Playing Hurt by Kelly Jamieson is the latest story in her Aces Hockey series, following a group of hockey players through sometimes challenging, sometimes fun and always sexy stories of life and love on and off the rink. This entry has a 25 year old player who has a nagging injury that could derail his career paired with a star singer experiencing the same.

Chase Hartman has been struggling to score goals. While it’s not uncommon for a hockey player to go through a slump, for Chase it’s more worrisome because while a broken thumb has healed, his wrist keeps giving him trouble at unexpected times causing him to be hesitant on the ice. The resulting bad publicity from not performing to his potential adds to the stress. The one bright spot is his fun and flirty twitter ‘relationship’ with pop star Jordyn Banks.

Jordyn is a huge hockey fan, and while the LA team the Condors is her current favorite since she lives there, the Aces have a special place in her heart since she grew up in Chicago where her parents still live. Trash talking with Chase on twitter leads to a date that is fun, but one she doesn’t expect to go anywhere. But then Jordyn experiences her own career hardship, when her overworked vocal cords force her to take a break. With recovery on her mind, returning home to Chicago means she can also open up to a real friendship with Chase. Things start to get heated between them as neither can deny their chemistry. But with their careers and futures in question, is a long term relationship possible?

I really enjoyed this story! It feels more like a new adult romance compared with others in the series, mostly because Chase and Jordyn are at early stages in their career, and in their early twenties. Sometimes this means not always making the best decisions and having to learn from their mistakes.

Chase grew up in an emotionally abusive home, though he doesn’t really acknowledge that until he has to explain to Jordyn what it was like to grow up in a home where how he did playing hockey determined the love and affection shown to him by his parents. Even now, he feels that his self worth is dependent on how well his career is going – and it’s currently not great. He’s been keeping the extent of his injury hidden so as to not let down his team, but eventually realizes he’s helping no-one by keeping it a secret. Figuring out that Jordyn will be there for him no matter where his career takes him is a hard lesson to learn, but one he eventually takes to heart.

Jordyn is a cheerful, fun character with all too human quirks (like losing her car keys, or her phone, repeatedly) that contrast with her professional image. When she too experiences difficulty due to injury, she is quick to address it (unlike Chase). She tries to be helpful, but sometimes oversteps in her eagerness to help make things right for others. Trust issues are less of a problem for her, though she has learned the hard way that her celebrity status brings out both the best and the worst in people. Having a partner who knows how to deal with the limelight definitely helps. Chase and Jordyn share some super sexy scenes together as they connect, on their way to a happy ending that doesn’t come easily but is worth it in the end.

Like all of the author’s hockey romances, there are on and off the ice scenes that ring with authenticity. As all hockey players go through times of ‘playing hurt’, distinguishing what can be pushed through, and what can’t is key to a long term career, and something that Chase needs to learn. The other members of the Aces team have his back, and while they might tease him about his feelings for Jordyn, they know that injuries are no joke. The team has gone through good and bad times together and their friendships are solid and just as enjoyable as the romances are in the series. This romance works well as a standalone, but I also recommend the rest of the series and can’t wait to hear what’s in store for the Aces next!


This review has been featured at Harlequin Junkie and feedback updated with the link. It has been posted at sale sites and goodreads.

4.5 Stars for this fantastic read from Kelly Jamieson! I really, really liked this story of Jordyn and Chase. These two connect via Twitter, which honestly has a special place in my heart. Both well-known, but both looking for something. Both are playing hurt until they can't, finding something in the other that they didn't know they were missing. I loved their connection from the start! Funny, sweet and oh so sexy. Jamieson weaves the hockey world and that of music, while forcing these two to face their fears and fight for their future. Another solid offering in the Aces Hockey series.

I voluntarily read an advanced review copy of this book

Chase is a hockey player with a bad boy past. After years of trying to prove his worth he still can't seem to get everyone to believe he is completely focused on his career...especially now that his skill on the ice has been a little rocky and he seems to have caught the attention of his one and only grown up crush...Jordyn

Busy pop star Jordyn Banks has no time for romance...but after losing a bet to Chase she quickly realizes that she may need to make some time in her calendar for one hunky hockey player.

Overall this book was really good. I loved that both Chase and Jordyn were not perfect... they had their own issues and had to find a way to work their way out of their own hardships. This book is priced on Amazon for 4.99 and I think that is a fair price.

I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

NHL Aces Hockey player Chase Hartman has had a crush on singer Jordyn Banks, so is delighted when he finds she is following him on his Twitter. She is a big hockey fan and they start exchanging tweets during games, which leads to a bet and a date when she is in Chicago. Chase makes great date. However, since she lives in LA and he in Chicago, she says she isn't interested in a second. But things change. She has an issue with her throat requiring surgery and returns to Chicago, where she is from and her parents still live. Chase meanwhile is having undiagnosed issues with his wrist. They reconnect in Chicago to help each other out. And find that they have a lot in common.

This is a beautifully written story, with expertly developed characters. Chase doesn't trust love, because his parents withheld love from him when he didn't want to play as a child and later when he didn't do well. So he doesn't understand or know how to act when Jordyn is so concerned about his health, and like a guy makes mistakes. But Jordyn also shows her love by pushing- sometimes too much. The conflict is engaging in both their personal struggles with their injuries and their relationship with each other. While it is the 6th in the series, there is not a lot of interaction with the other players, so could be read as a stand alone.

This book started so well, I was hooked and was enjoying it then for some reason it started to fall flat and I just didn’t end up liking it. I’m planning on trying again but I think I would benefit in reading the whole series rather than trying to read this as a stand alone. Fans of the series will love this addition.

I really enjoyed this book! Both Jordyn and Chase are not looking for a relationship, their careers are a little up in the with them both going through what could be career ending injuries. Jordyn in a new and up in coming pop star but has found a tickle in her throat, hoping it's nothing more than a cold but what it actually ended up being lead to surgery and a long recovery and resting her voice. Chase has a crush on Jordyn and is through the roof when he sees she's following him on Twitter, with a wager on hockey and some "dirty" tweets they meet for a date, aw! But with Jordyn in LA and Chase in Chicago it looks like one dates all there's going to be, yeah right! Great fun story with Chase being sexy, charming, funny and nice and Jordyn a sweet yet humble newbie star. It was a real fun read with humor and great chemistry!

This was a cute and enjoyable read. I really liked Chase. He seemed pretty grounded and the relationship issues that him and Jordyn face were multifaceted which I appreciated.

Kelly Jamieson does know how to write a truly authentic story about hockey by showing that it isn’t all fun and games. She doesn’t just focus on the success of a character on the ice, rather she shows readers the behind the scenes life of a player. And in this book, she mixes it up by including a female character who is well known in her own profession.

These two characters were fun to read about and follow as they figure out how to make their complicated situation work for both of them. They have their ups and downs but get the HEA!

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

Chase has left his partying ways in his past however it is not reflecting in his game on the ice. When he finds out that the famous pop star Jordyn, who he has admired from afar, is following him on twitter they quickly strike up a fun and flirty banter. They make a bet where if the team wins she will agree to a date with him and he becomes the victor.

Raised in Chicago, Jordyn has always been a fan of the ices and has become a fan of Chase as well. When she loses the bet she if far from disappointed and once they met in person their twitter flirtation quickly becomes personal.

It is hard enough trying to manage two high profile careers as well as the physical distance between them but when they are both facing important decisions in their careers they must decide if the rewards of being together outweigh the risks involved.

Humorous banter and heartwarming emotion as two unlikely people find what they have always been looking for. I have enjoyed the series and this book is no exception. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

This is the first book by Kelly Jamieson that I have read. Even though it is based on ice hockey (of which i know nothing!), the storyline was easy to follow without a background in this sport. Chase is a pro hockey player who has a crush on a pop singer named Jordyn and they start exchanging good-natured insults about their favorite teams. Their tweets are hilarious and filled with innuendos. Ultimately a bet is made resulting in a date. Both Chase and Jordyn are funny, smart and have a depth to their characters that are seldom written. Some of the expressions in this novel are laugh-out-loud funny! The plot is complex with a myriad of issues brought to the forefront of the relationship. This book was not rushed and you felt as though you got the whole story, not snippets. This book is for mature readers due to steamy sex scenes and graphic language. There is a HEA ending that is both believable and satisfying!

I gobbled this one right up. I'm a sucker for hockey romance so I had to read this one. Plus I'm a big fan of Kelly Jamieson's writing. I instantly was invested in Chase and Jordyn's story. They were exactly who each other needed in their corner especially Chase. Learning his background and the insecurities he has deep inside making that bet with Jordyn was one of the smartest decisions he made. While reading this one I could feel the connection and emotions from the characters. One part of the book that stood out to me was their first date. It was absolutely perfect and it's something I would enjoy myself. I would definitely recommend reading this one!

He was the best man I’d ever met.
Except he was fucking stupid and blind about playing hurt.
Okay, he was the best man I’d ever met, but he wasn’t perfect.

Loved this one. Going to keep it short and sweet, because what more is there to say, other than that Playing Hurt is my new favorite in a long line of exceptional books in the Chicago Aces series?

Chase and Jordyn’s meet-cute was flirty and fun and just the kind of celebrity fairytale that I’d love to see play out IRL, and their story was light-hearted and feel good, with a solid message about love and caring and believing in yourself.

I am head-over-heels for this couple and this story, and more than excited for the next wave of books in this series. HIGHLY recommend.

Neither of us is perfect. But together we’re pretty damn close.

~ FIVE Song Girl STARS ~

The Chicago Aces are back! Although this is the 6th book in the series, there is absolutely no reason you can't read this as a standalone.

Chase and Jordyn are both celebrities in their own right (Chase is a hockey star and Jordyn is a pop star), but strike up a "friendship" via social media, which eventually leads to them meeting in person. Sparks fly immediately, but both of them feel they aren't in a place (both physically and emotionally) to get into a relationship at the moment. However, fate intervenes and what starts out as a little bit of fun, turns into a steamy, relationship.

Unfortunately, Chase has a heck of a lot of baggage to deal with which not only affects his relationship with Jordyn, but ultimately impacts his career as well. It was nice to see him be able to recognize what was happening and (eventually) work through the hang-ups, to move his relationship with Jordyn forward. Jordyn has her own issues, thanks to her own history, but they're far less impactful than Chase's, IMO. Nevertheless, combine the two and there's some angst and drama, but not a ton.

All-in-all, this was a solid addition to Jamieson's Aces Hockey series.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Playing Hurt by Kelly Jamieson is the sixth book in her Aces Hockey series, but the first I have read. This can be read as a standalone, however, I am excited to go back and learn more about the Aces Hockey men. What really called to me about this story was the blurb and though this was the sixth book in a series, I knew I wanted to read it.

Chase Hartman is finally turning things around. You see he was once the bad-boy of the team and partying too much. Now his game is struggling and those around him are questioning if he is turning to his old ways. But he is not. The one good thing for him? This Twitter thing he has going with Jordyn Banks the current pop sensation. Though Jordan grew up in Chicago, she is now in LA and tries to support the local team, but there will always be room in her heart for the Aces. So, when they start this flirting thing on Twitter, she goes with it.

I loved Chase. He was a bad-boy, but deep down he was just an overall great guy with a sweet side. Right from the start, Chase and Jordyn had this great banter going back and forth on Twitter that I loved. Jordyn, though a celebrity, is really just an easy-going person who happens to love hockey. They were great from the start, though each did carry a bit of baggage from their past. Even so, this story was low on angst and drama and high on sweet and charming.

Happy reading!

Have you ever wondered what could happen if you started following someone famous on Twitter and were actually brave enough to send them a message- and they responded? Chase Hartman of the Chicago Aces has a huge crush on singer Jordyn Banks, so when she follows him back on Twitter he's excited, and thanks her. They get into Twitter messaging over hockey and before he quite knows what he's done, Chase has asked Jordyn out on a date. And she's agreed. Both say they aren't looking for a relationship at this stage in their lives, but as health challenges get thrown at them both they discover that life doesn't always go according to plan.

I loved the premise for Playing Hurt- we've all wondered "what if" you actually started talking with a famous person you liked, and they turned out to enjoy talking to you. Jordyn and Chase, both famous in their own circles, instantly spark something with each other despite connecting online. When they finally meet in person, the sparks are even hotter. They discover they can be themselves and be safe with each other. Whether that's going bowling and to blues clubs or vacationing in Aruba, they click. When a health scare and forced time off mean Jordyn spends more time in Chicago, they fall into a relationship neither really planned on. But you know what they say- life doesn't give you what you plan for, it gives you what you need.

You spend most of the book thinking that the title Playing Hurt refers to Jordyn's health problems sidelining her while Chase refuses to deal with his own injuries. But Chase's injuries are not just physical- he has some serious emotional roadblocks he should be working through. Experience has shown him that people only value him when he's perfect- whether that's former girlfriends, teams, or even his parents. So he pushes playing on when he shouldn't and then pours a lot of guilt on himself that he isn't playing well enough and is hurting the team. When Jordyn expresses concern about him playing hurt, he lashes out at her, instantly assuming if he doesn't do what she wants that she'll leave him. So he leaves her first. It's only after he sees her defending his play on Twitter after breaking up that he realizes he's found someone who will stick by him even when he messes up. There is a scene towards the end where Jordyn explains to Chase that everyone is playing life hurt- sometimes you can see the injuries, but most of the time you can't. It's not about being the best, but trying your best that will get you through life. It was so powerful, and I just loved it. Talk about a great reminder that whether it's a famous hockey player or the person serving you coffee, you have no idea what they are going through in their lives at that moment- so be nice. Wouldn't you want the same treatment?

I have to admit I didn't think the first half of Playing Hurt was as well written as Jamieson's books (Back Check) usually are, but the writing got tighter and better as the book went along and ended on a real high note. Jordyn and Chase are well-written characters with lots of depth, real-world issues, and electric chemistry. As always, Playing Hurt is a true hockey lover's book, written by an author who obvious loves hockey as much as her characters do, but without it being so much the focus of the book that non-hockey fans would be turned off. Although part of a series, new readers can read this as a stand alone and not be lost, although returning readers will enjoy a few cameos from characters from other books.

Jordyn and Chase start a relationship on Twitter!

Singer Jordyn Banks loves sports but her favorite team is the Chicago Aces hockey team which she had cheered for since childhood. She had followed several of the hockey players on Twitter and during a hockey game she started tweeting hockey star Chase Hartman from the Chicago Aces about a hockey game. Chase started to follow her back because he could tell she knew the game and he thought she was gorgeous.

Jordyn was gun shy about dating because the last guy called the media during a date so he could be in the news and Chase was hurt when his girlfriend had dropped him when he delayed entering the draft by a year because he wasn’t ready to play in the pros then. Jordyn and Chase knew that dating would be hard because they both had to heal from bad relationships and the surgery Jordyn had to fix her issues and Chase had to figure out why his wrist was having issues.

Playing Hurt is a stand-alone in the Aces Hockey series.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge Kelly Jamieson fan and I just love the Aces series! This was another great addition to that series. I really liked their story. Chase and Jordyn are such an adorable couple!! As a hockey hottie for the Chicago Aces, Chase knows what it is like to be in the public eye. Jordyn does too since she is an extremely popular singer who now lives in LA and happens to be a huge hockey fan from the Chicago area. Chase flirts with her on twitter and before he knows it he is placing a bet with her, one that could land him an actual date with her. Their Twitter relationship was so cute and fun! I love that she was also a celebrity, being an award winning R&B/pop star, I felt like it put them on more equal footing.
Their first date (which was so fun) eventually leads to more and soon they can't get enough of each other. Very hot, sexy and steamy times ensue for them. However, something happens and Jordyn ends up having to take a hiatus from singing and spends her time in Chicago which gives she and Chase lots of time for each other. Chase is there for her and helps to keep her spirits lifted. But will he let her do the same for him when he finds out their is a legitimate reason for his crappy play as of late? Will he continue risking his future career and his relationship with Jordyn by
"playing hurt" ??
Can't get enough of these Aces!!!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

With a nagging injury taking its toll on Chase's play on the ice, he finds a distraction in Jordyn Banks, a pop star he's connected with on social media over a shared love of hockey.

One bet between them leads to a first date, and circumstances throw them together even though it would seem that starting a long distance relationship was impossible. Kelly Jamieson does a great job of making this improbable relationship work, and Chase is so dang cute. He's a bit star struck and very sincere and adorable as he melts Jordyn's pragmatic heart.

The conflict level here is low but there are some nice parallels in Jordyn's and Chase's lives regarding "playing hurt" that make the story interesting. I found myself really enjoying this story. It was light and sweet and easy-to-read. I liked Chase and Jordyn together. Jordyn's maturity through the rough spots was also a bonus.

If you are looking for a hockey romance that is light on conflict and big on romance, you might enjoy Playing Hurt.

An Arc was provided for review.

And we have another well written Chicago Ace's Hockey book.

Chase is struggling with letting his team down. He is not playing as well as he or could be. The longer it is between scoring goals the harder he is struggling mentally. Add in a sore wrist and he feels like a let down. Some fun flirting online with a sexy pop singer is the highlight of the day. When she agrees to have a date with him as a bet, he is beyond surprised.

Jordyn is doing super in her singing career but has noticed her throat feeling a little weird from time to time. When things come crashing down on her she heads home to Chicago to recuperate. Spending some time with the hockey star Chase is not a hardship. He makes her feel safe to be herself.

Could this be more than a few weeks of fun? How will they deal with living in different cities. Could they have found love by chance?

I am looking forward to more Chicago Ace's Hockey.

**Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review **

Sassy, sweet and oh so sexy! With the next book in the Aces Hockey series, we delve into Chase's life and watch him fall hard and fast for the girl he's been crushing on. The characters are well developed and really easy to like. The storyline takes us through the ups and downs of their career highs and lows as they try to make a relationship work that neither of them was really looking for at this point in their life. It's a fun read!

Pro hockey player Chase Hartman was finally finding his groove after partying too hard and letting it all go to his head, but just when his team is looking bright, he can't score to save his life! He got over a minor injury in the off-season, but there's just still some weird twinge there. He has to get his game back under control ... everyone thinks he's partying hard again! The one bright spot in his life right now is a Twitter flirtation with his not-so-secret crush!

Pop star Jordyn Banks is busier than she's ever been while gearing up to record her second album. She's been a hockey fan all her life, and since moving to LA had to favor their team, but her heart's still with her hometown Chicago team as well. When she follows Chase on Twitter and he strikes up a conversation that leads to them betting a date depending on the outcome of a game, they're in for the ride of their lives as they both face career set-backs as they grow closer and meander the roads of their new relationship.