Team Player by Julianna Keyes

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Title: Team Player
Author: Julianna Keyes
Series: Charleston Thrashers #1
Published by: Indie
Release Date: March 28, 2019
Format: eARC
Pages: 291
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Sports Romance
Source: NetGalley
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2019 Netgalley and Edelweiss Challenge, Lenoreo's 2019 New Release Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Google ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks
My rating:

Blurb:

BOTTOM NINE Gwen Scott wants to love her job with the Charleston Thrashers, the MLB team she’s worshiped since she was a kid, but she can’t. Hateful colleagues and mind-numbing work make her days unbearable—until her head for baseball gets her exclusive access to the Thrashers’ clubhouse and she comes face-to-face with Tyler Ashe, the team’s sexy shortstop and baseball’s most ineligible bachelor.

BASES LOADED Ty has sworn off relationships in order to focus on his all-star career, but with his best friend gone, his team struggling, and the press blaming him for every loss, the most recognizable man in the majors is in a slump. Until he starts spending his time off the field with a stern blonde who recites baseball stats for kicks and sees through his arrogant façade.

TWO OUT As the Thrashers’ season gets into full swing and Gwen adjusts to her new job, their fun banter and friendly teasing turns into stolen kisses and countless steamy nights. The team’s strict policy against player-staff relationships throws a curve ball into the mix, but they can’t hide from their feelings any more than the most famous man in baseball can hide from the spotlight…

My Review:

I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

4.5 stars — Oh dudes, I’ve only read one other book (well novella) by this author, but reading this one, I remember how much I love her voice.  These characters were rich and deep and sassy and it was just a fun read, you know?  I will admit that I had a few problems with some actions/reactions, mainly from Ty, and that’s why I’ll be rounding down, but other than that I just super enjoyed this one.

Gwen and Ty were just…well, not without flaws, but eminently easy to connect with.  One of the weird things I loved most about Gwen was that, while she was somewhat shy/nervous/awkward, she was also very secure in her own worth as a woman, and confident and positive about sex.  I LOVE sex positive books, and Gwen was a great heroine representative IMO.  And even though she was at the tail end of her heavy grief period over Aunt Marge, I really felt for her, and how she’d isolated herself.  I loved seeing how she stepped up to the plate with her job, and excelled at it…it was an interesting element to the story, because it contrasted with how she’d put her job in jeopardy with her connection with Ty.

And Ty…well damn.  That boy made some of the STUPIDEST decisions, I swear…and sometimes I just wanted to smack him with the things he would say to Gwen.  He was a bit impetuous and even immature at times, but I guess I got where it came from in some ways.  Doesn’t mean I accepted it, but I got it.  He was so lost and confused without his best friend, struggling in a world that he isolated himself from as well.  I loved seeing him grow through the book and learn to trust and connect with his teammates.

And OMG, the two of them together were just adorable, and hot, and made me laugh, and I just LOVED what they brought out of each other.  Because it wasn’t just a strong physical connection, it was their friendship chemistry that truly sucked me in.  They helped each other heal and grow.  They weren’t always the best with one another, but in some ways I felt like that made them a bit more realistic…because sometimes we just don’t always bring the best out of each other, no matter how hard we try.

Now, I will admit, I’m not a baseball fan (though if I was I would be a Blue Jays fan all the way, represent).  But I find in sports romances, you don’t need to be versed in a sport to enjoy it.  And I thought Ms. Keyes actually did a great job of making me invested in the Thrashers team, and I couldn’t help googling RBI and ERA, and I’m still confused, but that’s stats for you.

And part of the reason I connected with the Thrashers team was because of all the well developed and hilarious characters on the team.  I love knowing this is a series and that we’ll get more stories for these guys, b/c they were all kind of larger than life, and I loved what they brought to the story.  And it wasn’t just the players, I loved Coach Stripley, and even Allison made an impression.

So yeah.  This story started off SOOOOO strong, and I connected with it super strongly.  I can’t wait to read more in this world…