The Player and the Pixie (Rugby #2) by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid
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Synopsis:
How can someone so smokin’ hot be so bad in bed? I mean, Sean Cassidy is absolute rubbish. RUBBISH. He is the epitome of walking, talking false advertising and I want a refund! Plus he’s an arsehole. So… what is wrong with me that I can’t stop thinking about him?
The Pixie and the Player is a full-length, romantic comedy novel, can be read as a standalone, and is the second book in the Rugby Series.
THE PIXIE
Lucy Fitzpatrick doesn’t like rugby.
As the little sister of Ireland’s most infamous rugby player, Lucy can’t seem to escape the championship-sized shadow cast by her big brother, or her mother’s frequent attempts to micromanage her future. Her rainbow hair is as free-spirited as her quest for inner peace, yet overbearing expectations keep bringing her down. And when she’s down, her compulsive little problem lands her in seriously big trouble.
THE PLAYER
Sean Cassidy is a cold-hearted brute… or so he’s been told. Frequently. By everyone.
His blonde locks, baby blues, and rock hard bod make ladies the world over drool with desire. As the rugby world’s second most infamous player, he should be basking in his success. But Sean has never been content settling for second place, and his frequent confrontations with Lucy’s big brother leave him cold. And when he’s cold, his compulsive little problem lands him in the lap of Lucy Fitzpatrick.
THE PLAN Sean has a problem only Lucy can solve. Lucy has a problem only Sean can fix. The solution seems obvious: you scratch my back, and I’ll bail you out of jail. But when their business arrangement unexpectedly leaves Sean scorching hot and Lucy on the precipice of inner peace, can they convince the world—and Lucy’s big brother in particular—that this is the real deal?
Either way, both the Player and the Pixie are about to teach each other some pretty monumental lessons about family, life, but most importantly, love.
Review:
The Player and the Pixie was a fantastic read. Hilarious and sweet and adorable and heartbreaking and I really fell in love with both these characters. Now I didn't really remember Sean from the first book. I know a lot of people already had strong feelings towards him after book one, had a negative reaction to him at first, but not me. When they mentioned that he slept with Ronan's ex prior to her being an ex I thought oh, that guy, okay. I only vaguely remembered him and I loved him right from the start in this read. Even when he was trying to be a jerk I still loved him. Lucy and Sean were just so sweet together. Such a wonderful story.
There are so many things I loved about this book one of the biggest being the fact that it is the guy who is bad in bed, not this sweet, innocent, virginal girl. You don't see that often and I loved the reversal of the norm. Sean is so broken, so lonely, so cold all the time. I just wanted to make everything better for him. He is bad in bed, bad at trying to be a nice person, bad at most everything except rugby. He knows he is rubbish, but he doesn't know what to do about that. I really enjoyed that he was not some super player who thought he was the bees knees. He was absolutely adorable and heartbreaking and hilarious all at the same time.
Lucy is so bright and colorful. So much fun. So good, so sweet, always trying to see the good in people even though she has not had it easy herself. Her mom is a mess and makes Lucy's issues worse whenever she is around her. That and people always seem to only want to know her because her brother is a famous rugby player. Few people see how amazing she is in her own right. It can be hard at times, but she is just a ray of sunshine.
When Lucy first meets Sean in this story she sees the real Sean. The guy who is all bark and tries to push people away before they can hurt him. She compares him to one of the abused dogs who shows up at the shelter. One that acts out, who bites, who causes problems because they don't know any other way. That really was Sean. He doesn't know any different. He wants to be better, wants to be good, but is just rubbish at it. Lucy sees through him even when he tries to hurt her and push her away. Only there is something about her that draws Sean in. He knows better than to get involved with someone he actually likes as it always ends horribly. He always gets hurt. Only with Lucy maybe that won't be. Maybe she can teach him to be better. Teach him to be a good person and good in bed. Teach him how he could be. Lucy is such a kind soul, but I really loved that Lucy and Sean both have similar issues. They both do similar things that made me love them so much more. Oh these two really got to me.
Now this is not really a sad or serious story even though my heart went out to both of these characters throughout the book. Really it is a super fun entertaining read. Sean was sweet and cute and hilarious! That first time between Sean and Lucy? Oh I thought I was going to die laughing. Seriously I still have a huge smile on my face just thinking about it. This story does have a lot of serious, sweet, cute, adorable moments, but also a ton of incredibly hilarious hijinks. I loved every moment.
Now getting Sean to be better, to learn to do everything better, was so much fun to read. And hot! Phew! The two of them together? Wow. Lucy is wonderful with Sean and just shows him that he already has it in him. When he is not trying he is hot hot hot, but when he puts his mind to it it is like he just loses it and I loved that. I laughed so hard at times because the characters were just so amazing. Lucy shows Sean how awesome he already is. If he lets people in they won't all hurt him. I hearted him so much. He just needs a little love and someone to be on his side cheering him on. He was amazing and Lucy is amazing with him.
Even still there are issues between these two, or obstacles that don't seem to be able to overcome. Namely Lucy's bother, Ronan, who hates Sean. With good reason, but still. How can Lucy fall for Sean and choose him over her brother? Her brother who has always been there for her when she needed him? She can't, can she? I loved seeing Sean really became this wonderful man he always was, but kept hidden, with the help of this crazy rainbow haired girl. It was smart and fun and just a fantastic read. This story is full of ups and downs, hilarity and heartbreak, but these two characters are perfect for each other. I just loved this story.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★1/2
Excerpt:
*Sean*
I DIDN’T KNOW what I was doing.
Requests, things I wanted, words I would never speak or allow myself to think were now uncontainable.
It’s the sex, I reiterated. Again. I’d used this explanation, now on repeat, as a simple justification for the complex cacophony of my mind.
“Be with you?” Her long, dark lashes fluttered, beating like distressed butterfly wings against warming pink cheeks.
I licked my lips, tasting her there. “Yes.”
“Be with you?” Her long, dark lashes fluttered, beating like distressed butterfly wings against warming pink cheeks.
I licked my lips, tasting her there. “Yes.”
She stared at me, confused. I was also confused. And oddly frightened.
Because it wasn’t the sex.
Several seconds ticked on as we studied each other in breathless silence. She found her voice before I did. “What does that—”
“Lucy?” Annie’s voice was paired with a soft knock on the bathroom door. “Are you okay?”
Several seconds ticked on as we studied each other in breathless silence. She found her voice before I did. “What does that—”
“Lucy?” Annie’s voice was paired with a soft knock on the bathroom door. “Are you okay?”
I opened my mouth to whisper a clarification to the question Lucy hadn’t quite posed, because I was compelled to tell her it wasn’t the sex. We didn’t have to have sex. We could just . . . talk. Or play cards. Or touch. Or look at each other from across the room.
We could merely be together.
But she covered my mouth with her hand. Her features arrested with unmistakable panic.
“Yes. I’m fine! I just . . . started my period is all. Made a mess in my jeans, like a crime scene.” Lucy hollered in response then grimaced. She immediately mouthed I’m sorry to me. Her cheeks flushed red.
I lifted an eyebrow. She rolled her eyes, ducking her head with obvious embarrassment. I pressed my lips together so I wouldn’t laugh.
Issuing me a quelling look, Lucy released me and skittered out of the stall, whispering, “Stay here and count to three hundred.”
“Oh! Do you need anything?” Annie’s voice was less muffled and I surmised she’d opened the bathroom door.
“Yes. I’m fine! I just . . . started my period is all. Made a mess in my jeans, like a crime scene.” Lucy hollered in response then grimaced. She immediately mouthed I’m sorry to me. Her cheeks flushed red.
I lifted an eyebrow. She rolled her eyes, ducking her head with obvious embarrassment. I pressed my lips together so I wouldn’t laugh.
Issuing me a quelling look, Lucy released me and skittered out of the stall, whispering, “Stay here and count to three hundred.”
“Oh! Do you need anything?” Annie’s voice was less muffled and I surmised she’d opened the bathroom door.
“Ah, no. Have it all sorted now. Thank God Tom has these nice absorbent napkins instead of those troublesome hand driers. Although I feel like I’m wearing a nappy. They’re bad for the environment, so I should talk to him about replacing the napkins. Maybe make a few available for emergencies . . .”
Lucy’s anxiety-riddled chatter faded as the bathroom door clicked shut.
I released an audible exhale. My heart was beating as though it might leap from my chest. I needed to catch my breath. Neither had anything to do with being caught.
What the fuck were you doing?
It was the sex. She’s phenomenal in bed. You’ve never had that before. It was just sex.
Lucy’s anxiety-riddled chatter faded as the bathroom door clicked shut.
I released an audible exhale. My heart was beating as though it might leap from my chest. I needed to catch my breath. Neither had anything to do with being caught.
What the fuck were you doing?
It was the sex. She’s phenomenal in bed. You’ve never had that before. It was just sex.
I nodded, reiterating the logic of my justification for the uncharacteristic behavior. If
I repeated it enough, perhaps I would believe it.
I didn’t count to three hundred as instructed. I counted to one hundred and twenty-three, then realized what I was doing.
“You’re mad, Sean,” I muttered, shaking myself and promptly leaving the ladies’ room. I checked the cufflinks on my dress shirt—a nervous habit—and strolled back to the table, eyeing the assortment of eejits gathered.
I didn’t count to three hundred as instructed. I counted to one hundred and twenty-three, then realized what I was doing.
“You’re mad, Sean,” I muttered, shaking myself and promptly leaving the ladies’ room. I checked the cufflinks on my dress shirt—a nervous habit—and strolled back to the table, eyeing the assortment of eejits gathered.
About the Authors:
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 favorite 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.
Penny Reid
SEX! It all started with sex, between my parents. Personally I don’t like thinking about it, but whatever works for you is a-ok with me. No judgment. The sex happened in California and much of my life also occurred in that state until I moved from the land of nuts (almonds), wine, silicon… boobs, and heavy traffic to the southeast US. Like most writers I like to write, but let’s get back to sex. Eventually I married and gave birth to 2 small people-children (boy-6, girl-4 as of this writing). By day I’m a biomedical researcher with focus on rare diseases. By night I’m a knitter, sewer, lino block carver, fabric printer, soap maker, and general crafter. By the wee hours of the morning or when I’m intoxicated I love to listen to the voices in my head and let them tell me stories. I hope you enjoy their stories.
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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 favorite 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.
SEX! It all started with sex, between my parents. Personally I don’t like thinking about it, but whatever works for you is a-ok with me. No judgment. The sex happened in California and much of my life also occurred in that state until I moved from the land of nuts (almonds), wine, silicon… boobs, and heavy traffic to the southeast US. Like most writers I like to write, but let’s get back to sex. Eventually I married and gave birth to 2 small people-children (boy-6, girl-4 as of this writing). By day I’m a biomedical researcher with focus on rare diseases. By night I’m a knitter, sewer, lino block carver, fabric printer, soap maker, and general crafter. By the wee hours of the morning or when I’m intoxicated I love to listen to the voices in my head and let them tell me stories. I hope you enjoy their stories.
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