Team Player: A Sports Romance Anthology

Reviews for Sin Bin by Mandi Beck and Cross by Adriana Locke

**Sin Bin**
Once again, Mandi Beck brought her A Game. I totally fell head over heels in love with Jason & Stella!! Sin Bin is a novella full of sweet, sassy and sexy times! Hot hockey player, college girl, HOT sex and even a little magic by the Christmas tree … what else can you possibly need this holiday season?

**Cross**
Cross is the story of Cross and Kallie and it is also the prequel to the Gibson Boys books. While the books are connected, you do not have to read them in order to understand what is happening (although you are really going to want to!!)

This was a short, quick novella with a lot of heart. Cross and Kallie were together when they were younger however, Kallie decided to leave due to the way Cross’ life was headed. Neither of them truly got over each other, and it was just an overall sweet second chance romance!

Full Court Press
By Kennedy Ryan

I don’t know how to express my emotions with words after reading this story. The feels, the FEELS!! Omg! This short story has it all!! Deck and Avery will make you laugh, cry, and love so hard. The passion in which their story is written, is so , just EVERYTHING!! The love that these two have for each other is what gets them through the pain and loss in Avery’s past. Perfect, just absolutely perfect! I loved this, and I know everyone else will to!
How Mrs. Ryan can pack so much in a “short” story is beyond words. Reading this, you don’t feel like your missing anything. You go on their journey with them, from beginning to end. I am in complete awe of this woman and her writing!

I loved every story of this novella!! Perfect way to get in the mood for the holidays! Mandi beck, adriana Locke and Meghan Quinn in one book? Simply perfection! I wish it was longer, but each couple and story had their own unique of happy ending!!

Full Court Press by Kennedy Ryan:
So I was awake at 2 a.m. reading this story in the TEAM PLAYER Anthology and I cannot even tell you how much I loved it. Kennedy Ryan gave me so much more than I’m use to getting when I read a novella. This was a beautiful story with some of the hottest scenes I’ve read! (And did she really write a novella that had me shedding tears?! I will neither confirm or deny) I’m not a fan of novellas but Kennedy Ryan can make me read anything. And after you read this story, you will know exactly why she can make me to read anything.

The End Zone by LJ Shen:
This author here is one of my favorites. Every single book she writes gets better. There is no stopping her right now. Her stories always cracks me up and then warms my heart in the same second. The End Zone proves that. This was one of the sweetest stories I’ve ever read. The push and pull between these two friends was perfection! Readers will love the connection between Jolie and Sage. Another 5 star read!

Full Court Press-Kennedy Ryan.

Full Court Press is a novella but will fully engage you. It’s no simple story. There’s the undeniable attraction at the wrong place, wrong time. Over the years the attraction is heightened with each glimpse. When fate places Avery and Decker together the timing is still wrong. But the connection is real.

These two characters are the real thing. Their story encompasses years. Loss and sadness run soul deep. Hope and love seem unattainable through the murky waters of loss. Hope, love and happiness will keep their connection until the time is right.

Kennedy Ryan write characters that are genuine. Their struggles are real. They could be your best friends. You hurt and laugh with them. It’s real life.

This sports themed anthology was so much fun to read. I thoroughly enjoyed all of them. Some of my favorite authors are in this anthology. Have a ball (or puck) with this group of authors as they share their creative athlete love/life stories.

Reviews included: Sweeping the Series, Full Court Press, The End Zone, Sin Bin, Yard Sale, and Cross.

Sweeping the Series – Kate Stewart

I absolutely loved the Balls in Play series……and when I heard that she was writing a novella about Ren Makavoy, I knew we were in for a treat. And Kate definitely did not disappoint. This story was absolutely fantastic and it told the story of Ren & Erica perfectly. I loved the chemistry and passion between them, as they still had unresolved feelings for one another after years apart. But, it was also nice to see the tender side they both had as they knew each other better than anyone else. Enjoyed how all our favorites (Rafe & Alice….Andy & April) played such a huge part of this story. Great to see the friendship that developed between the ladies and how they quickly brought Erica into the mix – “Welcome to the family, love, and if it’s any comfort we’re all behind you.”

Full Court Press – Kennedy Ryan

Decker is immediately smitten with Avery the first time they meet, but she rejects his advances as she wants to be taken seriously in a male dominated field. Years later and lots of life lived, they come together once again……and the sparks flew between them immediately. Decker makes no secret of his attraction to Avery; but she is extremely hesitant for anything more, as she is still trying to deal with the loss of her fiancé and the guilt she feels about that. When Decker learns the whole story, I love that he treated her with such tenderness and grace. Avery needed to hear those words from someone other than her therapist in order to try and move forward with her life. Decker definitely was the perfect match for Avery – just loved those two! Looking forward to seeing them again in her upcoming full-length story!

The End Zone – L.J. Shen

Can I sign up too be Sage’s fake girlfriend? Seriously, when he was with Jolie and talking all dirty to her, good heavens…..that was so hot. I wish we could get more of them…..Mark and Chelsea’s story (another novella maybe??). Overall, this had everything that I’ve come to expect from an LJ Shen story – amazing dialogue and hot, sexy, steamy scenes that leave you breathless.

Sin Bin – Mandi Beck

Holy Hotness…..Jason and Stella could have melted that whole ice arena during their first time together. That scene was beyond sexy and incredible!! I just wanted more – I absolutely adored them and hope we get to see them again!!

Yard Sale – Charleigh Rose

Wow!! This was a hot, sexy, steamy, and sweet story with a dash of humor thrown in. Such a fantastic story that I couldn’t get enough of. I absolutely loved Cam and Mollie from the minute they met at the bar. He had never been played like that and it made him curious as to who she was. That first night they shared together was hot – such chemistry between the two of them right away.

Loved how the author included some of our favorite characters (Adrian….haha, he cracks me up)…as well as introducing new ones I want to see more of (hello Sutton!). Hopefully we get to see Cam and Mollie again too in the future!

Cross – Adriana Locke

Anytime Adriana Locke writes something, I will read it. This was such a sweet, second chance romance…….just loved Kallie and Cross. Great prequel to the Gibson brothers series (love the scene in front of the bar at the end)….and hopefully we’ll see more of Kallie and Cross in the future.

When a bunch of my favorite romance writers come together to write some hotter-than-hot stories and put them all together in one book, you can bet it’ll be on my TBR. Voila, TEAM PLAYER is just that book, an anthology of spicy little tales that I just loved.

I’m reviewing just a couple of the stories here, but you’ll want to read the whole anthology from cover to cover, because, a) these authors rock, and b) these stories are smoking.

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CROSS by Adriana Locke

Second-chance romance in the land of the Gibson Boys? Yes, please. CROSS takes place not long before CRANK, Addy’s most recent release, and the first in her Gibson Boys series. So, we get to see many of the characters that we already know and love, PLUS, one sexy boxer named Cross Jacobs.

Second-chance love stories are some of my favorite, and when it’s got characters that I know and love, and is written by an author that is one of of my go-tos, I know that I’m going to love what I’m reading. Addy has the ability to craft stories that always draw me in, and Kallie’s and Cross’s story is no exception. Having read CRANK, I was already completely invested in the folks on Linton, Illinois, and getting to go back for another visit was a treat. Kallie and Cross are two people that are just meant to be together, and, once they start to communicate and appreciate what they have in each other, there’s no keeping them apart.

As part of an anthology, CROSS is a shorter read, but it didn’t feel like anything was missing. Not that I wouldn’t love to see more of them, but I trust Addy to bring them back when we get more of the Gibson Boys. This is an easy 4.5 star read for me, and I am happy to recommend it, and CRANK as well.

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SIN BIN by Mandi Beck

Hot, oh, my goodness, this story is hot. Like, my e-reader is smoking, hot. Mandi Beck knows how to write a dominant, go for what he wants sort of guy, and Jason Dagger is all of this and more. As a professional hockey player, he’s used to scoring both on and off the ice. When a visit back to his alma mater brings him into contact with senior Stella Cruz, he’s bound and determined to have her.

While the chemistry between these two is scorching, one of the things that I love best is how quickly Jason comes around and shows his softer side when one of life’s little surprises takes their relationship in a whole other direction. So, super-sexy, super-confident, but truly stand-up when the situation calls for it? What’s not to love about this guy?

Mandi has done a great job with this story, and made me want to see more of these characters, so job well done. 4.5 steamy, sexy, heartwarming stars, and a definite recommendation to read more of Mandi’s work.

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YARD SALE by Charleigh Rose

A sexy snowboarder, a girl on the rebound, and a night that neither one will forget, you say? I say, yes, please. Mollie Mabey’s come home looking for some space from her life, and the last thing she’s expecting is Cam Hess. Cam is a guy that goes for what he wants, and what he wants is Mollie, in as many ways as possible. What happens when these two come together is spontaneous combustion.

Charleigh Rose is a new-to-me author, but, man, I just love her story in this anthology. This scorching little story has plenty to recommend it, not the least of which is what happens when a bad boy meets a good girl, and life throws one heck of a curveball. Steam aside, it’s the relationships that make the story, and Charleigh has done an awesome job in both areas. A definite winner in my book, YARD SALE is 4.5 stars worth of reading delight, and a great addition to this anthology.

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If you’re a fan of sports romances with plenty of spice, sass, and heart, TEAM PLAYER is a must-read for you, and should be right there at the top of your TBR.

The amazing thing about anthologies is that they can introduce you to authors that you have been wanting to try or have never heard of. I have found so many fantastic authors this way and this one is no exception!!

A few of these authors I have already loved for a long time and those made me jump at the chance to read this anthology. Many of the authors have been on my TBR forever but I haven’t found the time to jump into their books but their inclusions in this set make me want to push their books up to the top of my mountain of a TBR pile.

This anthology has a little bit of everything: sweet, second chances, friends to lovers, off the charts heat. I devoured this in a few days and lost quite a number of hours of sleep trying to read it all in one sitting, which really would have been impossible. I can’t even choose a favorite because so many of the stories were absolutely amazing. I can’t wait to read more by all of these authors!!

My review for One Good Man by Emma Scott. What she has done within just a few pages of writing is quite remarkable. This story spoke to me on a level I wasn’t expecting. Set in the early 1970’s, Janey Martin is an aspiring photo-journalist caught up in the turmoil that is Vietnam. Getting arrested for being hauled in as part of a protest of the war when she was only trying to capture the event on film, she is promptly uprooted to France where her rich father deems her to be safer. Always striving to grab that big story in a male-dominated profession to make herself known, little does Janey know that her best friend Helen’s advice that ‘sometimes it’s the smaller stories that have the greatest impact’ would prove itself true in the most surprising of ways.

I felt as if I was right there with Janey as she fights her loneliness at Le Cloche in the heart of Paris and stumbles upon a fledgling soccer…sorry, football team whose star striker captures her attention and ultimately her heart. The sights and sounds the author relays as each chapter is titled with a song made popular during that time period swept me away into a world I had long forgotten. And once Adrian Rousseau is the center of Janey’s debut article to be published at the Sorbonne, her reticence at only being good enough to cover sports events quickly turns to gratitude as she discovers that this man is not only a great football player but he is truly that one good man we all dream about.

There is a glorious plethora of feels with each turn of the page. The characters are well thought out and endearing. The warmth that Janey and Adrian bring to one another is only superseded by the incredible selflessness the young Frenchman displays with those he deems to be family, whether his teammates or his parents and sister. To say I fell head over heels right along with Janey is an understatement. Adrian is magnifique!

Yes this is a lengthy review but you need to realize that One Good Man is exceptional and everyone needs to know it. And read it. As I continue with the rest of the Anthology, my heart is full at having been able to start with this gem from Emma Scott. 5+ stars!

And now I’ve read Full Court Press by Kennedy Ryan.

Just wow. Somehow Kennedy Ryan can convey the most beautiful of love stories even when it’s just a novella. Full Court Press had me hook, line and sinker right from the start. The awkward and tense first meeting between Mack Decker and Avery Hughes, which starts out this story, definitely set the stage for this tale of missed opportunities and unrequited lust. The now-retired star basketball player and the on-air sports reporter meet again 10 years later and just like before in his former team’s locker room, the chemistry is still fiery and the want is still evident.

The pace is perfect. The characters are more than endearing and the desire Deck and Avery have for each other is nothing less than HOT! Yet the author manages to weave tragic heartbreak that Avery has experienced together with her need to feel again and pairs that with the unmistakable love she and Deck feel for each other even though they barely know each other. It’s one of those instances where they just simply fit. Where they belong together just from one look or one touch and time hasn’t erased that primal want that they both felt oh so long ago.

Full Court Press feels like a full-length novel with all the emotion that the author has so flawlessly compressed into the pages of this novella. I love Avery and her struggles and her will to be the best in a male-dominated profession. And I adore Deck for knowing what he wants but knowing he has to let Avery decide not if but when they can finally be together. A man who can burn up the sheets with the passion of 10 men and the empathy to try to soothe a wounded soul with gentle words and gestures.

I was beyond sad that this story had to end but look forward to the next book from the author in this Hoops series. This one has it all and then some. It is sexy and clever and touching. A huge 5+ once more.

This review is for Sweeping the Series

Yes this is my first from Kate Stewart and my goodness, what the heck have I been waiting for to discover her gorgeous words? Yup, I’m a fool. But with Sweeping the Series I now know I’ve found yet another author to stalk. This second chance romance between Ren Macavoy and Erica Wild started off with both a bit too cocky for their own good. And as we catch up with them 3 years later, it seems that Ren has gone off the rails as the most talented catcher in MLB and Erica has found her dream of being a part of a world-class PR team far away from her former love.

Oh these two. The hurt between them is written all over their faces as they meet once again once Erica tries to salvage Ren’s private persona. As his new PR person, they wage a silent and not so silent war that can turn nasty at the drop of a hat. The way they ended 3 years prior seems to continue to be a sore point for both of them and yet the love they still feel drives them both crazy.

I loved that this one was so much more than just two former flames having to spend time together again. Sure there would be the confrontations and whispered name calling both in front and behind their backs, scenes we’ve all read before over and over again. But the author gives this story so much more punch when the reasons why Erica walked away so suddenly come to the forefront. And then there’s the understanding with respect to why Ren chose to become a bit of a manwhore and get his name in the press more times than was necessary. When both he and Avery start to put the pieces of their broken puzzle back together as their revelations come to light, hearts start to mend and let’s just say I was a very happy camper.

This story was truly wonderful and I’m so glad I got the chance to finally read something from this talented writer. Sweeping the Series swept me off of my feet and I happily give it a huge 5+ stars!

The End Zone by LJ Shen

What can I say? LJ Shen can write the cockiest of arses and make me fall in love each and every time. And in The End Zone, Sage Poirier is the most self-assured quarterback I’ve ever read about but thankfully his bestie, Jolie Louis, keeps him grounded. Sharing secrets from when they were both 11 years old and Sage’s home life was anything but stable, these two have remained close and now live together while attending college. They’ve never crossed the line into ‘more than friends’ but with Sage’s future as a pro-baller practically in his hands, decisions about he and his JoJo quickly change and these two are now dancing around the prospect of a future. Together.

Sage is the man about campus and Jolie is the only woman who keeps him at arm’s length. I loved their spirited banter and because this is a novella, the author put us out of our misery faster than normal and had these two becoming much closer in less time. It was great to see Sage make the first move, as he had to wear his heart on his sleeve to prove to his girl that they could actually be together long after college was over. Full of himself but still that frightened little boy in the rain, Jolie is the only woman who knew his heart and could capture it with the snap of her fingers. She is the consummate southern girl who loves with all that she is and will protect those she deems worthy.

Their back and forth which ultimately leads to some sexy times and heartfelt confessions was such a joy to read. LJ Shen has made the cocky manwhore her specialty and honestly, no one does it better. By the end, I’m just as enamored as the heroine. There seems to be no way around it and I for one couldn’t be happier.

A great addition to this anthology, The End Zone scores yet another 5 stars from me!

How could you go wrong with this amazing list of authors, writing about sports romance!?! I’ve read Cross, by Adriana Locke, and Full Court Press, by Kennedy Ryan, so far, and I’m eagerly diving into the others. I’ll update this post when I get done.

Cross is everything you’ve come to expect from Adriana Locke – excellent plot, wonderful characters that draw you in, and a setting that is captivating and makes you want to go visit. I really loved Cross, such depth of character. I can’t wait to visit this world again. I’ve read everything Adriana has written, and she just keeps getting better. She was amazing to start off with (in The Exception) but her writing skill now is even better!

Full Court Press, by Kennedy Ryan – wow. Her characters never have it easy but they make you want to jump in the book and give them a huge hug. I loved Avery and Deck together and can’t wait to see more of this world in her full length book. I’ve always said that Kennedy Ryan is a word artist – each written word carefully chosen, and each makes you feel the emotions of the character. I’m so in awe of her!

I can’t wait to read the rest of these novellas!