We finally get to hear how the relationship with Lacey and Maddox started AND ended. Even years later, Maddox can't seem to forget the woman who took and broke his heart in Las Vegas. Do they even have a chance to make it work? Lacey knows hockey players. She grew up with them. Dallas from the last book is her brother and to say she doesn't trust them with her heart is an understatement. She has tried to move on but now with Dallas marrying Maddox's cousin, these two will forever be in each other's orbits. Do they have what it takes to go the distance? Maddox will need to prove that he is way more than a player, and Lacey will need to prove that she can keep his heart safe. Sweet and sexy story about love and redemption.

I absolutely loved this book! Playmaker is the third book in the Breakaway Series from this author but it can easily be read standalone. You will love the writing and characters in each of these books. We met Paige aka Lacey, and Maddox in the previous book and now we get their story!

This is a great second chance story that proves that what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas. There will be times when you want to head slap each of these characters but you can't help but want to see them find their happy.

I highly recommend this one.

L.P. Dover delivers once again with her latest book in the Breakaway Hockey Series. Maddox Ledger is one of the best hockey players in the league and of course he plays for the Charollette Striker’s. Lacey Easton is finishing medical school in New York City when she meets Maddox in Las Vegas. Lacey knows who Maddox is but doesn’t let on. She also lies about her name for reasons you’ll understand later in the book. After two of the best weeks in both their lives Lacey sneaks away leaving Maddox heartbroken and with no way to find her. Meanwhile Lacey wonders if she made a mistake leaving Maddox the way she did. But life goes on...until two years later when Lacey can’t avoid Maddox anymore.
Both Maddox and Lacey are in the bridal party of mutual friends. Maddox is still angry that Lacey lied to him and left him. Lacey wants to avoid talking about the whole incident. That’s not going to happen. Throughout the wedding weekend the sparks are still there between Maddox and Lacey and even though Lacey knows she still loves Maddox she thinks things could never work between them. Maddox isn’t ready to give up. Ms. Dover creates wonderful characters and each new book brings back all of the same characters the series started with. (Each book can be read as a stand-alone but I recommend reading the series in order.). Among the main plot are side plots that take you deeper into the lives of the main characters other than their love story giving them more depth. I highly recommend this book. This series.

Awesome!

A great addition to the Breakaway series. Maddox and Lacey are perfect together. An emotional yet humorous story.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

Great book. Different from the other. Love always wins. Family is not easy but love and forgiveness are triumphant

There's a lot more to Maddox than the guy you have seen in previous books in the series. Of all the hockey players featured so far he might be my favorite.

He reconnects with Lacey Easton, his teammate's sister, after having spent time together years ago. Lacey is a smart and career driven woman and she's not sure she can trust Maddox. They still have lots of chemistry together, but can they make a real relationship work?

This can be read as a standalone,but I do recommend reading the other two books in the series first as characters from them make appearances.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

During a trip to Vegas, Maddox and Lacey meet, fall in love, and get married. The next morning Lacey leaves without explanation. Two years later they see each other again but both act as though they don’t recognize the other. When Maddox has finally had enough and the circumstance arrives for the perfect opportunity, he confronts her. What follows is a bit confusing as to motivation on both their parts, some push and pull and a lot of introspection to explain both their reasons for their actions.

Maddox spent two years being photographed with other women in order to make Lacey jealous so she would come back to him and confront him. She knew how hockey players were basically man whores and knew he would eventually cheat on her so she left him first in Vegas. It all felt a bit disjointed and unrealistic.

However, the second part of the book picked up as they struggle to make things work. They refuse to tell her brother although just about everyone around them except him knows they are married. There’s some drama with another woman that wouldn’t take no for an answer and additional drama with Lacey’s best friend who is a man and Maddox’s teammate.

This book just didn’t work for me. I had a hard time accepting the periods of separation between them. It just felt like a lot of immature game playing in the relationship and they were too old to be acting like that. The secondary characters were nice but not enough to carry the story.
However, I’m a believer that even if something doesn’t work for me, it might be the perfect read for someone else.

If you like hockey and second chance romance, this definitely has that.

This is an honest review of an advanced copy provided by NetGalley and Loveswept

Dual POV
Safe – neither H/h sleep with anyone after they’re with each other; ow/om drama
No apparent triggers

4 out of 5 stars

Maddox and Lacey started crazy and things didn’t change much! Maddox plays hockey with Lacey’s brother and she has admired him from afar since he joined the team. A two week vacation in Vegas ends with their marriage and her running away.

Two years later, they reconnect and that’s where we, the readers, come in. Watching them fight their attraction and hide it from everyone around was almost amusing. I can’t believe that more people weren’t in the loop, but I enjoyed the story.

Maddox had a character overhaul so to speak and became a better person. Lacey quit fighting and trusted him. It was a great story of second chances with just enough drama to keep me reading.


*** I voluntarily read a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***

A good book, with no silly misunderstandings. My favorite of this author's so far.

This is steamy, romantic and sweet. Maddox is a sweet, romantic guy who has been put down by his father his whole life, which has made him insecure and angry. And a jerk. Lacey is stubborn, driven, insecure and independent. They met in Vegas, fell in love, got married and then she ran. And it turns out, didn't use her real name. Two years later they get thrown together, and Maddox won't let her run again. With a few twists, a few surprises and some clandestine trysts, they try to have a real marriage. I loved this story, Maddox is such a sweetheart and all the hiding is entertaining. It's a book that belongs on your TBR list.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

I’ve only read a few of the books by this author but she is definitely rising to the top of my go-to author list. I know some people will say this story is so predictable but remember that it is fiction! Books are meant to be read and enjoyed and I certainly did with this one!

Hockey is my favorite sport, never played it, never met a player but I’ve watched and listened to many games enough to know that the guys have a very hectic schedule. They don’t have a normal 9-5 job and relationships aren’t the easiest thing. Plus you have all the groupies just wanting a chance to get in their pants!

This is a fun story about Paige/Lacey and Maddox who met and married in Vegas two years ago and then parted ways. Yes, they were drunk and crazy but you will learn that they both were pretty surprised at their own actions. True to expectations, they meet again at her brother’s wedding, only Lacey decides to pretend she doesn’t know him. After all, she did give him a fictitious name even though she’s had a crush on him her whole life. Hockey players are just that – players. Throw in that he’s on her brother’s team and you can see how this is a complicated, funny, sexy read. I’m sure if you don’t want drama and violence, you will love this story!

I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was promised or received for this review.

This 5 star story took me by surprise, that I had no choice but to read it in one sitting. It was highly entertaining and full of drama. There was just the right amount for me to like this story and the wonderful characters that were perfectly created.

It is part of a series but I didn’t feel liked I missed any information in order to enjoy this story. It does have an amazing HEA. Told in a dual POV. I highly recommend this story.

In book two, Blocked, we got a glimpse of Lacey and Maddox. There is something there and we don't know what it is! I wanted to find out!!

Well two years ago, Lacey and Maddox met in Las Vegas for spring break. Things went off the hook, and low and behold, they got married by Elvis. The next day Lacey disappeared and Maddox was left with no ring, no certificate, and no wife! Why did she leave??

Fast forward to now, and Maddox has learned his wife is his teammate's sister and his cousin's good friend! Tired of waiting for her to come back to him, Maddox confronts her. Lacey's excuse for leaving, I thought, was really lame. She says she can't trust him, but never even gave him the chance. She took off! I don't care if she was scared. She never gave it a chance.

Maddox put his feelings out there time and time again for Lacey. He just wanted to be with her-however she would allow him. He truly loved her. I felt really bad for him. For someone who has a job that is thoughtful and helpful, I felt she was acting like a petulant child! I wanted to shake her at one point to tell her to suck it up and give her marriage a shot for crying out loud! Her actions got old after awhile that's for sure! I liked how Maddox seemed to take the higher road and do whatever it took to make Lacey happy.

I also liked that even though he had issues with some of his teammates and a lot of issues with his dad, he worked through them. He strived to not act like his dad. And finally, he let his teammates see the real Maddox-not the rough and growly Maddox!

Do I feel the book was worth reading?? Yes I do! I was interested to learn Lacey and Maddox's story. I also enjoyed all the interactions with the teammates and their spouses!

reviewed by Deb

Playmaker
Breakaway #3
L.P. Dover
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finally I was able to find out about Maddox and Lacey aka Paige that was introduced in the previous book in this series. Dover really knows how to create awesome stories that keeps her readers interest throughout the whole book.
Maddox gets a second chance with Lacey. But is he gonna be able to get her to trust him since he’s been a player for so long. It’s so hard to put your heart out there and make yourself vulnerable. But if Lacey doesn’t then she could miss out on the best thing that may ever happen to her.
I am really loving the Breakaway series and can’t wait to find out who is gonna be in the next one. I hope it will be Justin.
Thanks NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.



Thanks NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Playmaker (Breakaway #3) by L.P. Dover was an awesome way to spend two days at work reading. Yes, you read that I did say I read at work this is just one of those books that I couldn’t put down the characters were fun. I found Lacey and Maddox charming the only thing I wish I have known is that this was the third book in the series but I will be going back to read one and two. This novel was a whirlwind romance gone terribly wrong turns terribly right I love Lacey and Maddox’s relationship from leaving him in Vegas to meeting him again two years later. Poor Maddox didn’t even know her real name. I found Maddox a cocky romantic hockey player just trying to do right by his father and his teammates and I found Lacey to be a fun loving corky strong female.
I liked the chemistry between them even after I got over Lacey's immaturity with leaving him. I get it, she was trying to save her heart and finish medical school. Maddox wasn't going to back down. He wanted Lacey even after everything, but does she want him? What lengths will Maddox go to get the girl of his dreams back? Do they even get there happy ever after or does someone else get the girl? If you are looking for a love story with a little edge this is the book for you. 4.5 Marvelous Maddox stars from me. Thank you to Netgalley Loveswept and the author for my arc this was a great book.

4 1/2 stars!!
Another great read in the Breakaway series by LP Dover! I have been looking forward to Maddox and Lacey’s story and it definitely did not disappoint! I love hockey and I love second chance romances so this is a win-win for me! This is a sweet story with a likable hero and heroine and great supporting characters too!
Although not without struggles to get to their eventual HEA, they clearly loved each other when they married in Vegas two years prior and seeing each other and spending time with each other again and learning to trust, proves to them that their love has not gone anywhere.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Both Maddox and Lacey appeared in earlier books. Maddox was going through a hard time, considering quitting hockey and went to Vegas. His cousin Callie, ask her friend to go check on him and they spent 2 weeks together, falling in love and got married by "Elvis". However, Lacey did not tell him her real name or who she was (the sister of one of his teammates) and the morning after they were married, took off with the marriage license and wedding rings. Maddox hired a PI to find her. For 2 years he tried to make her jealous, by appearing in front of the paparazzi with different woman on his arm, but now they will both be in Charlotte for Callie and Dallas's wedding and Maddox is not going to wait any more. Will they take a chance on their marriage or will Callie's best friend, Braeden, who is in love with her himself, try to keep them apart?
As in all the books that I have read by this author, the characters are all well developed and engaging. The plots are similar in that there always seems to be a "villain" who wants to keep the "lovers" apart, fails and sometimes reforms enough to get his own book. I also like the occasional reference to the SECOND CHANCES characters.
I read an advanced copy from netgalley.com and highly recommend this book and the rest of the author's collection.

I do love LP Dover and their writing. Having said this, the writing was well done, but the storyline was not wholly original. It was still a great guilty pleasure read but entirely predictable (and done before). Overall, still an enjoyable read. 3.5/5

In book two, Blocked, we got a glimpse of Lacey and Maddox. There is something there and we don't know what it is! I wanted to find out!!

Well two years ago, Lacey and Maddox met in Las Vegas for spring break. Things went off the hook, and low and behold, they got married by Elvis. The next day Lacey disappeared and Maddox was left with no ring, no certificate, and no wife! Why did she leave??

Fast forward to now, and Maddox has learned his wife is his teammate's sister and his cousin's good friend! Tired of waiting for her to come back to him, Maddox confronts her. Lacey's excuse for leaving, I thought, was really lame. She says she can't trust him, but never even gave him the chance. She took off! I don't care if she was scared. She never gave it a chance.

Maddox put his feelings out there time and time again for Lacey. He just wanted to be with her-however she would allow him. He truly loved her. I felt really bad for him. For someone who has a job that is thoughtful and helpful, I felt she was acting like a petulant child! I wanted to shake her at one point to tell her to suck it up and give her marriage a shot for crying out loud! Her actions got old after awhile that's for sure! I liked how Maddox seemed to take the higher road and do whatever it took to make Lacey happy.

I also liked that even though he had issues with some of his teammates and a lot of issues with his dad, he worked through them. He strived to not act like his dad. And finally, he let his teammates see the real Maddox-not the rough and growly Maddox!

Do I feel the book was worth reading?? Yes I do! I was interested to learn Lacey and Maddox's story. I also enjoyed all the interactions with the teammates and their spouses!

We knew in the last book in this series that Maddox and Lacey had a history. What we didn't know was how in depth that history was. Maddox and Lacey connected during spring break 2 years prior and got married. The next morning, Maddox wakes up alone with no wedding ring and the marriage certificate is also missing. Fast forward 2 years later and he finds out that his wife is really his teammate's sister, who even lied about her name. It was kind of unbelievable. I felt bad for Maddox because Lacey acted like she was the one who was scorned.
Maddox decides that he is tired of waiting for Lacey to come to her senses so he lets her know he knows exactly who she is. Lacey doesn't handle it well at all and kind of reverted to toddler status for me. She left him, vented that she hated him and then told him he was untrustworthy? She is best friends with Braeden and has no issues being seen or photographed with him, and yet she told Maddox that he was hurtful because of all of the pictures with various women she had to see over their 2 year period of being apart. Aside from the fact she gave a false name, vanished into the night and gave not one hint to him as to who she really was, she had the nerve to tell him she couldn't put her heart on the line for him.
Maddox was willing to go through a ton of hoops for Lacey. He even allowed her to decide when they could see each other. It got old for me after a while at how Lacey took advantage of him. She would get angry and then storm off, which was ridiculous. She was supposedly going to be a doctor and yet couldn't control her emotions??? Was not a fan of that at all. She wanted Maddox to trust her and allow her to continue to keep their relationship a secret (which was ridiculous) but couldn't stand to see him with another women, even when it was innocent.
I did like how Maddox showed his true feelings over and over again. He was sweet and pretty much willing to do whatever it took to make Lacey happy. I liked how he came to realize that he was worth more than his father thought. I also liked how he didn't go off the deep end very often. He took life altering news in stride. He more than made the book worth reading.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.