BOOK REVIEW for "Team Player (Charleston Thrashers, #1)" by Julianna Keyes

Team Player (Charleston Thrashers, #1)
by Julianna Keyes
Publication date: March 29, 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

SUMMARY:

Don’t hate the player…

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…

REVIEW:

****(4) out of 5 Stars!

Other than the occasional soccer game that my husband talks me into watching with him on TV, I'm not much of a sports viewer; and definitely not what I'd consider a fan.  So I was a bit leery of this story because so much of it seems centered on baseball.  Which it is.  But only in the fact that most of the action occurs in and around a ballfield with a team of baseball players.  The real meat of the story, however, is all about the people and the relationships that they develop.  

Ty is pretty much your typical egocentric, playboy jerk.  But (before the action of this story even begins) he experiences some personal losses that make he start to reevaluate his life and what he wants from it.  

Gwen, on the other hand, is a reclusive loner who never ventures out of her comfort zone.  She weathers an even more devastating loss that basically leaves her floundering and unsure of what to do with her life.  

That they end up being perfect for one another is as much a surprise to them as it would be to anyone else (if anyone knew).  The tale isn't just about how their romance grows though; it is also about the many other relationships that both of them develop, especially among their coworkers, many of whom end up becoming true friends.  I appreciated the fact that everything didn't magically turn around both characters after they "found love."  They both still had real struggles and difficulties.  But, as in real life, at least it was easier to bare (mostly) when they had each other.  

There is quite a bit of baseball jargon and discussion, which gives a real feel for the game and this (fictional) team in particular.  But it is never so much that it is excessively boring or overwhelming to the actual plot.

There are quite a few things about the politics of the team that, while I'm sure are more than accurate, really bothered me.  One scene in particular at the near end was highly upsetting to me.  And I did feel that the very end was a bit too little too late.  But, in another way, it was also quite appropriate for this couple.  I'll let you read it yourself to discover what I'm talking about.  

I received a free eBook copy of this title from NetGalley, 
and have willingly provided an honest review.

#TeamPlayer