4.5 of 5 Stars

Cathryn Fox lights the lamp with THE PLAYMAKER, the first book in the Players on Ice series. Writer Nina Callaghan asks her childhood nemesis/ brother’s best friend, Cole Cannon, for hockey lessons. This contemporary sports romance is suitable for adult audiences. The story takes place in Seattle.

Cathryn Fox does a great job with her character development and plot. I like Nina. She was a figure skater until she had a career-ending injury. Now she is a romance writer. Her brother, Cason, is in the NHL, so her editor tasks her with writing a hockey romance series. Ironically, she knows nothing about hockey. Therefore, she turns to her brother's best friend/NHL Center, Cole Cannon, who is out due to a concussion. Nina thinks that Cole hates her because he always teased her when they were kids, in reality, he had a crush on her, but she is his best friend’s sister, so she is off limits.

THE PLAYMAKER is a fun and entertaining story. Cole and Nina have great chemistry. My heart went out to both, and some of the things that they went through. I love that they are given this opportunity to reconnect and open to each other. Cathryn Fox does a great job laying out their history. There were a lot of interesting scenes and obstacles that the characters faced. The novel was skillfully written and heartwarming. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

This was the first hockey romance, that I didn't like at all. She apparently knew him and her brother plays hockey but she didn't know anything about hockey? Makes no sense to me, maybe its because I live in Canada, even if you don't like hockey you still know something about it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

The Playmaker is another hot story by Ms. Fox. interesting storyline and characters. Superb writing.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Kobo Writing Life for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I think this is part of a series. It reads well as.a.stand alone. Nina is a writer (former figure skater) and needs help with her romance novel. She asks Cole her brothers best friend NHL player to reach her about hockey. Great chemistry, and I enjoyed this book alot! I think most Romance readers would enjoy. I rate this a 4.

I love reading stories with enemies to lovers themes! Cathryn Fox's story was great and I'll be sure to keep an eye out for future books by her.

He comes from a heart breaking background his father was a cruel sports dad and Ice hockey is his way out and now he is suffering from concussion and all he wants to do is get back on the ice That is until his best friend's sister Nina asks for a favour she needs to write a romance about hockey stars and who better to help her than her brothers best friend Cole He has tormented her all her life calling her ballerina. Cole knows that Nina should be off limits but he has been crushing on her for years and he just has to have one taste but is one taste going to be enough. You will have to read to see This is a sweet fast paced romance that has you turning the pages as fast as you can the dual POV makes it a fun read

Nina Callaghan has written several romance books. Now her editor wants on hockey. Even though her brother is a hockey star she knows nothing about the game. She grew up on the ice but as a figure skater, and had a terrible accident that ruined her career. Now trying to figure out what to do she decides to go to Cole Cannon house since he is home because of an injury a concussion. Cole had spent many a day and night at her house and she thought he was teasing her all the time, now going to him and his playboy ways for help is the last thing she wanted to do. Once there she realizes that he has not been taking care of himself, and begins to cook healthier meals except for his cereal. She is also finding out some things about herself and that he is easy to talk to. Later they find they have a connection in and out of the bedroom as well. Later when the brother finds out he is okay with it. The problem comes because he has never told her about his and his twin sister father, so when she brings him to the house Cole goes ballistic and Nina leaves. Realizing he massively screwed up he must come up with some way to apologize to get her back. A very good book with very good characters.

Sometimes I'm really in the mood for a good romance story and this one certainly delivers on that. This book has two of my favourite romance tropes; big brother's best friend and enemies to lovers. This was definitely just what I was in the mood for.
Cole or the Cockey Cannon as he's known when he's playing Ice Hockey hides behind the brash, full of himself exterior that his fans love. He has long had a love-hate relationship with his best friends younger sister Nina. It's pretty clear though, that he has always had a soft spot for her and has hidden it well beneath teasing and joking around. She has had similar feelings but is sure that they hate one another. When she needs his help to learn more about hockey, in order to write a romance series, she is reluctant to turn to him but feels she has no choice.
Although both Cole and Nina claim to hate one another, it soon becomes clear that this is far from the truth. I enjoyed the chemistry between them as they came to terms with their attraction and feelings.
In many ways, this book is far from original. It has many of the themes and conflicts that often appear in romance books. Sometimes though, that's just what you are looking for. The characters were well written and the chemistry worked well. The ending was a little cheesy, but really, what else are you expecting or looking for with this type of book?
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Talk about a smoking hot story with a lot of heart! I loved the way Nina and Cole came to care for the other and get to know the real person. Cole was amazing from start to finish, even with his Playmaker ways and flirtations. Both Nina and Cole were understanding of the what the other had been through with their injuries. The pain in Cole during the scene with his father felt so real, that it made my heart hurt too. And how Nina felt after brought tears to my eyes. That whole scenario was heartbreaking and anger all at once. But the two of them in the scenes that followed were bittersweet and beautiful. And with the ending sentences of the epilogue makes me hope that Cason and Jess get their own story.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher through Netgalley.

An angst filled, kindle melting read. Loved the dual POV so the reader can get insight to the thoughts and emotions of the H and h. This is my first book by this author and I will definitely be looking for more by her.

I really enjoyed reading about Cole and Nina. Nina needs help but asking for help from her brother's best friend is difficult. She's crushed on him for years. Cole is more than willing to help, but then again, he's been crushing on her for years. But don't they hate each other? Great story and easy to read. Didn't want to put it down and read it in one day!

Cole and Nina, they have known each other since they were children, but did they? He is her big brothers’ best friend. They seemed to have been frenemies all these years, but were they? They play their assigned roles, and take advantage of the sparks between them, but then it starts to feel real, which it can’t be, can it? It takes a bit of heartbreak, and some cracks of heartache, before it can all become clear, and they finally realize, the only people they have been hiding from all those years were themselves!

While there seems to be a run on older brother’s friend to lover scenario out there at the moment, I thoroughly enjoyed Cole and Nina’s story and with the added bonus of hockey thrown into the mix, what's not to love?

But nothing comes easy; there’s angst, unresolved issues, fractured relationships and a whole lotta sexy happening in this addictive story. The character portrayals are realistic, and the plot is well developed and believable. This may be the first of the series, but I’m sure there is much more fun and drama to come!

This was my first time reading a book by Cathryn Fox, and I thought it was great. The Playmaker focuses on Nina, a romance novelist assigned to write a new series about hockey players, and Cole, her brother’s best friend and an NHL hockey player sidelined with an injury. They never got along growing up, but were constants in each other’s lives, so when Nina realizes she needs help learning about hockey to write her new books, she begrudgingly turns to Cole for hockey knowledge.

While learning more about hockey, Nina helps take care of Cole, and she begins to realize that she may never have truly understood him growing up - he might not be the cocky guy he shows the world. I really appreciated how Nina got to know Cole for the first time, despite the countless hours she has spent in his presence in the past. And Cole - there is a lot to love about Cole. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.

Nina has been commissioned to write a book on hockey romance. Despite being a NHL players sister, she has zero knowledge about hockey. In a moment of desperation, she decides to ask her from Cole, her brothers best friend.
Cole has been crushing on Nina since they were teenagers, but she is his best friends younger sister, and bro code didn’t allow him to do anything. But as they spend time together alone keeping his hands to himself is proving harder than he imagined.
This is one Hot book to read. Not only is the chemistry between Nina and Cole was hot enough to set my kindle on fire, but this story left a permanent smile on my face. I found Nina and Cole to be wonderful characters and the story had me hooked from the start.
I have voluntarily read and reviewed the arc from Netgalley

This book was amazing!! This book had everything a good book should have.

I really liked the character of Nina. I felt like she was someone I could be friends with. She had a career ending accident but yet she reinvented herself as an author. She is someone who likes to do things for herself even if it is learning a new sport to get the muse going. She is a loyal friend and sister. She is supportive and has a sassy mouth on her.

I felt so many feelings for Cole. This is a man who has basically given himself a split personality. He shows the world one side so that they don't have to see the other. I liked that throughout this book we were able to get a glimpse of that other side along with Nina. She has known him for years but didn't really know him.

I loved the banter and the sexy times between these two characters but what I liked the most was when they were just chilling and having a conversation. They were learning things about each other that surprised the other.

Everything about this story was ok. Characters, story line, dialogue, etc. Nothing rocked my boat and I kept hoping something would. I love hockey romances, but this one was meh and, at times, trying too hard.

I have read only two books in this series and this my 2nd book though it is the 1st in the series and I LOVE it. Seriously it is well written and I really loved both characters.

Nina and Cole have grown up together but they hated each other and thpought the other was attractive. He is the brothers best friend and she is the pesky younger sister of his BFF. But now Cole has a concussion and Nina who is a romance author needs some info for her hockey book series so she offers to help Cole while he recovers.

They hate each other at first but then let the attraction play out and it was HOT and pretty wonderful. The two explore ther feelings and I loved every second of it.

This is Cole and Nina book, Cole is in the NHL but is out until he can heal from a concussion. his best friends kid sister comes to him asking a favor! She was a ballerina on ice and an old nemesis and strictly off limits! The last thing Nina wants is to ask her old nemesis for a favor!! But her editor wants her to write a romantic series about hot hockey players and her older brothers best friend is perfect to answer all her questions! Little did she know Cole had some other ideas in mind than just answering some hockey questions !! This book was definitely a decent read, a little to insta love for my taste but still good! Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!

Cole has been in love with Nina since their teens, but his like the little boy who pulled pigtails on the playground instead of saying hey I like you. When circumstances put Nina back in his life, Cole has no issues taking advantage of indulging his fantasies for the brief time she’s with him.

Nina convinced herself Cole couldn’t stand her, because she was the tag along little sister, always wanting to hang with her big brother and his best friend. Recruiting Cole to help with her new book series, however, is showing her sides of Cole few people see...and one that she could easily find herself falling for.

Cole and Nina take their hate/love relationship to supernova levels-and I loved every minute! Their romance sizzled and their emotions, gah! I was smiling throughout this story a lot. The drama level was very mild and I enjoyed the focus on Nina and Cole working out personal issues through the guise of helping one another out, both inside and out of the bedroom. This was a good read!