AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING.
Finally, a hockey romance that understands the reality of the sports and gave a reason for the FMC to not want to date a hockey player that wasn't "ew sports". The both had amazing agency and the spice was full of consent and care. Plus, an actually ethnically and racially diverse hockey team with welcoming wives and girlfriends? Perfection.

If you love a good hockey romance this is one for you! Harper and Kieran are such loveable characters from the very beginning. If you are not a fan of all the drama/third act breakups/ or pregnancies tropes this is one for you. Okay even if you like all those things this is still one you need to read. Kieran is 35 and a NHL superstar and Harper is 28 who is not necessarily into athletes based off of her history. I loved their story and how the communicated throughout the story. Not only do they have great chemistry and communication there is great spice in this book. I cannot wait to get a physical copy of this book. I will be recommending this to everyone!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC copy. This is my honest review.

Love a cutie hockey romance. I wanted to keep reading everytime I set it down because it was easy to get swept away with the feel good.

I don’t think I’ll ever get over how much I love sports romances, specially hockey romances, so I had no doubt I would love and enjoy this book very much. The plot was super steamy and entertaining, and don’t even get me started on the chemistry between the main characters, because they had me giggling and kicking my feet on every page.
I truly enjoyed this book and I would recommend everyone to read it, specially if you’re a sucker for sports romances, just like me.

I want to thank NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC of this book.

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

I never turn down a chance to read a hockey romance! Keiran and Harper had a one night stand 2 years ago and could never seem to forget each other. Keiran plays professional hockey and has always looked for her in the stands and one day gets lucky and sees her and decides she's not getting away this time. Harper has trust issues due to her dad being a professional hockey player who left her and her mom and never wanted anything to do with her. Keiran really took the time to show her that she was it for him and they he would wait until she was ready and continued to show her that she could trust him and he wasn't her father. Keiran had a lot of really sweet gestures and definitely won my heart. The spice was ssooooooo good!! Lots of praise and good girls! Don't miss out on this one, Keiran will win you heart over!

Slow burn, love at 1st sight, 2nd chance romace
You definitely have to read the prologue.
Harper and Kieran are so sweet together. He is definitely a keeper. Harper was driving me crazy the way she keeps pushing him away. She has a lot of stuff to work through that's not entirely her own.
Kiernan is so patient and loving. He has such a big heart. I truly enjoyed this book. It did go a little slow at points, but it makes sense and then... WOW! The details and emotions of this story kept me reading. I kept telling myself just one more chapter. I can't wait for the next book.

The Playing Game was a really quick romantic read - I really enjoyed the chemistry between the characters and Kieran is the sweetest golden retriever of a boyfriend. I loved seeing Harper and Kieran work toward finding common ground and build their relationship - that said, there were a couple of things that didn't work as well for me. Harper demands black and white honesty, but struggles so much to be honest with her mom and with herself about her dad's impact on her life. When we find out that her dad knows Kieran, I felt like the whole situation could have paid off in a more satisfying way. That said, this book is full of a loveable cast of characters and teammates and I was really rooting for Harper and Kieran so I'd definitely pick up another book about this crew!

I love a good hockey romance. The story line was great and the spice was just right. Kieran was loveable from the jump. He was patient with Harper, but still made his feelings known. He didn't push her which was comforting. Harper had growth I loved. She was very guarded at first but realized why she was guarded was only hurting herself.

Harper's struggle of having the relationship with Kieran be for her but also not to hurt her mother at the same time was rough. Her struggle of not wanting to upset her mom but also not repeat the same mistakes was a big part of her growth. I also appreciated Kieran being understanding of her position and following her lead in the relationship. Even taking the time to help keep her out of the media was even something that made me fall for Kieran more.

I loved the diversity of characters in this book. I loved how diverse the team was and how they were a family and not so divided. There wasn't that usual conflict within the team like in other books. The only "conflict" was them coming together and learning each other as a new team. It was a breath of fresh air.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op. All opinions are my own and are honestly given.

After a one-night stand two years ago that left them both wanting more, nurse Harper Roberts and NHL player Kieran Marsh are reunited when Kieran is traded to the NHL team in her hometown. Though Harper has reservations about starting a relationship with a professional hockey, Kieran is determined to pick up where they left off.

I saw this book recommended on Bookstagram as a fun, low-angst, high-steam read, and I think it delivered on all three! Definitely a vibes over plot book, and there were a few threads that I wish had developed a bit more, but, overall, I really enjoyed it and think that fans of steamy hockey romances will really love this one. 4.25 stars.

An ONS in Buffalo two years ago paved the way in their hearts and minds as they each linger on each other's minds.
This was a no-drama, low angst, slightly slow-paced, feel-good romance that was a nice reqd with full-on steamy moments and good characters.
Keiran stole my heart.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book received from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A fun hockey romance! It follows the typical one night stand that got away formula. Hockey guy meets girl and they have a one night stand. She runs off before he wake up leaving no contact information behind. They spend the next two years thinking about each other. Fate makes their paths cross again.

The book kind of just jumps right into the meat of the story. We start our story at the moment the two find each other again. At first I was thrown for a loop by the abrupt start but I liked the way the story kicks off at a run. Apparently there’s a prequel freebie out there that actually dives into the one night stand. Knowing that now I see why the details of the night were super vague lol, but it doesn’t impact that story at all. It was still enjoyable and I felt like I had enough context to just jump right in.

Harper is doing everything in her power to stay away from the famous hockey player. Meanwhile Kieran is sooo head over heels for her; he’s just waiting for her to catch up. Harper has a lot of stuff in her past to overcome, but it’s wonderful watching her blossom. There are so many heartwarming moments. They truly are so sweet together. And of course, there’s a HEA. So what more could you ask for?

How about the spice that could easily melt your face off???? If you’re one of those people that are not into steamy scenes, put this book down. Because this is soooo not for you. 😂 If you’re like me and live for the spice, you’re welcome for the book recommendation. I swear, these two are like magnets. Once they (cough cough Harper) give into temptation they just can’t get enough of each other. Despite all the steamy scenes I still felt like there was so much plot. These characters are fabulous. They’re funny. They actually communicate. There are no pesky misunderstandings. There’s plenty of tension without the need to create a conflict for no reason. It was perfect.

This is my first book from Ainsley Booth and I was pleasantly surprised. I always get so apprehensive about writing style, and pray that it’ll be dual perspective. And wow, did she knock it out of the park for me. It was such an easy read. I loved all the characters and was interested in all the side stories. There were so many pre-established couples that I wanted to know more about and I hope they have their own book somewhere out there. I’d gladly read a continuation of this series. Perhaps with Harper’s best friend as the lead? Please? *puppy dog eyes* No matter which path it takes, I’m very excited to see where this series goes.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc! I love hockey romance and I’m so happy to add a new author to my shelves.

By the cover and that I’ve read this author before I thought the book would have a little more spice to it.

This story is very sweet and slow. Harper and Kieran should have been a little bit young to make me believe the push and pull. I feel like the older we get we start to understand what we want and what we don’t.

Harper with the Dad issue when really it was her Moms issue just didn’t work for me to be that put off by a player.

A great take on a love affair and the professional ice hockey experience!
Lots of detail about the game, both on and off the ice. As a reader from a country where ice hockey isn’t played, the author made me want to watch a game. The characters are persuasive with veteran Kieran Marsh finding the girl he wants, as he looks towards the end of his ice hockey career. There’s a lot to like with Harper, the Jersey Girl who is a paediatric nurse. Also the cover is awful - makes the reader expect only one thing and this has much more than that.
Overall lots of positives: dual POV, he falls first, LOTS of steam, great communication, consent and respect. A great sports romance read.
Thanks very much NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC.

I loved this story. Kieran and Harper had a one-night stand two years ago. She skipped out without telling him her name or anything and he's been stuck on her ever since. When their paths cross again she resists the attraction because her mother hates ice hockey players with a passion and has taught Harper to be wary of them too.. (Her dad was a player in more than one sense.) But Kieran is willing to be her friend until she's ready for more. I loved Kieran's character and I liked that that it didn't go to the predictable directions I thought it could go and there was no third act break-up caused by stupid jealousy. He is an ideal book boyfriend because he makes her feel so valued all the time. I enjoyed the dialogue and Kieran actually cared about hockey more than the heroes in some other hockey romances.

It is by no means necessary to understand this but if you're interested, the original one-night stand is described in The Girl in a Hockey Jersey, available as a freebie.

Steam level: Mile high club and orgasms at press opportunities.

I read a Netgalley copy with a few minor editing misses, and this is a voluntary review.

One thing about me, is that I love a cheesy hockey romance, and The Playing Game was exactly what I would want in one. I loved the fun, easy going nature of this book. It honestly just brought me so much joy to read, even in the parts that were borderline cringey, I still found myself smiling through it. I can already tell that these books are going to be instant reads for me, and I am so excited for the next one to come out. The Playing Game is perfect for fans of the The Deal, Pucked, Icebreaker, or any other sports romance books.

4-4.5*

This just became one of my favorite cozy hockey romances. Absolutely heartwarming and fun, I couldn’t put it down.

I will be honest, I didn’t think I was gonna love this book as much as I did. I’ve read a lot of sports romances, mainly hockey ones and after some time, they all start feeling kind of the same. However, The Playing Game is a refreshing story. From the beginning the writing is smooth and feels so effortless, it makes you fly through the pages without even noticing.
The plot of the story is fairly simple, but well developed, which makes for such enjoyable and easy read. There wasn’t a lot of drama, after the couple gets together, they stay together and work throughout their problems. It felt so good to read about a couple that actually communicates a lot and are very understanding towards each other.
Both the hero, Kieran, and the heroine, Harper, are amazing people. And they were both heads over heels for each other from the beginning. It took them some time to get together, mainly because the heroine had her concerns towards the hero and his lifestyle. Their kind of slow-burn with a little of angst was entertaining and cute, because you could tell they wouldn’t resist for much longer.
All the support cast was awesome and there was lots of hockey action. One thing that bugs me is when sports romance put all the sports-related activities in the very background, when it actually should be front and center. This book does it amazingly, we get many scenes with other players, games, practices and many other team-related stuff. I adored reading about the other players and their families, they were honestly my favorites. One of the best fantasy franchises I’ve read, because they actually feel real and natural.
It was my first book from Ainsley Booth and I was surprised about how much I liked her writing. It hooked me from the start and it was an delightful experience. She absolutely understands about the world she is writing about, from the hockey to the Canadian setting. I honestly can’t wait to read more from her and I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series. Very easy recommendation for all my fellow hockey-romance lovers.

Ps.: I went ahead and also got the book on kindle unlimited, because I couldn’t resist the lure of the extra epilogue from the published version. I loved this couple so much, I couldn’t get enough of them. Which also made me download the extra extra epilogue from the authors website. It was all absolutely worth it, 100% recommend it.


Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

• Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity of reading this ARC and providing feedback! •

Hockey Hottie for the win!

Don't write Keiran Marsh off as just another player. He isn't just anything. This sexy, charming man is absolutely EVERYTHING. And he's been waiting on his Cinderella.

Wonderful and sweet, this steamy duo have their work cut out for them. Battling preconceived notions and fighting the spectres of her past, keeps them busy trying to find their footing. Good thing the big man is an athlete. His grace and poise dealing with her baggage is an absolute turn on and that's before he puts his hands in front of his face!

(Who doesn't love a man addicted to his woman!?!?) The Playing Game may be the title but he isn't playing; he's winning!

I think this might be the best hockey romance. After reading The Girl in the Hockey Jersey prequel I knew this one was going to be good but Hot Shot took it away with his “gone first”. This book was sooo good with little drama, no break ups, it just felt so real and relatable. Harper’s baggage with her father could have been a huge deal but it wasn’t and Kieran handled it so well. The chemistry is off the charts with these two - the spicy is wonderful!

Booth wrote a hat trick with this one and can’t wait for this new series (Off the Ice). I can’t wait for more of these hockey players to get their HEA. Along with Harper’s friends. This was so good I will have to listen to it if we get an audiobook. Steamy- Spicy- Swoony-Sexy!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: parental abandonment, concussion, sick child (side character), family tensions

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f contemporary romance
-hockey romance
-one night stand
-second chance elements
-friends to lovers
-he falls first and hard
-mutual pining
-praise kink

Quite a few friends recommended this one so I had to check it out. This was a great hockey romance. Harper and Kieran were such a great match for each other.

A one night stand two years ago, Kieran sees the girl in the stands he's been pining over ever since and does what he can to track her down. Little does he know that Harper wants nothing to do with hockey and hockey players. So he offers to be friends because this man is a simp over her and just wants to be around her. I love how they were friends first even as they were just pining away over each other.

Once these two finally stopped fighting it, whooey this book was steamy, full of praise kink and just Kieran obsessed with Harper in the best way, showing her every step of the way how important she was to him but also honoring her timeline, her feelings and her needs. I was rooting for them so much as they both dealt with complications from the media, whether Kieran would be traded and their family.

Whether you're a fan of hockey romances or not, this was a great steamy read, and I can't wait to see who comes next in the series.

Steam: 4

I enjoyed this story a lot!!
NHL veteran player Kieran Marsh has had more relationships than trips to the sin bin, making him a player on and off the ice. Two years ago, Harper had a one night stand with him when she thought she would forever stay the anonymous girl in the hockey jersey. But now her city has an expansion team, and guess who's one of their star players? She accepts an offer to go see the opening night game because she can't stay away, even though hockey destroyed her family, and so much about Kieran reminds her of the worst things her father ever did to her mother.
I adored these two! They are crazy cute, super steamy and witty. Harper frustrated me a lot in the beginning but she finally made me fall for her, like Kieran did that first night in Buffalo. This story is easy to read, hot, funny, and entertaining. Both characters work for me and they seem to have this unique pace that absolutely works in and out of the sheets.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.