The Player and the Pixie (Rugby #2) by L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid

A Review by Wendy

5 To Banish the Cold and Follow the Rainbow Stars
* * * * *

I am sitting here trying to figure out how to review this delight...Do I go deep and address the humanity of it all and how these two characters had these things to overcome... and by the grace of Lucy's goodness she was able to see clearly the little boy lost in Sean...and with her grace... he was able to see clearly the beauty of her and fight to make her see it herself....

Or do I get all excited about how, Finally Two Genius authors, L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid , do a reverse and have the studly, Rugby, Bubble Butt man be the one who needs to learn how to have sex, be intimate...Not the long time virgin, or the woman who has been told over and over again she is frigid...
Because the Guy Friggin' sucks and knows it....
He knows he sucks...and a person, who is not a paid escort or sex slave or Rugby bunny, sees the need, insecurity and vulnerability...and takes him by the hand, tongue, c@ck and mind... tutoring him...

Of course, there is also the age old issues of family loyalty...because these two are almost as bad a match as Romeo and Juliet...Sean Hates Lucy's brother and The Brother, Ronan Hates Sean.

So how do I attack this review as my heart is full from a read that was so good I sat on my ass for more than 8 hours reading it from cover to cover....

I am just going to say this:

The amount of discovery of what is happening internally with these two people is perfect, Duo POV'S...we are taken on a journey with two characters: Lucy, who is so likeable, good, smart, fun and when push comes to shove....very, very strong. She has developed her own style with rainbow hair and good karma. She struggles with the toxic, passive/aggressive prodding from her mother. It started when she was young and the anxiety has manifested into a shoplifting compulsion. Anytime she now is around her Mam...she finds the need overwhelming and she swipes small items...feels the release and then shame. She will immediately give them to charity or homeless shelters... but the deed was done. She has moved away from Mam... and has been clean from the urges for a while....

Our other character is Sean... the teammate and enemy of Ronan...He made an appearance in the first book of this series and for these authors to redeem him so completely... was shocking... because he was presented as the Arsehole of Arseholes....He was caught with Ronan's woman by Ronan in a compromising position...causing Ronan to explode and be put on suspension from the team. Sean has no friends on the team and only because he is good at what he does, does he have a solid career. He is the first to be arrogant, combative, pompous and just full of himself. At least that is the front he does...Deep down though, he knows he is a fraud in the many departments and mostly he just feels cold all the time....

These two characters come together... and it is friggin' magic. The story takes you by the hand and gives you everything you could possible want with this scenario...we are shown the reasons for the walls and anxieties. We are presented with questions about loyalties and when do you act for your own happiness.

And we are given a time when a Skittles Rainbow girl takes a Rugby Stud... and teaches him the ways of a woman...how to woo her, tease her, make her feel beautiful and wanted....and how to just love her.

IT IS ASTOUNDING...IT IS MAGICAL....IT IS A WONDER

This tale had all the secondary characters necessary to give it life...and I see a couple of ways the next installment could go. I just want to make sure there is more...Because Cosway and Reid have figured out how to take the basics and make them sparkle. They give enough for everybody...meaning... do you want light sexy fun... it is there...Do you want to see what lies beneath and get to the core of a being... it is there...And do you want to feel as though you are falling in love and the HEA is around the corner with touches of real life experiences too... then it is there for the taking.

As is my nature... I may have written more than I planned... or a bit deeper... But the main thing to take away from my review is the joy you will feel after reading it. Life is not perfect; people make mistakes...and then if they are willing...they learn and grow from them.
Just sayin'...
Read the book :D 

A gifted copy was provided by the author for an honest review.
 

About L.H. Cosway

L.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.

About Penny Reid

ABOUT PENNY:
Penny Reid is a USA Today Best Selling Author of romantic fiction. When she’s not immersed in penning smart romances she works in the biotech industry as a researcher. She's also a full time mom to three diminutive adults (boy-8, girl-6, and girl-4 months), wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.