Falcon the Football Player

by B. Love

Eli (L E) Tate has just suffered the worst betrayal of her life. Not only does she have to deal with the personal effects of the betrayal, but she has to keep it from effecting her career too.

Falcon Grove has just suffered the most damaging, public betrayal of his career. Not only does he have to deal with the personal effect of the betrayal, but he has to keep it from effecting his career and team too.

When Falcon and Eli’s publicist proposes a fake relationship during the off-season to clean up their image, they agree. There is just one What’s fake quickly becomes real, and Eli’s brother, Falcon’s teammate and best friend, refuses to let what they share come between their friendship or the team. Will Falcon the Football Player risk it all for love, or will his loyalty to his best friend and the game prove to be a bigger priority than his heart’s desires?

Genres: Audiobook, Sports Romance, Romance

162 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 2, 2026

About the author

Voted AAMBC's 2018 Romance author of the year, Master storyteller B. Love is the unparalleled self-love teacher. As the powerhouse for modern-day womanhood, she pens contagious content that encourages readers to internalize admiration and intimacy. She allows her most powerful vessel to guide her stories, wholly.
Since age 12, Love has been spreading self-awareness, care, and appreciation. For over six years, Love has authored over 40 publications centered around heart-piercing, reverence-worthy romance. Her novels not only entertain but challenge the audience to explore love. With a keen eye for passion, desire and dynamism she includes heuristic methods in her beautifully curated accounts of life.
B. Love’s entire persona is spearheaded by her incredible infatuation with the power of love. Contained within each novel, is an edification created for the glorification of self. Her pen bleeds for the souls who need just an inkling of empowerment. Each story is written with the intent to enlighten, engross and enkindle the passion in whoever picks up her book.

Reviews

[Sihle 🪻🌸🌷🌼🌝 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 300🥳🎉🥹

4🌸Even though I think the fake dating trope is overplayed(Cause why are grown ass adults playing games?!!) , Falcon surprised me. I expected a football romance, but it ended up being more about healing, trust, and finding your way back to yourself through someone else. B. Love has a way of making her characters feel human, flawed, and easy to care about, and Falcon was no exception. There were moments that frustrated me, moments that made me smile, and by the end I was just rooting for them to find peace. It wasn’t perfect, but it felt genuine, and that’s what stayed with me long after I finished.

[Kameel · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/w Stars…cute sports romance

[Wind · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 🌟Falcon is that guy! He cared for Eli, chose her over his friend, protected her peace and spoiled her. Eli was down after catching her boyfriend cheating with her best friend and the fake dating scenario between her and Falcon came at the right time. I’m still side eyeing Issac, hopefully he gets a book to redeem himself for not being a better brother to Eli. Senior is just a chauvinist and Eli doesn’t need him in her life. But Falcon…I found another book boyfriend and I love it over here.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC!

[Keesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

**ALC REVIEW** This was a cute, fake dating, sports romance. The story is pretty surface level but it's entertaining enough. The narrators did a decent job. But Dylan Ford has a couple words that I cringe every time he says them. It's like bro you put waaaay too much on that! Overall, I enjoyed the read.

Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for the advanced listener copy!

[ReadnliftwithShar · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️

This was a cute fake dating arrangement that warped into a HEA. Loved the brother’s best-friend aspect, as well. ❤️

[Alisha 🦋💗 · Rating 5 out of 5]

UH UNNNN… I need more! What in the world lol.. this was so good! Such a quick read and the fake dating was so believable. I tend to shy away from the fake dating trope because it feels too forced. But THIS? Yeah this ate. I loved the banter between them two and how they loved one another. It didn’t feel too forced or like they were falling for each other because they had to. Everything came naturally and flowed nice. They are grownnnnn and I loved every second of it!

The daddy issues really pulled at my heartstrings as someone who is recently in the same scenario. It really validated me in ways I can’t even explain. I needed this book right now!

[Tonya Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️’s

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5) I love a fake dating when ain’t nothin about it fake lol! Falcon and Eli had always been feeling each other, but refused to act on their attraction because of their allegiance to her brother (who was trash if you ask me!!!). However, an opportunity presented itself for them to “fake date” and they both leaned into it in the best way. I really enjoyed them as a couple. Falcon, despite saying he didn’t know how to love, was definitely a loverboy. Issac was weird to me because he was a bit too invested in his sister’s love life & didn’t stand up for her when it counted. Her dad was also trash with a capital T! Despite some drama this was generally a low tension story about not being afraid to love, and choosing a life beyond other’s expectations.

[Symone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐️ *ALC Review* Falcon and Eli's story was cute! I was definitely here for the brother's best friend trope making it a forbidden romance. Falcon was so supportive, caring, and protective. He was exactly what Eli needed during such a difficult time. It was heartbreaking that she couldn't find that same reassurance and love from her own family. I honestly wanted more backstory there because it felt like there had to be more to explain why her dad treated her the way he did. And the fact that her brother lowkey accepted it? Yeah, that didn't sit right with me.

I was happy Falcon and Eli finally got to explore their connection through the fake dating setup. The aesthetics of their dates were absolutely perfect, but I never fully felt the depth of their love the way I wanted to. I think a little more history showing how they built such a comfortable bond with each other would have made their romance hit even harder. I just wanted more time to sit with their relationship and really absorb those feelings.

As for the narration, both narrators did a solid job, but I found myself favoring the narrator for Eli. She brought more emotion to her performance, and it made the emotional moments land better for me.

[CT · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love forbidden romance with intense alpha male energy, Falcon by B. Love is going to hit that craving perfectly.

From the start, the chemistry is undeniable and the tension is constant in the best way. This is one of those stories where every interaction feels charged, like the characters are constantly fighting what they already feel.

Falcon is very much a dominant, protective, emotionally guarded hero—and watching his walls slowly shift was one of the most engaging parts of the book. The heroine holds her own, and their dynamic creates a strong push-and-pull that keeps the story moving at a fast, addictive pace.

This book leans fully into its tropes: forbidden attraction, possessive energy, and high emotional stakes, so if that’s your lane, you’ll probably fly through it.

Overall, a quick, emotional, and chemistry-driven read that delivers exactly what it promises.

[Renada Boddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite tropes is fake dating and sports romance and this book had both. Falcon and Eli were just good together, and I couldn’t understand why Isaac was so invested in his adult sister’s life.
Falcon was Eli’s soft place to land because she has a trash dad and a semi-trash sibling. I can’t wait to read more from the Demolishers.

**Thank you RBmedia and NetGalley for this ALC**

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was exactly the palate cleanser I needed. A fun fake dating sports romance with fantastic narrators and plenty of 🔥🔥🔥🔥 spice. Chapters 15 & 16 definitely delivered! It was a quick, entertaining listen that didn't overstay its welcome. If you're looking for something flirty, steamy, and easy to binge, this one is worth picking up. 🏈💙

Thank you @netgalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[Nicole Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy and am voluntarily reviewing it. This is the first book that I have read from this author and it will not be my last. This is a pretty short book. Falcon Grove is a football player for the Tennessee Demolishers. The team played in the Super Bowl game and lost. Falcon was ready to blow off steam. Despite taking all precaution, he still picked the wrong one. The trouble that ensued had his publicist scrambling for a way out.

Eli (pronouced L.E.) Tate got into a situation herself. She caught her boyfriend cheating with her best friend. Now she needs somewhere to live and someone to restore her reputation after the cheating scandal. Eli is a part-time singer with dreams of opening her own bookstore. She sings and performs more for her father than herself. Their relationship is another can a worms that needs to be addressed. Eli's publicist happens to be Falcon's as well. They decide that Falcon and Eli need to fake date to take the heat off of the current situation. Did I forget to mention that Falcon's best friend and teammate is Eli's brother? They know each other. This should be a piece of cake, right?

Ms. Love gives readers a story that we won't soon forget. Falcon is A-1 from the start. He has always liked Eli and is not willing to let this opportunity slip away from him. The relationship has an end date. That doesn't mean they can't enjoy each other in the meantime. Falcon treats Eli like a real boyfriend should. Something that was lacking with her previous boyfriends. Will these two be able to cut each other off? Eli has never really had anyone to put her first. Her brother, Isaac, wants to make sure this plan does not disrupt the flow on the field. This is just pretend, right? Things get hectic when feelings start filling in the gaps of Eli and Falcon's life. Will these two end as planned or fight for a love that they never thought was available?

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this audiobook!

This was a super short read! I think the audiobook finished in a little over 2 hours?

Falcon and Eli were so cute! I greatly enjoyed their story, as short as it was. I loved how compassionate and open to love Eli made Falcon! He didn't really give fuckboy vibes in the beginning to me, but he definitely appeared more compassionate and open by the end. The drama, tension, and spice did all that it needed to for me!

The narrators did a really good job! The male narrator did mispronouncing Eli's (el-lee) name a few times which kinda stood out to me but other than that, they did amazing!

Tropes:
Fake Dating
Friends to Lovers
Brother's best friend
Sports romance

[Kia Borner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short read, but a heavy impact! I loved this 🥹

Thank you Libro FM & B. Love for the ALC!! 💜

- Football Player x Singer
- Reformed Playboy
- Fake Dating
- Toxic Family Dynamics
- Friends to Lovers
- Protective MMC
- Sweet but strong FMC
- Giving her the well deserved soft life 🥰

Everything I love and need in a book!

[Brittany Schulz | Fiction & Friction · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t expecting this to hit my emotions as much as it did. I think it’s a beautiful story of finding the courage to cut off those who don’t value you.

📖 Fake Dating
🎀 Brother’s Team Mate/Best Friend
📖 Sports Romance
🎀 Spice
📖 Quick Read/Listen

[Rochelle Bryant Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

***ALC REVIEW***

I thought this was an ok story. The narration was a bit blah. But not too bad as a quick listen/read.

Thank you Netgalley for the alc

[Qua'Tesha Ratliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the way Falcon loved Eli!!

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falcon and Eli!!

Falcon and Eli both have publicity issues. Falcon because of a leaked sex video, and Eli because of a video showing her beating up her ex-man and ex-best friend due to their betrayal. Falcon's publicist came up with the idea for them to fake date to clean up their images. Unbeknownst to the other, they had been feeling each other for quite some time. Because Falcon and Eli's brother, Isaac, were best friends, they didn't want to cross the line, but they did anyway. I loved how Falcon loved and paid attention to Eli. He made all of her dreams come true. I also loved how Eli opened up Falcon's heart to romantic love and to his family's love. Eli's father was trash. Isaac was heading in the same direction too until he was about to lose his sister to his overbearing attitude. I was glad Falcon and Eli didn't let anyone stop them from loving one another. Great heartwarming book that I thoroughly enjoyed!!

[Kedeisha Delancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
Listen, Falcon you are who you think you are & that’s it!
I love a “it’s a fake relationship” but we know it’s not a fake relationship 😂

Idk y’all, I had no problems with Falcon fr. I know he was a little skeptical at first because he never had a relationship BUT the way he came through, the way he made time for Eli sold me!

The cute Nick name smiley was so sweet. “Have you seen your smile? Fucking beautiful.” Like Falcon was really giddy for my girl. I would say I liked the brother at first, him spoiling his sister etc but he was just rubbing me wrong after that the whole book! Like how you don’t stand up for YOUR sister with your terrible father? No worries tho because Falcon definitely came to the rescue!

Eli definitely had some growth in the book, setting a boundary between the only family she had to protect her peace was a major step & it was the right one!

When Falcon bought her that land & basically told her that’s her for when she’s ready to build I almost passed out!

[Wanda Legrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The combination of vulnerability, gentleness and strength of the characters was masterful

[Precious Coppadge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falcon was a man of his word. Love how he supported and protected Eli .

Issac Senior was a piss of fuxking shit .

[Velvet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another good B. Love book. I love Eli and Falcon together! This was so cute.

[BetweentheCoversLiterary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so freaking good from
beginning to end. There was
nothing that i didn’t like about this book because it hit everything you could ask for I love me some Falcon hunny and Eli i loved them together so much they were definitely anti problematic and i loved that more than anything else… Senior and his son worked my nerves so bad but im definitely looking forward to isaac story and more from
my favorite couple

[ReaderGirly❤️]

Some of the details in the beginning of this book didn't quite make sense. Eli doesn't seem to live with her boyfriend Justin but catches him in her apartment cheating with her best friend. Later in the book, she says her brother wants to drive to Justin's house to beat his ass for cheating on her. Which means, Justin and her don't live together, because her brother knows where Eli lives because he had a car delivered to her house. My thing is, if Justin had his own house, why would he be having sex with another girl, Eli's best friend actually, in Eli's house instead of his own? And then when Eli beats her friend up, Justin tells HER to get in the car and go somewhere else. I'm like, but isn't it HER house? Why is she the one leaving? And then later still, she's telling her publicist that still has to move her things out of the house. But why would she be moving her things out of her own apartment?

Secondly, I love a good fake dating trope, but it has to make sense. Eli, who doesn't even care about singing, or sponsorships and brand deals, starts getting some hate on social media after someone recorded her whooping her best friend's ass after she caught her with her man in bed. And her publicist's idea is to have her fake date someone to clean up her image. How would that clean up her image? And of course she's fake dating her brother's best friend, Falcon, who is in hot water himself after one of the women he messed with blabbed to the blogs about how he only wants sex from women and makes them sign an NDA. I don't feel like Falcon did anything wrong, but his publicist's idea is to have him fake date Eli to improve his image. IDK, it just didn't make any sense to have them fake date each other when both of their images were tarnished. If you fuck up, it makes sense to have you connected to someone with a good image, not someone who is in hot water themselves with the media, so them fake dating each other just didn't make sense.

The book is only 162 pages, but I couldn't even make it to page 50. Def not a bad book, but unfortunately just not the book for me. I wasn't sucked into the plot enough for me to overlook my irritation at how some of the details didn't make sense.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ Audiobook Review — The Falcon by B. Love
Narrators: Alex Washington & Dylan Ford
Audio Release: July 7, 2026
Shoutout to RB Media & NetGalley for the ALC

🎧 Narration Notes
Alex Washington and Dylan Ford ate this. Their performances give Falcon and Eli a pulse the hurt, the hesitation, the loyalty, the longing. Falcon sounds like a man who stands ten toes down for his woman, and Eli’s strength comes through clear and steady. The dual narration makes every emotional shift feel intentional and lived‑in. Truly one of those audios that elevates the entire story.

💕 Tropes
- Fake Dating
- Athlete Romance
- Best‑Friend’s‑Sister
- Public Image Cleanup
- He‑Falls‑First
- Ride‑or‑Die Loyalty

📘 Plot
Falcon Grove and Eli Tate are both reeling from betrayal personal, public, and career‑threatening. Their publicist throws out a wild solution: a fake relationship during the off‑season to clean up their image. What starts as strategic quickly becomes real, complicated, and high‑stakes… especially because Eli’s brother is Falcon’s teammate and best friend.

Falcon has to choose: protect the game, protect the friendship, or protect the woman he’s falling for. And Eli has to decide whether she can trust again after being hurt so deeply.

💭 My Thoughts
I absolutely loved this book when it dropped back in February, and the audiobook made me fall even harder. Falcon Grove? That man loves with his whole chest. His whole career. His whole reputation. He stood up for Eli against everything her father, his best friend, the entire team, the public noise and never once wavered.

If my man doesn’t support me like Falcon supports Eli, I don’t want him. And I’m saying that all summer long.

The chemistry is real, the tension is delicious, and the emotional payoff is exactly what I want from a B. Love romance. The audio release brings out every layer of loyalty, vulnerability, and grown‑folk love this story is built on.

A perfect summer listen. A perfect “he better love me right” reminder. And a perfect example of why B. Love stays delivering men who show up.

[Cheonica Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4.5⭐️ Falcon the Football Player is a reminder that heartbreak doesn’t get the final word.

Eli and Falcon already have history, years of familiarity through her brother but it’s crisis that shifts their dynamic. Eli is navigating heartbreak and humiliation after betrayal turns violent and public, putting her career on the line. Falcon isn’t heartbroken but he is betrayed, dealing with an illegal exposure that threatens to dismantle the image he’s worked hard to protect. What starts as a strategic, image saving arrangement slowly peels back layers they didn’t even realize they’d buried. This wasn’t just a fake relationship trope. This was two wounded souls finding shelter in one another while the world watched.

What made this story hit was the history. The feelings were already there, just silenced by loyalty, timing and fear. Watching them grow together as more self aware, more honest versions of themselves made the love feel perfect. The fake relationship was a short timeline but they made it work. They truly spoke life into each other. Falcons protection of Eli was exactly what she needed. Eli's loving personality captured Falcon's heart easily. Growth happened individually before it fully bloomed collectively and that matters.

The forbidden element added tension but it never overshadowed the emotional healing. Falcon wasn’t just choosing between love and football. He was choosing between staying guarded and being vulnerable. Eli wasn’t just protecting her brother's ego and the dynamics of the team she was doing herself a disservice. Once she realized that she started the process of learning to trust herself and her heart again.

By the time the “fake” fell away, what remained was real, solid and deeply satisfying. For Falcon to claim he didn't do love that man was so attentive, protective and caring from day 1. It came so natural. This wasn’t about career redemption. It was about soul restoration. Love after heartbreak always hits harder when it feels like a rainbow after a storm and this one delivered.

[Ann-Marie Herod · Rating 4 out of 5]

never letting you go

Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC. Dylan Ford and Alex Washington overall did a great job narrating this story. I forgot how much I love B.Love’s writing. There were a couple of times when I was listening where certain lines were repeated back to back, and so hopefully that will be edited out when the final version comes out. Alex voices our FMC Eli, whose brother is a famous NFL quarterback, and she is pretty well known for doing covers of songs and has gotten famous off of that. She catches her best friend and boyfriend together in bed in their shared apartment and immediately beats down the girl. Falcon is the famous wide receiver for her brother’s team and is voiced by Dylan. Falcon was blasted on social media after a one-night stand and being labeled as a womanizer. He and her brother are best friends, and he’s always kind of secretly been attracted to Eli. When both of them have bad publicity, they decide to start fake dating to clear up their public personas. Only they really are attracted to each other and feelings are real. Now that her brother has one rule, and it’s not to date anybody on his football team. He allows this though but only because it’s fake and has an expiration date. Meanwhile Eli and Falcon are everything but fakes. Through this story, we see them go from trying to keep it all business to fighting for their love while also dealing with personal traumas. Falcon is such an amazing MMC who did not play with Eli. Now her brother, Isaac, I started out loving him so much, but then as the story progressed, he kind of got on my nerves too because he was no better than her dad and let a lot of stuff slide. I’m glad that she had Falcon to be there for her support. Overall, this is a quick read and listen, and I can’t wait to learn more about this football team, and hopefully, we may even get her brother’s story because I need him to have a redemption arc.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALC Review
📚 Book Title: Falcon the Footballll Player
✍🏽Author: B. Love
🎙️Narrator: Alex Washington & Dylan Ford
📕 Format: 🎧
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶 Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

🕑Quick Take:
Eli Tate has gained popularity as a cover artist on social media. She faces a heartbreaking betrayal: her best friend sleeping with her boyfriend. The confrontation was caught on video by neighbors.

Falcon Cameron Grove enforces strict protocols for one-night stands, including involving lawyers, health checks, and NDAs. However, a bottle girl breaches these rules by sharing private videos, raising questions about his character.

A publicity team suggested that Eli and Falcon fake a relationship during the off-season until the preseason, since they are already familiar with each other. Eli’s brother insists she is off-limits and wants the relationship to stay fake. How will Eli and Falcon respect her brother’s wishes and fight their feelings for each other?

✨ Tropes:
- Fake Dating
- Brother’s Best Friend
- Mutual Crush/Admirers
- Football Romance

🎭 Narration:
Alex Washington and Dylan Ford did an excellent job narrating Falcon the Football Player. I really enjoyed their delivery of Eli and Falcon, as they infused each character with sass and passion, respectively. I love this storyline and narration!

⚠️ Heads Up:
- Parent Loss
- Strand Family Relationships
- Suicide (off-page)

💭Final Thoughts:
I'm a sucker for fake dating romances. I started reading with the intention of just a few chapters, but I couldn't stop and found myself wanting to savor every part of the story. I appreciated how openly they showed their interest, felt the chemistry, and enjoyed the steamy scenes. I loved everything about this novel and look forward to more stories with the Tennessee Demolishers.

Thanks to RB Media for the ALC!

[Bianca Shepherd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media (Recorded Books) for providing me with the ALC. All thoughts, opinions, and critiques in this review are entirely my own.

If you want a quick urban fiction read that gives you drama, trauma, love, passion, and a fine man with all the right ingredients, then this is the one.
Eli is a cover singer who really just wants to read and own her own bookstore. She also happens to be the sister of a professional football player, and she suddenly finds herself right in the middle of a major scandal. Enter Falcon—her brother’s friend who has secretly had a crush on her for the longest time—who finds himself in a predicament of his own.

To clean up their images, the two are tasked with a plan that forces them together. This setup leads to testing the limits of friendships, opening up old family wounds, and determining whether love and loyalty will ultimately prevail.

Emotional Rollercoaster...
B. Love really takes you on a ride. In just a short amount of time, she manages to make you swoon, cry, laugh, and be completely ready to fight. The story was so relatable and made me feel as though I knew each and every one of these characters personally.
Fair warning: the writer does a great job of pissing you off at the end! I literally completed this book in one day! You will be ready to go off if there is not a follow-up to this story. B. Love—we are officially waiting for the release!

Let's Talk Audiobook...
I listened to the audio version of this story, and the use of two narrators was a great addition to the storyline. However, the reader for Falcon was disappointing to me. The voice just did not match the beautiful Black man that graced the cover of the book, which is the only reason I couldn’t give the audio a full 5 stars.
Overall, I am definitely looking forward to the rest of this series!

#FalcontheFootballPlayer #NetGalley