Home Run Baby

Bad Baller #3

by Tabatha Kiss

Two things I didn’t expect to happen to me over Spring Break at Chicago North University:

1. Getting knocked out by a baseball.
2. Getting knocked up by a baseball player.

Hunter Novak. The most valuable player in college baseball. Home Run Hunter himself.

But that’s not the name he gave me when he took me home from that bar a few months ago.

We’re strangers. Now, we’re having a baby together.

So, we’re going back to first base.

First date. First kiss. First everything all over again in the hope it leads to... first love, I guess?

Our baby deserves a family. A real family.

Can me and my one-night stand be a home run?

Or was it all just a major foul?

Home Run Baby is a steamy stand-alone sports romance guaranteed to tug your heartstrings. This new second edition includes brand-new and extended scenes not available in the original version.

Genres: Sports, Sports Romance, Romance, Baseball, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Surprise Pregnancy

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2024

About the author

USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Tabatha Kiss is from Chicago, Illinois.

You can probably catch her huddled up in a hoodie, reading a good romance beneath a tree with her trusty husky by her side. She enjoys roller derby, sushi, and is always searching for her forever bad boy.

In the meantime, she writes.

This profile uses Amazon affiliate links.

Reviews

[Giorgia Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Meh, it was ok-ish.
The best thing about it was that it was short and simple. You won't find greatness here, only a bit of pass time. Predictable but enjoyable dialogue.

[♡Tonya♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a love/hate relationship with books involving athletes. Often they are cocky and womanizing. Always looking for the next score, literally. Every once in a while, a really good one comes along. Home Run Baby being a prime example.

I adored Daisy and Hunter. What was supposed to be a one night stand turned into so much more. They attempted to handle it in a mature way, hoping to make it work even though they barely knew each other.

-awesome hero who was not a manwhore
-funny, sassy heroine (she cracked me up so many times)
-no om/ow drama
-a separation of a few months and it wasn't discussed but the assumption was they were both celibate
-HFN ending (needed a further out epilogue)

This was a sweet, funny story with a smidge of angst thrown in for good measure. You didn't have all the groupie, ow/om, drama. I would have liked to crack their heads together a couple times but it all worked out. If all the authors books are like this, I will definitely read more!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story of a couple who make a baby from a one night stand but come back together like the universe already has plans for them as a couple.
He is a baseball player and she is a photographer. At first Daisy is unsure of whether she will be a good mom.
Lots of ups and downs along the way but a great story of two people making it work for them.
I received this as an ARC copy from the author for my honest review and honestly it is a great story with a HEA.

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life seems to be going perfectly for Daisy's twins sister and Daisy is feeling a bit depressed about her own life in comparison. She heads off to the local bar to drown in her sorrows not realizing fate is about to kick her in the butt!

What a fun book! I love sports themed books especially when it doesn't have the groupie women in it. This was a very low angst and funny read. I loved the heroine, Daisy, she was snarky and funny. Hunter was a mix of all the good stuff. Charming, laid back, an alpha in bed and was the perfect compliment to Daisy. And you get to see some of the couple from Bad Baller #2 since Daisy is Rose's twin sister. I highly recommend this book if you want something light and fun!

ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.

[Coco.V]

💝 FREE on Amazon today (11/15/2018)!💝

[Sienasummerrreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This follows Daisy and Hunter. Daisy has always felt like a disappointment to her family especially to her mother. Her twin sister, Rose, seems to have everything going for her, while Daisy feels like she’s constantly falling short. One night, needing an escape, she heads to a local bar for a drink. That’s where she meets a handsome, fun bartender and decides to spend the night under a different identity. They part ways the next morning, and Daisy never expects to see him again until four months later when she’s knocked out by a baseball… and finds out she’s also pregnant.

I picked this up because I love pregnancy romances and got it on a Stuff Your Kindle Day. This book did not disappoint. I really enjoyed how it explored the many thoughts running through Daisy’s mind as she faced an unplanned pregnancy. She struggled to come to terms with the idea of becoming a mother and couldn’t picture herself in that role.

Daisy is a stubborn character who never wants to ask for help, and when Hunter entered the picture, she pushed him away due to her insecurities and desire to prove herself. Hunter, on the other hand, was incredibly supportive. He wanted the family dynamic to work, cared deeply for Daisy, and was committed to stepping up as a father constantly trying to understand what she was thinking.

I’m so glad things worked out in the end, and the spice was fantastic as well.

I will say that Daisy frustrated me at times with her behavior, but I could understand why she acted the way she did. Other than that, it was a great read with lots of emotional and challenging moments.

Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Kindle Read
Pages: 345
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Series or Standalone: Book Three In The Kings of Chicago Series
Tropes or Themes: Sports (Baseball), Accidental Pregnancy, Roommates, Workplace, Forced Proximity, One Night Stand, FMC Photographer, Mine, Made Me Laugh, Third Act Breakup, Alcohol, Cursing, Sexual Content, Dirty Talk, Praise, Car Scene and Shower Scene.
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[Megan (sporadic hiatus due to law school) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly enjoyable and super funny for most of it. I was chuckling and/or cackling (your choice) through several scenes or banter, and it was very hard to stop reading (but in the end, I did not want to stay at work just to finish the last four chapters. I finished them when I got home five minutes later lmao)

The surprise pregnancy trope isn't always my favorite - it worked for Junior and Alyssa because it didn't occur until after they had already fallen for each other, but this was yet another where the two are thrown together because of an oops baby.

I was a little tired of the constant mentions of the universe in the last little bit. How they made up and the circumstances that brought it into being depended solely on the universe sending "signs" and I don't read romance books to see the universe blessing these super cute couples. I might honestly have preferred it if these "signs" weren't signs at all but the characters looking for them - Hunter had a daisy put in his hair and the girl at the bar was named Jenny and she ordered the same drink, but wouldn't it be better if he thought she said her name was Jenny and ignored her order and made Daisy's drink just because she was on his mind? It really helps the narrative that the two want to be together and think they should because they're looking for signs and not because the universe is trying to throw them together.

Read as part of the Kings of Chicago North collection and this was a great book to end on.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like stepping up to the plate with a loaded bases scenario—cute, but ultimately a little too much pressure to be successful. The book’s playful, baseball-heavy romance has its moments, but Kiss goes so deep into baseball metaphors that she might as well have written the story from the dugout. It's a curveball of cheesiness, and not always in a successful way.

Don't get me wrong: the story has its hits. The banter between the leads sparks like a fastball meeting the sweet spot of a bat, and there are definitely some laugh-out-loud moments (even if they come unintentionally). But every chapter feels like it’s trying to knock a baseball pun out of the park. By the end, I was begging for the someone to come out of the bull pen and call it a day.

And then came *The Incident*. Page 229. The moment where the protagonist refers to the pants she was sleeping in as “slacks.” SLACKS. I mean, come on, Tabatha. Is she attending a corporate seminar, or is she having morning sex with her boyfriend? It completely threw me out of the game and had me wishing for an editor to step up to the plate.

Overall, this book isn’t a strikeout—it’s more like a sacrifice fly. If you’re a fan of baseball puns (there’s a LOT. Like, a lot a lot) and can overlook the occasional slacks reference 🤢, this one might still be worth a swing. But for me, it’s a solid 2.5 out of 5 stars.

[Amy Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

Absolutely loved this book. The lightness and sexiness between Daisy and Hunger is epic. Loved her witty mouth, loved his sexy mouth. Great book.

[Neda Johns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super quick and easy read. Adorable book with the perfect ending.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for an honest review.
Daisy goes in a bar to escape life, and meets a hot, sexy bartender, Hunter. They end up having a one night stand, and Dairy leaves in the middle of the night. Six weeks later she takes her twin sister to a minor league baseball game, and gets hit on the head with a ball, by same hot bartender. While in hospital she learns that she is pregnant!
This is a sweet and sexy romance, about how they both fight fate, and give into the inevitable. This story is humorous, and I loved the banter between all of the characters.
I recommend Tabitha’s work, and am looking forward to reading what she brings to us next.

[Juli · Rating 4 out of 5]

KU*

This is Daisy’s story, Rose’s twin sister who we meet in First Down Darling.

Daisy is a photographer who loves baseball, however, her life both professionally and personally aren’t where she hoped they would be. Daisy meets Hunter at the bar he works at during the off season since he a is college baseball player; they have one night stand that unexpectedly has lasting consequences.

I absolutely adored Hunter, he was swoon-worthy sweet and basically everything Daisy needed in a soulmate. However, I did not like Daisy, to me, she acted like a brat from beginning to the end; she was jealous of her sister, love to revel in self pity and was selfish especially when it came to Hunter and the baby.

I would love to say Daisy grows out of that behavior, but in my opinion, while she does improve she still remains a stubborn brat. It just seemed like she hated that everyone in her life was happy and doing well and because she wasn’t where she expected to be, she made her displeasure know loud and frequent.

However, Hunter was able to handle all things Daisy especially with date constantly throwing out hints ;)

I really liked Trisha Wells and I wonder if she ended up with Hunter’s teammate, Dennis. Although, it was weird that Trisha kept barging in when Hunter was in the shower.

The extended epilogue showing them 15 years (?) in the future was really sweet.

[Catlou · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOME RUN BABY is the perfect chick flick for date night. It has a strong yet sensitive ballplayer to play against a strong-minded yet vulnerable photographer. Both have life-long dreams about to be realized that were meant to take them in opposite directions. And the best part is there’s baseball to draw the interest of your date. But since this hasn’t been made into a movie yet, there’s enough sexy and sassy banter with the right amount of humor, a bit of drama with a touch or two of angst, and lots of steamy passion that will have you reading from start to finish.

Daisy and Hunter’s one-night stand is destined to be so much more, but will it be more than they can handle? You really need to read this to find out. It’s a fast-paced, thoroughly delightful tale with extremely well-developed characters and a storyline that will easily grab your attention from the beginning, keeping you completely involved and turning pages until the very charming end. You’ll laugh at the humor, delight in their sexy interactions, and feel every tug at your heartstrings as they both struggle to make the right decisions. I highly recommend this very engaging and exceedingly appealing read! 😍

[Raecharmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy is a photographer and she's in town visiting her sister. However, her sister is very loud with her boyfriend, and this sends Daisy out to a bar nearby. Hunter is the bartender at the bar she goes to. Sparks fly between them, and they end up leaving together. The next day she leaves, and they go back to their normal lives. Then one day during a game she is hit with a baseball. When she comes to she is at the hospital and the doctor tells her that she's pregnant. Its then that she reconnects with Hunter and learns who he really is. Can they find a way to be together?

This is an amazing story that will draw you in from the first chapter. This is a well written and very entertaining story. I would recommend this book to any book lover.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daisy and Hunter meet at a dive bar where Hunter works as a bartender. The two have a steamy night together and Daisy sneaks out without a goodbye in the morning.
Six weeks later Daisy takes her twin sister Rose to a minor league baseball game. While at the ballgame Daisy gets hit on the head by a homerun from the teams new star player. She is rushed to the hospital and is reunited with her ONS and learns he is the player that hit her. During the visit the two learn that Daisy is pregnant and this is where their journey truly begins.
Fate is a main player in this book and Daisy and Hunter spend a lot of time fighting her. But can you truly win against fate sets her sights on you?
This book is very sweet and very sexy! It is a great light read!

[Jasmine | Filthylittlereader · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩, 𝘿𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙮 𝙃𝙖𝙬𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙚. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚.”

A sports romance with a surprise baby written by Tabatha Kiss equals a story I am going to absolutely love and love I did!!
Daisy is such a spitfire! I just felt an instant connection with her. After meeting her in First Down Darling, I could not wait for book and no surprise that my girl Tabatha Kiss didn’t disappoint! The night she met Hunter, sparks flew and the smoking chemistry was instant.
Their witty and playful banter was everything!
I could not get enough of these two! Home Run Baby was hilariously sexy and an unputdownable read. Tabatha Kiss knocked it out the park with this one!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hero(s) rating: 4 stars
Heroine rating: 4 stars
Sexual tension rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes rating: 3.5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Plot rating: 4 stars
Dialogue rating: 5 stars
Storytelling rating: 4 stars
Story ending rating: 5 stars
Other woman/men drama: No
Cheating: No
Cliffhanger: No
HEA: Yes
**********************************************
Overall rating: 4 stars

[Catheryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very sweet and witty. I loved the banter between Daisy and Hunter.

Hunter was an amazing Hero and sweet daddy to be. Daisy...was...a bit less likable. I don't like the miscommunication trope, and unfortunately this story had it. Thankfully it wasn't that bad. But Daisy's selfishness in the middle/end was annoying. But overall, a very sweet story with a fun and witty couple.

[Cheryl Graham-Petit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a courtesy ARC of this book for an honest review, and honestly... it's a HOME RUN BABY! This book has it all... suspense, action, humor, hot baseball players, a great plot that flows smoothly, emotions, hot sex, and well developed characters, .

[Tee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was going to give this 4 stars because my my rating system that reflects an above average book that I will likely reread and may or may not eventually buy to keep in my kindle personal library (vs. Kindle unlimited read only). My 4 star rating is definitely a good rating as most books get a 3 star rating for average good read but nothing special that stands out and likely will be forgotten in a few weeks.

However, I bumped this up to 5 star (which I rarely give) because I really liked this plot and these MCs. This didn’t follow the regular trope in so many (good) ways. No virgin heroine, manwhore hero trope. Instead we have two normal, sexually healthy young atlas who aren’t ashamed to have a fun one night stand without trauma, shame, or guilt. Then, the FMC was a real badass with how she handled finding out she was unexpectedly pregnant and how matter of factually she suggested that she and the MC try to work things out. No stupid miscommunication or headgames. Just direct communication. Then, I actually respected how abortion and adoption were considered as real options without the preaching morality police. Women aren’t horrible people for considering all the options and choosing what actually makes the most sense for them. This was a real situation with realistic reactions that are rarely depicted in romance novels. I loved that! Next, i appreciated that the book showed conflict and drama—but without stupid miscommunications or caricatured villains. Life has enough real potential for conflict and drama without the stupid plot lines of the trickster/villain other woman telling blatant lies that the gullible ingenue heroine believes as gospel without ever actually having a conversation with the hero about the accusations. It was nice to have a plot that was entertaining without stupidity, a heroine who was realistically, but not stupidly, flawed, but still likable. A hero who was likable. I loved their straight talk with each other and the way he called her out when she was being silly. All of that made this story worth 5 stars.

[Lilisbet ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished this in a few hours. pretty good read. I was honestly contemplating giving it a solid 3 stars but settled with 3.75. it was a mood read so i enjoyed it, It was definitely not a life-altering read but it was just what i was looking for. it was fun and funny and I love both Hunter and Daisy. the only thing I didn't enjoy much was the seggs. I mean most of the book is about them having mindblowing seggs, which is fine I usually don't mind it every once in a while but it was getting kind of annoying. I was also kind of annoyed with Daisy and her being mad about her sister in the beginning for basically having her life together? maybe because I'm not a twin and yes it is okay to be miserable, from a certain point I understand but I feel that the way she got "mad" when her sister announced her engagement was just stupid and very different from the way her sister reacted to hers. I love her tho, seriously, she's not only funny but has a strong personality that I love. and hunter!!!! Man Hunter is hot and amazing and I love how he told her on her bullshit! said everything i wanted to say. Again not a lot of whole bunch going on but again, I wasn't expecting anything crazy. Overall, it's a fun read would recommend as a palate cleanse, and if you're in the mood for an accidental pregnancy sports romance trope.

[Clarissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Truthfully, I didn’t even want to finish this book. It’s one of my favorite tropes, which is the main reason I picked it up, but I ended up with more questions than enjoyment. The story started off strong—I loved their first meeting at the bar, the instant connection, and the fake identities they gave each other. That part really hooked me.

However, things quickly started to feel off. The dynamics between Daisy, Rose, and Rose’s boyfriend gave me strange, inconsistent vibes. As the story went on, I tried to stay invested, but it just didn’t click. The scenes on the team bus felt awkward, especially with how hard they were trying to keep their relationship a secret.

A lot of the conflict came down to poor communication between the two main characters, which became frustrating rather than compelling. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, the pregnancy storyline took a sharp turn when she suddenly decided she didn’t want to keep the baby. After a period of time apart, they reunite almost instantly, and he proposes—which felt rushed and unearned.

I think this book could have benefited from slowing things down, adding more emotional depth, and providing clearer context in key moments. While some parts had potential, too many scenes just didn’t make sense, leaving the story feeling disjointed overall.

[Bel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great sports romance. Here we get to know Daisy, twin sister to Rose. She is a lot more feisty and feels a little hard done by, being the more independent twin. After a one night stand in a bar and a knock to the head from a baseball, Daisy finds herself not only concussed but also told she is pregnant and the kicker, apparently the person who hit her with the baseball is none other than Home Run Hunter, her mysterious one night stand. Coincidence or Fate you say?

I loved the theory behind this being left up to fate or chance, would their paths have still crossed? Now they must work backwards and navigate getting to know one another before their unexpected bundle of joy arrives. It was exciting to see them try to build a relationship and face the struggles of real life and trying to make an impossible situation work. A great read.

[Sofi Paczka · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 🌟

I honestly wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. It’s a sports romance (which can be hit or miss for me) and it also includes the pregnancy trope, which I’m usually not a fan of. But once I started, I couldn’t stop. I was laughing out loud and swooning over the tender moments, and I think that’s because of the characters. The pacing felt just right without being repetitive, and Hunter and Daisy were hilarious, with a sense of humor that’s exactly my style.

Their love story is genuinely interesting because, despite the circumstances, everything just seemed to align for them. It might not be for everyone, but I found it heartwarming to see how some people really are meant to find each other. I’d love to find a man who’s all-in for me the way Hunter is for Daisy, just maybe without getting knocked up in the process, lol.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sigh! It’s the endings that absolutely make the stories in this series. This pair are frustrating, adorable, confusing, and passionate. I pretty much loved them even though they drove me completely crazy with all their on-again/off-again yo-yoing. Daisy is fierce and just a little crazy. I loved her determination to do what she loved. Hunter is focused and driven, and I was amazed at how well he was able to adapt to the different kinds of crazy Daisy threw at him. However, I’m with Rose on this one. These two badly needed to sit down and have at least one straightforward adult conversation. I adored the ending, but it probably would have been a little easier getting them there if they’d talked to one another. Now that it’s over, I’m really sad to let these characters go.

[Marebare · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book. The beginning got me hooked. Idk if it was my hormones being everywhere bcs my period was coming, but the smut at the beginning was FANTASTIC. Truly, one of the best ones I've ever read. But like I said, it could be due to my hormones, I'm not sure. Anyways, I had a good time reading it. It's not my favourite, but it still a good read.

There was a lot of back and forth between Hunter and Daisy. I can't say I was a fan of those scenes, but it's understandable since they were practically strangers. Did I think that they went too fast at times? Yes, but what works for them, works for them. I'm just glad they got their shit together.

I thought the other girl (Daisy's boss) was gonna be a bigger issue in their relationship. Yeah, she still messed up certain things between them, but I thought she was gonna try harder to split them up by inserting herself where she wasn't wanted. I'm glad she chose Devin over Hunter.

Overall, it was a good time.

[Madison Vonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining

The dialogue between the main characters was really snappy between the two MCs, making it a much more enjoyable read than I expected. A good number of sex scenes any 8.5/10 sexometer (quantity and quality). I read one review about them separating over and over, but there was only one climax/break as expected in these novels. I also appreciated the fact that they got into a situation based on a one night stand, and even though they enjoyed sex, it wasn’t insta love though it was insta enough not to be too bogged down in ho hum reality we are reading these stories to replace. I would recommend and read it again. 4.8/5.

[Tori Books With Magic · Rating 3 out of 5]

the beginning was fun and I liked it. After Daisy and Hunter find out they are having a baby (I wasn't bored) things got a little slow even if they were moving like 100 miles an hour. I thing at around 45% in I was getting more into the story and everything that was happening. I was never really bored but I also wasn't looked int all the way if that makes sense. It was almost a 4 star read for me and if I'm complete honest I don't know what would have made it that. As pretty mush my first non holiday book of december it was lots of fun and I can see myself reading the other books in the series.
Read on Ku
3.8 ⭐️

[Elizabeth Neal]

Reporter shows at his apartment -- she's clearly interested -- and he thinks how it wouldn't be a good look to hookup right after learning the heroine is pregnant with his kid. Wow. Said reporter wants him as her expose star. This would mean she is constantly around him, including motel stays (gag) when the team is on the road. He asks to think about it only to then inquire if pictures are involved. She says yes, he agrees on one condition -- he chooses the photographer. This will, of course, be the heroine. So, now the pregnant heroine will be hanging out with her ONS turned baby daddy and the reporter that clearly wants to bang him. Yeah, no

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three in this series. It can totally be read as a standalone but the other books are great, so I recommend you read them. You really do not want to miss Junior and Eliza and Rose and Johnny's books. This book gives readers Daisy (Rose's twin sister) and Hunter's romance. There is a lot of fun and humor in this storyline but also heavy doses of sweetness, emotion and heart. There is some drama, angst and a whole lot of emotional denial about the feelings that have for each other. Another really wonderful read in this excellent series.