The Ballers and Babes Collection

By: Lauren Blakely

Narrated by: Zachary Webber, Andi Arndt, Victoria Mei, Erin Mallon

Length: 20 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Sexy, charming football players and the feisty and fantastic women they fall for! Indulge in three bestselling sports romances from number one New York Times best-selling author Lauren Blakely in The Ballers and Babes Collection, performed by Zachary Webber as the hero in each title. He's joined by a different leading lady on each story—Andi Arndt, Victoria Mei, and Erin Mallon. This collection includes:

Most Valuable Playboy...

When the hot young quarterback desperately needs a fake girlfriend, he turns to his best friend’s sister in this sexy, feel-good friends-to-lovers romance!

Most Likely to Score...

When the star receiver needs to rehab his rep, he turns to the only woman who can help…but fighting their desires is the toughest play of all in this sexy forbidden romance!

A Wild Card Kiss...

When the single dad athlete meets the woman who got away, sparks fly, but fate has other plans for the jilted bride and the football star in this second-chance romance!

©2022 Lauren Blakely Books (P)2024 Lauren Blakely Books

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Enjoyed all three books and love how each had its unique story. The narrators were 4 of my faves, so of course, great job. This series was light hearted enough to listen before sleeping - I don't like miserable, dark stories before bedtime - but still had enough substance to keep me interested and listening a little longer than I probably should've...😉🤫 The characters were each unique and well created and it was nice that although they may have been perceived as "perfect" (hot athletes/beautiful women), they still had issues/baggage like everyone out there. Well done, Lauren and please do keep the box series coming! Bravo! 👏👏👏

Sweet, Swoony, and Smoldering Romance Collection!

~ Most Valuable Playboy (Ballers and Babes #1)
Before book one, we get to listen to the prequel novella about the budding friends-to-lovers romance, between Cooper and Violet, called Most Irresistible Guy, which was a real treat!

It leads into Most Valuable Playboy, and I absolutely adored everything about their story! It is heartwarming, fun & flirty, sweet and very hot & sexy! Cooper and Violet have been close friends since they were kids, always having each others backs. Now as adults, things haven't changed when Violet comes to Coopers rescue during the charity bachelor auction held by Coopers team. She bids an obscene amount to save Cooper from someone Cooper absolutely did not want to be alone with. When put on the spot, Cooper and Violet pretend to be having a relationship. Everyone is so excited for a love story between the sexy new Quarterback and the hometown girl, that they are forced to go along with it. As Cooper and Violet try to come up with answers to questions about their relationship, their answers just may have a shred of truth. Cooper realizes he is so attracted to his sexy friend, and their chemistry is off the charts. But does she feel the same or is she just paying him back for saving her years earlier? They knew so much about each other, and had such history, that they "can't see the forest for the trees".
I loved Cooper and Violet, they were so in sync, and perfect for each other. Ms. Blakely expertly weaved a beautiful and intoxicating love story with genuine characters, witty banter and explosive chemistry. It didn't have angst, or a lot of drama, but still had the emotional oomph that I love. This story is the perfect blend of humor, charm, emotion and steam. This book captured my heart and made me feel happy and totally satisfied.
This entertaining story is brought to life beautifully by Zachary Webber, and Andi Arndt. I love both their voices, along with their flawless comedic timing and dynamic voice changes as they delivered the clever banter. They made me laugh, swoon and cheer for Cooper and Violet's HEA.
This was a great start to this group of friends and I can't wait to read Jones' and Jillians' story in 'Most Likely To Score' next!

~ Most Likely to Score (Ballers and Babes #2)
I loved listening to Most Likely to Flirt first. It is the sexy prequel novella about Jones and Jillian's budding forbidden romance, leading into Most Likely to Score.

I loved this charming, steamy, forbidden romance! Jones and Jillian have worked together for the same football organization for years. They have also been attracted to each other all that time. Neither has acted on that attraction, always being totally professional, well at least Jillian was. Sexy wide receiver Jones was always outrageous, trying to get Jillian to go out with him. But now Jones needs to clean up his reputation. He and publicist wiz, Jillian, work closely on a project to help with that. They soon are unable to deny their fiery attraction. But when they have to keep it a secret, it takes a toll on them both. Jones and Jillian are both wonderful characters that are caring, thoughtful and fun. I loved them both along with their loving, and supportive family and friends. Ms. Blakely creates mature, witty characters who are socially conscious, work hard, and play even harder. Their world is a place I love to visit and feel apart of.
Zachary Webber, and Victoria Mei did a great job narrating this delightful story and bringing it to life. I loved their humor, and their easy ability to make this heartwarming, fun and sexy romance one that you will want to listen to again and again!

~ A Wild Card Kiss (Ballers and Babes #3)
It was so much fun listening to A Wild Card Night first. It is the prequel novella about the night Harlan and Katie met. It was quick and steamy and only made me want more of them!

Timing is everything, and it seems to snub Harlan and Katie. They met years ago and had an instant fiery connection. But timing wasn't on their side when Harlan wanted to see Katie again, she had to turn him down as she was moving away for her job. Now years later, they meet again but their timing is off again. Harlan is a successful athlete and single dad to his adorable little girl. When he sees Katie again, she has just left her cheating fiancé on their wedding day. They still have their same spark but remain friends until Katie is ready for more. When they finally decide to move forward, Katie's yoga business is hired by Harlan's team. Now they must down dog together but remain platonic. Will they ever get their timing right and find their HEA? This was such a delightfully fun and steamy romance. I love Harlan and Katie along with their flirty, witty banter, their hot passion is hot and explosive chemistry! Their relationship was hard fought, but totally worth the time and frustration so they could make a stronger, forever family together.
I loved Erin Mallon and Zachary Webber wonderful performances. They made these smart, witty, sexy, characters come to life, including Webber's very sweet little girl voice. I also think Mallon and Webber have perfect comedic timing. I was completely lost to their storytelling as they effortlessly pulling me into this world.

I absolutely loved this sweet, swoony, and smoldering romance collection!

Awesome

Each story is equally charming, seductively sensual and absolutely entertaining. I enjoyed listening to the narrators bring these stories to life. Great series!

Love it

Had me on my feet waiting for more. Loved the books. Excellent reading as well.

Great books!

I purchased the first book separate but loved the other two that were in this grouping too. The last one was so sweet. Simple and sweet. It was needed after Jones’ story( 2nd book). I love that Harlan became a single father and loves being a father. I love that in Harlan’s story we get to hear about other characters from Lauren’s other San Franciscan Sports teams, The Renegades, The Hawks, The Dragons ( and although not mentioned The Cougars. ). So fun. Harlan was/is pretty awesome and I want to taste one of those pies! 1 credit for all three stories….. so worth it!

Narration was hard to listen to

the female narrator of wildcard kiss was very hard to listen to. the cadence and inflection in her voice always sounded the same and didn't even fit half of what she was saying. i couldn't finish it because of that reason alone. the other narrators were fine. it's the only reason i didn't rate the performance a 1.

Love Lauren Blakely!!

There great books in one file! Loved every single one of them!

Lauren Blakely has such a way of making characters and situations feel real, like you could be a part of these characters lives. She’s serious, but funny and the people she writes about are some you’d definitely want in your life.

Zachary Webber is one of my favorite narrators and I could listen to him all the time! Andi Arndt, Victoria Mei and Erin Mallon have excellent voices!

Great Collection!

This was such a fun collection of sports romances…well worth the credit! LB delivers romance with both sweet and spicy, along with great dialogue, I loved them all, but the final story about a single dad was my favorite! Fantastic narration made these stories really shine!

All My Favorite Tropes Here!

Most Irresistible Guy (Ballers and Babes Book 0.5) / Most Valuable Playboy (Ballers and Babes book #1)
Written by Lauren Blakely
Narrated by Zachary Webber and Andi Arndt
Five Stars

I love Sports Romance. I love Brother's Best Friend. I love Friends to Lovers. I love this book.

Lauren Blakely doesn't fail. Her books always leave me happy. Even better when she has the best narrators.

When Cooper is about to be auctioned off in the team's annual Bachelor Auction to a pushy reporter he needs someone quick to bail him out. Violet knows the signal and makes sure Cooper's virtue is safe. This leads to a little fake dating kiss that sparks a flame that has been building for years.

#BallersAndBabesBookOne #MostIrresistibleGuy
#MostValuablePlayboy #LaurenBlakely
#Audiobooks #AndiArndt #ZacharyWebber
#SportsRomance #BrothersBestFriend
#FriendsToLovers #FakeDating
#BachelorAuction #Football #Sports
#ContemporaryRomance #SportsRomance

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Most Likely To Flirt (Ballers and Babes book 1.5) / Most Likely To Score (Ballers and Babes book 2)
Written by Lauren Blakely
Narrated by Zachary Webber and Victorie Mei
FIVE STARS

"I don't date players."
hahahahha You silly goose.

The publicist and the football player....forbidden. Oh well, we're going to do this anyway and we are going to pretend we can stop but you know we can't. So now what? No worries! Lauren knows how to sort a love story without causing me any anxiety and I love her for that.

#BallersAndBabesBookTwo #MostLikelyToFlirt
#MostLikelyToScore #LaurenBlakely
#Audiobooks #VictoriaMei #ZacharyWebber
#SportsRomance #ForbiddenRomance
#WorkPlaceRomance #Football #Sports
#ContemporaryRomance #SportsRomance

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A Wild Card Night (Ballers and Babes book 2.5) / A Wild Card Kiss (Ballers and Babes book 3)
Written by Lauren Blakely
Narrated by Zachary Webber and Erin Mallon
FIVE STARS

Lauren just nails all my favorite tropes. This book? Second Chance Romance and Single dad...ugh I love it.

They meet and make plans but life throws a wrench in the form of a job that moves Katie out of the state. Harlan remembers her as the one that got away but ultimately continues to live his life. Fast forward 7 years; Harlan is a single dad and Katie just found her fiancé and her mother making out at her wedding venue. What's a girl to do? Get smashed at a local bar in her wedding dress, duh. Happy of happies who should she run into? Harlan! Finally they get their chance. JK. Katie lands Harlan's football team as a yoga client so they have to table their romance...again. How will that work out though when they're not states apart and spending loads of time together? hehe

I'll give the credit, Erin Mallon is hit or miss for me as a narrator. When she does that holding the last letter of a word thing I want to break sh*t but she didn't do that in this one and I love her for it. I found her narration very enjoyable.

#BallersAndBabesBookThree #A Wild Card Night
#AWildCardKiss #LaurenBlakely
#Audiobooks #ErinMallon #ZacharyWebber
#SportsRomance #ForbiddenRomance
#WorkPlaceRomance #SecondChanceRomance
#ForbiddenRomance #Football #Sports
#ContemporaryRomance #SportsRomance

Fun stories, mostly good performances

I really have enjoyed this author's books and the majority of the performances. I do have to say that Erin Mallon's intonation, over enunciation of certain sounds, and word stress were distracting and severely impacted my enjoyment of the last story. I can see her as someone reading non-fiction, but it is laborious to listen to in a romance novel.