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Anna Dvornakov isn’t having a very happy holiday. The last thing she wants is to attend a gala where her ex-boyfriend is set to go to the highest bidder in a bachelor auction. She’d convinced herself he was “the one.” Turned out, he wasn’t.

Professional quarterback Drake Wellington’s career is on the fritz. Worse than that, the woman he’s fallen for called it quits on their relationship. Sure, he messed things up, but he’s certain that with a little holiday magic he can convince her to give him one more chance.

Unfortunately, things never go as planned during the Jingle Balls Ball…

53 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 4, 2020

28 people are currently reading
190 people want to read

About the author

Christina Hovland

38 books1,309 followers
Christina Hovland lives her own version of a fairy tale: an artisan chocolatier by day and romance writer by night. Born in Colorado, Christina received a degree in journalism from Colorado State University. Before opening her chocolate company, Christina’s career spanned from the television newsroom to managing an award-winning public relations firm. She’s a recovering overachiever and perfectionist with a love of cupcakes and dinner she doesn’t have to cook herself. A 2017 Golden Heart® finalist, she lives in Colorado with her first-boyfriend-turned-husband, four children, the sweetest dog around, and now Chloe, the wonder pup.

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5 stars
68 (32%)
4 stars
72 (34%)
3 stars
45 (21%)
2 stars
17 (8%)
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5 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for Tracey .
916 reviews55 followers
November 26, 2021
This is an entertaining, well-written, holiday romance, comedy novella, which is part of "Jingle Balls", an anthology which supports testicular cancer. Christina Hovland's story is heart-warming, and Babushka's appearance is an added bonus!
Profile Image for Wendy'sThoughts.
2,670 reviews3,286 followers
December 10, 2020
4 Second Chances And Babushka Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free-Only 99Cents!
In Ball Sacked by Christina Hovland, we are blessed with having the Infamous Babushka from the Mile High Matched series working her magic for granddaughter, Anna Dvornakov.

Anna has an ex-boyfriend who will be part of the bachelor auction for the charity.
She had been dating him for about two blissful months and then decided it had to be over. Did she have good cause, yes...but she was missing how good it was. Seeing him again was not going to be easy. But she had a job to do and all of the arrangements for the first annual Jingle Balls Ball were her responsibility. She had done the flowers, twinkle lights, winter wonderland, all of it, and the room was perfect.

Drake Wellington wanted to have another chance with Anna. Working some unknown magic, he was able to put himself in front of her at this ball. It was the only way because she refused to take his calls, respond to his texts, or be at the flower shop when he came by. He missed her and wanted to clear the air and have a second chance.

Drake knew he needed to figure out his life and Anna was part of his missing piece.

This was a sweet, fun, and insightful story of two people who just needed to talk things out. You wanted them to find their way back together and when they did, everything felt perfect. All with Babushka blessings.

The Mile High Matched series can be read in any order and each as a Stand-Alone:

Going Down on One Knee (Mile High Matched, #1) by Christina Hovland Going Down on One Knee (Mile High Matched #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Rock Hard Cowboy (A Mile High Matched Prequel Novella) by Christina Hovland Rock Hard Cowboy (A Mile High Matched, #1.5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Blow Me Away (Mile High Matched, #2) by Christina Hovland Blow Me Away (Mile High Matched, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Take It Off the Menu (Mile High Matched, #3) by Christina Hovland Take It Off the Menu (Mile High Matched, #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Do Me a Favor (Mile High Matched, #4) by Christina Hovland Do Me a Favor (Mile High Matched, #4)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Ball Sacked by Christina Hovland Balled Sacked (Mile High Matched, #4.5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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Profile Image for Jenn .
755 reviews15 followers
November 28, 2020
Ball Sacked brings us the story of Anna Dvornakov from the Mile High Matched Series. Knowing Anna from the series makes this novella all the more enjoyable- but can definitely be enjoyed easily if this is your first time reading something by Christina Hovland. Ball Sacked was sweet, funny and the perfect amount of angst for being a novella. I personally was very excited to read about Anna finally getting her HEA (and now we just need Babushka to work on the last Dvornakov sibling!)

Anna had recently broken up with her pro-football boyfriend, Drake, and was attending the Jingle Balls Ball alone. Only unknown to Anna, her brother Roman and her Babushka had taken her love life into their meddling hands and not only signed her ex up to be in the bachelor auction but also brought Drake in to be Anna’s date for the evening. Drake had been missing Anna. He never wanted her to break up with him- but his life as a professional football player was up in the sky so Anna took Drake not wanting her to move to be with him as him not wanting to be in a serious relationship with her. But with the help of a sneaky elderly Russian grandmother and her meddling apprentice grandson- Anna and Drake find themselves thrown together and literally locked in a room until they both figure out that they still want and love each other.
Profile Image for patrick Lorelli.
3,768 reviews38 followers
February 21, 2021
I received this arc from the author’s web page for an honest review.

Having read the other books before this one I was looking forward to the fun times that Babushka can bring to any of the stories. There is plenty of fun in this short book and all of that makes for a quick read.
Anna Dvornakov is having a good night with the gala; her business should be growing after the event. This is all good since the guy she thought was the guy quarterback Drake Wellington has to turn out to be not the guy for her.
Pro quarterback Drake Wellington has realized that after Anna left, he wants more than just football, especially after an injury to his shoulder. With the help of Anna’s brother who is in training to take over Babushka's role of matchmaker, Drake has been signed up for the bachelor auction being held at the gala. Her problem is since she has provided the flowers, she feels she can not bid, his bids would get too high anyway. Shocked to see Drake at the event throws her for a loop and before she knows it, she is locked in a room, closet with him. Read the book to find out what happens to them and his career. I received this book from the author's web page. I gave the book 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
Profile Image for Kahea.
2,268 reviews123 followers
November 30, 2020
***4 Stars***

I love me some Babushka.
I swear that woman always makes me do the cringe/smile thing because she really is that awesome in her own crazy but big hearted way.

But outside of Babushka. This was a fun short, I honestly wouldn’t have minded spending a bit more time with Anna and Drake, but considering what their ‘issue’ was, it was perfect. Anna is just as feisty as her Babushka and Drake was all kinds of sweet and vulnerable.

There was quite a bit of interference going on, not only from Babushka herself, but a “Babushka-in-training” (heaven help all of us that there are now two of them) and I loved how it all worked out in the end for both Anna and Drake.

~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
Profile Image for Mia.
338 reviews
January 13, 2021
“Sure, she and Mr. Not-So-Right had only been together for two months, but in that time, she’d fallen tulip over daisy for him”

This was a cute short story about a misunderstanding between florist Anna Dvornakov and super star Quarterback Drake Wellington.

“Screw him,” Sadie said.
“I did. That’s the problem,”


This book is also part of an anthology called Jingle Balls and as far as I understand, this is a short story about some side characters that appear in the Mile High Matched series.

“Then, like a man who was able to throw a football down an entire field of players with precision, he carefully took hold of her heart without even realizing he’d done so.”

You can read this book without reading any other book and you’d understand it (I myself haven’t read any other books by the author), but you’d be feeling like this story is a little out of place.
This seems like a bonus short story or epilogue from an existing book that anything else. And if Anna and Drake had their own book I’d love this extra one, but as it’s, to me is lacking.
Profile Image for Karin Gesell.
1,893 reviews41 followers
November 27, 2020
First off, I love this crazy Russian family. Every time they are involved they make me laugh out loud (I get looks, I don’t care). This time, Anna, Jase & Roman’s sister, is nursing a broken heart while helping out at the Jingle Balls Ball. Her and her boyfriend Drake, professional football player, broke up after she offered to move to Miami with/for him. It did not go well, so she went bye bye. But she still misses him. At the Ball, things get very interesting (and funny) when you add in a nosy Babushka, a big brother who’s taking lessons from their crazy grandma, a love sick football player who wants to set the record set. I loved this story (would love more!)! Can never get enough of them!!
Profile Image for Monica.
1,531 reviews
November 27, 2020
Anna is looking for her forever but Drake didn't make that easy. He is back at the Jingle Balls Ball to make things right. With both Babushka and Roman helping things go wrong and as always you will be laughing during all the antics. I thought the story was way too short. I know it's meant to be that way but it's still too short.
Profile Image for Jennifer Olivas.
542 reviews7 followers
December 2, 2020
I thought that this was such a cute and fun holiday novella. Any story with Babushka in it is sure to be hilarious. Anna and Drake stood no chance against her machinations. In all fairness, she is always right about the couples that she helps. This was a great addition to the Mile High Matched Series. If you haven't read those, check them out. They are wonderful!
Profile Image for Quinn Fforde.
3,306 reviews15 followers
November 27, 2020
This story was hilarious. I absolutely wanted some more Babushka in my life, and I was happy to get to know Anna. She is Jase and Roman's sister, and she gives them a run for their money. Drake was a sweetheart, and I hope he is prepared to join that crazy family!
Profile Image for Cindy Bolen.
322 reviews
March 19, 2021
I love this family.

The Dvornakovs are definitely one of my favorite families. Getting to see Anna's story was an awesome little novella. I recommend this book and Christina Hovland's other books.
1,371 reviews3 followers
January 13, 2022
eh

This story was just OK… It certainly wasn’t the normal for Christina. It was too predictable and just sort of boring. I love all the characters but this was so short it wasn’t even a book. Too bad it could’ve had such promise
Profile Image for Kari Williams.
806 reviews3 followers
March 5, 2025
I started with russians

It started with Russians and a pregnant sister who needed her brother to run her wedding business. Then we seguayed into rock stars, and now I'm back full circle to babushka! Lol what a ride!
Profile Image for Danielle .
2,565 reviews75 followers
November 27, 2020
There is no author I love more than Christina Hovland. Her story makes me laugh until I cry. This one was a Christmas spin on a bachelor auction, a second chance at love and a lot of Babushka!!
Profile Image for Regina.
1,099 reviews
December 4, 2020
Such a fun teaser for the Mile High Matched series! This is the first story I've read by this author, but it sure makes me want to read more. :)
4,867 reviews10 followers
March 17, 2021
Good read

Very good read as always and who doesn’t love the interfering family. Wish it had been a bit longer and perhaps an epilogue but still a good read.
Profile Image for Meryl.
1,510 reviews6 followers
June 1, 2021
Short story.

A really quick read with a look into Anna Dvornakov and her forever man. Having read Jase and Roman’s stories this was a wee filling the gap read.
179 reviews1 follower
April 21, 2022
Super cute, really fun short book. Loved everything about the novella.
1,612 reviews5 followers
October 19, 2022
How can you not love this author

She's one of the best and babushka is a legend you got to love a woman who knows but doing
Profile Image for Kelly Fountain.
996 reviews5 followers
November 25, 2020
A cute novella focused on Anna, the lone Dvornakov sister. She a little broken-hearted after breaking up with her boyfriend. Now she’s at a gala where he’s being auctioned off and she has to see him face to face again. Drake is a professional quarterback who’s career is going down the drain, along with his love life after Anna called it quits. He messed up but he still wants her, loves her, and this gala is his chance to make it right. That is until Babushka and Roman get involved...then like all the stories, it’s gets a little crazy. It’s short and sweet with a few giggles. Enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Jenifer.
1,084 reviews13 followers
October 23, 2025
Anna and Drake need a second chance at a what-could-be relationship if only they were in the same town. He's a quarterback in Miami and she's a florist in Denver. If you've read any of Christina's 'Mile High Matched' series you'd know that the best person to help that out would be the best nosy matchmaking grandma around, Babushka. Her perfect opportunity may be here at the Jingle Ball for the perfect 'nudge' in the right direction for these two. Love it!

This story was originally in a compilation book called Jingle Balls that is full of fun stories like this one.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews

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