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Cocky Hero Club

Playboy Pitcher

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The first time I met Benson LaCroix, he sat in a bar wearing “cocky player” like a cheap cologne.
The second time, he stood in a locker room in nothing but a jockstrap and a scowl.
Apparently, the Miami Storm’s star pitcher isn’t too thrilled his new boss is the woman who turned him down.

That makes two of us.

I never asked to inherit my father’s baseball team. It’s the one thing I despised more than him. I’m just here to sell, sign on the dotted line, and get out.
Until I’m hit with Dad’s final parting gift—a buyer’s clause.

Enter Satan—otherwise known as my ex.

I should swallow my pride and just accept his offer. Instead, I tell him where to shove it. It can’t be that hard to turn the major league’s biggest joke into a winning team.

Right?

With only four weeks to do the impossible, I’ll need more than a miracle. I’ll need a secret weapon. Someone ruthless enough to marry me for my money.
Like a playboy pitcher with a wicked curveball.

Two quickie vows and one hostile truce later, and it’s game on.

Ben and I can do this.
I just have to keep my eye on his balls.
I mean the ball. The prize.

Oh hell. We’re in trouble.

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2021

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About the author

Cora Kenborn

55 books2,000 followers
Cora Kenborn is a USA Today Bestselling author of over thirty-two multi-genre novels, including the Carrera Cartel Trilogy.

While best known for her dark and gritty romances, Cora infuses sharp banter and a shocking blindside in every story she writes. She loves a brooding antihero who falls hard for a feisty heroine who stands beside him, not behind him.

Although she’s a native North Carolinian, Cora claims the domestic Southern Belle gene skipped a generation, so she spends any free time convincing her family that microwaved mac and cheese counts as fine dining.

Oh, and autocorrect thinks she's obsessed with ducks.

Stay up to date with Cora:
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Website: www.corakenborn.com
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Facebook Reader Group: http://bit.ly/CoraTAA
TikTok: https://bit.ly/CKTikTok
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Twitter: http://bit.ly/CoraTwitter

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5 stars
205 (59%)
4 stars
92 (26%)
3 stars
32 (9%)
2 stars
6 (1%)
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10 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
Profile Image for Jessica Alcazar.
4,067 reviews565 followers
May 2, 2021
Normally I wait till the very end to put in my 2 cents on the #cover of a book if it moves me one way or the other but *fans face* whooooooooooooa, go ahead, lick it, I know you wanna! #winning

New-to-me author for the #win! I get so giddy when this happens because as a voracious reader, the one thing that is sure to always deliver a new perspective on a trope I more than likely have read a ton of times in the past is a new-to-me or just plain new author. It’s another world to get lost in because like no two people read the same book (or how ever that saying goes lol), I also believe no two authors write the same story (unless they plagiarize but that’s a whole other story).

I really enjoyed the heck out of this story. Not just the story, the characters as well. You would think one would go with the other, but you’d be surprised how many times that is not the case, at least for me. This time tho, we have ourselves not just a homerun, but a grand slam of a package (pun intended lol)! The author balanced the romance and growth of Ben and Willow deliciously well, with outstanding banter and sexual drive between the two! She grabbed my attention from the beginning of this story, and I was all in thru pretty much the entire story. I loved that it wasn’t a straightforward storyline also. You’ll get that point a lot clearer once you read the book and read you should.

Grab your copy today!! Available in Kindle Unlimited!
US: https://amzn.to/3dIZZ0x
UK: https://amzn.to/3eo5il1
CA: https://amzn.to/2QKm2ee
AU: https://amzn.to/2Pfapvx
COMING SOON TO AUDIO: https://adbl.co/32nM5uk

Profile Image for Doris.
2,770 reviews110 followers
April 27, 2021
This is a Home Run!!

If you are a lover of sports romance or any romance this is a must read that kept me up until the earlier morning hours because I couldn’t put it down. Willow is the estranged daughter who just inherited a baseball team and wants nothing to do with it. She’s all about selling and getting far away from this as possible. Benson is just as the title of the book says…he’s a Playboy Pitcher. They have a chance encounter at a bar and the hilarity was outstanding.

This author has always touched all the bases for me when reading her books because she gives me such rounded and lovable characters. I always love how Ms. Kenborn knows how to bring great humor along with always giving great chemistry between her characters as well. The banter between the teammates is to die for too. As far as chemistry goes I usually need to fan myself throughout.

I highly recommend this book and I always look forward to what this author gives me next!!
Profile Image for Melissa Crump.
584 reviews68 followers
January 22, 2021
A homerun with all the feels!!! I don’t usually read sports romances but this was one I was so glad I did. It was spicy, hilarious, witty and unexpected twists you really didn’t see coming. This is an absolute favorite of mine now for sure!!!
Profile Image for Reah  Foxx.
199 reviews2 followers
April 18, 2021
I know you’ve heard the phrase “you hit a home run” to describe something that is good. I can’t use that phrase to describe this book. To describe what Cora Kenborn did with this story can only be done by saying, “Cora hit a GRAND SLAM!” The banter throughout this book is brilliant! The twists and turns will keep you guessing. The chemistry between Ben and Willow is paramount! Cora is known for her dark mafia romance writing, however, she has convinced me she can write ANYTHING! If you aren’t one to typically read “sports romance” do yourself a favor and “Just Leap!”
Profile Image for LaDonna.
482 reviews20 followers
April 28, 2021
I will admit that I wasn't overly excited about a baseball book, but it's a Cora Kenborn book, so I was willing to give it a try. It is kinda funny - my last read was a Cora Kenborn book as well; a very dark romance that I adored. The woman is a master. I love her dark stuff, adore her rockstars almost too much and have laughed inappropriately in public with her romcoms. And I'm a Kansas City girl - I need to catch a Royals game every year or two or I feel off kilter. So I'm not completely anti-sports by any means - good years and bad. (And, again, KC girl...it took my entire life to see the Chiefs win a Superbowl!) I just don't tend to find athletes all that attractive so I don't read sports romances as a general rule. But I digress, the point is that I didn't go into this one expecting to adore it, and certainly didn't expect to lose sleep to finish it, but I should have known better. It's a Cora Kenborn book, and I know better than to underestimate her.

Ms. Kenborn's wonderful sense of humor is very well represented in this book. It's really not a romcom, but it is a very nice touch. Ben was almost too easy to fall for. His character is very well developed. At times Willow's behavior may feel a bit off, but there is an explanation for it so don't give up on her. She is very likeable as well, and the twists and turns to her story are fantastic. Things aren't exactly as they seem. I found myself very sympathetic to her on many levels. I haven't been reading much the last few months as I recently lost my father, as Willie has in the book. Though mine didn't leave me a major league baseball team, my life has been turned upside down by it in ways I never could have expected, and what I intended to be about a 3-4 day visit has turned into 7 months in a place I said I would never come back to. When you read this you will understand how I could relate even if I didn't initially understand some of her thought process.

Anyway, this gets my highest recommendations, with extra weight added to the fact that it isn't my normal genre. Once I got started I simply couldn't put it down. Sleep finally won out much later than anticipated and I woke up early to finish it before I started my day. Sleep is a precious commodity to me, so that kind of says it all right there. This one will leave you wanting to play ball.
74 reviews1 follower
April 28, 2021
Willow came to Florida for one reason to get rid of what her dad left her because she wanted nothing to do with baseball since she felt it ruined her life that was until her world got turned up side down and she had to extend her stay to try and get away from her past and then when she meets Ben everything changes when she convinces him to help her get out of the contract her dad had made.
Ben was content on being the best he could be with his career as a baseball pitcher for a team he loved and he was content with that that was until he met Willow in a bar she walked in to and she cought his eye right away she was different than the normal women he went after she challenged him and didn't look at him as if all she saw was a story to tell her friends that was until he met her again and then everything turned up side down in his world when he found out that she was his new boss and then what she planned to do with the team then next thing he knows it he's helping her to get out of a contract her dad left behind in his will even though he dont really like willow with the way everything went down when they saw each other again
Profile Image for Ashleyjo.
826 reviews468 followers
August 25, 2021
There’s always that person who laughs extra loud and hard at their own jokes, which usually aren’t that funny. Well, this book is that person. It’s boring AF… yet, there’s this pretentious, smug vibe to the writing as if it’s the shit on a stick. Yet, it wasn’t. Not a fan.

I rolled my eyes so hard at how ‘cute’ the MCs were trying to be in the opening scene.

For a rich princess trying so hard not to come across as spoiled and holier than thou, she does a damn good job being exactly that. Same with her appearance - carefree hipster, but it comes across as desperate for attention.

MMC is just a washed up jock trying to make it. I could give two fly balls about him. Meh.

Inner dialogue of ‘he’s so irritating but hot’ ‘he’s so irritating but hot’ is on repeat over and over and over and over.

At 32%, the solution to her problem is just so stupid. His reaction is even worse. Someone tries to give you something worth millions… and you ask what you get out of it? Du)h, something worth millions you idiot. Her family name, money, and him being a pro baseball player, and they can’t get the room they want? Nonsense.

DNF cause IDGAF about this eyeroll plot and characters.
Profile Image for Nichole Watson.
Author 4 books29 followers
April 28, 2021
There are authors that can write one genre and master that genre. There are also authors like the amazing Cora Kenborn, who bring magic to any words they write. In my mind I see her looking over all of us readers, a finger tapping her lips in thought. "What can I bring them I haven't already? I shall bring them a baseball player. He will be cocky.
He will be misunderstood. But in the end, they will swoon. " With a smile on her face she thought some more. "I will give him a female character that is fierce and feisty. Someone that will test him in ways no one has before." And she did just that.
Taking a step away from her darker stories, Playboy Pitcher is full of the other elements she writes so well. There is great banter and humor but there is also the great serious moments that keep you glued to the pages.
If you have read other Cora Kenborn books, you need this. If you haven't read any of Cora's books, this is a great place to start.
Profile Image for Trish B.
130 reviews23 followers
April 15, 2021
Playboy Pitcher by Cora Kenborn is a standalone read and published as part of the Cocky Hero Club world.

Have you ever started a book, that became so unputdownable that you’re lying in bed and it’s 3.30am because you must turn another page? - THIS was me!

Ms Kenborn truly knocked this one out the ballpark and scored the illustrious homerun. Benson ‘Playboy’ LaCroix and Willow McBaine meet by chance but with paths destined to cross. Both ooze sexual and physical attraction for one another but will their secrets come back to bite?

I found this book to be captivating and definitely a page-turner. All characters bought different qualities and dimensions to the story and I seriously LOVED it!

A resounding 5 stars from me!
1,477 reviews25 followers
May 2, 2021
Wow! Just wow! Is there any genre this author can’t write??!!! Never in a million years did I think this author would write sports romance, but boy does she write this in spades! Willow and Benson are definitely the new power couple for me! The chemistry between them is so hot your fingers will burn as you turn the pages. The emotion and tension between them is so strong you can feel it in your bones!

I am also a lover of flamingos and the references to them throughout this story literally made me laugh out loud! Quite a bit goes on in this story that you will be as entranced as I was. You will not put this down until every last word, sentence and paragraph are read. If you are a lover of sports romance, then this story is perfect for you!!!
Profile Image for ✨ tweety ✨.
364 reviews67 followers
April 18, 2021
Really, really loved this!!!
Playboy Pitcher is the story of Benson and Willow, two lost people who happen to find each other and thinking there could never be anything between them. Well, they are wrong.

Ben and Willow couldn't seem more different, but they click in all the ways that matter. I won't say more because you have to read. What can I say is that I've spent the last two days reading this book and couldn't stop. There is never a dull moment, there is bickering, romance, family relationships. I loved Willow's snark. She's a badass girl and she never lets anyone walk over her.

You should definitely give it a chance, you won't regret it!!!
Profile Image for Sarah DeLong .
1,562 reviews1 follower
May 4, 2021
Five star home run! The queen of dark romance has a grand slam on her hands with this sports romance! Ben and Willow have so much depth and amazing personalities. The heated tension between these two and their witty banter is so dang hot! They are one of my favorite couples written by Cora. Their story is fun, yet angsty, intriguing and a little suspenseful. The flamingo scenes and puns were downright hilarious and just made Ben and Willow's story that much better.
Profile Image for amanda  shaner.
143 reviews2 followers
April 14, 2021
OMG!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Benson Lacroix is who I want to marry!!! Willow is one lucky lady!!! They are a match made in heaven with Emma thrown in the mix and owning a major league baseball team, what more could a girl want!!!! Amazing work!!!
Profile Image for PP's Bookshelf.
2,337 reviews358 followers
April 29, 2021
Cora Kenborn's writing always grabs my attention effortlessly, owns my heart and marks my soul. And Playboy Pitcher was no exception. This witty, swoony, sexy and heartaching rollercoaster gave me all the feels in the world and I am so in love with it.

Willow and Benson meets in a rain soked night at a flamingo themed bar in West Palm. That flirty encounter ends abruptly. Until they meet again. When their true identity gets revealed. Benson is the playboy pitcher of Miami Storms, a team on verge of breakdown. And Willow has just become the reluctant owner after his father's death. Baseball brings only heartbreak and pain for her and she is ready to sale it untill a secret clause in her father's will makes her rethink her strategy. A strategy that involves certain sexy pitcher and a fake marriage. A strategy that doesn't involve their hearts at the beginning.

First of all, the writing is flawless. Pure perfection. The author has beautifully brought the full range of feels on board with some amazing characters. Willow will steal your heart with her fierce attitude, sassy personality and sweetest heart. This woman is incredible. She left behind her life to find freedom and true love and she did find a whole new world. She still hides that little insecure girl wanting nothing but a bit of love inside and that's why it's so hard to let her guards down. On the other hand, Ben may show the world that he is the careless playboy but he actually has a heart of gold. Gahh I am so in love with this charming, gorgeous, arrogant and most devilish man! He didn't trust Willow initially as he was worried about his team and his career but soon he fall for the awesome woman. Their road was crazy. With obstacles and twists and turns. With the corrupt and evil people trying to destroy them. But they had a solid connection. Their back and forth banter made me laugh and swoon. Their chemistry was burning slow, bright and harsh. They finally found a happily ever after so fitting and perfect.

Playboy Pitcher by Cora Kenborn melted my heart and claimed my soul. This was simply beautiful and terrifyingly perfect.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
Profile Image for Bonnie Mancuso.
547 reviews38 followers
April 22, 2021
JUST LEAP!!!
Cora Kenborn is one incredible author and Playboy Pitcher proves just that. While sports romance may not be her usual style within the romance genre, she really knocks it out of the park with this one. You're going to love Ben and Willow. Their story is sure to capture your heart. Cora writes them with such passion and as per her usual style, she'll keep you on the edge of your seat with their story. Their humorous banter provides plenty of laugh out loud moments and the suspense will keep you turning the pages. And let's not forget the steam. Ben and Willow are sure to set your Kindle on fire.This is one of those stories you don't want to miss. Just leap. You'll be glad you did.
Profile Image for Brooke Sheldon.
78 reviews2 followers
April 27, 2021
Cora hit it outta the park with this book!

When reading a specific genre some books start to sound the same. But, Playboy Pitcher had everything you need in a sports romance and even things you didn't know you needed!
Cora's books always has spunky, stubborn, sexy main characters. She doesn't write a book that's like others, she puts her own flair into her writing.
This book had the perfect amount of banter, laugh-out-loud parts and also parts that made you sad for them. I fell in love with Willow and Ben from the very beginning! Willow is the type that has her walls up and will stick up for herself. Ben is baseballs playboy, he wants everyone to see him as a player. He hides behind what he wants the media to see him as.
Profile Image for Penny.
368 reviews4 followers
April 19, 2021
HOME RUN!!! AMAZING!!
Cora hit this one out of the ball park. I fell in love with Willow the moment she turned Ben down in the most interesting bar you could ever imagine. A woman who inherits a team but doesn't want it. A man who isn't sure if he's going to make it through another season. These two take you on quite the journey as they try to work through the secrets Willow withholds from Ben and whether or not she keeps the team. There are twists you just don't see coming. I laughed and cried. I was pulled in from the very first page. And the first moment Ben and Willow hook up is soooo HOT! 🔥 This is a must read!
Profile Image for Rhonda.
3,280 reviews65 followers
April 25, 2021
I normally don't read that many sports romances but the blurb for this one sounded awesome. Loved it from the beginning to the end. Willow and Ben team up to try and save the baseball team she got when her father passed away. What starts out as fake slowly turns into something neither of them expected. Lots of twists will keep you on the edge of your chair as you read this. I loved the banter between them, the hot sexy times and how each of them overcame issues in their personal lives! This is one of my favorites that I've read in this world!!! Step up to the plate and get this book, it's a home run!
3,866 reviews29 followers
April 19, 2021
I love a good baseball romance, and this one was an absolute game changer! Willow was awesome, and I loved that she had the chance to show her skills. Benson was perfectly imperfect, a man tormented by his past, one that drove him to be the infamous playboy he was. I loved the sass, the snark, and the witty dialogue and storyline. It was intricately woven, complete with the bad guy everyone loves to hate! The chemistry between Willow and Benson was complicated and hot, and I loved this sports romance so hard! Grand slam, baby!
Profile Image for Jayne limb.
61 reviews1 follower
April 16, 2021
Wow just wow

This book was fantastic i couldn't put it down at all.ben and willow are amazing and the chemistry between them is of the charts hot.i also loved emma but hated drake with a passion.this story is a sport's romance about 2 people who go through an arranged marriage but end up falling deep in love with eachother. You will not be disappointed if you pick this book up to read but prepare for nothing else to get done until you have finished it.well done on another fantastic book cora you rock !!!
Profile Image for Joanne .
175 reviews5 followers
April 22, 2021
Cora Kenborn knocked it out of the park with Playboy Pitcher! Quirky, independent Willow is completely lovable and dimpled, playboy Ben is absolutely swoon worthy. The love/hate relationship between Willow and Ben is brilliantly written and I could feel their chemistry sizzling off the pages. This is an enemies to lovers, fake marriage story based in the Major League Baseball world, but Cora seamlessly incorporated the suspense her fans know and love, as well as a few of her renowned plot twists that will keep you guessing!
Profile Image for Tami czenkus.
1,551 reviews19 followers
April 20, 2021
Get the Flock outta here!!!
I fell in love with this story from the very beginning. This story has a little something for all romance lovers!!
I laughed, I cried and I sure as heck might have cussed out the author in my head quite a few times!!
I have read every story of Cora Kenborn and I LOVE how well rounded she is as an author to be able to write across different tropes within the romance genre.
The twists and turns had my eyes bulging quite a few times and I'm glad that I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story!!!
Profile Image for Sandie Chraponski.
1,337 reviews12 followers
April 27, 2021
There is nothing better than second generation stories! This is an amazing story of Hollis and Elodie’s son Benson. Cora Kenborn has given us a beautiful story of two strong willed characters that are actually hiding their vulnerabilities and their inability to trust.

Benson and Willow’s story is filled with banter and steam and just everything you want them to have. There are so many fun side characters as well.

I love stories like this, and I’m so glad I picked this one to read! Do not miss out on this one, it’s too good to miss!
Profile Image for Gina Burkart.
2,728 reviews48 followers
April 22, 2021
This was amazing read as the guy is cocky but with a big heart. As for puddys this is her nickname that was give to this witty women that was hiding to keep her self safe. Their are so many twist and turns that parts start coming togther. This starts out as a fake marriage and cocky whats everything that comes with the marriage, the sex is so steamy that you are going to want to cool down. Hot read.
Profile Image for RLoves2Read.
514 reviews13 followers
May 2, 2021
Cora Kenborn hits a home run with Playboy Pitcher!!!! I fell in love with this story from the start! The chemistry between Willow and Benson is undeniably steamy!Willow, is a feisty, take no crap lady and Benson is the hero that is undeniable hot and he knows it! Absolutely loved the storyline and characters! Perfect addition to the Cocky Hero Club series!
245 reviews3 followers
April 15, 2021
This book was flocking hilarious!
I absolutely love Cora Kenborn and this book did not disappoint.
I was sucked in from the very beginning and was laughing out loud on page one.
An arranged marriage with the angst and enemies-to-lovers vibe. Ben and Willow are so easy to fall in love with.
Lots of twists, turns and heat!
Profile Image for Katrina.
75 reviews8 followers
April 18, 2021
Playboy Pitcher had me hooked from the first chapter !!
Cora wrote an amazing story with two strong characters. Willow and Ben have this chemistry that is addictive. It’s snarky and magnetic at the same time.
I loved the push and pull as well as the twists and turns as the story unfolded. I absolutely loved reading this!!
Profile Image for Belinda.
989 reviews11 followers
April 20, 2021
This book was delightful. Cora was a new author to me and I wasn’t disappointed. Ben and Willow’s story was enthralling and I couldn’t put it down. Cora has a hit on her hands and she hit it out of the ballpark. This book is part of The Cocky Hero Club but can be read as a standalone. I received this book as an arc for my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Cris Alvarez.
54 reviews2 followers
April 21, 2021
I really love this book! The story is amazing!
You can’t stop reading it! It makes me laugh, cry, sad and really really hate someone!! You can relate with the characters feelings and this is what makes a good story! Cora is a genius when it comes to creating characters!! She really gets into your skin!!
Profile Image for Chalana.
19 reviews
April 27, 2021
I never read sports romance, but coming from my girl Cora I had to give it a go. And I’m so glad I did! Cora is famous for her curveballs and she definitely delivered once again. Ben is super yummy and Willow is the sassy, confident woman we all wish we were. I loved loved loved this book and I know you will too
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews

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