KB Review: Team Russian by Ally Adams

Team Russian by Ally Adams

GENRE: Contemporary Romance

BLURB:

He’s tall, dark, handsome and athletic and just that little bit mysterious. Star of the Saint’s team, The Russian has had a high profile relationship with a Hollywood director’s daughter for years and now that it is over, he just wants to focus on his sporting career. Due to injury, Carla Brooker’s professional sporting career as a basketballer with the Suns is about to come to an end, but not before she needs a date for her team’s gala ball night. When these two sporting hotshots meet, they are more than a good fit, they are made for each other … if they can just file away their history and find a way to be together.

Excerpt:

I’m due to record a quick interview in the Club Room with a player nicknamed Buzz – a  Defender just back from injury and playing for the hottest sports team known to man, well woman – the Saints. Room Three; I check the number, wander in and holy-naked-guys-getting-rub-downs … it appears I’m one of the few with clothes on.

Half a dozen faces turn and smile at me; I see a flash of glowing tight, tanned butts, muscly legs, toned arms, even a groin or two that was just ‘out there’.

“Ah, sorry wrong room,” I say, as I stumble backward, trying not to look anywhere but out the door.

“Are you looking for the coach?” a voice from the corner booms.

I put my hands over my eyes, web my fingers a little which sets them off laughing again and look towards the voice. It was The Russian.

“No, I’m after Buzz, he said to meet at this time in Room Three.” My face was burning red, but I think other parts of my body were enjoying it.

I could see several of the physios shaking their head, smiling, and the youngest answered.

“It’s his party trick. He thinks it’s funny. Don’t worry, you’re not the first journo to fall victim.”

“I’ll give him funny when I see him,” I muttered.

“Room eight, Carla,” the deep baritone voice said again. The Russian. He knew my name.

“Thank you,” I said, spinning on my heels to leave before I was magnetically drawn to that tall, dark, and gorgeous hunk of a man in the corner. Mm, The Russian.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

ALLY ADAMS is a journalist who lives in coastal Victoria, Australia with her husband and furry friends.

She is a literature major, avid romance reader and writer. Ally freelances for two lifestyle magazines and has just completed her fourth Saints Team novel. She is now looking towards a whole new series!

Ally’s books:

• Team Lucas
• Team Tomas
• Team Niklas
• Team Russian

Connect with Ally at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allyadamswriter

Twitter: https://twitter.com/allyadamsbooks

https://www.amazon.com/Ally-Adams/e/B00XHS9TJU

Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WD7QY53

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Ally will be awarding a mobi or ePub copy of Team Russian to 5 randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour.

Enter to win a copy of the book – a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Review

What I liked:

Team Russian is a cute sports romance. It’s more romance than sports, which works if you’re not really that much into sports. Carla is a basketball player at the end of her career due to a knee injury, but she’s making lemonade from her lemons by parlaying her experience into sports commentating. The Russian, also known as Alex, is a star soccer player who Carla likes. It’s a classic boy-meets-girl story. There were some things I didn’t see coming, like The Russian’s temper, and some things I did, which I won’t spoil for you.

I like a heroine who is strong and stands up for herself and a hero who can admit when he’s in the wrong. Team Russian delivers on both counts. It was romantic and sweet, a fun beach read.

There were some nitpicky details that bothered me (like factual inaccuracies regarding the popularity of soccer in the US–Carla, as a member of the WNBA, would be recognized in public WAY more than a soccer player would) but these things can be attributed to the author not being that familiar with US culture. Overall, it was a good read. As a bonus, due to the Aussie linguistics, I heard Olivia Newton-John narrating the whole thing in my head as I read. (Note to author: I suggest an American editor or beta reader to smooth over some of the language issues.)