HardBall by CD Reiss on March 29th 2016
Pages: 200
Amazon
Perfect ass.
Perfect arms.
Perfect swagger.They call Dash Wallace the Diamond King.
He’s the hottest commodity in baseball and in the bedroom.
When he runs the bases, every woman’s eyes are glued to his stunning body and a smile that puts the night lights to shame.I’m no queen. I’m a regular girl with a regular job. I just watch him on TV and from the bleachers, season after season.
Girls like me grab a guy like that one in a million times.
My number just came up, and he is as spectacular in bed as he is on the field.
But there’s not a woman in the world who can distract Dash Wallace from the game. Not for a moment. Not even me.
Until the night I do. And everything changes.
I’m a big CD Reiss fan so when I heard she was working on a sports romantic comedy—my latest addiction—I was all over that. I mean I stalked her Facebook page for updates, shamelessly drooled over the cover reveal, and was willing to sell my dog for an ARC. Well, he’s actually my husband’s dog, but still. This book is very different from the dark erotic novels for which Reiss is best know; however, there are enough sexy times to please most dirty birdies.
Dash Wallace: shortstop for the Dodgers, Golden Glove winner, playboy, prolific reader, panty melter, dirty talker. Oh, and he quotes Shakespeare. Sold! Vivian Foster: elementary school librarian, understatedly sexy, insecure, selfless, lives with her dad. They are complete opposites but somehow they click, and when they’re in the bedroom it’s like molten lava.
“Yes,” I gasped.
“Yes to what?”
“I forgot the question, but it’s yes.”
“The question was, ‘How many times do you want to come tonight?
The story highlights the importance of rituals and superstitions in the sport of baseball, but especially to Dash. He’s a man who doesn’t just thrive on control; in his mind he absolutely needs it. His entire identity is wrapped up in being a successful professional ball player, and if that means wearing a princess pin or sleeping with a particular girl in every away game city to ensure he performs well on the field, then he’s willing to take one for the team.
Vivian comes along at a time when everything in Dash’s life seems to be slipping through his fingers. Although she pushes him outside his comfort zone, she also brings him peace. He wants to try to make a relationship with her work, but can a womanizer really commit? Can the love of a good woman be enough to overcome self-doubt?
Vivian couldn’t be more nurturing towards Dash. She’s loyal and self-sacrificing, occasionally to her own detriment. As much as I loved Dash—and lord knows he’s a funny, sexy beast—at times I didn’t like him. He’s so blinded by his fears and his own desires that sometimes he’s oblivious to Vivian’s needs, and she is too willing to give in to his requests. It’s an unbalanced relationship now and then, which didn’t sit well with me.
There’s plenty of steam and humor to liven things up, and the plot kept me engaged throughout. I know nothing about baseball, but this book made me want to be a fan. I love the attention given to the secondary characters. Dash’s relationship with his best friend and teammate, as well as Vivian’s dedication as an educator of underprivileged children warmed my heart. Vivian’s dad is a devoted single father and their relationship is wonderful.
Even with the character issues, Reiss’s writing is on point as always. HardBall is a highly enjoyable addition to my CD Reiss shelf.
Recommended for fans of:
Baseball
Romantic comedy
Superstitions
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
Purchase Links
Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | B&N | Google Play
Meet Dash Wallace: http://dashwallace.com/
Giveaway
About CD Reiss
CD Reiss is a New York Times bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn’t pick up she’s at the well hauling buckets.
Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master’s degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels.
She’s frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn’t ever gotten her out of chopping that cord of wood.
If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.
Any thoughts? (Comments may be held for moderation.)