Dirty Steal

Dirty Players, Book 2

By: Lauren Blakely, KD Casey

Narrated by: Evan Parker, J.F. Harding

One bed, two players, and another chance in this steamy stand-alone sports romance....

After how this season has gone so far—don’t ask—the last thing I need is a distraction.

Like, say, my spring training one-night stand showing up in my dugout. If it’s not annoying enough that the hot new shortstop with the heart-stopping smile has been traded to my team, the golden guy now needs a place to stay.

When one of my bigmouthed teammates suggests the new star player shack up in my spare room, I’ve got myself a helluva problem—and it’s getting bigger with my eager, interested, and too-sexy teammate sharing my kitchen, my shower...and then, late one night, my bed.

But before I know it, all these late nights together are making me want things I just can’t have with my teammate.

And if I’m not careful, he’ll be stealing my heart, too....

A scorching-hot only-one-bed-in-the-room/teammates-to-lovers second-chance stand-alone romance....

©2022 Nothing to Lose Productions (P)2022 Nothing to Lose Productions

*4.25 stars* Sexy and sweet

Dirty Steal is the second novella in Lauren Blakely and K.D. Casey’s co-penned Dirty Players series. These books are standalones so you can easily read Dirty Steal without having read Dirty Slide. In fact, Dirty Steal bears little resemblance to Dirty Slide with the exception of the authors, the word “Dirty” in the title, and the fact that it’s a romance between two baseball players. It all feels different - the characters, the storyline, and even the tone. Where Dirty Slide told an edgy, testosterone-fueled, enemies-to-lovers romance, Dirty Steal is much milder in tone, with two main characters in Derek and Adam that are easy to like and connect with. The story is less fiery and more swoony, with plenty of pining and romantic moments.

That’s not to say that it isn’t sexy, though. Derek and Adam have delicious banter full of double entendres and obvious chemistry that converts into some seriously incendiary between-the-sheets escapades. Derek is cocky and sure of himself, oozing charisma and BDE. Adam, however, is confident and self-assured, but he’s the shy, quiet type. In a room full of people, Adam prefers to hang back and listen while Derek is happy to grab the limelight. But Derek pushes Adam out of his comfort zone making him ask for what he wants - both in their relationship and in the bedroom. Adam, in turn, forces Derek to intuit his cues and feelings. It enables Derek to achieve a level of intimacy with Adam that he hasn’t before. There hasn’t been anyone before for either of them that made them want to take risks, to go after what they want, in arenas other than baseball. They find they are compatible in all the best ways.

I wish Dirty Steal was a longer book because I really connected with Derek and Adam as a couple and would have enjoyed spending more time with them and getting their story in greater depth. That being said, the Dirty Steal audiobook provides a more fulsome experience than the story on text alone. That’s because Derek and Adam’s story comes to life through the robust, engaged vocal performances of JF Harding as Adam and Evan Parker as Derek. They elevate this short, sexy story into something more.

Harding’s honeyed voice perfectly pairs with Adam’s shy, sexy, sweet nature. He’s able to convey his confidence and vulnerabilities, his determination and hesitations with his complex portrayal. Parker is perfection as Derek. He’s got vocal swagger for days and the smoky, growly, deep timbre he gives Derek is hypnotic. I could listen to that rounded raspiness all day and night. So damn sexy. Just like Derek. Both Harding and Parker nail the cadence of the story and use the intonations, dynamics, and pacing needed to tell the story as the authors’ intended. Their performances are nuanced, precise and impressive.

I wholeheartedly recommend the Dirty Steal audiobook. It’s a low-angst, hot, heady romance brought to life by Harding and Parker, two top-notch narrators. It’s decadent, delicious, and dirty in all the best ways.

Sweet and Passionate!

This is the second novella in the Dirty Players Series, a MM Sports Romance. Adam and Derek's story is sweet, passionate, funny, and heartwarming. Evan Parker and J.F. Harding did a great job with the narration.

Steal my heart!

Yes, this one stole a piece of my heart. Quite enjoyable and entertaining! The joint authorship is splendid!

⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️

This was a hot short audiobook and would have been 5 stars for me if it had been longer. I loved these characters and wanted more, I wanted to get to know them better and feel like I was there when got to know each other and fell in love. Since this was short I feel like I missed a little of that but I still really liked the book. It had a lot packed into it and was very steamy, the chemistry was off the charts. I will be waiting for more in this series. I was super excited when I saw one of the narrators was JF Harding because I adore his work.

Awesome hot little quickie!

What a great quick hot AF love story. Lauren and KD make a great sports romance team, and I was so excited to get my hands on their second collab in the Dirty Players series. Derek and Adam meet at a charity fundraiser. There's an almost instant connection, and when they give in to that attraction, HOLY HELL!! It's a quickie, so I won't give you too much story, but they're professional baseball players w/hot chemistry, and some baggage they're both holding on to. As they get to know each other, things evolve.

This is a beautifully written story. Although it's quick, it doesn't feel rushed at all. I did want to know more about Adam and Derek. JF Harding and Evan Parker do a wonderful job with narration. JF has quickly become a favorite narrator. I love how he shows such confidence and vulnerability at the same time. You feel what his characters are going through, and I kind of want to give him a hug. And he and Evan don't have a problem turning on the dirty!

5 STARS! Flirty & fiery teammates to-lovers MM sports romance!

Another fantastic collaboration from Lauren Blakely and KD Casey! Perfectly in-sync, seamlessly transitioning between their individual writing styles, their pairing is exceptionally well-matched. I listened to the audio, and JF Harding and Evan Parker performances were fantastic, and they did a great job brining these characters to life in my ears.

Dirty Steal, a teammates-to-lovers M/M sports romance, was a super sexy novella featuring two baseball players who had a meet-cute kinda hookup. A few months later, the baseball trade gods stepped in to put them on the same team. A rookie shortstop on a losing team, Adam was bi-sexual, a little shy, freshly out of a MF relationship. Derek was the star shortstop on a winning team, he was totally out and completely comfortable with his sexuality, and he was definitely into Adam. Thanks to a well-meaning teammate, they find themselves in a bit of a forced proximity situation right upon Adam’s arrival in Seattle, and being that they’re new teammates, they decide they need to cool things off for the sake of the team despite the blazing heat between them.

I loved Derek and Adam. Between Derek’s confidence and Adam’s charming awkwardness, they were a totally endearing couple who I couldn’t help rooting for. Dirty Steal was a flirty and fiery one-night-stand turned second-chance teammates-to-lovers MM romance, and I loved it! Five smooches from me for Dirty Steal by Lauren Blakely and KD Casey!
~Danielle Palumbo, Red Cheeks Reads

Adam and Derek are Fire!! Elizabeth @ Carolina Chic’s Read

Let’s set the scene… two ball players insanely attracted to each other but on apposing teams then flip to the same team. Sparks fly and you will fall for these guys!

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Perfect weekend listen.

I absolutely adore Lauren Blakely and teaming with KD Casey for this one was perfect. This is a friends to lovers, somewhat forbidden romance between two pro baseball players who end up on the same team playing the same position.

It is always a pleasure to read these m/m books where they are living in a sort of utopian society where professional athletes can be out and proud and the challenges they face are on a more personal and psychological level and not those that are placed on them by a bigoted society. It allows us to focus on the relationship and the feelings developing between the characters without the distraction of too much reality.

Evan Parker and J.F. Harding were brilliant and had you rooting for these two heroes right from the start. The spice level is high and so is the feel good factor with a beautiful HEA.

5 Love Comes When You Least Expect It Stars!!

I absolutely love it when Ms. Blakely teams up with Ms. Casey. Their stories are hotter than hot and absolutely bring a huge smile to my face! What makes it even better is being able to listen to JF Harding and Evan Parker bringing to life Derek and Adam.

Adam and Derek meet at a Charitable Event during Spring Training and indulge in a night of off the charts hot one night stand neither expecting to really see each other in that way again. So off they go to their respective teams to begin the baseball season. But fate has something better in store for both of them when Adam gets traded to Derek’s team.

And the fun begins when not only are they on the same team, but end up being roommates! I loved how these men cared about each other. They each are so attracted to the other, but aren’t sure if they want to make “the move” to have more, until one night it just can’t be avoided any longer! And let me tell you, I was there for every sexy and sweet moment between them. I loved the narration which just makes this novella that much better because JF and Evan have amazing voices and intonations with not only their characters but those of the secondary characters as well, especially Travis!

This is a great addition to this series and I’m truly looking forward to future collaborations between Ms. Blakely and Ms. Casey.

5 stars for Dirty Steal!

Super hot and super cute sports romance featuring Derek and Adam. When we first meet them at a charity event, they are short stops on opposing baseball teams. They have a sexy one night hook up and don't see each other again for a time, but fate has other plans when Adam is traded to Derek's team and needs a place to stay. A little forced proximity, and they start rekindling that spark of what they once had. Of course through it all, they still want each other even though their situation changed. I enjoyed them getting to know each other.
As always, Derek and Adam had the perfect narrators cast to portray them. Both Even Parker and JF Harding did an amazing job with KD and Lauren's characters. JF has that sweet and shy thing going on with his performance of Adam and Evan was perfect with his growly sexy voice for Derek's commanding presence.