Book Review: Team Player 2 - Anthology

Title: Team Player 2
Author: Mandi Beck, Ella Fox, Teagan Hunter,Ilsa Madden-Mills, Sara Ney, Rochelle Paige, Meghan Quinn, Charleigh Rose, Kennedy Ryan, Emma Scott, and Kate Stewart.
Genre: Sports Romance Anthology
Release Date: September 23, 2019

Our love of hot jocks is never-ending.

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.

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Arena Lights

I've only read a few books by Mandi Beck, but I did like how she writes. Hers was the first story I looked for in this Anthology.

I liked how this involves twins that are opposite as they can be but are best friends nonetheless. I really like reading stories that has siblings and that they love them to bits. One good thing I liked about anthologies are that they are short and sweet. It's like those bite size chocolates. It quelches your cravings yet not too bad for you compared that of the full size. With just a few chapters, ttthis story offered all the components of what I liked in a romance novel without having to spend hours. There's angst, jealousy, groveling, a little heartache and just the right amount of sexy time and romance. And because it has to be short and sweet. It focuses mainly on the plot instead of having to fill it with so much sexy times.


Teaching Hours

II haven't really read a full novel from Sara Ney. The last I remembered reading from her was from the first Team Player. I remember liking that one so why not give her a chance for this one?

I'm a little torn between liking or not liking the plotlline for this. I was initially intrigued on how this will play out. But I kind of felt that the characters were trying hard a little too much. I really didn't feel that Hannah was a little too sassy or that she mostly repel men with the way she talks. I mean, just the choice of words alone doesn't really strike me as sassy or rude. I didn't see anything wrong with it and would only realize that it was meant too be "repelling" when the characters, point it out. I feel that it was a little forced. But overlooking that part, I was able to still enjoy the story as a whole. It was a light read. A little laugh and not too much drama..

Holt's Story

I had a phase where I binged read Meghan Quinn's LOL novel so I know I would like the way she writes.

I liked that the story just happened in a span of a day, yet it was pretty much an enjoyable read. I like how the characters interact with each other as well as the supporting characters. And for the first time, a guy who likes to look at pretty girls but doesn't really sleep around. It gets tiring somehow where a guy likes to sleep around, meets the heroine and somehow he is converted. I know it can still happen but it's kind of refreshing to meet someone who respects girls in general. Seeing that I was only a few chapters left, yet the end doesn't seem to be making an appearance should've been a big red flag that something isn't right. Apparently, this would've been some sort of introduction for Holt. Now this makes me want to read the other books in the series.

Book Review: Stoned - Mandi Beck

Title: Stoned
Author: Mandi Beck
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 11, 2016
Series: Wrecked, Book 1

*****STONED IS A STANDALONE IN THE WRECKED SERIES*****

As the lead singer of one of the hottest bands to hit the rock scene, f*cks are free, drugs come easy, and music is life.
For as long as Stone can remember, Willow has been his music – the notes that weave his soul together. His rhythm.
Until he threw her away.
All he has left is a handful of pills and a few lines of powder to make him forget her. And he tries, over and over.
Clean and ready to make things right, he’s faced with the fact that Willow’s moved on. She’s not the same girl he cast aside. Willow’s a woman sure about her purpose in life. Sure about who she’s meant to love.
Stone may be lost without his rhythm, but Willow has found so much more.

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I've recently stopped reading books from new authors unless they're highly recommended by someone I trust with their taste of books. But I was intrigued by a quick summary of this book from one group that I'm in, so I gave it a go. This is my first Mandi Beck book and I'm so glad to have taken that leap of faith.

I liked how the story timeline is realistic. Not too fast but not dragging either. It doesn't feel rushed. And although, the book may have triggers for some readers, I liked how it tackled a few issues of our day to day lives. It's a litte eye opener. It gives you a glimpse of what happens in these cases and makes you a little more considerate.

Stone, as effed up as he is, is someone to admire. He is courageous enough to admit that he was wrong, that he messed up and strong enough to do something about it. He acknowledged his weakness and that in itself is strength for me. It's kind of hard for me to like a heroine most of the time but Willow made the cut. She's strong and positive. Despite all the bad things that happened, she still looked into the brighter side of things. I also love her for having a steong resolve enough to fight her sexual desires. She did admit to herself how turned on she becomes with Stone but not enough that her conviction just went flying out the window, the moment he sees him or he comes near her. It's kind of refreshing to read a person who isn't a slave of their sexual desires.

Overall, it's a 4 star for me. Could've been a 5 if it made me tear up a bit.