Eleven authors. Eleven Novellas. This is one thick . . . book.
Christmas just became a whole lot merrier…
TEAM PLAYER, A Sports Anthology featuring titles by LJ Shen, Kennedy Ryan, Adriana Locke, Mandi Beck, Emma Scott, Charleigh Rose, Ella Fox, Sara Ney, Meghan Quinn, Kate Stewart, and Rochelle Paige
A Contemporary/Sports Romance Anthology
Released December 14th, 2017
AVAILABLE NOW!
Amazon US | Amazon Universal
*FREE in Kindle Unlimited*
Blurb
Hot jocks. We love them all.
Sexy baseball players. Intense footballers. Sweaty MMA fighters, and sizzling hockey hotties. Score!
The good news? Eleven bestselling authors have gathered to give you a set of stories focused on the men we love most—sports heroes. We bet you’ll love this thick…book.
The bad news? The men in these novellas don’t actually exist.
*This anthology does not contain calories, just eleven original, never-before-seen stories by the following authors: Adriana Locke, Mandi Beck, Charleigh Rose, Kennedy Ryan, LJ Shen, Meghan Quinn, Rochelle Paige, Ella Fox, Kate Stewart, Emma Scott, and Sara Ney. We aren’t responsible for melted devices.
Find Team Player, A Christmas Anthology on GOODREADS
Overall Review
4.5 stars!!
I love sports romances and I was thrilled to get several in one book. With baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, and football players, and even a snowboarder, Team Player: A Christmas Anthology has a nice mix of different sports heroes. Add in second-chance romances, friends-to-lovers, surprise babies, and so much more, and you have a winner!! This anthology is one huge book and I loved it!!
Sin Bin by Mandi Beck
4 stars!
Jason Dagger is a hot shot hockey player for Chicago. While visiting Levi, a Fulton University hockey player he mentors, he sees a gorgeous girl across the therapy room at the university. Stella Cruz is a softball pitcher going into senior year at Fulton. There is something about her that draws Jason in completely. When Jason officially meets Stella, it’s refreshing that she doesn’t recognize him, and they spend a hot weekend together. Then he’s headed back home to Chicago with only memories of Stella. Six months later he returns to Boston to visit his family and hopes he can see Stella again. When he does, he’s in for a big surprise.
Jason is confident and cocky but also so sweet. He comes from a loving family and he carries that love with him. Stella is hardworking, sincere, and a beautiful inside and out. She wants to make something of herself and is determined to make it happen.
Together, Jason and Stella are smoking hot. It’s a steamy read and hotter than some of the other novellas but it still has an amazingly sweet hero and we get all the mushy stuff that makes your heart flutter. It’s a great glimpse into the Fulton University Hockey team and I can’t wait to get more. Levi’s story, Sweater Weather, sounds good!!
Yard Sale by Charleigh Rose
4 stars!
Cam is a star snowboarder with X Game gold medals to back up his talent. He’s popular with the ladies and loves the attention he gets from them. He’s not in the market for a relationship but he sure does enjoy the fun he has with casual hook-ups.
When he sees a gorgeous woman walk in to the bar he knows she’s the one he wants for the night. She’s not from around town and after eight hours of smokin’ hot sexy time, she is gone back to San Francisco and they doubt they will see each other again. Fate has other plans though.
I really liked Cam. He is straightforward and no nonsense and I liked that he goes after what he wants. He is sweet and caring, and proves that he wants Mollie in his life when they see each other again. Mollie isn’t like any of the woman he’s been with before and puts him in his place. She also has a pretty big secret and I was just waiting for Cam to figure it out.
Cam and Mollie are hot and heavy in the beginning. I wasn’t sure how things were going to play out when secrets were revealed, and though things moved a bit quickly, I liked the connection they shared. They wanted to figure out a way to make things work and I loved the support they gave each other. They face several challenges that could ruin everything yet they worked through them together. I do think that things turned out a little too easy and I wanted more depth, but the epilogue was sweet and a great conclusion to this novella.
Sweeping the Series by Kate Stewart
4.5 stars!
I’m a sucker for good second-chance romances and this one definitely did not disappoint. Emotional and intense, it is full of feels and I experienced everything the characters went through. The tension, guilt, hurt, and pent up anger was tangible but there was also forgiveness, passion, and so much love that was real and honest.
Ren is the star catcher for Denver’s Major League Baseball team. He’s been making the headlines left and right and it’s been nothing but bad news. The team is sick of his antics and when they a new PR firm is called in to clean up his act, Ren is in for a big surprise when the PR rep happens to be the ex who broke his heart.
Erica and Ren had something special once upon a time. I could feel their pain when they met up again. It’s intense and heartbreaking and I just wanted the hurt to end. Ren’s life was flipped upside down when his heart was crushed by Erica. He turned into a playboy and has been living the lifestyle for the past two years. I felt his shock when Erica re-entered his life. The pain, anger, and frustration came back full force. The emotion was well written and believable. But there is more to him than his playboy ways and I loved watching the real Ren show up.
Erica made a bad decision and lives with the regret daily. I wanted to cry because of the hows and whys she left him. However, when everything came to light I actually understood her fears but still thought the heartache could have been avoided.
I loved watching Erica and Ren interact. The chemistry is electric and the sexual tension is off the charts. The hurt was deep but it made things more intense and passionate. I felt the spark of love ignite as they made their way back to each other and it was gorgeous. Overall, this second-chance romance warmed my heart and left me with a smile on my face.
This novella introduced me to Kate Stewart and it left me impressed with her storytelling. I will definitely read more by her, especially since meeting Rafe, Alice, Andy and April. Now I know I need to dive into the Balls in Play series.
Full Court Press by Kennedy Ryan
4.5 stars!
This is a more emotional novella than I expected. Even though it’s short it has enough depth and substance that it feels much longer. I was engrossed in the story and fully invested in the characters.
MacKenzie Decker meets Avery Hughes during an interview after a grueling basketball game that did not end in Decker’s favor. Though there is an instant connection, nothing comes of it and Decker and Avery part ways. Fast-forward ten years and Decker has retired from the NBA and Avery has her own show on SportsCo. Other than fleeting glances they have not mingled with each other over the years. However, that is about to change when Decker finds himself working with Avery at SportsCo for a few weeks. Now that they are in each other’s presence again, will the attraction that sparked years ago finally ignite?
Avery is sassy, smart, and hardworking. She’s not excited that Decker is joining her show and I totally understood how she was feeling. She wants to be taken seriously and her first interaction with Decker wasn’t a good one. I loved getting into her head and enjoyed her fun personality that added some lighter moments in with the heavy ones.
Decker towers over me by at least a foot. He makes me feel small and delicate. I love feeling small and delicate…said no self-respecting sports reporter ever.
Avery has a lot going on emotionally and even though we don’t get the full story right away you know it’s a painful one. Decker just adds to the distress she feels; he wants her yet she can’t just jump into a relationship with him. Despite her strength, she is vulnerable and has a lot of feelings to work through and healing to do before she can accept Decker’s advances. Her character growth is well paced and I enjoyed watching her move on from the past.
I really like Decker. He’s liked Avery from the moment they met but it was never the right time for them. Now that they are both single his chance is here. I loved how much Avery affected him and how she stayed on his mind over the years. He knew there was something special about their connection and I loved that he wanted so much more than just a one-night stand.
Avery needed to heal and Decker is amazing with her through her painful moments. He lights her up and makes her experience things that have been long gone.
I woke up with this numbness spreading over my body like a plague. It’s even frozen over my heart. I knew today would be painful; that it might hurt like a fresh wound, but nothing hurts and nothing feels good…Nothing has made me feel all day.
Except him.
Decker is patient and supportive and such a sweet guy. Add in the fact that he has a daughter he loves and wants to be close to and he will make you swoon.
Decker and Avery are wonderful together. Their chemistry is tangible and you can feel the sexual tension building as they deny themselves the chance to be together. I loved the way the story played out and that everything wasn’t easy in the beginning. There was a lot that Decker and Avery had to work through to grasp their HEA and the ending was beautiful, putting a permanent smile on my face.
This was my first story by Kennedy Ryan and it definitely won’t be my last. I can’t wait to see what she brings to Long Shot, her full-length basketball romance releasing in 2018.
Slapped into Love by Rochelle Paige
4 stars!
Ryan Forrester is a hockey player by day and a player by night. At least he was until a one-night stand rocked his world. She left him before the sun came up and now, no other woman interests him. When she walks back into his life as the speed skater hired to work with the hockey team in hopes to secure a championship win, he’s got one thing on his mind: to win. On and off the ice!
Ryan is hot, cocky, and confident. He wants Tamera and doesn’t hide his feelings. I loved that he was determined to make her his and he had such a sweet side trying to persuade her to take a chance on him. I liked that one night with her changed his playboy ways and his feelings were believable.
Tamera was a talented skater and was spooked after the intense night she and Ryan shared. She felt things for him but was worried about having a relationship with a professional hockey player. I loved that she didn’t push him away when she finally sees his sweet side. There was no stupid behavior between them and I liked their honesty and trust. They wanted to make it work and they did. Overall, it’s a lighthearted read with sweet and sexy times. A fun hockey romance.
Out of Formation by Ella Fox
4 stars!
Friends-to-lovers, second-chances, and even a bit of an age gap and forbidden romance, I am loving these tropes.
Elena is a cheerleader in her fourth year of college. When all the sports teams are called in for a meeting about the new coach she never would have guessed it would be her long time crush, Colin. She and Colin shared a passionate moment two months earlier but everything went south in a blink of an eye. Now he’s back and he’s off limits. After the scandal with the previous coach there are new stricter rules in place about faculty/student relationships. With her emotions running high, how will Elena make it through the school year with Colin’s presence at the school?
This was such a fun, lighthearted read. The storyline was entertaining and loved the characters. Elena was crushed by what happened two months ago and the nervousness and anticipation of seeing Colin again was realistic. Colin was so swoony and sweet. I loved seeing how he was with Elena and I couldn’t keep the smile off my face when he was in the scene.
I liked how the story went back and forth between the past and present so we slowly get the complete picture. I enjoyed watching their reunion and finding out what exactly went down between them. The emotion and connection between Colin and Elena was believable and I felt their love. Everything came together perfectly, and though it seemed a little too easy, I wouldn’t have changed a thing.
This novella is a sweet, quick read and I can’t wait to read more by Ella Fox.
Back in the Game by Meghan Quinn
4.5 stars!
With a meet-cute like the one in Back in the Game, it is impossible not to like this novella. It was fun, light, sweet, and entertaining.
Charming and successful, Calder left his wild days behind when he became a father and his life now revolves around his daughter and keeping up with his hockey career so he can provide for her. He’s been out of the dating game for a long time and he isn’t prepared for Rachel when he literally bumps into her; and even though he isn’t looking for love, sometimes love has other plans.
A single dad who is an amazing father and will do literally anything for his daughter, including awkward and embarrassing things a five year old can ask for? Talk about swoon worthy!! Calder is fantastic. He was confident yet so out of his element when he met Rachel. He hadn’t dated in who knows how long and I loved that he was overwhelmed with nerves. I felt the emotion as Calder navigated his new feelings towards Rachel while trying to be the best father he could be, always considering how his actions affect his daughter. His unease of starting something with someone new was realistic and I enjoyed the way the story progressed.
Rachel is quick, witty, outgoing, and hilarious. I loved watching her with Calder and she was a perfect fit for his sweet personality. The text messages made me giggle, and set the stage for some fun. They were comfortable together and got along so well. The buildup was slow and delicious and the anticipation was exciting. I couldn’t wait until they made a move and when they did it was sexy. It has very little angst making it a fun, light read leaving you warm and fuzzy inside.
I have to add that I loved the part that Shea played. She was so cute and made me fall in love with Calder even faster.
One Good Man by Emma Scott
5 stars!
“Sometimes it’s the smaller stories that have the greatest impact.”
Janey has big dreams of becoming a successful journalist reporting on important events. After getting too close to the riots in California surrounding the Vietnam war her father ships her to France. She is determined to make her mark in the reporting world, she just has to find the story.
Adrian Rousseau is a star soccer player in France. When Janey’s next story is to interview him, she’s less than excited. The sports world never seemed to have the depth she’s been looking for; however, after she meets Adrian she realizes that it may be a bigger story than she first thought.
I loved this novella. Emma Scott’s writing is captivating and her love stories are gorgeous. I loved that she transported us to the 1970s for this story and the vivid imagery she includes that draws us in completely. I adored the characters and felt connected to them. They were likeable, relatable, and well-developed.
Janey is smart, has a huge heart, and dreams of covering important stories that will change the world. She believes in herself and I loved that she didn’t give up when she isn’t given the stories she wants. She’s living in a world where she has to work harder to prove herself a real journalist and I loved her drive and determination.
There is so much more to Adrian than meets the eye. It is so easy for people to assume things about him that are far from the truth. It broke my heart that he had to hide his pain and secrets. I loved that Janet saw the real Adrian and didn’t give up on him.
Janey and Adrian were wonderful together. The banter was entertaining and the I loved watching trust, support, and understanding grow between them. The progression and depth of the relationship was well paced and I loved the emotional pull this story had on my heart. This novella was sweet and charming, and makes you believe dreams really can come true.
Switch Hitter by Sara Ney
4 stars!
Switch Hitter is a fun, lighthearted read that will put a smile on your face. I love when stories include mistaken identities and this one was a good one.
Amelia has a twin sister named Lucy and though they are almost identical on the outside they couldn’t be more different on the inside. When Lucy has two dates the same night she convinces Amelia to take her place and go out with Dante, aka Dash, the catcher for their college baseball team. Can Amelia pretend to be Lucy with Dante being none the wiser?
Amelia is sweet, shy and so unlike her wild twin it’s no wonder why she didn’t want to swap places in the first place. I felt the nervousness and hesitation as if I was in her shoes. I love the surprise she feels after meeting Dante. Soon she’s feeling things that she shouldn’t and her emotions were well-written and believable.
Dante is nothing like the jocks Amelia is used to. He’s kind, gentleman, and totally confused when he meets Amelia as Lucy, with whom he has already gone on two dates. He knows something is different about her but can’t put his finger on it. I loved seeing him try to figure it out and how things come together.
Both Amelia and Dante were likeable and entertaining. Amelia was hilarious when she pretended to be her sister. The differences between Amelia and Lucy are well-developed and they highlighted how much better Amelia and Dante are together than Lucy and him could ever be. Together, Amelia and Dante were fun, awkward, and adorable. I loved how Dante knew what he wanted and he went searching for answers. There is no stupid behavior in this novella and the lack of drama made for a delightful, feel good read.
The End Zone by LJ Shen
4.5 stars!
The End Zone is a fast-paced read encompassing one of my favorite romance tropes: friends-to-lovers. With just enough drama to keep your heart racing but not enough to crush you, this story was a perfect balance of sweet, steam, and angst.
Jolie and Sage have been best friends for the past ten years. They know the good and the bad and are there for each other no matter what. Jolie has been in love with Sage since they first met as children but his manwhorish ways keep her from ever making a move. When Sage starts feeling more for her, he is determined to make her his and a plan starts to form. If he can get her to see how great being his fake girlfriend can be, maybe he can get her to realize how great they could be in a real relationship.
This novella is entertaining with likable characters. Jolie was great. She knew what she wanted but her reservations about starting something with Sage are in the forefront. Her fears are believable and relatable. The threat of possibly ruining a friendship that means everything to them is valid and daunting.
It took one mistake for Sage to realize what he wants in life. I loved when he goes after Jolie, wanting to make her completely his. He’s got an uphill battle but he’s determined to open her eyes to the possibility of them, and I loved that he didn’t give up when they hit bumps in the road.
Jolie and Sage have a connection that started when they were young. They have been a huge part of each other’s lives and even though it took Sage years to see what was in front of him, Jolie knew they shared something special from the beginning.
The girl closed her eyes and the storm disappeared. Not because it had stopped, but because beside him, she felt fearless.
There is so much pent up sexual tension that when Jolie and Sage finally give in it is an explosion. They are so hot together. Going from friends to lovers is not an easy transition though with secrets lurking in the background. There are things they need to work through, however, there isn’t too much drama to stir the pot once everything is out in the open which I liked. Overall, it’s a great little friends-to-lovers addition to this anthology.
*ARC generously provided by the authors and Social Butterfly PR*
Note: Cross by Adriana Locke was not included in ARC.
Meet the authors
L.J. Shen
L.J. Shen is an International #1 best-selling author of Contemporary Romance and New Adult novels. She lives in Northern California with her husband, young son and chubby cat.
Before she’d settled down, L.J. (who thinks referring to herself in the third person is really silly, by the way) traveled the world, and collected friends from all across the globe. Friends who’d be happy to report that she is a rubbish companion, always forgets peoples’ birthdays and never sends Christmas cards.
She enjoys the simple things in life, like spending time with her family and friends, reading, HBO, Netflix and internet-stalking Stephen James. She reads between three to five books a week and firmly believes Crocs shoes and mullets should be outlawed.
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Kennedy Ryan
Kennedy Ryan is a Southern girl gone Southern California. A Top 100 Amazon Bestseller, Kennedy writes romance about remarkable women who find a way to thrive even in tough times, the love they find, and the men who cherish them.
She is a wife to her lifetime lover and mother to an extraordinary son. She has always leveraged her journalism background to write for charity and non-profit organizations, but enjoys writing to raise Autism awareness most. A contributor for Modern Mom Magazine, Kennedy’s writings have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today and many others. The founder and executive director of a foundation serving Georgia families living with Autism, Kennedy has appeared on Headline News, Montel Williams, NPR and other outlets as a voice for families living with autism.
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Adriana Locke
A contemporary romance author running on coffee and sticky kisses from my rowdy four little boys.
From Indiana, I’m a true Mid-Westerner. Life, for me, is about family, faith, and food. When I’m not running my kiddos around or having a lunch date of fajitas with my husband (and high school sweetheart), you can find me outside. I love a good sunny day almost as much as I love candy, random quotes, and steamy bad boys in fantastic books.
I’m on nearly every social media platform. Please find me on the ones you frequent – I love chatting with readers.
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Mandi Beck
Mandi Beck has been an avid reader all of her life. A deep love for books always had her jotting down little stories on napkins, notebooks, and her hand. As an adult she was further submerged into the book world through book clubs and the epicness of social media. It was then that she graduated to writing her stories on her phone and then finally on a proper computer.
A nursing student, mother to two rambunctious and somewhat rotten boys, and stepmom to two great girls away at college, she shares her time with her husband in Chicago where she was born and raised. Mandi is a diehard hockey fan and blames the Blackhawks when her deadlines are not met.
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Emma Scott
I write romances with flawed characters, characters with artistic hearts: builders, poets, and writers of various makes and models. I love to write book lovers; those who have found refuge, companionship, and escape in books, much as we do in real life. I like realism, honesty, authenticity in storytelling. I love to write about enduring love, soul-deep love, in as real a setting as I can make, but with big smooshy HEAs. I believe in diversity, open-mindedness, and inclusion. I like sweetness mixed with steam, love conquering all, and above all, hope. Love always wins.
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Charleigh Rose
We are a duo of an international best-selling author and a blogger who teamed up to write the taboo, thought-provoking stories we want our audience to have–without filters.
Both Charleigh and Rose are committed to giving you witty, sexy, intelligent novels that will leave you wanting more.
Ella Fox
When she’s not writing, Ella indulges the gypsy in her blood and travels the country. Ella loves reading, movies, music, buying make-up, reading Tmz, Twitter and pedicures… not necessarily in that order. She has a wild sense of humor and loves to laugh. Her favorite thing in the world is hanging out with her family and watching comedy movies.
Sara Ney
Sara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced latte’s, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British.
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Meghan Quinn
A BLONDE AT HEART
Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if “It’s Raining Men” starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped.
Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing… enter her first novel, Caught Looking.
Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze!
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Kate Stewart
Kate Stewart lives in Charleston, S.C. with her husband, Nick, and her naughty beagle, Sadie. A native of Dallas, Kate moved to Charleston three weeks after her first visit, dropping her career of 8 years, and declaring it her creative muse. Kate pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense because it’s what she loves as a reader. A lover of all things ’80s and ’90s, especially John Hughes films and rap, she dabbles a little in photography, can knit a simple stitch scarf for necessity only and does a horrible job of playing the ukulele. Aside from running a mile without collapsing, traveling is the only other must on her bucket list. On occasion, she does very well at vodka.
Rochelle Paige
Rochelle Paige is the Amazon bestselling author of nineteen books. She absolutely adores reading and her friends growing up used to tease her when she trailed after them, trying to read and walk at the same time. She loves stories with alpha males, sassy heroines, hot sex and happily ever afters. She is a bit of a genre hopper in both her reading and her writing. So far she’s written books in several romance sub-genres including new adult, contemporary, paranormal and romantic suspense.
She is the mother of two wonderful sons who inspired her to chase her dream of being an author. She wants them to learn from her that you can live your dream as long as you are willing to work for it.
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