Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 Stars)
Title: Team Player
Author(s): Julianna Keyes
Character(s):
― Gwen Scott: 29 years old, Blonde, Brown Eyed
― Tyler Ashe: 31 years old, Brunette, Blue Eyed
Setting: Charleston, South Carolina
Tag(s): Romance, Contemporary
Content Rating: PG-13
POV: Third Person
Smexy Level: Warm
Favorite Quote(s): N/A
Overall Opinion:
For Julianna Keyes “Team Player” series I'm not sure if it was just me or not but the connection between Gwen and Tyler was just about not existent. I didn't feel any real connection between the two besides sexual so I was somewhat surprised they ended up together as a couple. Despite my feelings on the leads, it was a pleasant read and I enjoyed the overall premise. Moreover, I think I would have rated the series a little higher if the author added that little something something to the story to really intrigued me as a reader. “Team Player” was lacking in excitement, drama and character depth to definitely make it a better reading experience.

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I'm not sure if this is the beginning of a series or not. It certainly has room to grow into one since the large majority of the minor characters are single. I would love to see each and everyone of their stories especially Connor, Denzel, and Allison's. Allison is super scary to everyone at the Thrasher's camp which just completely intrigues me. I predict that she will fall for someone within the camp and start her own PR firm with Gwen. My personal opinion here. I love, love, loved this book and hope and pray that this is the beginning of a series. Every single character whether minor or main characters were fully developed.

Gwen Scott has been in a rut since her aunt died. She quit hanging out with her friends, bought a new house, and works for Charleston Thrashers baseball team in the PR department. A job that her aunt would have died for since her aunt is/was a die-hard Thrashers fanatic is killing Gwen. She hate it--no loathes it. Her co-workers especially Chad hate baseball. They know very little about the sport unlike Gwen who was spoonfed stats from the moment she arrived on her aunts doorstep. Literally, her aunt used to soothe her to sleep by reading Thrasher's stats to Gwen. Oh, and now she has to take talking points down to the clubhouse and deliver them to Strip the manager who fires and verbally abuses the assistants from PR. He has chased away every one of them. Now, Gwen is that goofer who has to deliver the talking points. She just needs to get in and get out with as little contact with Strip as possible.

Strip continues to ask her for advice--advice that pays off for him. Allison keeps adding more and more to Gwen including being their mole and getting the players more involved with PR and the club. Somehow, Gwen accomplishes this. The more the season moves forward, the more she loves her job. The more she lusts after their star player.

Tyler Ashe has been alone most of his life. Until Connor. His best friend. They bonded in the foster system. Connor is gone. Now, he has to get along with Connor's replacement, Denzel Reed. He realizes how much he hates going out. The socializing, partying, and womanizing is old. He wants someone special. But he's also worried that he's getting old at 32. The PR gal, Gwen catches his eye. He knows he should stay away, but she understands him. They have so many things in common. Yet, they both know that a relationship is against the club rules. She has more to lose than he does. She reminds him of what it's like to feel love.

Can they overcome every issue between them?

Will the media ever leave Ty alone?

Can he win Gwen back after he screwed up? ( )

I've been not so casually checking in on Keyes once I realized it felt like forever since she's released a book. I stumbled upon her announcement that this was up on Netgalley, and despite the fact that I preordered it, I jumped. So high. Today I cracked this book and barely stopped reading it.

It's a workplace romance done sexy but with a decent amount of weight behind that risk. It's a 31 year old baseball player whose best friend is in prison and it makes him lonely and, well, he's evaluating. As a result, he's been withdrawn, depressed and standoffish (the book hints at this as past behavior, it's certainly not the Ty we wind up seeing--mostly). He's a nightmare in the press-non-compliant, skips out on interviews, etc. But he's also a franchise player. Enter Gwen, who on a whim of mourning for her beloved aunt, applied to work for their shared love, the Charleston Thrashers, and got the job in PR. She's low-level and pretty much hates it until her brain for baseball and communication catches the attention of the manager and her boss.

I'm going to be really honest: It's CLEAR Julianna Keyes loves baseball. It's clear she knows her shit. It was even clear to me she'd either researched with players or played some (or both). The rich stadium atmosphere-used to such effect as to absolutely, positively remind me of all the things I adored about the field, being a spectator, and the game itself. And there's a lot of play-by-play on the field, which was well executed. What if you don't like baseball? There's still a lot to love here-from the team and club dynamic, to this lovely, developing romance, and a lot of moments that I laughed, (who doesn't hate Todd anyway?), and some that really made my eyes sting. But, if you don't like baseball -- it may be possible that it's too much baseball.

Regarding the workplace resolution
A quick comment on the reality of the consequences-- it reminded me of NFL cheerleaders, and I'm sure anyone else who aren't the high profile athletes. For that, I appreciated it.

There was some fumbling at the end-including the wrap up of some suspense light--and some wonderful, wonderful acts of love.

In case you're curious, I'm not canceling my preorder. 4.5 stars -- or so.

Thanks to Netgalley/publisher/author for an advanced copy of this book ( )

I did enjoy this books loved the chemistry between Tyler and Gwen. Gwen knows all about baseball especially the Thrashers since her aunt raised her since she was a little girl and taught her that she knows. Gwen is working in the Thrashers PR department and does all the jobs no one wants to do and feels she is living her dreams regardless of the job because it would have made her aunt proud and Gwen still really misses her. Tyler plays for the Thrashers but feels lost since his best friend Connor is now in jail and he is not friends with anybody else. Gwen and Tyler start spending time together even though it is forbidden, but someone figures it out and causes chaos with the things they spill, will they be able to survive it? Grab a copy and enjoy!

Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions. ( )

Gwen Scott has been a fan of the Charleston Thrashers since she was a little girl. And getting a with them was supposed to be a dream. Turns out not everything is fairies and rainbows where her colleagues are concerned. With a head for numbers and stats, being stuck as an errand girl for the PR departments is the last thing she wanted but, the bills need paying so she's keeping at it. A few words uttered without constraint to the coach while on an errand brings her in to his focus and she finds herself advising him on media comments, players and strategies. And of course that also makes her get noticed by some of the players including bad boy Tyler Ashe, the team's shortstop. Even though neither of them are allowed to get involved and neither of them wants anything serious, they soon realise that nothing is as it seems and the best made plans usually fail.

Advanced Review Copy provided by #NetGalley for voluntary review consideration. ( )