Team Player by Julianna Keyes

Don’t hate the player…

Julianna Keyes introduces us to a new set of characters that I am sure we will be getting to know more about later on, but first let's talk about Gwen Scott and Tyler Ashe. This is a contemporary sports-romance and it is the first book in the Charleston Thrasher's series. I do believe you can read this as a Stand-Alone but...this characters will make you want to continue with this series. ARC received from publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. So, what happens when a hot shot baseball player in the midst of a major slump falls for the teams newest PR employee? 

Let's get to the review!!

Synopsis:

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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…

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Let's talk, shall we?

"I beg your pardon?" She mimicked. "You know what? It's been a long day. You're not the only person who gets shit on at work. You're just the only one who gets paid millions for it. Suck it up."

Gwen Scott was a good female character. I loved how knowledgable she was at her job and how she knew her baseball. Gwen has had a lifetime of being abandoned and rejected by her missionary parents. When the aunt who took her in and instilled her love of baseball in her passes away, Gwen is devastated by the loss and unable to find joy in anything...until an unexpected meeting with Tyler changes everything. 

She knows my reputation. No relationship comes before baseball.

Tyler Ashe puts the Ashe in Thrashers—I find this line so funny! What makes it funnier are the characters repeating just to get on Ty's nerves. I felt for Ty in this book, especially because of his friendship with Connor. He finds himself alone suddenly, untethered and unsure and definitely not a team player. He isn't doing good, but once he meets Gwen, his whole life changes. 

I wondered how the story was going to end, with Gwen having to chose between following her heart, which meant trusting a man not exactly known for commitment in his relationship history, and concentrating on a job she was finally starting to enjoy and getting praised for. 

Well, Gwen and Ty avoided each other and those feelings. Anyways, you’ll have to read to find out what happens with Gwen and Ty. What I will say is that neither character is simple. Even though they find friendship in each other, they both still have things to work on and grow separately.

"Is it true?" was her first question.

"Yes," Gwen said. "It was. But it's not now."

The point here is that Team Player is a good sports romance. The steam level is pretty warm. The angst level, which is what I look for, was pretty low, but you can still feel the romance that is going on between the two characters. I laughed a bit, felt sad over some of the scenes, and I caught myself smiling through some as well. There’s a bit of mystery and a little bit of a reveal that you won’t see coming. 
All in all a pretty good read.

BTW I do love how Reed and Lewis were, obviously, fanboying over Twilight. Love that little input.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Overall, was pretty good book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even though I have had my share of sports romances (The Player duet and The Hook-up are my all time favorite). That in no way stopped me from getting caught up in the story and characters’ experiences. The amount of baseball references was just enough to add to the plot and not be boring or overwhelming to a complete baseball noob. Sorry, baseball fans...I'm more of a fútbol fan. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t ‘wow’ me. I will read the next book at least before I write off the series as not-for-me. Anyways...

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