Muscular football players. Passionate tennis pros. Sexy soccer stars. All sorts of alpha hotties, on the field and off.Have no fear! The team is back again, and this time…it’s thicker. You’ll get your sports romance fix with brand-new stories from eleven bestselling authors.Need one last summer fix? Dive into this anthology.*This anthology contains original, never-before-seen stories from Ella … never-before-seen stories from Ella Fox, Mandi Beck, Teagan Hunter, Ilsa Madden-Mills, Sara Ney, Rochelle Paige, Meghan Quinn, Charleigh Rose, Kennedy Ryan, Emma Scott, and Kate Stewart.
We still aren’t responsible for melted devices.
more
Review for Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden-Mills
Epic story from start to finish! I need more Ava asap, shes a firey heroine with wit and real determination.
Knox is the hugely popular player at school. Knox and Ava couldnt be different as night and day and thats why they fit so perfect! Amazing novella! I need more!!!
DEAR AVA – Ilsa Madden-Mills
When it comes to Ilsa Madden-Mills it’s like an automatic one click and I know I’m going to love it. Dear Ava was absolutely no exception. Upon opening, I wondered if I’d jumped into something too deep, but as always she handles a sensitive and serious topic just right.
I absolutely love Ava she’s strong, focused, and determined. As for Knox, there’s so much there with him and each time he was on the page I found myself craving more. I love how he was there for Ava and he made her and me smile. I cannot wait for more of Ava in Knox in 2020 because this piece of their story is incredible, and I have absolute faith that the rest of it is going to be just as good.
I love sports romance and this book is just perfect. So many fun and sexy stories from different amazing authors, you can not go wrong.
The story I have already read is Arena Lights by Mandi Beck. It’s been a while since I have read Ms. Beck and oh how I have missed her words!!!
Benny and Maeve are just the cutest. This story is fun and sexy and just what I love. Absolutely a must read!! I can’t wait to read more of the stories from this anthology.
I would like to review Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden-Mills. I absolutely loved this novella. The sensitive subject matter was written beautifully and I really liked Ava. I can’t wait for the longer version!!
Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden-Mills
5 stars!
“You’re a bright star in this shitty place.”
Ilsa Madden-Mills gives us all the feels in this emotional story of the girl who was abused and the boy who wants nothing more than to make it right. Even though it is set in high school, Ava and Knox’s story deals with mature themes and is not a YA novel.
Ava is strong and brave. She did not let the awful event that happened ten months earlier stop her for fighting for her family and returning to the high school that turned against her. She knows what’s best for her brother and she won’t give up. I respected her and I hurt for her. What happened was gut-wrenching and she is left with unanswered questions that linger in her mind making things harder.
Knox is so much different that Ava originally thought. He may be hot and popular but it’s his heart that keeps you wanting more. He is sweet, vulnerable, and endearing, and has his own demons that he doesn’t let people see. He stands up for what he believes in no matter what people will think and he has more emotions coursing through his body than he lets on. My heart hurt for him as well.
Ava and Knox have some insane chemistry and though they seem like enemies at first, they feel a connection that surprises them. They realize that there is so much more to them than what the world sees and what they assumed the other was like. Ava isn’t just the girl from the wrong side of the tracks who is at the school on a scholarship and Knox isn’t just the son of a billionaire who gets everything handed to him. They may not be perfect but they are real and relatable. As they spend more time with each other they open up in ways that they haven’t before. They learn to trust and believe in each other, and they are so good together even if the odds are against them in the beginning.
This story is emotional and it’s just the beginning of Knox and Ava’s journey. Dear Ava will be released as a full length novel in 2020 and I can’t wait. I want their full love story and all the moments that come with it. More healing and growth, more steam and swoon. I want to uncover the truth because I am still consumed with who is guilty and I need answers. I just want more of everything!
Overall, Dear Ava is a fantastic start to Ava and Knox’s story. I only wish this wasn’t a novella because I am desperate for the whole story now!! Next year can’t come soon enough!
Love Game by Emma Scott
5 stars!
Emma Scott has a knack for writing beautifully broken characters who are real and relatable, and the characters in Love Game are no exception. Kai and Daisy take us through a world of loss, grief, and trauma, and bring us out of the pain through healing and love. Though only a novella, this story is full of big feels, and it was easy to escape to Hawaii and fall in love with Kai and Daisy.
Daisy lives in fear after a traumatic event shook her to the core. She is afraid of the dark and her only comfort is a dog name Keanu. She moves to Hawaii to try to heal but it’s slow going. She doesn’t let it get her down though and is a breath of fresh air.
Kai is a skilled tennis player who has a shot at winning the Australian Open. That is, if he doesn’t get kicked out of the league before the tournament. Hot-tempered and with a history of acting out, his “don’t give a damn” attitude may ruin his chances for the win. When he is sent to Hawaii to wind down and get his head on straight he never imagined his time there would change his life.
Kai’s manager, Jason, cares about Kai and does not want him to throw away everything he has worked so hard for. With no other choice, Jason decides to try something new. He hires Daisy to calm Kai’s nerves and help him sort his problems using yoga, meditation, and Reiki. Needing the money, Daisy can’t turn down the job but Kai isn’t as quick to jump on board.
Daisy knows she has her work cut out for her but she is willing to give it a go. Kai is skeptical of Daisy and his anger rules his life but here is so much more to the man on the court and the actions he shows the world. He chooses anger over pain because that is easier to experience than the overwhelming grief that consumes him. He can’t get away from the heartache but as he spends time with Daisy, he realizes there is something special about her and she starts to change the way he feels.
“She met my eye, and instead of complaining about my predicament, I felt a lightness in my chest, like a balloon that kept filling with warm air instead of anger and frustration ”
Daisy is wonderful. She is confident, compassionate, and honest. She can hold her own and I love her witty comebacks as she and Kai banter back and forth. They have fun together and with smoking hot chemistry like theirs, there is no denying their attraction.
Daisy and Kai are just what the other never knew they needed and they push each other out of their comfort zones. The feels are real as is the pain and fear as they help each other heal. Daisy and Kai are the perfect mix of sweet, swoony, and sexy as they go from enemies to friends to lovers, and I loved the progression of their romance.
Overall, Love Game is a bite sized treat with big flavor, and I loved it! I only wish it was longer because I couldn’t get enough of Kai and Daisy!!
This was a great anthology. I love sports romance. I love Ilsa Madden-Mills and Teagan Hunter so of course I had to read it but the rest of the stories were just as amazing as theirs. It was a great collection!
Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden Mills pulled me in and I need more! Holt’s story by Meghan Quinn, I am needing it! This book is packed full of fantastic stories by some fantastic authors.
I NEED MORE!!!
Quick read that will pull you in from the get go. Really good main characters and I can tell this will be an interconnected series. Fingers crossed, I HOPE!
Ava has struggled all her life to get where she is, she is going to school at the filthy rich academy but she is a scholarship kid from the other side of the tracks. Sent from foster home to foster home all her life. Someone has a secret admirer and she doesn’t know if its a trick or not due to a major event that happened to her the year prior. She is a changed girl, and she’s fighting back!
Loved it and can’t wait for more!
What a seriously amazing set of novella’s! I’m not going to go into each one or I’d be here for days! There wasn’t one that I didn’t just adore! I have read most of the authors but not all of the books relating to these novellas but the ones I have read…. like Meghan Quinn, Teagan Hunter, Kate Stewart, and Sara Ney may have been my top favorites since I know the characters a bit better. I knew the back story to these and I think that just made me a bit more connected to those specific stories. However, now I want to read all the other books from the other authors!
All of these authors are a delight to read. They are light and fun with this sweet, softness added in that went straight to my heart. Plus, the heat… on fire!! I gotta say that I found myself laughing quite a bit through the stories and found myself clearly smitten with them!
I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… my opinions.
Review for Fast Break by Kennedy Ryan
I have been waiting for Quinn’s story for what seems to be an eternity. Kennedy’s women are always the fiercest and strongest characters I’ve read. Quinn is no exception being an an amputee with many goals. Ean Jagger is her love interest and he puts in the WORKKK. I love how with every Kennedy novel it’s never an easy ride, there are always bound to be HOOPS to jump through. This quick read is fluffy but still knows how to tug on your emotions.
Amazing read!!
I’ve read three of the eleven stories so far!
Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden-Mills (I received an ARC copy of Dear Ava from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this one since it had some triggers and about high school children. But this was a very good story. I cannot wait for the full-length novel so I can find out more about Ava and Knox. I want to know their history and find out exactly what happened to Ava a year ago. I loved Ava. She was such a strong, independent girl who did what she had to do so that her brother had a better life. She admitted when she was scared at least to herself and tried to stand up for herself even when she was feeling vulnerable. I liked Knox a lot too and he’s a big mystery even at the end of the novella. I do want to know more about him but I loved how sweet and protective he was of Ava. Their chemistry was clear from the start of the story and I liked their banter a lot. They were enjoyable. I loved the minor characters as well and I can’t wait to see where that goes. I loved how fleshed out this story was even for a novella. In the end, I just wanted more and I’m so excited to get that in 2020!
The Teaching Hours by Sarah Ney
I’ve been wanting this book since I read the epilogue in The Lying Game. I’ve also wanted Rex’s story since he showed up in The Coaching Hours. I loved Hannah and how awkward, confident and sweet she was. She cracked me up. I loved seeing Rex again and him with Lily was so sweet! It was nice that he grew throughout the series and get his happily ever after. They were adorable together and I loved this story a lot. Even though it was short a lot happened and the pacing was done really well.
A Slice of Love by Teagan Hunter
I enjoyed this story too. It was such a sweet and short second chance romance. I loved that it was jam packed with information and did not leave me hanging. I liked Frankie and Jonas even though I was trying to figure out who they were from the Slice series. The story was fast paced and I just wanted to know what’d happened between Frankie and Jonas and why it all fell apart between them. The characters were well written and fully developed. I cannot wait for book 2 in the Slice series!
Amazing authors in one place ???? Nothing could be more perfect.
Team Player is one of the best anthologies I’ve ever read. It’s not only because people who create this anthology, but also thanks to breathtaking stories inside. I’m still speachless, my heart is beating in the speed of light… seriously – Team Player 2 is Masterpiece in Anthologies.
When I’m thiniking about short novellas, my mind telling me that it will be great read and lots of relax… that I will find good written words there- obviously – that’s true with Team Player 2, HOWEVER all authors takes this anthology on another level. Whole stories were funny, sexy, intense and…. so so emotional. Few novellas will stay forever in my mind and heart…. Gahhh I still feel bookhangover after reading them… who would have thought that short story could give so many hard moments ???? Well definetely not me.
I can’t tell You which exactly story is my favorite because I love them all the same, but definetely for a little more attention deserve Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden Mills, Fast Break by Kennedy Ryan, Guys Like You by Charleigh Rose (pure fire by the way!) and The Strike Out by Meghan Quinn.
I’ve enjoyed very much Team Player 2. Maybe every story have been written by different author but they are compeletely together. I’m sure every reader find here something interesting to read. Must read title.
Good God how the time flys when you’re having fun and let me tell you this book is a LOT of fun. Some of the authors were my first reads and I’ll be picking up their work in the future for sure. As for those whom I’ve read and loved before they delivered everything I wanted and then some.
The only problem I have with this book is that It was just NOT long enough…thank God we were told that stories will continue because if they didn’t there would be hell to pay.
ABSOLUTELY FRICKIN BRILLIANT!!!
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
I love Ilsa’s writing and Ava’s character reminded me a lot of Nora from Very Bad Things. Ava is so strong and able to persevere through something awful (trigger warning) and Knox is the popular guy who secretly has a good heart and wants to protect her. This was a great novella and I’m excited to read the fully expanded book in 2020! Now time to read the rest of the anthology!
The Guy in the Middle by Kate Stewart 4 stars
Such a little tease! Kate Stewart threw me under the bus in this one (as a little tart!). I won’t hold it against her, I laughed my butt off after screaming like a banshee. All name drops aside, The Guy in the Middle is just the start of Lance’s story. Kate, the evil tease, has more instore for us. So I’m impatiently waiting for my ever after…I mean, Lance’s ever after.
Arena Lights by Mandi Beck 4 stars
Yes, yes, yes! I am all for the hockey hottie chaperone. I may be channeling my inner Millie but I will own it. Arena Lights has my attention. I am definitely down for all Benny has to offer…I just wish there was more. Call me greedy! I will own it. I love these two and want to see this thing out…including a certain older brother having his day! Here’s hoping Mandi decides to give us more later!
Body Heat by Rochelle Paige 3.5
It seems Rochelle Paige wants to show us both sides of the athlete coin. The dirty arrogant slimy ones and the perfection we all dream about! I completely agree that the latter is just what the doctor ordered and so we need to protect that…with any means necessary. (Bigger, more dramatic winky face!) Hella hot and not afraid to use his “gifts” this athlete has a LOT to offer!
Guys Like You by Charleigh Rose 4.5
I have to be honest, I love when the girl is hard to get! I love the push and pull. I love when a guy is smitten. Guys Like You…are hard to come by! Well, the new improved post Halston…you. I swooned…and laughed my butt off.
Fast Break: A Hoops Novella by Kennedy Ryan 5
It is completely without surprise that Kennedy Ryan just made a half court shot one armed without looking. Don’t believe me!?! Read Fast Break! This quick hitting novella packs a punch. Fast foot work and some serious skill has these two in a full court press. Shes wary and he wont back down. Its beautiful, touching, and of course (said in a “duh” tone) full of the feels! I need tickets if this team continues to win. Kennedy Ryan has me wanting to relocate and just take in all the awesomeness of these couples. I am completely smitten with the Hoops team.
End Goal by Ella Fox 3.5
Looks like Ella Fox is teasing us too! End Goal isn’t the end at all but the beginning, or should I say continuation of something special. Tense situation and terrible circumstances bring them back together but readers will enjoy the animosity while fighting the fall.
The Teaching Hours by Sara Ney 4 stars
Rex Gunderson. REX. GUNDERSON. R-E-X. G-U-N-D-E-R-S-O-N. Legit…Rex. Wow! I didn’t see that one coming but boy was that fun. Sara Ney gave us back the douchebag! It’s funny because when the books started I wasnt sure who was the bigger d-bag. Lol. Her or him!?! Guess you will need to see what kind of woman it takes to snag Rex Gunderson. (Still shaking my head but smiling like a loon!)
A Slice of Love by Teagan Hunter 4 stars
In case you missed the memo and/or haven’t read any of her books…or book titles for that matter, Teagan Hunter is funny. Her oddly, endearing titles make me giggle but A Slice of Love is adorably sweet with a side of hate to love you! Enjoy the humor in even the worst situations Teagan style. With a slice!
Love Game by Emma Scott 4 stars
You don’t have to know anything about tennis to feel Love Game. Emma Scott will have you fighting all your feelings. You will be zinging back and forth (like a tennis ball) between irritation, compassion, lust, and desire. There might also be frustration, anger, and plain need to wring a neck or two but in the end this game will leave you smiling!
Holt’s Story by Meghan “You’re gonna hate her” Quinn 4.5 stars
Evil tease. Wicked…I can’t. I tried but even if I want to say terrible things about Meghan Quinn because she baited us…I can’t. She’s just too sweet. I have an irrepressible addiction to the men she writes. I swear she has a Becky-so-horny meter. She knows what I need, what I want, and then gives it to me in the shape of a V…I mean a baseball hottie- although all Vs were appreciated and lovingly worshipped in this novella. Holt is a keeper. Harmony is a fiery femme fatale.These two are going to burn the world down with their chemistry and we are going to beg to be a part of it. I have no shame in this. We just need to keep Meghan alive and healthy until she gives us our Holt-uation. (You know continuation but with Holt…If I have to explain it, it’s not as awesome!)
Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden-Mills 4.5 stars
Wow! Talk about hard hitting and in your face. Ilsa Madden-Mills didn’t hold her punches in Dear Ava. She starts with a wallop and keeps them coming. Yes, it has a sensitive nature and it is handled with respect. I am so excited and sad at the same time. I’m excited because eventually we will get more Ava and Knox but I’m sad because my greedy little heart wants it now! Have no fear though, they already have a HFN. I just can’t help my grabby hands clawing for more!
So many teases and so many more additions to my TBR. I’m a team player so I have no problem with that. I just need the patience of a saint now…
I’ve only been able to read one story Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden Mills and let me just say she didn’t disappoint. I was hooked from that first page and I didn’t want it to end. Ava was awesome character, I loved how she overcame an event and set out to show everyone it did t define her. She was willing to do anything to make a better life for her and her brother! Knox was such a mystery I loved it, Ilsa did an amazing job introducing him and building him up I’m so excited to read more of these two characters! I’ll definitely be reading more stories in this anthology!
The Guy in the Middle
I absolutely loved Harper and Lance. I now want to read The guy on the right so bad! This was such a good novella and i cant wait for it to be expanded in 2020! Gonna be sooooo good!
Arena Lights
OMGGGGG this was the best and ive been waiting for words from Mandi!!!
Also note im gonna need more of Maeve and Benny!!! That was too good to end right there.
Body Heat
Whoaaaaaaa whoa Rowan and Sera were so hot and good. I really enjoyed this shirt novella i hope to see more of them!
Guys Like You
Sullllyyyyyy! Love him in Bad Influence and he did not disappoint this time i really hope this amazing story between him and Halston is expanded cause i loved them and need more!!!
Fast Break: A HOOPS Novella
Wooooo. This one was steamy. So so very good like i need more. That wasmt enough of Coach and Quinn!
End Goal
Well thennnnnn.. imma need more of Law. I was not ready at all. Other than that i need to read more of this author!
The Teaching Hours
Omgggg as soon as i started reading i was dying of laughter. I can’t stop.
A Slice of Love
For all the things holy can we pleaseeeeee have an expansion on this glorious slice of heaven. It was such a good addition to Slice series but imma need more. I was not ready for Frankie and Jonas to be over with. I loved how it had classic Teagan hunter humor and steamy times to it!
Love Game
I didnt realize just how hot a tennis player could be this book definitely changed that! I really hope this one gets a extended or expanded version in the future! So good.
Holt’s Story
This did not disappoint and its like she knew we’d be hounding her for if Holt was getting a full story LOL well man oh man im so ready for the rest! I have so much reading to do cause now i want to read the friend’s books that are out. Again, great book!
Dear Ava
Wow! This was soooo good and left me wanting more. 2020 can’t come soon enough!
Review for Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden-Mills
I know it’s an anthology but I am a big fan of Ilsa Madden-Mills so I read it first. This novella was so sweet. I am having a hard time waiting until 2020 when the full book!
Knox and Ava were awesome. Our boy Knox is King of the prep school they go to but there’s more to him than everyone knows and Ava is a scholarship kid from the wrong side of town. Ava had to take a year off school because of a traumatic event but she’s back and she’s not the Ava that left. It’s highs cool so there’s the haves and the have nots and things aren’t always what they seem. There’s angst, drama, love, and romance.
Dear Ava is just a taste of what’s to come later for Knox and Ava but it’s definitely worth reading the novella now.
I’m off to read the rest of Team Player 2. I’m sure there are lots of gems like Dear Ava to be found because the list of authors is phenomenal. Highly recommend trying this one out with me.
Fast Break by Kennedy Ryan
How does Kennedy Ryan do it? She can make you feel in very few pages! This novella is absolutely incredible! Kennedy just has an amazing way with words. The only thing I didn’t care for in this novella is that it is only a novella! I want more of Ean and Quinn. They have amazing chemistry and Ean is such a gentleman until it is not time to be. Quinn is fierce and strong. She has risen from the ashes to get where she is. They are absolute perfection!
A good start to this anthology.
This is a review of “The Guy in the Middle (Fair Catch)”. This story is about Harper and Lance – although it’s connected to Book 1 – this one does stand alone. These two, at first, seem like complete opposites, but as they get to know each other – they realize how similar they are.
“I just don’t want to cost you something I can’t replace, Lance.” “What if it’s you?”
Watching them fall for each other was sweet. What comes after that – when reality sets in – that brought on some tears.
What is in store for them in the future? We’ll have to wait to find out.
I voluntarily requested and read an advance reader copy.
11 stars to “The Guy in the Middle” Kate Stewart did not hold back. I repeat Kate Stewart did not hold back on giving Lance a story worth everything. In this novella we get a unique and unpredictable story that just amazed and surprised me. I really thought I knew how this was going to play out but, nope Kate’s writing doesn’t put characters in the stereo typical mold. She blew me away with Lance’s depth. Also, Harper had her own uniqueness that connected with me personally. Her writing does that. It’s personal, it’s connecting, it’s written well, it’s asskicking, it’s all Kate Stewart. I can’t wait for the full length novel of Lance and Harper. I have no doubt Kate will give us her everything!