Working the Mound

Philly Sillys Baseball #2

by K. Iwancio

Book 2 of the viral Savannah Bananas-inspired baseball romance series!

When her high school sweetheart comes crawling back. Literally.

With her degree in theater, Tiffiny Campanaro, had high hopes of being under the lights of Broadway. Instead she's sweating her ass off in a Liberty Bell costume as the mascot for her brother's Entertainment League Baseball team, the Philly Sillys. When she thought her life couldn't get any worse, her brother recruits her ex, the only man she ever loved, to join the team.

Ender Roche was a hotshot pitcher in high school. Sweet, charming, the one guy all the girls wanted. But he only wanted Tiffiny. That was until he let his balls do the thinking for him, dumping her for a chance to try to date the popular girl. Except, he couldn't go through with it. All he could think about was Tiffiny.

He never stopped thinking about her, even though she black listed him. A freak injury in the minors lands him with an uncertain future until his former teammate encourages him to try out for the ELB team he coaches for. Ender finds himself back in Tiffiny's orbit and will do everything in his power to win her back. Grovel on his knees, read her dark romance books, anything goes. Will Tiffiny forgive him and admit that Ender is her one true love, or will she forever give him the cold shoulder?

Genres: Sports, Second Chance, Baseball, New Adult

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 25, 2026

About the author

I've been some semblance of a writer since 1st grade. That was when I first tasted the delight of getting a book published and reading it aloud to the class with rave reviews. What a power trip for a 7-year-old.

It wasn't until 7th grade that I was highly encouraged by my English teacher to continue writing poetry outside of class assignments. From there I moved on to Literary Club in 8th grade and added short stories to my repertoire.

When high school came around, that was when I discovered the wondrous world of FanFiction. It all went downhill from that point. Numerous teachers in high school loved my work and submitted some of my (safe) pieces for publication. My teachers were the reason that I told myself,

"I can do this. I can be a published author one day."

In college, the trend continued but I pursued a career path in the design sector and writing went on the back burner. That is until a month after THE GREATEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE, in 2022, I decided to start writing once again. It started with FanFic after FanFic, fast and furious.

Writing is my passion, my escape. Always has been, always will be.

Reviews

[Chloe (BrunetteBibliophile) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an e-ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Phillys Sillys Baseball Book #2

Tiffiny, mascot for the Phillys Sillys baseball team, thought her life couldn’t get any worse until she is forced to work with her ex, Ender, the only man she ever loved.

Tropes Include:
-Enemies to Lovers
-Second Chance Romance
-Workplace Romance
-Baseball Pitcher x Mascot

I have not read a lot of baseball romance, however I have been on a sports romance kick recently. Last year I got to read the first book in the Philly Sillys series and this year I was more than happy to pick up book two.

Working the Mound happens parallel to the first book, so we’re seeing a lot of new scenes of our new main character, Tiffany, talking with the main character of the first book, Cadence, and getting more insight into the first book events from a new perspective.

I do not know much about entertainment league baseball, but the Philly Sillys books have been entertaining me since I read book one last year. In this book we get to see a whole new side to the team as they create their own romance book club that they host in their locker room. It was really refreshing to see a more sensitive side of Ender, our MMC, in addition to his golden retriever personality. I also liked seeing our FMC, Tiffiny, as a romance reader and getting to see her fantasies come to life.

Overall, I am giving this book four stars. It’s not my favorite book ever, but I was entertained while reading it. I hope that the author does a book for each of the players on the team so we can see them get their own happily ever afters. As long as these books are coming out, I will be reading them.

[Lacey Fatura · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a book can make you laugh as hard as I did in this one it’s an immediate 5 star. I seriously am obsessed with K. Iwancio’s ability to write with such a sense of humor.

I love sports romance, but add some spice, humor and a golden retriever MMC who learns to love Smut and I’m obsessed!

I just want to keep going but I know it will reveal spoilers and you have to experience this yourself. I HIGHLY recommend this series and cannot wait for book 3!

[The Sewist's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ 4
🌶️ 2.5
🥵 Spicy Chapters: 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30
❤️‍🔥 Swoon Factor: 2.5
👫 Tiffiny+ Ender
📚 Tropes/Themes: sports romance, baseball romance, second chance, first love, it's always been you
👀 Dual POV 1st person
💔 Content warnings: none
🎀 Special editions: none

I wanted to love this book but I didn't 😭 I gave it 4⭐ as an objective review on the quality of the writing and my perception of what the larger romance world will think of it, but my personal experience was closer to 2.5⭐ because a lot of the stuff in here was not my preferences.

The biggest one being at least the first half is more focused on how overcome they are with lust for each other. I will always be more of an emotional-feelings-and-swoon girlie over sexy-pants-tightening-and-thighs-clenching-yearning. I guess it was to emphasize how they can't stay away from each other despite the hurt that Ender caused her. I like spice and purposely seek out spicy books but this was a little too much lusting for me.

I also noticed a lot of repetitive phrases within chapters, which would pull me out of the story.

Along with that, while I agree with the authors stance on romance books it felt really heavy handed in the story. There was a large chunk of the story dedicated to talking about negative perceptions and stereotypes of romance books/readers. I'm all for authors using their platforms to speak on topics they are passionate about but it took me out of the story. (I did cackle quite a bit at the Pitching Tents Book Club though)

The ending is super low angst which was unexpected. I didn't hate it but l just surprised I guess?

Annndddd I'm not a fan of groveling.

After about the first half though, the lusting died down as Ender and Iffy started to work through their issues and there were some seriously swoony moments. I loved how he's so down bad for her, and his goofy golden retriever energy. Tiffiny was just very grumpy, but I guess I get it 🤣

I guess now I'm glad I didn't have time to read the first book, Nailed at Home Plate because I'm not sure if I want to read it now, but I'm also slightly confused. I read the first two books in her Scottish B&B series and LOVED them so I'm not sure if I'm misremembering those or what.

Ultimately though, aside from the repetitive phrasing I think the book is a fun, smutty, easy read and if you enjoy the things that aren't my jam, I enthusiastically recommend this book.

[alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

being as my favorite person in the whole wide world, max fried, is a pitcher, i have been ANXIOUSLY awaiting the opportunity to read this. and also k let me have workingthemound as my threads username. anyway, job well done, k.

working the mound captivates you from the very beginning. our leading characters, tiffiny and ender, are so lovable and relatable. tiffiny and ender work together as part of the philly sillys organization, philadelphia's version of the savannah bananas. tiffiny parades around games in a liberty bell costume as the team's mascot 'ding dong' while ender tops the silly's rotation. they had a relationship back in high school, only for ender to dump tiffiny for a chance to go out with the popular girl. tiffiny's been nursing a grudge since and is determined to let ender have it for the rest of his days. what tiffiny doesn't know, though, is that ender never actually went through with his desire to date the popular girl and, now that he's back in her orbit, he's determined to have the opportunity to rekindle things with her. he'll even go so far as to read her favorite books and treat her to dates at a local bookstore. tiffiny isn't so easily won over, though, as the wound ender left in her heart and trust is a deep one. what follows is 300 pages of a swoonworthy second chance romance.

i fear saying anything too specific as i don't want to be the one to spoil crucial plot lines. but this book is genuinely SO ADORABLE. i love how unabashedly down bad ender is for tiffiny. the way he describes the way her skin radiates in the afternoon sunlight. he asks her for book recommendations AND ACTUALLY READS HER FAVORITE BOOKS AND NOTES PLOT POINTS AND SEX SCENES. AND HE ACTUALLY ENCORPORATES THEM INTO THE BEDROOM. and i loved that he has a playlist of songs that make him think of her. that is so me core. anyway, i need a partner that is that dedicated to appreciating and respecting my interests.

all that to say, i cannot WAIT to get my own physical copy of this book and annotate all my favorite lines. i'm honored to share a username with this book <3

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll be honest... I went into Working the Mound by K. Iwancio a little hesitant. I wasn’t the biggest fan of book one and had some pretty strong critiques, so I wasn’t sure what to expect here. But I really wanted to give it a fair shot (especially because I love baseball and the Savannah Bananas vibe), and I’m so glad I did!

This was SUCH an improvement. Like, truly light years ahead of the first book, in the best way possible. You can tell the author really listened to feedback because everything just felt stronger, smoother, and more engaging.

This book was fun, hot, sweet, and had just the right amount of angst and emotional depth. I thought the second chance romance was done really well, and I LOVED how completely down bad Ender was for Tiffiny. Even with all the miscommunication and misunderstandings, that man was gone for her from day one and never looked back. The groveling was top tier, I must say.

Also, the “locker room book club” had me cracking up. The guys getting into romance (and monster romance!) was hilarious, and the audiobook conversations were way too real. You can tell K. knows her audience and was having fun with it.

Tiffiny as the mascot in the Liberty Bell costume was such a unique and fun touch and it made the whole story stand out even more. And the chemistry between her and Ender was really so good. The spice was done really well, and the added artwork??? I was not prepared BUT I LOVED IT!

And can we TALK about the “crawl to me” moment?? From HER to HIM?? Yeah… I felt that.

I think this was outstanding and such a huge step up from book one. I’m officially back on board for this series! I’m excited for Benson’s book next!

Thank you to K. Iwancio for the eARC of this book.

[JoAnna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Working the Mound as an ARC, and I had the time of my life! Working the Mound is the second book in the Philly Sillys series, which follows an entertainment league baseball team inspired by the Savannah Bananas.

In this book, we focus on Tiffiny, who works as the team's liberty bell mascot, and Ender, the team's newest starting pitcher. When Tiffiny isn't working the crowd at a Philly Sillys game, she has her nose in a book - usually a spicy romance book, even though she has essentially sworn off romance in her own life. Ender is Tiffiny's ex, who has never stopped pining for her. When he joins the Philly Sillys and comes face to face with the woman he could never move on from, he makes a plan to win her back.

With first love/second chance, workplace romance, goldren retreiver/black cat, and slow burn tropes, this story is full of romance clichés, but rather than feeling like clichés, the author embraces and celebrates the world of romance books and the readers who love them, so it feels intentional and somewhat tongue-in-cheek. The author has also provided a spotify playlist to enhance the story, and while I don't do well listening to songs with lyrics while reading, I did listen to each chapter's song after reading the chapter. The musical supplement provides another layer of emotional connection, especially in those chapters with major events.

This book was a fun ride from start to finish. I absolutely loved it, and cannot wait to read more in the Philly Sillys series!

[Waldy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like baseball, smut and smutty baseball-puns, then this is the book for you! K. Iwancio's "Working the Mound" is the second book in A Philly Sillys Romance series. The Philly Sillys are an Entertainment League Baseball team based in Philadelphia. Tiffiny Campanaro is Ding Dong, the Liberty Bell mascot who has it out for one particular pitcher. Ender Roche is the star pitcher. And yep, you guessed it - they get it ~ ON ~


Tiffiny and Ender's romance is a slow burn, second chance and forbidden workplace romance. The slow burn was a little too slow for me, but it definitely got interesting once things started to heat up. I also don't particularly like stories about high school exes getting back together, no matter how many years have passed, but this was written in a very endearing way, and you were actively rooting for them.

I also enjoyed the callbacks and elaborations to the first book, "Nailed at Home Plate." This book is not nearly as spicy or filthy as the first one, but I thought it matched Tiffiny and Ender's personalities well. We FINALLY got to know how Ender landed himself in the hospital on a big game day. It was absolutely sex related, as I predicted, but the exact scenario made me gasp OH NO.

Overall the book was fun and flirty, but did not have me questioning, "do people really do that?" like it had in the first one. It looks like a third Philly Sillys romance novel is coming, and I hope there's a wedding scene that the team gets to attend.

[Tabitha Bechtel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our FMC is Tiffiny and our MMC is Ender. This is a slow burn second chance workplace romance. Tiffiny and Ender used to date in high school until Ender broke her heart. He was thinking with his dick rather than his heart. Tiffiny has been holding a grudge for years over this. What both of them don’t realize is the other has feelings for them.

I love the walk through of Ender and Tiffiny getting back together. It starts out with Tiffiny still hating Ender. Then moves to the realizing their feelings for each other. Then they start working on everything to get back together.

I love the way Ender listens and takes notes on Tiffiny’s interests and involves himself in them to woo her back. The Silly’s having their own book club had me cracking up. The name for the book club almost brought tears to my eyes.

Ender listens and listens well. He reads Tiffiny like an open book. He remembers what she likes from the books he reads that she suggests, to her favorite food. He brings ideas from books into the bedroom. He’s Tiffiny’s real life book boyfriend.

I love books like this where you can place this book’s timeline in line with the first book and pick out what was happening when and get the full view.

In the end, this book is a great sports romance. Had me 🥵 during some of the chapters. I loved it.

[Lauren Sexton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! What a fun time!! The second “Philly Silly’s” book didn’t disappoint! 🔔💙⚾️

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (rounded up to 4)

I am a sucker for second chance romance.. especially when the mmc is down bad and he GROVELS for a second chance! Even better when he CRAWLS for his woman! 🥵

Ender and Tiffiny were the cutest couple! She had obvious trust issues after Ender broke her heart in high school to chase the popular girl on campus. But now, he’s back in her life when he joins the Philly Silly’s as the pitcher and Tiffiny is the Silly’s Mascot!

💙What I loved? That Ender won Tiffiny back with learning about her taste in books… he did his homework and committed to the long game of winning her back. The boy’s book club also cracked me up! And that spicy scene with her still in costume?! 🥵🌶️🔥 You’d think it would be weird… but Ender was so into it which made it hot!

✨Why did I knock off 2 stars? Ender’s whole story of not being with anyone else wasn’t super believable… I mean, it showed he was set on getting his woman back, but I don’t really buy it when the whole reason he broke up with her was to chase some other tail. And why didn’t Tiffiny share her story about Ender with Cadence?! That didn’t make sense.. my besties know all of my drama! Also, “Iffy” as a nickname was a little strange.

Overall- fun read if you love a silly sports romcom! 🥰⚾️💙

[NabbiNack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader in this book. I wish I could say that I picked up all the typos and punctuation stuff…Not at all…I read for vibes and a good time and it DELIVERED. This book like the mascot was controlled chaos. I personally never like or want to read second chance romances it is a trope that I struggle to get into.This however is the only one I will defend to my dying breath. It. is. that. good.

I specifically wanted to address the fact the author has been paying attention to social media and obviously is a reader herself. It makes the reading experience so much better. I am now mortified that my spicy books were overheard while I was waiting for a light to change….hopefully my headphones don’t betray me like my car…

Now the best part, the smut …oh no …excuse me the “Cliterature” was wonderfully written. The MMC started reading the books to get closer to her and then started applying his knowledge. The boy even applied his knowledge in the mascot suit. Shoot, If more men read this stuff….
Imagine the golden girls episode where Blanche is watering her plants in the kitchen. Having to use the spritzer to cool herself off…. That is how wonderfully written the scenes are in this book.

[Coffeenbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Baseball romance
- Second chance
- Close proximity
- Workplace romance
- He knows he messed up

As a PA girl, I absolutely loved seeing all of the iconic call outs to our state. Hello Turkey Hill Iced Tea! It made me so giggly to know all of the references. This made me feel like part of the story and really made the read that much more special.

The one thing I love about this author's book is the relatable writing style she has. Yeah, Tiffiny is a bit much at times, but I'd still be her bestie.

I have always been a fan of second chances and this one was very unique. Ender knew he made a huge mistake in high school ending his relationship with Tiffiny to pursue a vapid cheerleader type. He has spent the last 10 years filled with regret. I mean, at least he didn't cheat, but wow, what an ahole move.

Tiffiny has never truly gotten over the relationship and loses herself in romances. At least book boyfriends won't disappoint you!

It is so obvious right from the start that neither have really moved on. Tiffiny doesn't want to want Ender and Ender wants nothing more than Tiffiny. The way that he tried to win her over by way of her favorite books was genius! And it worked!

I giggled, sweated and stomped my feet reading this book. What a wild ride!

[balayageandbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALL THE STARS!!!
The way this book had me kicking my feet and squealing!
When I say that I’m obsessed with this series… I mean…I’M OBSESSED WITH THIS.(envision the meme with Daniel from Schitt’s Creek)
The way I was rooting for this couple!
You have this FMC that is a total spit fire, she’s feisty and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. But she’s also still mending a broken heart, and those wounds are pretty deep.
Insert our MMC, he’s a tall drink of Philly Silly’s pitcher. He’s also the reason behind our FMC’s hardened heart…but not everything is as it seems… and we quickly learn that this MMC will do all the groveling and begging on his knees and off of his knees to win his mi amor back.
Between the hilarious banter…
The deliciously unhinged men’s book club name (I mean seriously… Pitching Tents Romance Book Club?!)….
All the panty melting chemistry…
And the swoon worthy romance….
This book hands down will live rent free in my head!

If you love those baseball players that dance around while they play (i know you’ve feel down that clock app rabbit hole), your romance books to have you cracking up laughing one minute and then fanning yourself in the next this little series is a must read!

[Rachel Nahabedian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: Loved It / Slightly Obsessed

I love when a book runs concurrently with another in a series, and K. absolutely crushed it here. You don’t need Nailed at Home Plate to enjoy this, but if you’ve read it? The Easter eggs and callbacks will have you giggling and pointing like, “I KNOW THAT REFERENCE.” Honestly, that alone would’ve sold me, but K really said, "Hold my nachos in a baseball helmet."

Tiffiny had me from line one (literally, see quote on photo). She’s peak black cat energy. She's sharp, witty, a little emotionally unavailable (same, girl, same), and impossible not to love. But underneath all that bite, she’s still holding onto her first love…who just so happens to be on the team she mascots for. Pain. Delicious, messy pain.

And Ender?? Sir. One giant, walking green flag with a guilt complex. Sweet, attentive, and fully aware he fumbled the ball with Tiffiny years ago and has been legit suffering ever since. Watching this man work to win her back? The man was LITERALLY on his knees CRAWLING TO HER! 🥵🥵 Top-tier book boyfriend behavior. He even broke out his mom and her cooking, buying her all the dark romance and monster smut she could want, reading her spicy books and TAKING NOTES?? I was unwell. I was also snickering at the Pitching Tents club (iykyk) and, ma'am, if you ever
make a generic shirt with some logo for that club on it, I will take one (maybe 2).

This book feels like a warm hug wrapped in chaos. Ender being an absolute simp for Tiffiny healed
something in me I didn’t know needed healing. I was laughing, kicking my feet, and slightly losing my mind all at once.

I need Book 3 immediately. No notes.

Thank you, @k.iwancio_writes for the ARC. I adore you as a person and thank bananas that baseball is finally back!

[HeadCanonHeadCase · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4

Tiffany hopes that she can hide inside the Liberty Bell costume and avoid her ex now that he plays for the Philly Sillys. Ender may have missed his shot at the major leagues, but he's determined not to miss out on a second chance with the girl he should have never let go in the first place.

Read if you like:
-Second Change Romance
-It's Always Been You
-Banana Ball but make it Sports Romance
-Low Angst

I loved that much like the Banana Ball that inspired this series, Working the Mound didn't take itself too seriously. This was a sports romance but it was also a rom com. I found myself smiling like a fool at the team's antics, Ender's mom, and Tiffany and Ender's date gone wrong. This was the perfect mental escape after some of the heavier, angstier books I'd read recently. It's also the first Philly Sillys book I've read, so I'm excited to go back and pick up the first book now. It was fun and fresh as well as hopeful and happy. Second chance romances can sometimes be tricky, but I like that K. Iwancio started it from a teenage insecurity gave Tiffany and Ender a chance to grow before bringing them back together.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book is intriguing: High school flames reunited years later. He's the hotshot pitcher and she's the team's mascot. He's desperate for a second chance; she's heart-hardened by the way he's treated her in the past. Add a unique setting—entertainment baseball = serious sport + silly atmosphere!—and it seems we have a recipe for success.

Unfortunately, this book needed more time in the oven. The characters are not especially meaty and the conversations/banter often feel stilted and forced. I wish the story did a better job of "showing, not telling" the history between the couple, and how it impacts their interactions today. It's a cute idea to use the FMC's love of romance novels as an entre point for the MMC's grovel, but please remember the book's audience—we're already romance readers, we don't need the genre and online community mansplained to us.

The first book in the series is stronger than this sophomore attempt. The bones are there, but it doesn't quite have the polish it needs.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fabulous installment in The Philly Sillies series!!! This one was loosely based on my favorite professional player - none other than Ranger Suarez! Who will say reading this book made me feel warm and I will say it and helped ease the pain that I have in my heart ever since he went to Boston!😅

As a native of Pennsylvania-more specifically Philly burbs, I am still over the moon with the idea of the Philly Sillies, and the mascot Ding Dong- a mixture of the Liberty Bell and Gritty- is pure genius.

I love second chance romances, but I don’t love miscommunication tropes so I did get a little tired of the back-and-forth between Ender and Tiffiny, but overall I loved their personalities and Ender’s sweet and dedicated quest to become a book boyfriend to win her back!

The author’s spicy scenes always end up making me crack up, and this one definitely made me lol, especially when someone ends up in the hospital!😅

I am looking forward to the next book in the series!

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quote: “He said audiobooks don’t count as reading.” Why? Because I gasp and said “they do count as reading!” Audiobook lover here 😍🎧

⭐️ 4.5
🌶️ 2.5

I absolutely loved this book! I’m a sucker for a good sports romance, and when you mix in romcom vibes, it’s just the icing on the cake. Add in a second-chance romance? I’m sold.

Tiffany is the mascot for the Philly Sillys baseball team, and Ender is the rookie pitcher but these two have a past that didn’t exactly end on a high note. And let’s just say one of them has some serious regrets.

I really loved how the MMC was determined to relearn the girl of his dreams. Their chemistry, the tension, and the emotional growth made this such a fun and heartfelt read. It had me laughing, swooning, and fully invested in their journey back to each other.

If you love these tropes you will love this book:
⚾️second Chances
🔔sports romance
⚾️grumpy/sunshine
🔔slow burn
⚾️he reads
🔔 enemies to friends to lovers

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taming the Mascot

Working the Mound
By K. Iwancio
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Pitching Tents Romance Book Club

Ender the new pitcher for the Philly Silly’s and Tiffiny, Ding Dong the mascot for the team. They get pushed together again after years apart and a bad breakup in high school. Her brother Cooper is the Silly’s pitching coach and gives Ender a run for his money every practice.
Ender still calls her Iffy ::swoon::
This book gave me so many feels and the one liners are absolutely FANTASTIC! I mean come one these two alone would make me read this book.
Ender- “She had cut the bridge with a rusty spork and spit in the rubble.”
Tiffiny - ““I’m gonna cut you off there, desperate desperado.””
Ugh and Mama Roche, Enders mother is now my new book mom! She has the quick wit and you just fall in love with her. A total MUST read. I cannot wait for Bensons story! Bring it all on K. Iwancio!!!!

[Syduction · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️|🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Read if you ❤️
⚾️ second chance romances
🔔 workplace romances
⚾️ sports romances
🔔 groveling
⚾️ unhinged teammates
🔔 bookTok
⚾️ Pitching Tents Book Clubs
🔔 secret relationships
⚾️ “it’s always been you”

Ugh this book killed me in the best way possible. The Silly’s team as a whole cracks me up but the sheer vibe that they all have going on is 10/10. All 300 and some odd pages had me swooning, snorting, and kicking my feet like a deranged school girl.

For those of you less into the baseball scene but enjoy a good baseball-isk read, this is absolutely for you.

No notes, no qualms, always here for a Taylor Swift reference, and I will be googling whether or not it’s possible to vaginally pickle a cucumber (I pray to whatever might be listening that no one who knows me IRL ever finds this account.)

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed from ARC

Oh my goodness this book had my cackling and kicking my feet up.

Tiffiny is the Philly Silly’s mascot, The Liberty Bell and she just happens to be working on the same team as her pitcher ex-boyfriend, Ender. Their break up was the best, and navigating seeing each other every day isn’t making things easier. Ender is hoping he can make this second chance encounter with Tiffiny, count.

There were so many great parts to this book and the references had me highlighting so much on my kindle.

First off, CLITERATURE?! dead 🤣

The name of the team’s bookclub was my favorite. There were just so many great, hilarious moments in the book. Well…I don’t want to spoil it for you so I highly suggest picking up a copy once it’s out!

[Jadzia Hilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first experience with a baseball story but I was happily surprised! It doesn’t focus too much on baseball but rather on the previous history between the MMC and FMC. I thought the book itself provided an easy to get into story even though it’s the second in the series, I never felt like I was missing important information. I think the main the romance was sweet and definitely supported the HEA the author provided. The spice in the book didn’t pick up until the middle/end but when it did pick up I was HOOKED!

I didn’t like the relationship between the FMC and her bestie, it just made me sad they didn’t communicate more.

I inhaled this book the immediately recommended it to my baseball obsessed roommate. Overall a really good read!

[Beka McBride · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars rounded up

I am having so much fun with this series! This is the second installment and I was so excited to get my hands on it. The FMC had a BIG GRUDGE in this lovers-to-one-sided-enemies-to-lovers story. I loved the connection to romance readers and the idea of the team starting their own book club!

I don’t think there could ever be enough groveling, but that’s a general rule, not necessarily that Ender got off easy for his past transgression (and hoo, is it a doozy, why are boys so dumb??).

I do think the writing was a little clunky and heavy-handed at times, and it reads like the author is still a bit green. But. I love the concept, and I look forward to more in this series!

[Delicate Rock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I already know I’m liking this book less than book 1.

Even if the fmc forgives the mmc I don’t think I can. I am especially mad at cooper for his part in divulging how she is closed off and mmc was already thinking it was because of what he did…which it seems true but he shouldn’t be getting any confirmation from her brother who saw her in the aftermath.

Listen I know ppl will be quick to say he was a dumb teenager but the pattern is set in my mind that I’ll always be worried about the next “the grass is greener” moment happens for him again so no thanks I can’t live like that with tingle of self doubt in a relationship. I know the author is making it hard by having him be celibate but ughhhhh it makes cute if not unrealistic

[Kalexreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun and funny second chance workplace romance between Tiffiny and Ender. They were high school sweethearts, but he broke up with her because he wanted to see someone else. Years later, she was still brokenhearted by it. When Ender joins the EBL team that Tiffiny is the mascot for, they can’t avoid each other. Ender knows he needs to grovel for Iffy and make her understand that he regretted the breakup immediately. Tiffiny doesn’t want to admit she still has feelings for Ender. After they start spending some time together, things definitely heat up between them. Sweet and spicy and hysterical. Loved it!!!

[Bookish_Carisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tropes Include:
-Enemies to Lovers
-Second Chance Romance
-Workplace Romance
-Baseball Pitcher x Mascot

Tiffiny, mascot for the Phillys Sillys baseball team, thought her life couldn’t get any worse until she is forced to work with her ex, Ender, the only man she ever loved. If you've ever heard of the Savannah Bananas I think you will like the book. It's a great book, it's entertaining, I love how they make their own romance book club that they host in their own locker room. Men reading romance books will always be a highlight for me. I love how she writes her books and cannot wait until the next book.

[Nicole Zamlout · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t laughed, squealed, and been absolutely smitten with an MMC in the way I have been with this book in a while. As a fellow book lover, Tiffiny was immediately relatable and such a fun character to me, especially as I laughed over how similar some of our tastes were.

Ender was PERFECT. Sweet, willing to admit when he was wrong, kind, and just amazing in every way! I thought that him reading some of the books he loved was enough to make me swoon, but oh did the book prove me wrong!

All in all, this was an amazing read and I’m so excited to see what comes next for the Philly Sillys!

[IG | TorturedHeroesDept · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to start by saying that this author’s writing style is not my favorite and it affected my rating. It’s not a bad book, but it’s not a ME book. I find a lot of her writing, especially conversations, to come off very immature. Then I felt like we were TOLD a lot of the story instead of getting to experience it happen with the characters.

This is book 2 in the Philly Sillys series. Tiffiny, yes it’s spelled that way, is forced to work with her ex, Ender.

What you’ll get:
Mascot x Pitcher
Workplace Romance
Forced Proximity
Second Chance Romance
Enemies to Lovers
He’s her brother’s teammate


Thanks to the author for this ARC.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

K. Iwancio nails yet another home run with her newest Philly Sillys book "Working the Mound". Tiffiny Campanaro is an absolute sassy delight as Sillys' Mascot Ding Dong while Sillys' pitcher Ender Roche sets extraordinarily high expectations for all future boyfriends. The MCs' amazing chemistry, the delightful antics of the Philly Sillys, and the consistent nods to the story's setting makes "Working the Mound" a passionate love letter to romance, entertainment league baseball, and the city of Philadelphia. ❤️

[Sarah Pimble-Curll · Rating 5 out of 5]

K. Iwancio brought me deep into the entertainment league and I’m not even mad. I really enjoyed reading about Tiffiny and Ender. From the first few chapters, I found myself rooting for Ender and begging Tiffiny to forgive him for his stupid teenage transgressions.
Tiffiny and Ender’s story definitely rang my bell 😂
Absolutely LOVED the Philly Sillies and all of the chaos of the guys. The Pitching Tents Bookclub needs an entire book of their own.
I love a little local lore, and references to Northeast Philly, SEPTA, and reading terminal market were the perfect nods to my hometown.

[Terren Hoeksema · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to belly laugh the whole book, welp this is just the book for that. Ender and Tiffiny have some unfinished conflict that has been going on for years. Tiffiny believes one thing after being hardbroken by Ender so many years ago, come to find out our hero who is taking pointers from Tiffiny's TBR has a secret ( a good one mind you) that sends Tiffiny reeling. If you like those dancing baseball guys and love a good mascot that tells it like it is (she's a spitfire that one) this is the book for you.