin (the douchebag!)? If you like sports romances, a sassy heroine, sexy jock, laughter, hot sex and a little angst, you should read this!
------------------------------
BR with my girl, Maida!
January 25, 2016
As soon as I saw my friends going on about Brody Easton, I knew I had to start this one ASAP! So first chance I got I jumped in.
This book is definitely hot, fun and sexy, but I did like how there was more to Brody. Brody isn’t your typical star quarterback, he is this absolutely fantastic guy with a huge heart. I can see why everyone is drawn to Easton. Hell, I was all about some Easton while reading. The back story added so much heart to the story and I was riding this absolute high for the first half of this story.
I wish I could say that high continued through to the very end, but the story just really hit a wall for me when another POV was added. I felt it completely took away from the romance between Brody and Delilah. Brody’s behavior completely exploited Delilah’s fears and I was so upset. That’s the problem though when an author creates a heroine I actually like. I didn’t want Delilah to suffer, I wanted her to be reassured that her feelings were reciprocated.
I feel like the story had so much heart and feels, and this added twist was just took away from them. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed this story, I was just let down because I could have LOVED this story.
This book is definitely hot, fun and sexy, but I did like how there was more to Brody. Brody isn’t your typical star quarterback, he is this absolutely fantastic guy with a huge heart. I can see why everyone is drawn to Easton. Hell, I was all about some Easton while reading. The back story added so much heart to the story and I was riding this absolute high for the first half of this story.
I wish I could say that high continued through to the very end, but the story just really hit a wall for me when another POV was added. I felt it completely took away from the romance between Brody and Delilah. Brody’s behavior completely exploited Delilah’s fears and I was so upset. That’s the problem though when an author creates a heroine I actually like. I didn’t want Delilah to suffer, I wanted her to be reassured that her feelings were reciprocated.
I feel like the story had so much heart and feels, and this added twist was just took away from them. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed this story, I was just let down because I could have LOVED this story.
March 24, 2019
Das Buch hat mich total überrascht. Ich hätte nicht gedacht, dass es mir so gut gefällt wie es am Ende der Fall war, da die Autorin zwar recht bekannt ist, ich dieses Buch aber irgendwie noch nie irgendwo gesehen habe. Kann ich jetzt im Nachhinein überhaupt nicht verstehen.
Das Buch lebt von unseren beiden Protagonisten Delilah und Brody, die mir beide sehr sympathisch waren und vor allem hat die Chemie zwischen den beiden total gestimmt. Ich mochte wie Brody sich ins Zeug legen musste und das anfängliche Hin und Her zwischen den beiden. Das ist aber auch gleichzeitig ein Kritikpunkt von mir: das hätte m.E. noch viel länger so gehen können zwischen den beiden. Irgendwie waren die beiden dann für meinen Geschmack nämlich dann viel zu schnell ein Paar.
Und deshalb gab es danach dann auch ne Menge unnötiges Drama wie ich finde, obwohl ich die Thematiken und Seitencharaktere (bspw. Marlene und Grouper) total mochte.
Dennoch konnte mich das Buch super unterhalten, der Schreibstil war klasse und ich war stellenweise auch wirklich gerührt. Also trotz all meiner Kritikpunkte ein wirklich gelungenes Buch aus diesem Genre.
Das Buch lebt von unseren beiden Protagonisten Delilah und Brody, die mir beide sehr sympathisch waren und vor allem hat die Chemie zwischen den beiden total gestimmt. Ich mochte wie Brody sich ins Zeug legen musste und das anfängliche Hin und Her zwischen den beiden. Das ist aber auch gleichzeitig ein Kritikpunkt von mir: das hätte m.E. noch viel länger so gehen können zwischen den beiden. Irgendwie waren die beiden dann für meinen Geschmack nämlich dann viel zu schnell ein Paar.
Und deshalb gab es danach dann auch ne Menge unnötiges Drama wie ich finde, obwohl ich die Thematiken und Seitencharaktere (bspw. Marlene und Grouper) total mochte.
Dennoch konnte mich das Buch super unterhalten, der Schreibstil war klasse und ich war stellenweise auch wirklich gerührt. Also trotz all meiner Kritikpunkte ein wirklich gelungenes Buch aus diesem Genre.
February 9, 2016
By the end of chapter one, Brody's antics had me cracking up. He is cocky, smartass, and hilarious. Toss in sexy as hell and he's the full package. I love how his relationship with Delilah grows and develops. His relationship with Marlene, an elderly woman, and others at her group home, is very sweet and adds to his appeal. The one thing that took some of the story's impact was how he dealt with his ex. I won't spoil but I'll state that it takes a little wind out of the Delilah/Brody sails. Other than that I'll give you a little pro tip: don't start reading until you have the time to do it all in one sitting because it's unlikely you will want to put it down once Brody starts doing his thing :-p lol
April 2, 2021
What is my type you ask?
Well⬇️
"He had an uncanny ability to change my mood in an instant. One minute I would be laughing, the next I could be practically panting from the extreme sexual tension."
-“The guy is arrogant and crass.”
-“Sounds like he’s your type.”
Bestyyy you need to stop calling me out on my sh*t
I couldn’t stop grinning like a creep 😂
Okay the equation Between Indie (h's best friend) and Delilah (h) is hilarious 😆
Indie is my sprit animal.
Anyway I've been reading all about CEOs from Miss Keeland so when I saw sportromanceXromcom I couldn’t help myself and I dive in right away.
What I love about Delilah×BrodyEaston is their banters.
The way my girl Delilah showed resistance towards Brody made me silently fan girl over her.
Love life, career and family both Delilah and Brody managed everything so wisely.
But. There is unfortunate but.
I don't know what I did wrong in my life (apart being a little....okay hell a lot of horny over my fictional heroes) to deserve a "3rd POV" 🤮 that no one needed I swear 🤢
Me, Brody and Delilah were doing just fine on our own. It started from chapter 21 and all I wanted was to go in the book and shut that druggie up 😑.
Unfortunately couldn’t even skip the said 3rd POV cz alas how would I know the whole story then.
About 3rd POV (I don't even wanna take name, I despise her that much,) I felt like author was trying to cram clarification about her I didn’t need. Like showing her charity work won't get any browny points from me because I am a firm believer "Charity begins at home"
If the author's intention was to create sympathy for the said girl in reader's heart it didn’t work for me at all sorry.
But anyway I loved the way everything turned out. Delilah showed some backbone and walk away, I respect her for that. And there is nothing not to not like about Brody. He is fun, wild and a family man by heart and both of them together made a great couple not a mention a healthy and well functioned. They just made sense in every way 💘 like a true soulmate. Brody was what Delilah need and deserve and Delilah is exactly what Brody need and DESERVE emphasis on deserve of Course 👿
So, Yup will recommend this for sure ❤️
If not for the 3rd POV this book would be a perfect 5 for me.
It's addictive, it made me laugh.
And Rom com is my biggest weakness and Sports romance is my favourite genre.
So all in all it worked in my favour.
Happy Reading ❤️.
Well⬇️
"He had an uncanny ability to change my mood in an instant. One minute I would be laughing, the next I could be practically panting from the extreme sexual tension."
-“The guy is arrogant and crass.”
-“Sounds like he’s your type.”
Bestyyy you need to stop calling me out on my sh*t
I couldn’t stop grinning like a creep 😂
Okay the equation Between Indie (h's best friend) and Delilah (h) is hilarious 😆
Indie is my sprit animal.
Anyway I've been reading all about CEOs from Miss Keeland so when I saw sportromanceXromcom I couldn’t help myself and I dive in right away.
What I love about Delilah×BrodyEaston is their banters.
The way my girl Delilah showed resistance towards Brody made me silently fan girl over her.
Love life, career and family both Delilah and Brody managed everything so wisely.
But. There is unfortunate but.
I don't know what I did wrong in my life (apart being a little....okay hell a lot of horny over my fictional heroes) to deserve a "3rd POV" 🤮 that no one needed I swear 🤢
Me, Brody and Delilah were doing just fine on our own. It started from chapter 21 and all I wanted was to go in the book and shut that druggie up 😑.
Unfortunately couldn’t even skip the said 3rd POV cz alas how would I know the whole story then.
About 3rd POV (I don't even wanna take name, I despise her that much,) I felt like author was trying to cram clarification about her I didn’t need. Like showing her charity work won't get any browny points from me because I am a firm believer "Charity begins at home"
If the author's intention was to create sympathy for the said girl in reader's heart it didn’t work for me at all sorry.
But anyway I loved the way everything turned out. Delilah showed some backbone and walk away, I respect her for that. And there is nothing not to not like about Brody. He is fun, wild and a family man by heart and both of them together made a great couple not a mention a healthy and well functioned. They just made sense in every way 💘 like a true soulmate. Brody was what Delilah need and deserve and Delilah is exactly what Brody need and DESERVE emphasis on deserve of Course 👿
So, Yup will recommend this for sure ❤️
If not for the 3rd POV this book would be a perfect 5 for me.
It's addictive, it made me laugh.
And Rom com is my biggest weakness and Sports romance is my favourite genre.
So all in all it worked in my favour.
Happy Reading ❤️.
November 5, 2016
3,5 stars
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book - but I actually did like it.
The Baller by Vi Keeland is a funny, sexy and steamy sports romance.
I liked the main characters - Delilah Maddox, a football sports TV presenter of World Media Broadcasting and Brody Easton, quarterback of New York Steel. I loved their banter and the sexual chemistry between them was pretty awesome and I thought that developing their relationship over a period of time made their story more believable.
Interesting secondary characters. Great dialogue.
There were a few things that "bugged" me and the reason for not giving this a 4 star rating....the introduction of Willow's POV and the way Brody and Delilah handled the whole situation about
But those minor "things" did not stop me from really liking this book.
And the cover.......WOW!!!!!
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book - but I actually did like it.
The Baller by Vi Keeland is a funny, sexy and steamy sports romance.
I liked the main characters - Delilah Maddox, a football sports TV presenter of World Media Broadcasting and Brody Easton, quarterback of New York Steel. I loved their banter and the sexual chemistry between them was pretty awesome and I thought that developing their relationship over a period of time made their story more believable.
Interesting secondary characters. Great dialogue.
There were a few things that "bugged" me and the reason for not giving this a 4 star rating....the introduction of Willow's POV and the way Brody and Delilah handled the whole situation about
But those minor "things" did not stop me from really liking this book.
And the cover.......WOW!!!!!
February 4, 2016
This was my first book by Vi. The hype was crazy around this book and some of my close friends suggested it. It's very hot , sexy , sports romance. Brody Easton is as good in playing the game on the field , as off the field. He's smooth, Sassy, sexy, hot footballer who meets sports journalist , Delilah Maddox and they have sizzling chemstry together. But the both have exes with that force them to reexplore their feeling.
Test of time- they pass or fail
read it to find out
Test of time- they pass or fail
read it to find out
January 30, 2021
3.5 When Good...Really Good Stars
* * * 2016 Review
I experienced Vi Keeland with the book, Worth the Fight, the MMA series. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... I loved it. It was direct, sassy, and had a man who knew when the woman across the way was looking at him and wanting everything his creative dirty mind wanted to do to her. It was a delicious read.
At first, it seemed The Baller was on its way to captivating my imagination with Star Quarterback Brody Easton. He is charming, hunky, and has a very quick mind. Mostly it seems to revolve around sex. The banter is fantastic. His match in this story is Delilah Maddox, a sportscaster with heritage in the game. Her dad was a famous football player too.
It is during Delilah's first post-game interview with Brody when the fireworks begin...Brody known for not appreciating women in the locker room Drops Towel just as the cameras are rolling, causing Delilah to be thrown off her questioning during their exchange. She recovers but barely.
This starts a pattern of interviews between the two where he blatantly tries to bed her and she pushes back. It is all fun and games with Brody doing sexy things to taunt her. These things can be sending her little unpredictable gifts or agreeing to do a sit-down interview with her when usually he never does. What happens, of course, is them getting attached and having great chemistry together...he participating in an exclusive relationship with her...as she doesn't do sex only.
There is an additional storyline happening while all of this is developing. Brody has a love for a neighbor who was more like a grandmother than any family he ever had. He has taken care of her since her husband passed and now has her in a care facility due to her dementia. This leaves her sometimes in the present and sometimes reliving the past. Brody loves her and visits regularly. He is also tied to her through his first love, a girl named Willow. They were wild together as teenagers but Willow took the same path as her mother and became involved in drugs, seriously.
We get all of the sassy, the feels, and everything through Brody and Delilah's POV's.
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Spoiler Alert ~~~~~~~~~~~~
Like a professional game, this book felt like there were 4 quarters with a half time break and then the ramp-up to the final countdown. When the writing was fast, focused on the pursuit of Delilah by Brody it was on target. The sections about his love and relationship with his "chosen" grandmother were fantastic. It was after the big "Half Time Event" in the book, things started not to work for me...BUT there was a huge resurgence to reclaim what had been lost and the epilogue qualified as extra points...
Don't think this book is not for you, however. I had a silly grin on my face for a large part of the read... and maybe my angst issues are your angst loves...as there are many many reviews out there loving every part of this.
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* * * 2016 Review
I experienced Vi Keeland with the book, Worth the Fight, the MMA series. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... I loved it. It was direct, sassy, and had a man who knew when the woman across the way was looking at him and wanting everything his creative dirty mind wanted to do to her. It was a delicious read.
At first, it seemed The Baller was on its way to captivating my imagination with Star Quarterback Brody Easton. He is charming, hunky, and has a very quick mind. Mostly it seems to revolve around sex. The banter is fantastic. His match in this story is Delilah Maddox, a sportscaster with heritage in the game. Her dad was a famous football player too.
It is during Delilah's first post-game interview with Brody when the fireworks begin...Brody known for not appreciating women in the locker room Drops Towel just as the cameras are rolling, causing Delilah to be thrown off her questioning during their exchange. She recovers but barely.
This starts a pattern of interviews between the two where he blatantly tries to bed her and she pushes back. It is all fun and games with Brody doing sexy things to taunt her. These things can be sending her little unpredictable gifts or agreeing to do a sit-down interview with her when usually he never does. What happens, of course, is them getting attached and having great chemistry together...he participating in an exclusive relationship with her...as she doesn't do sex only.
There is an additional storyline happening while all of this is developing. Brody has a love for a neighbor who was more like a grandmother than any family he ever had. He has taken care of her since her husband passed and now has her in a care facility due to her dementia. This leaves her sometimes in the present and sometimes reliving the past. Brody loves her and visits regularly. He is also tied to her through his first love, a girl named Willow. They were wild together as teenagers but Willow took the same path as her mother and became involved in drugs, seriously.
We get all of the sassy, the feels, and everything through Brody and Delilah's POV's.
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Spoiler Alert ~~~~~~~~~~~~
Like a professional game, this book felt like there were 4 quarters with a half time break and then the ramp-up to the final countdown. When the writing was fast, focused on the pursuit of Delilah by Brody it was on target. The sections about his love and relationship with his "chosen" grandmother were fantastic. It was after the big "Half Time Event" in the book, things started not to work for me...BUT there was a huge resurgence to reclaim what had been lost and the epilogue qualified as extra points...
Don't think this book is not for you, however. I had a silly grin on my face for a large part of the read... and maybe my angst issues are your angst loves...as there are many many reviews out there loving every part of this.
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November 14, 2020
Irresistibly fun, heartfelt and hot. This story about a cocky quarterback and the sassy sportscaster who doesn’t date players of the non-athlete type is guaranteed enjoyment. It will make you laugh, cry and swoon.
As the daughter of a professional quarterback, Delilah Maddox, not only likes her job, she knows and enjoys the sport. She’s worked hard to earn her place in the professional football world and wouldn’t risk her newly appointed position for a player. However when the compelling Super Bowl MVP reveals it all, makes her smile and won’t take no for an answer, not even her guarded heart can resist. But being afraid of being hurt again, can she fully give herself over to love?
Brody Easton’s good looks, alluring personality and success are certain to get him any woman except her. Delilah was seemingly immune to his charms and pushed back with ease. Having loved and lost he wasn’t looking for a relationship but for her he’s willing to try. Just when it seems they’re ready to move forward and on, his past comes to intrude. Torn between having his first love come back and having to see the woman who was like family to him fade away, can he convince Delilah to take a risk on them?
Vi Keeland is quickly becoming a staple for funny and sexy yet touching reads in my library. After reading the teasers there was no way I would miss out on reading this book. I laughed hard at Brody’s antics, fanned myself with the carnal attraction between him and Delilah, cried for their pain and swooned with their happy ever after.
Hero’s like Brody are so easy to fall for. Underneath his sexy allure, arrogant cockiness and quick witted tongue, lay a devoted, thoughtful, caring, melt your heart, alpha-possessive-caveman. Which is why I hurt for him when we find out how his heart was so thoroughly broken by his ex-girlfriend Willow.
I haven’t read a lot of Vi Keeland books, but it seems to me that she writes feisty heroines which I like very much. Delilah is a successful, confident and understanding woman who didn’t do over the top drama. She just some trouble getting over her past.
I appreciated the sport element that was combined not just as a way for them to meet and for them to have something in common and adored the secondary characters which enriched the story. The time Brody spent with Marlene, the woman that wasn’t blood but family nonetheless was especially moving.
Vi Keeland’s writing has a smooth flowing and gripping pace. I enjoyed every part of this romance. From the start with a sort of flirty antagonism and Brody dropping his towel, then got to know each other in between laughter, silly questions and sexy times, to Brody and Delilah’s hearts and flowers happy ending.
The Baller is a sexy standalone sports romance by Vi Keeland. Told from various points of view with a happy ending.
4.5 Cocky Baller Stars
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* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via The Rock Stars of Romance. The excerpts are from that copy. *
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As the daughter of a professional quarterback, Delilah Maddox, not only likes her job, she knows and enjoys the sport. She’s worked hard to earn her place in the professional football world and wouldn’t risk her newly appointed position for a player. However when the compelling Super Bowl MVP reveals it all, makes her smile and won’t take no for an answer, not even her guarded heart can resist. But being afraid of being hurt again, can she fully give herself over to love?
Brody Easton’s good looks, alluring personality and success are certain to get him any woman except her. Delilah was seemingly immune to his charms and pushed back with ease. Having loved and lost he wasn’t looking for a relationship but for her he’s willing to try. Just when it seems they’re ready to move forward and on, his past comes to intrude. Torn between having his first love come back and having to see the woman who was like family to him fade away, can he convince Delilah to take a risk on them?
Vi Keeland is quickly becoming a staple for funny and sexy yet touching reads in my library. After reading the teasers there was no way I would miss out on reading this book. I laughed hard at Brody’s antics, fanned myself with the carnal attraction between him and Delilah, cried for their pain and swooned with their happy ever after.
Hero’s like Brody are so easy to fall for. Underneath his sexy allure, arrogant cockiness and quick witted tongue, lay a devoted, thoughtful, caring, melt your heart, alpha-possessive-caveman. Which is why I hurt for him when we find out how his heart was so thoroughly broken by his ex-girlfriend Willow.
“Yes, Tarzan.” I playfully rolled my eyes.
“Come here, Jane.” Brody’s hand squeezed the back of my neck while his mouth devoured mine.
I haven’t read a lot of Vi Keeland books, but it seems to me that she writes feisty heroines which I like very much. Delilah is a successful, confident and understanding woman who didn’t do over the top drama. She just some trouble getting over her past.
I appreciated the sport element that was combined not just as a way for them to meet and for them to have something in common and adored the secondary characters which enriched the story. The time Brody spent with Marlene, the woman that wasn’t blood but family nonetheless was especially moving.
Vi Keeland’s writing has a smooth flowing and gripping pace. I enjoyed every part of this romance. From the start with a sort of flirty antagonism and Brody dropping his towel, then got to know each other in between laughter, silly questions and sexy times, to Brody and Delilah’s hearts and flowers happy ending.
The Baller is a sexy standalone sports romance by Vi Keeland. Told from various points of view with a happy ending.
4.5 Cocky Baller Stars
iBooks ➜ http://apple.co/1QM9TfP
B&N ➜ http://bit.ly/1Yi2xmp
Kobo ➜ http://bit.ly/1SEiOhC
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via The Rock Stars of Romance. The excerpts are from that copy. *
More reviews * Stalk us on FaceBook * As well as Twitter * Pinterest Board for Book Teasers
January 15, 2016
༺**Complimentary Copy**༺ Provided by the author
"Vi Keeland" in exchange for an honest review..Thank you!!
TITLE: The Baller
AUTHOR: Vi Keeland
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
RELEASE DATE: January 18th 2016
MY RATING: 5 STARS
*gulps* Sooooo the covers pretty hot!! But the teasers are even hotter! Vi Keeland has done it again with The Baller. I have been stalking this book like crazy, true to form I didn't even need to read the synopsis, that hot fella on the cover sold me..
THE BALLER: The cocky self assured bastard Brody Easton decides during the very first interview with Delilah after their win, in the locker room to have a little fun at her expense and bares all by dropping his towel during a live broadcast.. Needless to say she's flustered as anything, stumbles over her words and is caught staring numerous times is an understatement.
Shit he was dangling in the wind.
"You're an asshole, you know that?"
His eyes sparkled " I do "
I expected him to be a dick. I didn't expect him to show me his dick.
Everywhere the man went the media followed, mostly because he was an arrogant showman who came them something to report.
The back and forth banter, the sexual tension all makes for a riveting smirk on the face read..Spoken in dual POV. it's funny, highly addictive, steamy and sexy..
The Baller: will have you giggling, your heart melting, and your fingers racing to tap those pages, as soon as you start reading this your hooked..Brody *Sighs* that man owned and claimed my heart from the very first moment he dropped that towel, he's a potty mouthed player, but has a huge marshmallow heart when it comes to people he loves, and he loves hard and when he wants something he doesn't hold back..
"Vi Keeland" in exchange for an honest review..Thank you!!
TITLE: The Baller
AUTHOR: Vi Keeland
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
RELEASE DATE: January 18th 2016
MY RATING: 5 STARS
*gulps* Sooooo the covers pretty hot!! But the teasers are even hotter! Vi Keeland has done it again with The Baller. I have been stalking this book like crazy, true to form I didn't even need to read the synopsis, that hot fella on the cover sold me..
THE BALLER: The cocky self assured bastard Brody Easton decides during the very first interview with Delilah after their win, in the locker room to have a little fun at her expense and bares all by dropping his towel during a live broadcast.. Needless to say she's flustered as anything, stumbles over her words and is caught staring numerous times is an understatement.
Shit he was dangling in the wind.
"You're an asshole, you know that?"
His eyes sparkled " I do "
I expected him to be a dick. I didn't expect him to show me his dick.
Everywhere the man went the media followed, mostly because he was an arrogant showman who came them something to report.
The back and forth banter, the sexual tension all makes for a riveting smirk on the face read..Spoken in dual POV. it's funny, highly addictive, steamy and sexy..
The Baller: will have you giggling, your heart melting, and your fingers racing to tap those pages, as soon as you start reading this your hooked..Brody *Sighs* that man owned and claimed my heart from the very first moment he dropped that towel, he's a potty mouthed player, but has a huge marshmallow heart when it comes to people he loves, and he loves hard and when he wants something he doesn't hold back..
![Profile Image for [~Ami~]♥Sexy Dexy♥ .](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1388500902i/22427047._UY200_CR8,0,200,200_.jpg)
January 21, 2016
2 stars
So sorry guys this one was another miss for me. I'm surprised I actually finished it. I was going to dnf it, then I picked it back up and it did get slightly better.
But halfway through the book I started to get really mad and I think those who read the book know what I'm talking about!!! Ugh!!! The only reason I didn't rate 1 star is because I thought some of the dialogue was quite cute and fun. I think Brody will be a big hit with some readers though if you like the arrogant crude type heroes.
So sorry guys this one was another miss for me. I'm surprised I actually finished it. I was going to dnf it, then I picked it back up and it did get slightly better.
But halfway through the book I started to get really mad and I think those who read the book know what I'm talking about!!! Ugh!!! The only reason I didn't rate 1 star is because I thought some of the dialogue was quite cute and fun. I think Brody will be a big hit with some readers though if you like the arrogant crude type heroes.
August 31, 2016
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
The Baller popped up on my radar screen due to Casey (along with her merry band of perverts) reading a different Vi Keeland book . . . but referencing this one in the review. This just so happened to be the only Keeland story my library had available for request (for shame, porny librarian – you are failing here!). It also had a cover that pert near guar-an-teed an education regarding the ins and outs (hehehehe) of the NFL and since football season is right around the corner, I was ready to make the sacrifice. My reaction upon finishing??????
Okay, so the story is that Delilah has worked her way up through the network and has a new job as a professional sportscaster. Delilah’s first on-air interview is with star quarterback Brody who definitely leaves a lasting impression . . .
Delilah thinks she’s being hazed for daring to be a woman in a man’s industry, but in reality . . .
“You have a dirty mouth.”
“This dirty mouth wants to do dirty things to you.”
I mean really, Delilah . . . .
OF COURSE eventually Brody and his filthy mouth wear her down and when he did . . . .
“Available or taken?” His answer had been “neither” during the pre-intereview, which I thought was a pretty interesting and accurate description of his dating life. He wasn’t taken, but he also wasn’t available. Only this time when I asked the question, his response caught me off guard.” Taken.” He could see the confusion on my face, but I quickly jumped back into reporter mode. “Really? Is this new?” “It is.” “How new.” “So new, she doesn’t even know it yet.”
And then . . . .
Nearly everything worked for me when it came to this book. Even the angsty, tear-us-apart bullshit couldn’t really deter my enjoyment. And Brody????? The perfect leading male for me. Not only was I able to picture a super-hunky former quarterback as the lead . . .
(Seriously, just STFU if you have any smack to talk on Jesse Palmer. I have zero clue about his quarterbacking ability and I also give zero shits about it. All I know is when I see his face on Good Morning America my lady bits go beep.)
Where was I????? Oh yeah, not only was Brody a super hunk, but he was flippin’ hilarious. I do okay with super alpha alphas when they are in werewolf or biker form, but the true winner of my heart is the cocksure (hehehehehe) dude who delivers the hardy-hars.
Really the only complaint I have is with the Plain White Tees who managed to absolutely RUIN the name Delilah for me. Good Christ if I don’t get their effing song out of my head soon . . . .
Now . . . .
(^^^^That’s fat girl talk for doing the dibbity.)
I also need a real big favor. Someone call the porny librarian and demand every other Vi Keeland book get purchased stat. I think I wore out my welcome and other patrons are asking for Pulitzer winners and shit get ordered because they are stupid and haven’t discovered the amazing world of smut.
The Baller popped up on my radar screen due to Casey (along with her merry band of perverts) reading a different Vi Keeland book . . . but referencing this one in the review. This just so happened to be the only Keeland story my library had available for request (for shame, porny librarian – you are failing here!). It also had a cover that pert near guar-an-teed an education regarding the ins and outs (hehehehe) of the NFL and since football season is right around the corner, I was ready to make the sacrifice. My reaction upon finishing??????
Okay, so the story is that Delilah has worked her way up through the network and has a new job as a professional sportscaster. Delilah’s first on-air interview is with star quarterback Brody who definitely leaves a lasting impression . . .
Delilah thinks she’s being hazed for daring to be a woman in a man’s industry, but in reality . . .
“You have a dirty mouth.”
“This dirty mouth wants to do dirty things to you.”
I mean really, Delilah . . . .
OF COURSE eventually Brody and his filthy mouth wear her down and when he did . . . .
“Available or taken?” His answer had been “neither” during the pre-intereview, which I thought was a pretty interesting and accurate description of his dating life. He wasn’t taken, but he also wasn’t available. Only this time when I asked the question, his response caught me off guard.” Taken.” He could see the confusion on my face, but I quickly jumped back into reporter mode. “Really? Is this new?” “It is.” “How new.” “So new, she doesn’t even know it yet.”
And then . . . .
Nearly everything worked for me when it came to this book. Even the angsty, tear-us-apart bullshit couldn’t really deter my enjoyment. And Brody????? The perfect leading male for me. Not only was I able to picture a super-hunky former quarterback as the lead . . .
(Seriously, just STFU if you have any smack to talk on Jesse Palmer. I have zero clue about his quarterbacking ability and I also give zero shits about it. All I know is when I see his face on Good Morning America my lady bits go beep.)
Where was I????? Oh yeah, not only was Brody a super hunk, but he was flippin’ hilarious. I do okay with super alpha alphas when they are in werewolf or biker form, but the true winner of my heart is the cocksure (hehehehehe) dude who delivers the hardy-hars.
Really the only complaint I have is with the Plain White Tees who managed to absolutely RUIN the name Delilah for me. Good Christ if I don’t get their effing song out of my head soon . . . .
Now . . . .
(^^^^That’s fat girl talk for doing the dibbity.)
I also need a real big favor. Someone call the porny librarian and demand every other Vi Keeland book get purchased stat. I think I wore out my welcome and other patrons are asking for Pulitzer winners and shit get ordered because they are stupid and haven’t discovered the amazing world of smut.
February 16, 2016
RATING: 3.75 I’ll gladly skip the bullshit flowers and sweet gestures for Brody Hearts!! :D <3
The Baller gives us a pretty ordinary sports romance yet no less an enjoyable one in its sweet simplicity, as we’re equally perturbed and enticed with Delilah as she faces off against Brody in a game of willfully, hilarious banter and swooning seduction.
“If you fall in love with someone else, the other person you still love was never meant to be yours forever.”
This tale is presented to us through the dual perspectives of Delilah and Brody, and it’s nothing short of entertaining interspersed with the subtlest of heart-aching moments. Delilah giving as good as she gets when it comes to Brody is only one of the reasons she’s such an enjoyable protagonist, her determination to overcome the challenges working in a male-dominated job and her struggling (and eventually overcoming) with a painful past also joining the list. Brody is the epitome of swoon-worthy. His dirty-talking, sweet gestures, loyalty to those he loves, and utter masculinity all cementing his captivating appeal.
“If I could do anything I wanted on a day off, I’d do...you.”
“You have a dirty mouth.”
“This dirty mouth wants to do dirty things to you.”
The two of them together are just as likeable as they are individually, the sparks of their chemistry leaping off the pages to engulf us with their passionate embers as simultaneously their tender emotions embrace us in a gentle warmth. Though the characters aren’t necessarily exhibiting profound depth and complexity, they keep us rooting for them throughout. Rounding out our main leads are a band of outstanding secondary characters; Marlene, Indie, and Grouper.
Aside from a few frustrating decisions Delilah makes and the unwelcome addition of a third POV, overall The Baller is the perfect pick-me-up book. Heavy conflict and drama are notably absent from this story, allowing us to sit back and simply wait for our hero and heroine to find their way to one another after taking a wrong turn or two. Ms. Keeland does a commendable job in delivering this fun read, and I can’t wait for more from her.
Other Fav Quotes:
“Every time I see you, I expose myself to you.” He flashed me his trademark smile. “That’s how we show girls we like them where I’m from.”
“Where are you from, the jungle?”
“Brooklyn.”
Sometimes we believe things not because we know they are true, but because the lies are easier to accept.
“When life knocks you down, stop and look around for one thing that’s good, because there is always something. Then cling to that good.”
“If you could have your pick of any Disney princess, which one would it be?”
“Definitely not Sleeping Beauty. She lies around sleeping all day, waiting for some shmuck wearing tights to come kiss her.”
He rubbed his chin. “Snow White’s voice would annoy the shit out of me. Plus, I’m six-two, and she’s into short guys.” He paused. “I’m not sure I know any other princesses. Wait. No. That chick from Aladdin is hot. Or the Little Mermaid. But can a mermaid spread her legs? And is she even a princess?”
I had thought peace was a place where there was no turbulence or fear. Where there were no highs and lows and where happiness was found in the calm at the center. But at that moment, I finally realized peace wasn’t about avoiding things. It was about making the choice to live life with all its chaos around you, and in the midst of it all, having calm in your heart. Brody Easton, the man who’d entered my life like a storm, had turned out to be my calm.
--------
Thank you to Suzanne for BR with me and putting up with all my ranting texts late throughout the night!! I had so much fun reading this with you, boo! Muah!! :D xoxoxo Check out her awesomesauce review here!
Posted: February 15, 2016
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