Hardball

By: CD Reiss

Narrated by: Jo Raylan, Jeremy York

Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's Summary

Vivian's a pretty mild-mannered person. 

Even with a busload of hyperactive fourth graders going to a baseball signing, she's patient and kind. 

Even when she meets Dash Wallace...major league legend and star of her hottest daydreams...she keeps her cool. 

Kind of. 

Mostly. 

It was fine. 

Then his glove is missing and he accuses one of those fourth graders of being a thief. 

You do not come after one of Vivian's kids. She will defend them to the death.... 

Dash suddenly finds himself with an apology on his lips and an unexplainable attraction to a woman who's just not his type. 

But he keeps his cool. 

Kind of.

Mostly. 

It's fine until the regular season, when he's going to travel with the team. 

He has rituals. Processes. Routines. 

You could even call them superstitions. 

They involve having a woman in every city he plays, and Vivian's going to have to be fine with that, or he's going to be just fine leaving her. 

Kind of. 

Mostly. 

Not fine. 

Vivian lays down the law, and Dash has to decide between her and winning.  

©2016 CD Reiss (P)2016 Flip City Media Inc

not impressed with this guy

The main male character was beyond selfish until the very last moments of the book. Aside from him giving an inexperienced woman "great sex" I didn't see any redeeming qualities that would have kept the main female around aside from the fact that she was a baseball fangirl.
He didn't grow throughout the book. he supposedly had a miraculous come to jesus moment that changed things at the last minute. Nah, didn't work for me.
great narration from the female voice though. the male voice sounded canned/hollowed out in spots, which was weird, but otherwise good.

6 people found this helpful

Missed the connection between them

The story leaves out them getting to know each other. The dates, conversations, sitting on the couch watching tv and to me that's where the magic happens. Those moments were mentioned, but only casually. It just left me wondering how they could be so completely in love when the basics didn't even happen!

5 people found this helpful

So Worth the Wait!!

Would you listen to Hardball again? Why?

Absolutely - it was a great read and after a good amount of time I want to experience those feelings again - I always pick up something I missed the second time around.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dash was my favorite, he is so sweet, but broken and insecure and does everything to win Vivian over.

Which character – as performed by Jo Raylan and Jeremy York – was your favorite?

Dash performed by Jo Raylan.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Vivian turned down Dash's proposal - it was heartbreaking.

Any additional comments?

This was such a good read - sexy, steamy, I had to pause a couple of times and rewind and "yep, I heard that right" oh my, these two are so hot for each other - love it. The best part was not being able to figure out how it was going to turn out - it was not predictable at all, in fact there were parts I started to get pretty worried. Cannot wait for the next CD Reiss
standalone!

9 people found this helpful

THE TITLE SAYS A LOT.... BUT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE

Vivian's a Librarian on a School trip to the Dodger's Stadium - but she's also a loving Daughter who wants to give her Dad a baseball signed by all the Players because they both love the game and the Dodgers. It was nearly filled but still had room for one more name.... the perfect Dasher Wallace's and, as soon as they met, the sparks flew but so did some insults. In true C D Reiss style, nothing was rushed and she lets you get to know her characters, their foibles, their hopes and dreams and then, when you're totally invested in the characters, she begins the tentative and alluring game of romance.

While Dash was intrigued by the sexy Librarian he certainly wasn't going to be derailed and his focus has to be on the game.... and his ADHD repetitive structured habits which included banging certain women in various cities as they went from game to game. But he had a few weeks to kill before Spring training and when their paths crossed again there was no denying the sexual chemistry humming between them. They talked, flirted, went out and found that they both had passion for the same types of books so the banter was easy, free flowing, romantic, dirty and fun but Dash wanted a relationship with an end date and Vivian wanted more. And, as things started to crumble in his well structured life, Vivian was going to be both his downfall and his salvation.

Dash was a dirty talking, hot, sexy, kind and caring character with misplaced beliefs that he was quick to realize.... hopefully in time to woo back Vivian - the only woman he truly wanted.... but Vivian had doubts - were his feelings for her true love or were they just for the luck she seemed to bring him? Through all the soul searching and emotional dilemmas that came and went with their relationship, they just couldn't stay away from one another... or keep there hands off each other and the sex scenes were always hot and sometimes had mild sub/Dom tendencies - either in thoughts or deeds. A 'relationship' driven story as two people found each other however one walked away.... only to return dejected and determined to win back trust while silently hoping for more.... and the endless power of love as it healed invisible wounds to the heart, fought emotional demons and slew all obstacles to get to the HEA.

Worth a credit? Dual POV's, great narration, loveable characters and a fun, hot and very enjoyable Contemporary romance..... so Hell YEAH it's worth a credit. It sucked me straight in and I was helpless to object and unwilling to stop as I kept telling myself "after this Chapter I'll stop"..... "ok just one more"..... "nope I can't stop here"..... "how long til the end?" etc etc etc (well you get the drift). Until I finally braved my enemy - the clock and the hour it was tut tutting at me made me groan out loud because my willpower was gone and only time had the power to make me stop. Well done Ms Reiss.... another Home run and I may have been sitting in the dug out but I witnessed and felt the magic as you knocked yet another one out of the ballpark.

14 people found this helpful

MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE ALL TIME AUDIBLE BOOK!!!!!

There are no words..... only these..... GET THIS BOOK, LISTEN TO THIS BOOK!!!! The narrator's are perfect, the book is great, everything about it is perfect. I literally struggle with reviews and as much as I know author's can depend on them I do not leave them but I had to make an exception this time, because this was perfection. ❤❤❤❤

2 people found this helpful

Amazing and unexpectedly awesome

A love story of epic proportions... this is the first book that I've read from CD Reiss and I'd definitely get more. This has all the makings of an epic romance with a twist of hot and steamy sex. Narrator's did a fantastic job!!!

5 people found this helpful

Ok

This is a romantic, erotic (it does imply hard bdsm, but it is not to bad), love story.

I liked this book, but I am sorry, I couldn't get connect with the book or characters. I loved the story line, but it is not my type of book. My opinion is you have to appreciate the lingo to baseball in general. I am not much of a sports fan, so I couldn't understand the phrasing.

Dash is the best of the best in baseball, he is ADD and has a routine he cannot break, it is the only reason he is so good at what he does, baseball. He has to keep this routine or his winning streak will turn to losing or worse cause career killing injury. When a certain woman from a school bring her kids to meet the team, events will pay out that he will soon learn what is more important.

Vivian is a librarian for a low income school. He too has a normal but boring routine. It involves her and her stepfather, taking care of him, giving back to him after raising her since her mother's death. She has always had a crush on the sexy baseball player, but had no idea that dreams do comes true.

5 people found this helpful

Home run

Hot steamy, sexy book with characters I fell in love with instantly! Not a lot of action and firework moments BUT a gratified character development, with real emotional issues. Don't normally like books with this drama and no suspense kind, but I definately enjoyed this one. Jo and Jeremy did a great job at narrating. Worth a credit

4 people found this helpful

Meet Dash Wallace!

This was very different than what I expected. For a sports romance it was a lot more serious than I expected. That is certainly not a bad thing, just a mental adjustment I had to do. I really enjoyed all the Los Angeles references and enjoyed the hero/heroine. The narrators did a great job, I just had a hard time separating Jo Raylan from the Submission Series as Jonathan and Monica.

4 people found this helpful

CD Reiss is the best!

I absolutely love CD writings. This has all you need. I am hooked. Can't wait for what is next❤

1 person found this helpful

Wonderful.

Another of CD Reiss' books brought brilliantly to life by 2 very talented voice actors. I have loved every single minute.