This was such a fun Christmas romance to get me into the Holiday spirit! I loved the family dynamic with Hollys family and the banter back and forth between the siblings! All of the festive activities with sledding and the family hot cocoa recipe along with Holly teaching Connor how to make a snow angel. If you are looking for a holiday romance to get you in the spirit i recommend this one!

is a perfect fit for readers who adore sweet and steamy romance, small-town charm, and the magic of the holiday season, with a dash of sports romance and a strong, relatable heroine who will capture their hearts.

This was a cute little holiday read! It was a relatively easy read and I’ve become a big fan of baseball romances so this was a perfect fit. I loved Connor and hollys story and watching their relationship develop! It was such a sweet story of compromising of the person you love and figuring it out together. Hollys family immediately welcomed Connor into the family and it was just so heartwarming. Holly has no interest in baseball but she tries for Connor and I adore her figuring out her feelings towards baseball as she is the OPPOSITE of a baseball fan. As someone who has sisters who are much younger, I liked the sibling rivalry between both characters and their siblings who are close in their ages. I read within a few hours and it’s a good short binge read. I would absolutely recommend reading this if you love Christmas, baseball and sappy love stories!

If you love;
- festive romance
- small town romance
- adding another book boyfriend to your never ending list
- cinnamon roll mmc
- fun/witty/banter/cheeky/cocky
Then please go read this damn book!
Sarah Hill threw this one out the park.. the way you go an insight on how they met, the way they developed; beautiful. The writing was so easy to follow and the characters all have such difference yet seem to all work together. I love how Conor is a little cheeky, a little cocky and a whole lot book boyfriend material. Holly is sweet but I definitely favoured Conor more. The spice was there but not something that dominated the book by any means. Just enough to give you a little side eye to see who’s watching you haha.

Holly, a college student, is working on homework while a friend is at batting training. She shares no interest in baseball at all but the star MBL player, Conor, is taking an interest in her. Through banter, a spark or two Conor made a decision without talking to holly first and this causes a slight stir in the works. This seems to have placed holly in a position where she now has to make a massive choice before the new year is here. Hollys future is left in jeopardy and she needs to think fast. Do they manage to work things out or do they go their separate ways?

I guess now you’ll have to read the book and find out.

A Heartwarming and Steamy Christmas Romance

Romance doesn’t always follow the plan. That’s what college student Holly Lane learns when she crosses paths with Connor Lawson, a heartthrob Major League Baseball player. Their unexpected meeting sets them on a collision course of self-discovery, risk-taking, and one of the steamiest romances of her life.

This novel delivers a delightful mix of romantic chemistry, Christmas cheer, and heartfelt moments. It charms with tender kisses and emotional depth, especially as Connor’s secret places Holly in an unforeseen situation. The story strikes a balance between laugh-out-loud humor, touching family dynamics, and plenty of spice that keeps the pages turning.

From the very first chapter, the book hooked me with its witty banter and Connor’s cocky yet endearing personality. The laugh-out-loud moments, coupled with the emotional beats, made the story a rollercoaster of feelings. Holly’s family—complete with sweet, patient parents and relatable sibling rivalry—added warmth and depth to the narrative. I could vividly imagine their cozy home by Coeur d’Alene Lake, making me feel like I was right there with them.

One of the story’s highlights is how it captures the magic of Christmas, with its small-town charm, close-knit family traditions, and wintry activities. It’s impossible not to feel the festive spirit while reading. The chemistry between Holly and Connor, as well as their playful banter, is a joy to follow.

However, I did struggle with one aspect: the jump in the timeline. After an engaging prologue showing the start of their romance, the story leaps 16 months into their relationship. This made it harder to fully root for the couple, as much of their connection’s development was left unseen. Despite this, the overall journey was satisfying, and I still found myself invested in their story.

If you’re looking for a fun, heartwarming Christmas romance with a dash of spice and plenty of charm, this book is a must-read. It’s an adorable holiday tale that’ll leave you smiling and ready to cozy up by the fire.

Read if you like:
Small Town
Fun Banter
Cinnamon Roll MMC
Cute Christmas Romance
Miscommunication/third act breakup

#BeforetheBallDrops #NetGalley #ladysnuffyreads #romancebook #sportsromancebook #booktok #bookgram #baseballromance #christmasromance

I was very excited to read this book during Christmas, but sadly the format provided made it extremely difficult for me. I could not convert it into PDF or epub, and I really tried, and it could not be sent to my kindle the way it downloaded from here. I put one star because it is mandatory, I do not think it is a one-star book but at the same time I cannot rate it higher without reading it.

I would first like to thank Sarah Hill, Victory Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of Before the Ball Drops.

I was looking forward to read this holiday, sports romance but this book did not meet my expectations. I struggled to connect with its characters, plot, and writing style.

The story follows Holly Lane and Connor Lawson as they navigate their relationship during the holidays, with Connor meeting Holly’s family for the first time while hiding a major life decision—signing with a new team and moving across the country. While the premise promised drama and tension, the execution left much to be desired.

Characters
Holly Lane, the protagonist, was frustrating to follow. Her lack of interest in Connor’s career—despite considering him her soulmate—was baffling. It’s hard to believe that she had no idea the stage at which her partner's his career was and such major changes that were occurring, especially when it was public knowledge (it was on the news and her family knew before her). Holly also exuded “pick-me girl” energy (e.g., doing art homework at a baseball game), which detracted from her relatability. Her insecurity about Connor’s success came out of nowhere and felt forced, though, surprisingly, she wasn’t the most unlikeable character.

Connor Lawson, on the other hand, had no redeeming qualities. His dismissive comments about past relationships being “meaningless entertainment” were appalling, and his condescending attitude toward Holly was frustrating. His gaslighting Holly—blaming her for their problems after he made a massive decision behind her back—made him irredeemable. His actions, such as taking certain action after being explicitly told not to showcased a lack of maturity and respect.

Holly’s family was equally aggravating. Their insistence that Holly needed to “pivot” after Connor betrayed her trust was absurd. How can she pivot when she wasn’t even given a choice? Comparing Holly to her best friend also felt unnecessarily cruel. While her father offered a rare piece of good advice, the family’s insistence on hosting Connor despite Holly’s clear need for space felt inconsiderate. The outdated belief that Holly, a college student, should provide a “home-cooked meal” was baffling and out of place.

Plot
The plot hinges on the classic miscommunication trope, but this is perhaps one of the weakest executions of it I’ve read. If Holly and Connor had simply spoken to each other just about Connor’s career in general and what was happening in this significant year, they could have avoided their entire conflict. Holly only had one semester left in college—surely they could have planned around that if they’d had an honest conversation. Instead, the book drags out the miscommunication and fills the time with an overextended subplot about Holly’s family dynamics, which contributes little to the main story. The fallout from Connor’s secret—the core conflict—comes so late in the book that it feels like an afterthought. Even the tension this revelation creates is undermined by Connor’s refusal to respect Holly’s boundaries.

Writing
Aside from a few piece here and there of witty banter, the writing desperately needed editing. The narrative frequently “tells” rather than “shows,” resulting in flat and unengaging prose. The jarring use of direct addresses to the reader, particularly right before intimate moments, disrupted the flow of the story. Additionally, the tone and vocabulary choices often felt contradictory, making it hard to stay immersed in the narrative. Unnecessary details—such as overly long descriptions of baking, cooking, or settings—bogged down the pacing. These descriptions didn’t add to the atmosphere or advance the plot, making the story feel cluttered. There was also a lack of consistency in characters’ behaviors, emotions, and dialogue, which made them unpredictable and hard to connect with.

The sex scenes, rather than adding intimacy or depth to the story, were awkwardly written. Prolonged words during these scenes felt out of place, and the scenes themselves lacked entertainment value.

Conclusion
Before the Ball Drops had potential as a holiday romance, but its weak character development, ineffective use of tropes, lackluster plot, and unpolished writing made it a disappointing read. This book could benefit from significant editing and refinement to realize its potential.

Before the Ball Drops by Sarah Hill was super cute and fun holiday romance.
This opposite attracts, sports romance was amazingly written with fantastic characters.
It was a quick read and entertaining from the beginning.

This was such a fun read! I’ve devoured it in an afternoon and i loved all the winter wonderland vibes!

Definitely not what I expected. You learn in the blurb of basically what is going to be going on for at least 60 percent of the book. There is so much almost meaningless plot and building before we get to the actual issue that is even alluded to in the blurb that I couldn’t even stomach reading more than a duo of chapters at a time. I never want to hear the nickname “Champ” again, especially when you call your significant other that. Cringe. And the book was way longer than it needed to be.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and publishers for a copy of this book!

This was a cute, quick read with a sports romance trope. The banter between characters was great and this book was like a spicy Hallmark movie. I am definitely reading more from this author!

If you love a warm and fuzzy Hallmark Christmas story, this novella is for you!

Holly and Connor meet at Connor’s baseball practice before the game, they have some banter and they hit it off. A year passes and Holly’s finally bringing him home for Christmas. Her family loves him but he’s been keeping something from her and when she finds out she struggles to decide whether their relationship will last and tells him that she’ll make her decision before the ball drops on New Years.

This is a very cute small town sports romance. Being a Harry Potter fan myself, I loved that Connor bought Holly that special edition box set of the books without even giving it a second thought because he knows how much she loves the series. He was also very patient with Holly which was very nice.

The only complaints that I have is that I wish that there was more of a lead up to their relationship becoming official. I also wish there were some more details in between them getting into a relationship and Connor meeting Holly’s family, but I do understand that it’s a novella so it can’t be too long. There were also so many scenes of just hanging around the house doing family holiday things and then Holly and Connor telling each other how much they love the other person. This does follow the script of a Hallmark movie if that’s the vibe it’s going for so I can’t complain too much about that either.

This is the first holiday book I read this year and it definitely got me into the Christmas spirit! There is a happy ending in case you’re wondering, and overall I enjoyed this book.

The most perfect book for the holidays!!! A great cozy read with adorable characters, amazing location and just and precious story. Loved it!

Before The Ball Drops is a sports-adjacent holiday romance that centers on the relationship dynamics when the love of your life has a dream that might not involve you. The story follows Connor - a golden retriever pro-baseball player - and Holly - a driven college student - as they navigate life after the ‘HEA.’

This was the perfect feel-good holiday romance that hit all the stops including sassy banter, steamy sex scenes, sibling drama, and the perfect blend of romance. I went through all the emotions reading this book and was honestly hooked from page two!

This book was I struggle to get through. While a really enjoyed the MMC Connor. I had a strong dislike for Holly, I found her very selfish and very narrow minded. Unfortunately this book wasn't for me.

3 stars

This story revolves around Holly. A very driven and determined girl who finds herself at a baseball game she could care less about. This lands her the attention of Connor. A talented baseball player with high honors and witty charm. Flash forward a year and a half, and he spends Christmas meeting Holly’s family for the first time. However, Connor is keeping a major league secret—one that could change everything: he hasn't told Holly about his big career move yet. Knowing he’s throwing Holly a major curve ball that will strike out her vision boards, he’s anxious about sharing the news. He wants a future with Holly, but this news might destroy that future before it even starts.

Tropes:
❄ Holiday Romance
❄ Opposites Attract
❄ Cinnamon Roll MMC
❄ Sports Romance – Baseball
❄ Miscommunication
❄ Family Bonding

“The next time life throws a curveball your way, take a deep breath and have a little faith.”

This was my top Christmas read of the year so far! I absolutely devoured this book!

Connor was such a top tier book boyfriend. I adored him the moment he spoke. He was beyond sweet and the banter he brought was amazing! Plus any man that’s polite to his mom is an immediate green flag! 😊

Sarah Hill knocked it out of the park! This read like a feel good Hallmark Christmas movie with a sprinkling of spice (The real thing missing from those movies). The humor and banter were next level and the sweet sense of strong family really held this together. I want to spend a Christmas with the Lane family. They were just picture perfect!

I don’t usually like the miscommunication trope or third act break-up but it worked in this story. Holly and Connor’s relationship and feelings felt raw and real to me. Relationships are sometimes about compromise and that played out in a beautiful way.

This is a great read for anyone who’s ever felt torn between their personal ambitions and the expectations of those they love. The strong wit and emotional depth make this a must read for the holiday season. Get yourself a blanket and cozy up with a cup of cocoa for this one!

Special thanks to Netgalley for the arc! :)

This was a fun little holiday romance, I really enjoyed the baseball theme!

Holly is bringing her professional baseball player boyfriend home to meet her family for the first time and they all fall head over heels in love with Connor.

There are some communication issues and definitely has a miscommunication trope which is frustrating at times, but I appreciate how Holly’s family supports her in working through some of her issues on her own. They all have such healthy family relationships, neither telling her to get over it or giving in to what feels like tantrums. But mostly encouraging communication and focusing on what is really important.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

It’s always an honor to read one of your books before release day so THANK YOU for the opportunity!

This little spice of Holiday Joy started my Christmas season off right! It was the first book I chose to read to get me into the Christmas spirit and it did not disappoint! 🌶️ 🎄

I hope you enjoy Holly and Connor’s story as much as I did!

“Life really does have a way of taking you down paths you never would have dreamed of taking and honoring your life for the better. So the next time life throws a curveball your way, take a deep breath and have a little faith.”

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Side note: I especially love this author! Meeting her through the bookstagram world has been a true pleasure. Make sure to read her little acknowledgment to her husband! That’s what true love is all about! 🫶🏼

I knew from the dedication that this book was going to have some Christmas magic! It feels very Hallmark-y, and even though some of the issues seem a little unlikely (how did she not know?!?), it is a sweet holiday read with a happy ending. The book starts with Holly and Connor’s meet-cute and then skips to their second Christmas together. Before the Ball Drops gives us such a sweet look into an established couple’s relationship and how they navigate tough changes during the holiday season. Connor throws a wrench into Holly’s life plans, but with the help of her family (and some Christmas magic) he wins her back.

Festive steamy fun! Such an easy book to get into and didn't want to put it down.
Holly and Connor are such great characters too.
Thank you NetGalley, Sarah Hill and Skies Publishing for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.