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Team Player

(Charleston Thrashers #1)

Julianna Keyes (Goodreads Author)

3.98 · Rating details · 387 ratings · 128 reviews

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 short ...more

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ebook, 350 pages

Published March 28th 2019 by Julianna Keyes

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Baseball Romances

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· 387 ratings · 128 reviews

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Start your review of Team Player (Charleston Thrashers, #1)

Feb 28, 2019 Melanie (mells_view) rated it really liked it

Julianna Keyes brings us a low angst contemporary sports romance with Team Player.

Tyler Ashe is just trying to focus on the game he loves after his best friend and teammate lost his career by getting locked up. He loves baseball, but playing for the Thrashers just doesn’t feel the same now that he’s alone. Gwen Scott just lost the aunt that raised her. The same aunt that loved the Thrashers. So she got a job working for them, so that she could be close to her aunt. She loves baseball, and she l ...more

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Mar 02, 2019 Sam (AMNReader) rated it really liked it

Shelves: nom-nom, read-in-2019, great-heroine, sports, competence-porn, workplace, book-boyfriend, to-be-reread, sweet-talker, favorite-author

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 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(view spoiler)

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 ...more

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Mar 25, 2019 Tracy C rated it liked it

This is one of those mixed feelings books for me. The writing was good IMO, but I was not a huge fan of where the plot line went. Gwen was OK, even showed some moments of sass, but it wasn't very consistent. Ty was actually kind of gross. Nobody thought anything of having him followed for his escapades and getting NDA's after the dirty deeds?? EWWW I also had an issue with WHY this was necessary. If this particular event had happened to a female, I bet the outcome would have been different. ...more

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Mar 07, 2019 Bookgasms Book Blog rated it really liked it

Shelves: ratula

You guys!! Julianna Keyes is my drop everything and devour author. I seriously have read everything she has written and cannot jump on her stuff fast enough. Her Time Served series is my absolute favorite. But when I saw that she had a new sports romance coming out, I knew Team Player needed to be on my kindle stat!! I enjoyed this story but while Gwen and Tyler were sexy and funny, I found that their connection was a little awkward and lukewarm at times.

Don't get me wrong, separately Ty and Gwe ...more

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Mar 18, 2019 Tzelina rated it really liked it

**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the ARC in exchange for an honest review#TeamPlayer #NetGalley

4 🌟! An enjoyable and fun loving read...with a predictable end....but I love sports romance!!! Definitely I would love to read Connor's book ... overall it was a nice read and hopefully it will be a start of Thrashers new series ! ...more

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Mar 14, 2019 *The Angry Reader* rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs, 2019, athlete-romances

I think that’s as close to happy as I’m currently capable of being. I’m slammed with work, my allergies are crazy, and I can’t get wrapped up in a story. And then I don’t wanna do anything other than read so I get super angry at the book for not being enough to engage me fully. This is not a good look for me.

I haven’t read anything by Julianna Keyes since Undeclared - which I adored. Now - as then - I enjoyed watching two good people fall in love - mistakes and scrapes and bruises and all. I li I think that’s as close to happy as I’m currently capable of being. I’m slammed with work, my allergies are crazy, and I can’t get wrapped up in a story. And then I don’t wanna do anything other than read so I get super angry at the book for not being enough to engage me fully. This is not a good look for me.

I haven’t read anything by Julianna Keyes since Undeclared - which I adored. Now - as then - I enjoyed watching two good people fall in love - mistakes and scrapes and bruises and all. I like that the two books of hers I’ve read have been gentle with the steam (I’m fairly certain there weren’t even any skeevy body-part descriptions in this one) which is just such a happy thing for me.

Ty and Gwen meet at work. He’s a baseball player. She’s recently started working in PR for the team. I thought it was great that Ty fell for Gwen as he got to know her. I’m sure that Gwen is pretty, but there’s no uncomfortable focus on her looks. There’s no focus on her looks at all. She’s hard-working and kind and helpful and sassy. She has a fun and unique relationship with all the players on the team (this was such a cool aspect - their personalities). I totally get why Ty fell for Gwen.

There was some silliness. Some bad decisions - but I think that’s sort of part and parcel with these things. They took some (unnecessary) risks. Ty was selfish. All of these things were mostly in keeping with the story although some of them felt a little loose and silly. I think maybe I expected a little more there at the end. Perhaps more explanations and conversations should have happened.

But nothing really took away from the overall happy vibe I got reading this. I love sports books. I love books where no one mentions penis size. I love books with adorable funky heroines - particularly when the hero falls for said heroine for all the right reasons. I’m not sure I’m out of my reading funk - but I enjoyed the hell out this (mostly) non-cliche baseball romance with fabulous characters. I’ll be on the lookout for the rest of this series.

...more

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Mar 30, 2021 Mandi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sports

Cute book - very baseball-centric but I think a non-baseball fan would enjoy this too. Witty dialogue and lots of good sexual tension. The author lets this couple simmer for a bit before they get into a relationship. I really like her voice - she writes great banter.

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Mar 30, 2019 Kate R rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs

Really enjoyed this one! It’s a sports romance set in the professional baseball world. It made me so ready for baseball season! Gwen is on the public relations team of the baseball team Tyler plays for. I thought both characters were great and super easy to like. They both were feeling lonely when they met each other. The story also spans a whole baseball season so no insta love here.

This book does speak a lot about being a part of both a baseball team and as a couple being a team which I thoug ...more

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Mar 29, 2019 Jan rated it really liked it

Shelves: sports, contemporary, american, baseball

3.5 stars rounded up. An enjoyable and well-written sports romance. A cliche trope of the star player and a team staff member falling for each other but having to keep it a secret, but in this book it's done well and believably/credibly.

Plenty of focus on the baseball, enough to make it feel as if Ty is actually a star player. Likeable characters. Good relationship building. Plot is good, with a little mystery to solve (and I didn't know whodunnit till the end, but then I rarely do LOL).

Overall, ...more

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Apr 15, 2019 Alexandra rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2019

Loved it! Can't wait for the next one! ...more

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Mar 09, 2019 Em rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I gave Team Player an A- at All About Romance .

I had some trepidation picking up this latest book from Julianna Keyes. Not because I don’t enjoy the author’s work – I do. Not because it’s about baseball, which is boring. Friends. It is. And not because anything about it sounded bad or not good or uninteresting. I was nervous because I hated Ms. Keyes last book, Bad Princess. Big time. Happily for me (and you), she’s written a homerun.

(Hi! I’m Em. I’ve never met a sports metaphor I didn’t lov

...more

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Mar 06, 2019 Alison rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-read, banging-the-boss, billionaire, work-romance, contemporary, arc, sports-romance, secret-relationship

Gwen Scott, rabid baseball fan has got a dream job in PR for her favourite team, the Charleston Thrashers. The only problem is her boss is super-scary, the Thrashers are having an appalling season, her colleagues loathe baseball and she has just been given a hospital pass to deliver the 'talking points' to Rax Stripper, the team's manager - a job that got the last person fired. Luckily Gwen's encyclopaedic knowledge of baseball allows her to make some better suggestions for comments to the press ...more

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May 20, 2021 Camille rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-caucasian-mf

This was sweet, cute, well-balanced, and a thoroughly engaging read :-)

Funny characters; real situation, behaviours, and responses; and some sensible maturity. Enjoyed. Now onto book 2.

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Apr 15, 2019 Shelly Bell rated it it was amazing

I really loved this one. And since the author told her readers to let her know if we wanted more, the answer is yes. I would like a romance about Reed and the author of his daughter’s favorite book. :)

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May 02, 2021 Tina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: z2021-reads, romance-contemporary

A good sports workplace romance where the workplace and the sport is given as good amount of page space as the romance.

Gwen is in the PR department of and MLB team known as the Charleston Thrashers. Tyler as is a star bad boy player. Normally I would hate a Tyler in a romance novel. They are a dime a dozen. But I liked Tyler here. Maybe because I kept picture him as the character Mark Paul Gosselaar played in the tv show Pitch. A little older (not too old) but still feeling the breath younger, h A good sports workplace romance where the workplace and the sport is given as good amount of page space as the romance.

Gwen is in the PR department of and MLB team known as the Charleston Thrashers. Tyler as is a star bad boy player. Normally I would hate a Tyler in a romance novel. They are a dime a dozen. But I liked Tyler here. Maybe because I kept picture him as the character Mark Paul Gosselaar played in the tv show Pitch. A little older (not too old) but still feeling the breath younger, hungrier players on his neck. And Gwen was great.

As we start the book the Thrashers have started out dismally, so far their losses far outpacing their wins. Their GM is known for being abrasive with the press so the PR dept. sends his assistants talking points after the game. The assistants don't fare too well and he runs through them like kleenex. This time the formidable head of the PR dept (seriously, I loved her, her name was Allison and she was a BOSS!) decides to send one of her own PR people down to the dugout. He can't fire one of them.

Gwen is the unlucky chosen one. But Gwen has a little known super power. She just isn't a PR associate. She is a thrashers fan since childhood. She knows their history, the stats of every player. She is an observer of the game since she was a child. She has a knowledge of the science of the sport. Because of this, she subtly re-writes the talking point and inserts little bits of wisdom and slowly but surely the press interviews become less fraught. The GM tolerates her (in a less grumpy person this means he likes her) and Allison realizes that Gwen has a rapport so she makes Gwen the point person for any pr dealing with the teammates directly.

This puts Gwen in direct contact with the players and with Tyler where they have an instant attraction. But there is a hard and fast rule about office staff fraternizing with the players.

What I liked the most about this was that almost all of the action takes place at the baseball stadium. We are either upstairs in the PR office where Gwen and her other office drones have the thankless tasks of having to come up with good PR even as the team is losing as the fans are turning on them (each chapter opens with a series of tweets that are quite funny). Or we are down in the dugout or in the locker room watching Gwen interact with the carious teammates as she acts as their publicity wrangler or as they interact with each other. Or we are 'watching' a game as the Thrashers try to turn around a dismal season and try to claw their way into a wildcard position. There are sexy times at home with Gwen and Tyler, but the lion's share of the book is at work.

This is a true workplace romance. A lot of work happens and it happens to be baseball. Several of the players outside of Tyler are given larger personalities so it is fun to hang out with the team. And we get a respectable amount of play by play commentary during the games so the stakes being high for the team aren't just wallpaper,we are moving through the season with them and feeling the tension of the games.

And Gwen and Tyler have a lot of nice sexual chemistry. The conflict, of course, is that their dating is a taboo and because they send each other smoldering looks, there is always the sense that they are a breath away from discovery.

I enjoyed this and will also catch the sequel that stars the formidable Allison as heroine. ...more

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Apr 02, 2020 Jess rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020-new, own-ebook, 2020-all, romance, romance-contemporary

So while I can't say this was an excellent baseball book (I don't know enough to judge), I can say with confidence that it was an excellent SPORTS book. My only complaint, and it's not even a complaint about the book so much as the world, is that I really wish (view spoiler) ...more

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May 11, 2019 Katie rated it really liked it

Shelves: format-ebook, how-library, books-read-in-2019, books-read-in-2019-new

This was great! Definitely one of the best, if not THE best, baseball romance I've read. The only thing that jumped out to me was when it referred to six teams in the AL East, but I think the Thrashers ARE supposed to be the sixth team in the division rather than replacing one of the existing teams.

I like the romance, but I am not sure I QUITE bought that they would just go for it, despite the risks. Big spoiler. (view spoiler) ...more

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Mar 08, 2019 Rowena rated it really liked it

Shelves: review-pile

This was a fun contemporary romance that features a baseball player and a PR rep for his team. There's a secret romance, loads of drama and I was here for it. Good stuff! I wonder if we'll be seeing more from Ty's teammates? Hmm. ...more

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Mar 03, 2019 RachelW (BamaGal) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc

This is possibly the beginning to a new baseball series, as a number of players were introduced who have stories to tell. I know I’m definitely interested in Connor’s. I’ve enjoyed most of Keye’s work. Most of her stories have an edgy feel that this one is sadly lacking, however. I like her writing style, and the fact that she sticks with real life and rarely goes ‘cutesy’ on the reader. This, unfortunately, is one that has a distinct NA flavor, which is kind of a mixed bag for me. It wasn’t bad ...more

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Jun 05, 2021 Maria Rose rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: sexy-as-all-get-out, 4-star-reads, fully-reviewed-books, workplace-romance, sports-romance

Just the right season to read a baseball themed romance! Even though the plot is familiar ( sports star and PR agent, forbidden affair etc.), in this author's hands it's inventive and character driven. The baseball scenes are clearly well thought out, descriptive, knowledgeable and believable. The ups and downs of the relationship mirror the accompanying team highs and lows. Very enjoyable, looking forward to the next in the series!

A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley ...more

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Mar 19, 2020 Michele rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-reads, athletes, ku-titles, office-romance

Team Player was a fun read. It's a good combination of sports and workplace romance. Gwen Scott works for the Charleston Thrashers public relations department. She loves baseball, but not necessarily her job. It also doesn't help that she's still very much grieving her aunt who recently passed away. The same aunt who basically raised her. Gwen is struggling with figuring out what her real purpose is and ends up working for the Thrashers as much because of the shared love that she and her aunt ha ...more

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Mar 12, 2019 Mel rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, march-2019-reading-list

ARC received from publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What happens when a hot shot baseball player in the midst of a major slump falls for the teams newest PR employee? Sexy, hot shenanigans and a love story full of heart and depth.

Tyler Ashe puts the Ashe in Thrashers - the Charleston Thrashers to be more specific. However, he's in a slump. After playing right by his best friend for years, he finds himself alone suddenly, untethered and unsure and definitely not a team pl ...more

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Mar 31, 2019 Yomi M. rated it really liked it

I grew up watching baseball and so I'm a HUGE fan of it. I think what I appreciated the most about this book was the fact that the Julianna knows her stuff and you can tell. Sometimes when you read sports romance books you can be disappointed when there is a lack of the actual sport in the book. With this story that is not the case, you get the "view" the games not just be told about it.

I also loved Gwen and Ty's relationship, how they grew not only as a couple but as individuals. The only issu ...more

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Nov 03, 2020 Alyssa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-releases

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Team Player by Julianna Keyes
Book One of the Charleston Thrashers series
Publication Date: March 28, 2019
Rating: 4 stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

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 ...more

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Aug 11, 2021 Jackie rated it really liked it

Probably more like 3.75 stars. I really like Jk’s writing style and iv given her 5 stars before which I don’t usually give too easily, the writing style here is good . I like a sports romance and I really enjoyed the mc’s interactions. I did think this plot was a bit less mature than her other books but still thoroughly enjoyable. The hero was an ass near the end and I would have liked him to squirm more also he went to visit his best friend in prison to kind of check it was ok to break their no ...more

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Mar 15, 2019 Gaufre rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary, romance, sport, millionaire

This book is a stellar example of what sport romance should be. It is steeped in the sport, with a hero and heroine who are both relatable and grounded characters.

Ty is a star baseball player having a difficult time. His best friend and teammate is in jail. He is lonely and his game is in a slump.

Gwen is also lonely after the death of the aunt who raised her and shared her passion for baseball. She is works for the team and is incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to baseball, baseball histor ...more

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Mar 04, 2020 Maggie Whitworth rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋💋

Excellent book, and such a great series
These two just click and it’s brilliant to read
I want more

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May 29, 2019 Sunny (Kindles & Wine Book Blog) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: available-on-ipad, length-full, series-1st-in-series, genre-sports-romance, 2019, series-charleston-thrashers

I loved this book and it was fun to read while in the thick of the baseball season. The person who recommended this book mentioned this author’s obvious knowledge of the game, and she was spot on! I loved hearing the PR side of the game and EVERYTHING about Gwen and Ty.

Baseball lovers, this is a MUST READ!

Well done Julianna Keyes! When can we expect book 2 in the series? How about by all-star break. LOL!

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Mar 27, 2019 Christine rated it liked it

Shelves: arc, sports-romance

As a fan of Julianna Keyes' Burnham College series, I'm not quite sure how to rate her new romance set in the world of major league baseball. Loved the beginning, loved the baseball, liked Gwen - Julbut by the end, I was disappointed by Ty, confused by Connor, and outright bummed by the abrupt ending.

One of the reasons I'm a fan is because Julianna Keyes usually creates totally flawed but super relatable characters, like the Burnham College gang. I was really cheering for Gwen in the beginning - ...more

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Mar 23, 2019 Edit~A rated it it was amazing

Shelves: friendship, orphan, family, sports, arcs, new-adult, step-parents, crime, erotica, contemporary

(Source: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Julianna Keyes.)

“I don’t want her phone number,” he said, finally giving voice to words he’d wanted to say for too long. “I don’t want a fake girlfriend. I don’t want to mess things up with my real one.”

I loved this book. I do not know what is with Julianna Keyes and her sporty men, but hey, I love them. They are actually human beings, they do not have to be mean and rude to be cool and strong and sexy and wanted. Yes, some a ...more

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About Julianna Keyes

Julianna Keyes

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Julianna Keyes is a Canadian writer who has lived on both coasts and several places in between. She's been skydiving, bungee jumping and white water rafting, but nothing thrills - or terrifies - her as much as the blank page. She loves Chinese food, foreign languages, baseball and television, not necessarily in that order, and will go to her grave swearing that 'ain't' is not a word. She has volun ...more