What do you think?
Rate this book
First and Baby: A Football Romantic Comedy
“Who the heck leaves a baby in a box on the doorstep of a professional football player?”
Dylan Callahan’s career needs a jump start. Between dropping passes and dropping sponsors, it’s only a matter of time before he’s traded away from his team. But what he really didn’t expect was to get a baby dropped on his front porch, with a note saying it’s his.
So he does what anyone would do. He buys a goat to feed the baby goat’s milk.
Natalie’s job in the ER keeps her busy, and she thought she was used to surprises, but that’s before a goat appears outside her apartment door.
Natalie doesn’t have time for football or flings, but she can’t leave a baby in need. Agreeing to help Dylan while they wait for paternity results, she quickly learns there’s more to him than his cocky grin and impressive stats. Between late-night feedings, hilarious mishaps, and one very opinionated goat, the line between teammates and something more starts to blur.
As the stakes rise on and off the field, can Dylan and Natalie make the play? Or will they lose the game of love?
Dylan Callahan’s career needs a jump start. Between dropping passes and dropping sponsors, it’s only a matter of time before he’s traded away from his team. But what he really didn’t expect was to get a baby dropped on his front porch, with a note saying it’s his.
So he does what anyone would do. He buys a goat to feed the baby goat’s milk.
Natalie’s job in the ER keeps her busy, and she thought she was used to surprises, but that’s before a goat appears outside her apartment door.
Natalie doesn’t have time for football or flings, but she can’t leave a baby in need. Agreeing to help Dylan while they wait for paternity results, she quickly learns there’s more to him than his cocky grin and impressive stats. Between late-night feedings, hilarious mishaps, and one very opinionated goat, the line between teammates and something more starts to blur.
As the stakes rise on and off the field, can Dylan and Natalie make the play? Or will they lose the game of love?
- GenresFootball
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2025
62 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Krista Lakes
89 books887 followersKrista Lakes is a writer of romances that leave you feeling good and always have a happily ever after. She has two boys and a husband that keep her busy, not to mention two cats and a dog.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 20, 2025
Dylan is a professional football player for the Omaha Twisters who is recovering from a serious wrist injury that has him dropping passes and on the brink of being traded. Dylan is surprised when a baby is dropped off at his apartment door with a note saying the baby is his. Not knowing what to do and knowing this will cost him his career if it gets out, Dylan called his best friend and assistant, Alex. Natalie is an overnight ER nurse who will be going to school to become a Nurse Practitioner in a few months. Natalie is shocked when she comes home to find a goat in the hallway of her apartment building. Natalie is even more shocked to find the goat belongs to the hot football player that lives across the hallway from her. Dylan begs Natalie to help with babysitting the baby until paternity is established. What happens when lines are blurred as Dylan and Natalie spend more time with each other and find it harder and harder to fight their attraction to each other? Can Natalie trust Dylan's feelings for her and the plans he wants to make for their future? How will Dylan react when he learns if he is Ellie's father or not? Can Natalie forgive Dylan for their fight over Ellie's paternity, and Dylan asking Natalie to babysit on a work night to attend a fundraiser? How will Natalie react when Dylan announces to the world he has a daughter while knowing he is claiming her and Ellie as part of his future? I loved First and Baby by Krista Lakes! I loved Dylan, Natalie, Ellie, and Penelope, the goat, and Alex. Dylan and Natalie are a great couple with amazing chemistry. Ellie brings two people together and makes them a family. Penelope is a riot as she takes over Dylan's recliner and loves to watch reruns of Supernatural. Alex is a great friend and assistant who always has Dylan's back and is there for Natalie, too. I would highly recommend getting First and Baby by Krista Lakes. I received an ARC copy of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
January 14, 2025
It's such a sweet story! ❤️
This is a sweet story of Dylan Callahan, who's a tight end for the Omaha Twisters and whose life is in shambles.
He had a wrist injury that has now caused him to be so in his head that he can't seem to hold on to the ball.
He's worried that he will get traded, and the coach has put everyone on notice to keep their noses clean.
Now, someone has left him a baby in front of his door, claiming that she is his and that he can take better care of it.
Natalie is his next-door neighbor and a nurse in the ER overnights.
When she stumbles upon a goat in the hallway, she finds it belongs to the football player next door.
Dylan asks if she can help take care of the baby until he can get everything sorted out.
She could use the money, but she wasn't expecting to become attached to this little family so quickly.
This is a sweet story of two people who are brought together by a baby and a goat with a happy-ever-after. 🐐
This is a sweet story of Dylan Callahan, who's a tight end for the Omaha Twisters and whose life is in shambles.
He had a wrist injury that has now caused him to be so in his head that he can't seem to hold on to the ball.
He's worried that he will get traded, and the coach has put everyone on notice to keep their noses clean.
Now, someone has left him a baby in front of his door, claiming that she is his and that he can take better care of it.
Natalie is his next-door neighbor and a nurse in the ER overnights.
When she stumbles upon a goat in the hallway, she finds it belongs to the football player next door.
Dylan asks if she can help take care of the baby until he can get everything sorted out.
She could use the money, but she wasn't expecting to become attached to this little family so quickly.
This is a sweet story of two people who are brought together by a baby and a goat with a happy-ever-after. 🐐
January 24, 2026
This was... interesting. The plot was good and the story was cool, but I couldn't let go of the plot holes. I know this is a romance and doesn't have to be real, but I like my stories real enough to make sense. First, Natalie and Dylan fall in love way too quick, even in the first week of meeting. Then, it was the timeline. The author couldn't keep the details straight: she mentioned it's been a few days, then it has only been three, she mentions having a routine, but it's only the third day so a routine is not. The whole story happens in the span of two weeks, and Dylan is able to adopt the baby in one day? That's so inaccurate. Adoption takes time and they won't let you have the baby just because. The author needs to develop her writing skills a little bit more so the timeline and plot actually makes sense.
January 15, 2025
had me laughing out loud
Dylan is recovering from a nasty wrist injury and if he doesn’t do something fast he might be off the team. Natalie is an ER nurse who works nights and doesn’t know most of the residents in her building. But coming home from her shift to find a goat in the hall of her floor and an open door to the NFL players apartment only spelled trouble. Little does she know how much walking in the door to return a goat would change her lift.
This story is mostly sweet with some steam, make you like while melting the readers heart. I hope this becomes a series because some of the supporting characters deserve their own stories too.
Dylan is recovering from a nasty wrist injury and if he doesn’t do something fast he might be off the team. Natalie is an ER nurse who works nights and doesn’t know most of the residents in her building. But coming home from her shift to find a goat in the hall of her floor and an open door to the NFL players apartment only spelled trouble. Little does she know how much walking in the door to return a goat would change her lift.
This story is mostly sweet with some steam, make you like while melting the readers heart. I hope this becomes a series because some of the supporting characters deserve their own stories too.
March 30, 2025
Natalie & Dylan's story is hilarious & sweet, steamy & fun! From the minute a baby is left on Dylan's doorstep, hijinks ensue. Dylan calls his assistant & BFF, Alex, for help. Alex's solution to finding milk for the baby is... a goat. Penelope the goat creates MANY LOL moments & I loved it!!
There are also some hilarious misunderstandings involving Natalie & the baby, but once she figures out what's going on, she dives in to help. And in the course of helping with Ellie, an adorable (& amusing) family is formed.
I love the care they have for each other, & the bonds they create. It was a very enjoyable story! There were a couple hiccups to my enjoyment, but overall I loved it.
😍😍😍
There are also some hilarious misunderstandings involving Natalie & the baby, but once she figures out what's going on, she dives in to help. And in the course of helping with Ellie, an adorable (& amusing) family is formed.
I love the care they have for each other, & the bonds they create. It was a very enjoyable story! There were a couple hiccups to my enjoyment, but overall I loved it.
😍😍😍
May 1, 2025
Do NOT Listen! AI All Around.
I've read Krist Lakes books before and liked them, so when I saw this was KU read and listen I got it. I assume the narration was AI because it was awful! It kept pronouncing Dylan's name different ways and the inflection was wrong on almost every word.
It also seemed like she used AI to write the book because it was not of the same caliber as her older books. It was very disappointing.
I've read Krist Lakes books before and liked them, so when I saw this was KU read and listen I got it. I assume the narration was AI because it was awful! It kept pronouncing Dylan's name different ways and the inflection was wrong on almost every word.
It also seemed like she used AI to write the book because it was not of the same caliber as her older books. It was very disappointing.
February 12, 2025
The more I think about this book the more I love it. There was a perfect mix of banter, spice, and deep conversation. Dylan was so sweet. He did not hesitate to take care of the baby even though he did not know the first thing about it. All his learning curves were funny at the time, but I loved how patient Natalie was with the whole situation. I ended up loving what happened with Penelope even though I was skeptic at first. Alex and Penelope added a lot of laugh out loud moments in between the more serious ones. I loved how Natalie and Dylan got to know one another, and I could really feel the emotional connection between them. This one gave me all the feels and I look forward to reading more by this author.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy.
January 14, 2025
Funny book!
First and Baby had me chuckling through the whole book, especially when Ellie showed up and her shipment of supplies arrived. I loved the nursing jokes, too. I'm looking forward to the next book.
First and Baby had me chuckling through the whole book, especially when Ellie showed up and her shipment of supplies arrived. I loved the nursing jokes, too. I'm looking forward to the next book.
January 16, 2025
All the warm and fuzzies!
Who doesn't love a yummy cinnamon roll football player?!? A quick read that gives you just enough drama with all of the warm and fuzzies. I loved it!
Who doesn't love a yummy cinnamon roll football player?!? A quick read that gives you just enough drama with all of the warm and fuzzies. I loved it!
January 27, 2025
Quick easy read. Loved the humor throughout, and how sweet the characters are.
March 23, 2025
This is a good, funny, opposites attract story with a little bit of everything.
September 10, 2025
Cute sport romance. Some funny moments. No spice.
February 25, 2026
‘Twas okay. It felt like the ending was rushed and could have been expanded a bit more.
✨No cheating ✨HEA
✨No cheating ✨HEA
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews