Third Man In

The Playmakers Series, Book 2

By: G.K. Brady

Narrated by: Tor Thom, Whitton Frank

Length: 12 hrs

Publisher's summary

Can a hard-hitting hockey player find love with the woman who belongs to the guy he just put in the hospital?

Pro hockey player T.J. Shanstrom is no stranger to controversy. Labeled a goon by his many critics, he’s the guy every team hates to play against but every team wants on their side—the goal scorer with an edge as deadly as a newly sharpened skate blade.

T.J. plays the only way he can, laying everything on the line, game in, game out. But when it’s time to step away from the rink, T.J. leaves his fire on the ice. Relationships? He tried that once. Friends with benefits is as close as he’s planning to get to a woman again.

Until he meets Natalie Foster.

Smart and independent, no-nonsense Natalie’s rebuilding her life her way after her high-powered career and her engagement go off the rails.

Besides trying out new lines of work, she’s also dipping her toe in the dating pool with pro hockey player Kevin May. The relationship is new, it’s fun, but it’s barely off the ground when Kevin’s career comes to a screeching halt thanks to a T.J. Shanstrom cheapshot.

When Natalie and T.J.’s paths accidentally cross, sparks fly. Natalie has no idea who this handsome hunk is, but when T.J. discovers who she is, he’s determined to become her knight in shining armor while safeguarding his identity—and his heart.

What could possibly go wrong?

♥ Winner of the 2021 Independent Publishers Book Awards Gold Medal for Best Romance E-book!

©2019 G.K. Brady (P)2023 G.K. Brady

TJ and Natalie

TJ Shanstrom, is a professional hockey player and the enforcer for his team, is suspended for the season for knocking out an opposing teams player, Kevin May. When he's traded to his former team, he doesn't like the negative attention he's been receiving and is trying to change his image.

Natalie, CPA and dog walker. When her boyfriend Keven May is put in the hospital by TJ Shanstrom, she struggles finding a balance with being there for him and growing her business.

TJ and Natalie meet at the hospital when TJ goes to visit Kevin May not realizing that he is Natalie's boyfriend. When Kevin's ex-wife comes back in the picture, Natalie comes to terms that her relationship with Kevin is really not that strong and breaks up with him in order for him and his ex-wife to reconcile. During this time, she cannot stop thinking about TJ and he cannot stop thinking about her as well. So much so, he gets a dog and hires her dog walking services.

TJ and Natalie's relationship builds over time and they have awesome chemistry but when she finds out he's the reason Kevin's career is over, will this end what they were building or will they get their HEA.

Great narration!

finding love

I love how Tyler and Natalie friendship to lovers was developed throughout this story.
The drama surrounding his hockey career makes him a target.
This story is emotional, drama, heat, and a love of dogs.
Tor Thom and Whitton Frank emotiomal narration is wonderful..

More than just hockey

This story really drew me in. I thought it would be a typical hockey romance. The story and the characters actually go much deeper. TJ had a hard go if it and the author does a good job of making me feel for his predicament. Natalie is a kind soul who needs to learn how to strengthen herself. Each have a lesson to learn and grow from.

I was shocked and surprised by the story and it really kept me on my toes. I enjoyed it and look forward to more. The narration is wonderfully done. Tor Thom is always a joy to listen to and Whitton Frank is new to me but did a great job as well.

Hockey romance.

Absolutely loved this slow burn romance! Amazing story of TJ and Natalie!
Can’t wait for the next book!
Tor Thom and Whitton Frank did fantastic job!

Contemporary

I enjoyed this audiobook well narrated by Tor Thom and Whitton Frank. TK. and Natalie were wonderful characters. I liked the story and the character development.

Better Together

Another fantastic book by G.K. Brady. The narrators did an amazing job. This series is so good. From the moment TJ meets Natalie he is smitten. TJ may be the enforcer on the ice but is a total softy when it comes to Natalie. The timing and circumstances are all wrong to start anything so TJ does everything in his power to help Natalie and in the process they become friends. These two have so much going on in their own lives yet when they are together nothing else matters. Once all the obstacles start to clear and past hurts are dealt with TJ goes all in and goes for it. Even with this book being a slow burn it has so much going on that it kept me hooked to the end. A beautiful journey. A strong 4.5 star listen/read.

I was sent a free audiobook and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

Book 2 - Playmakers

Book 2 in Brady's The Playmakers. This can be read / listened to as a standalone. A wonderfully sweet sports themed romance. Well written and beautifully narrated. Dual narration was perfect for bringing our main characters TJ and Natalie to life. TJ is the hockey player you love to hate and Natalie is the sweet next door neighbor type girl who's actually dating the hockey player TJ takes out. A crazy sequence of events that will take the reader / listener on an emotional rollercoaster of a ride to an eventual HEA. So much fun with bad dad jokes and witty banter. Great characters that you totally fall for and a smooth flowing, easy to follow storyline that is sure to warm your heart.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I voluntarily provided this review.

Fantastic Story & Narration🎧 Gripping & Heartfelt!

G.K Brady pens another fabulous novel set in her “Playmakers” series and it is just as amazing as the first book in the series, “Taming Beckett”. Each book features different lead characters and stands on their own. While some characters may crossover into each other’s books, everything you need to know is detailed and you will never feel lost or like you missed something. This book is professional hockey player T.J Shanstrom and Natalie Foster’s story. Natalie is dating Kevin May, one of T.J.’s teammates, but that is not how they meet, it was chance and circumstances that brought them together. I absolutely loved this story, it is well written and the plotting is fantastic. The story grabbed my attention right from the start and captivated it straight to the end, nothing else mattered except what was going to happen with these two. The buildup of their friendship was amazing, and while T.J knew who she was, she had known that he was the one responsible for Kevin’s injury. He thought he was doing the right thing, trying to help her out, make her life easier, but it was a train wreck waiting to happen. He planned on telling her but the timing was never right, and there was no denying that they were great together and for each other, the chemistry between them was through the roof. There is never a dull moment in this book, it has plenty of drama, heartfelt emotions, angst and slow burn, but so worth the wait romance. G.K. Brady, thank you for another amazing story and emotional rollercoaster ride. 

🎧📚🎧 And for the fantastic narration, Tor Thom and Whitton Frank are talented narrators and versatile voice artists. They had a complete understanding of the characters they were portraying, gave each their own voice and personality, and were believable in every role they played. You could heart how much heart they put into their work as they captured all the character’s emotions and projected them into their performance, making you feel every single one. These entertaining storytellers are a pleasure to listen to and their narration enhanced this already fabulous story to another level. 

A romance that takes time but sure does payoff ❤️

Third man in is book two in the Playmakers Series. after Taming Beckett I was really excited to start listening to this one because I just loved the way this author creates these characters and has them grow and build relationships that feel real and genuine without being over the top with instant declarations of undying love (Even though I’m a hopeless romantic for over the top) and promises of forever. Her characters and the problems they have feel relatable, and I like that in a romance at times.

This story follows TJ and Natalie. TJ is a hockey player who’s been suspended for a brutal hit on an opponent on the ice that landed the guy in the hospital in fairly bad condition. Natalie is a dog walker/CPA who’s trying to make ends meet while growing her business. She had been casually dating Kevin May the player TJ hit on the ice. She starts to struggle to balance work and be with Kevin at the hospital for support and begins to lose clients, putting her in a bad financial situation. TJ and Natalie meet by chance bumping into one another a few times at the hospital. She has no idea who he is or that he is the reason Kevin is in in the hospital to begin with, and he can’t seem to bring himself to tell her. Wanting to do something to help her financial problems, he adopts a dog and hires Natalie to help out with him, and a friendship starts between the pair…

This is a slow burn romance. Natalie and TJ really developed a rapport that leads to a friendship and grows into feelings for one another only after things end with Kevin and her. I enjoyed their friendship, I loved the banter and the bond they created, and I loved how TJ really wanted to help her. I loved Ford fido the dog, and I really like that Beckett and Paige made a few cameos. This is a romance that took time. Both characters had a lot going on in their own lives, and they both had some growing to do, and they did throughout the book. When they finally got together, they were passionate, sweet, and fun and really just fit well together.

Tor Thom and Whitton Frank were the narrators, and though I am familiar with Tor Thom, Whitton Frank was new to me. They both did an amazing job. Tor has a very deep masculine voice that worked well for TJ, and he was really able to bring out the more vulnerable side of the character as well. Whitton Frank was wonderfully chosen for Natalie as well. They brought the characters' personalities to life and made the listening experience enjoyable.

Overall, I enjoyed this listen and would recommend it. The narration was on point, the writing was flawless, and the characters were layered and interesting. It was fun and funny, and I look forward to the next book in the series!

Loving this series!

Third Man In is the 2nd book in the Playmaker's series. TJ is a bad boy hockey player. He takes one for his team on his coach's request and ends up suspended and then traded back to Colorado. Natalie has lost her career and fiancé, now working as an independent accountant and dog walker. She is also the barely girlfriend of the player TJ put in the hospital. I absolutely loved this story. The author takes us on a journey with a man and a woman who have major trust and self-worth issues. I love that TJ wants to become a better man but uses his given name to fool Natalie (smh). This story has a bit of suspense, some spice, and a beautiful HEA.

The narration was so good. Tor Thom is a favorite narrator of mine. Whitton Frank is new to me and I look forward to hearing more from her.