Fake dating, enemy to lovers… absolutely LOVE!

Hockey, He falls first, Enemies to lovers, Close proximity, Fake dating.

The tension in this book is intense, this book is a slow burn for sure but well worth it. This book delivers such a beautiful storyline and an even better ending!

Kennedy and Alexei both have to work through their pasts to fully learn more about themselves to be able to full open up and love deeply. They both have to work through grief and trauma, and it’s incredible to watch their journey.

This book is filled with som spice, lots of banter, romance, and quirky characters like Briggsy!

This was my first hockey book and it did not disappoint t!

I love fake dating tropes but throw in enemies to lovers and you know you've got a win!!

Kennedy has just been dumped and feels like her life is stuck in a stand still, she isn't sure where she is going anymore. Alexei has just been dropped by his hockey team and picked up by a new team with a one-year contract to see if he can rebuild his reputation and keep his temper under control. After a photo is leaked of Kennedy and Alexei, they come up with a plan to fake date for 3 months, to help Alexei up his reputation with the fans and help Kennedy get revenge on her ex. Kennedy knew it would be easy to part ways in 3 months considering she hated everything about Alexei.

The tension and banter between these two leads to an amazing slow burn romance. The push and pull was fantastic. Alexei was such a cinnamon roll; he was always showing Kennedy that she could accomplish exactly what she wanted to, and she could process her grief in her own terms. The more time Kennedy spent with Alexei she was able to see past the hot-headed hockey player she thought she knew from the media and really get to know Alexei. Throughout the book Kennedy and Alexei grew together and became what they needed to be for each other.

The side characters were also a great addition, I loved Briggsy he was a hoot, Gemma and Matt were amazing friends to both Alexei and Kennedy.

Thank you to Kathryn Kincaid, Kathryn Kincaid Publishing, LLC, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy!!

First of all, thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review. 🙏

This is the first hockey romance I found on NetGalley, and if you have been following me for a while, then you know I am obsessed with everything hockey romance related. 🏒❤️ So I knew I needed this book and I was thrilled when I got it. 🎉

I love fake dating tropes with enemies to lovers and forced proximity, and this book delivers beautifully on that end. 👏

I was nervous when I saw that our main female character had just lost her mother, because having lost mine five years ago, it still is a delicate subject and things like this trigger a lot of emotions. 😢 But although it was an important part of our characters’ journey, I didn’t feel overwhelmed by it. Still, check your trigger warnings to make sure it doesn’t affect you. 🙌

We have two broken characters placed together by chance, and watching slowly how their shells begin to crack and witnessing this relationship develop was so romantic. I loved it. 💕 Again, I am a sucker for characters that feel undeserving and how they find that missing piece in their broken selves through the love of a supportive and loving character. And I found it in this story. 😍 I honestly was not expecting to find spice, and it was very welcome with a squealing moment with a one bed trope. 😳

I recommend this book to everyone who wants a romantic and heartwarming read with a lot of banter and just the right amount of spice. 🔥

I rated it four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ five hearts 💖💖💖💖💖 because of its romance and two chili peppers 🌶🌶 for its spice.

4.5☆

Play Your Part was a solid hockey romance and an amazing debut! I loved the dual POV (and Alexei's dimples).

This book had many of my favorite tropes including:
- enemies to lovers
- fake dating
- NHL hockey
- he falls first

I enjoyed Alexei and Kennedy’s relationship once they decided to work together. They had great banter and chemistry. Though Kennedy rubbed me the wrong way in the first half. She was dealing with grief and it made her very harsh and honestly unlikeable (understandable). But it also led to a lot of character growth by the end of the novel which was nice to see.

The friend group was great!

I’d totally recommend this one if you’re wanting to dip your toe into sports romance.

Thanks to Netgalley and Kathryn Kincaid (Go Canes!) for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love all things hockey romance, so I immediately signed up for the ARC when I found it. Alexei is the new player on the team, and Kennedy is the owner’s daughter as well as Alexei’s rival’s ex. After a misconstrued photo, they enter into a relationship of convenience, so this is fake dating/enemies to lovers reading fun.

These two love to push the other’s buttons, but it turns out it’s exactly what each of them needed. And though they both try to deny their growing feelings, all their friends see the love that’s growing between them.

Great side characters, low spice/slow burn, well written debut.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kathryn Kincaid for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶

This was a super cute enemies to lovers, fake dating, hockey romance. Hockey romance has quickly become one of my favorite genres, and this book was a perfect fit. I loved watching the main characters work through their grief and issues, and find the strength and confidence they needed in each other. There were just a few moments when some of this wording was a bit awkward, but nothing that distracted from the story or my ability to enjoy it. Looking forward to more from this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kathryn Kincaid for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Enemies to lovers hockey romance, with fake dating and a bad boy with a heart of gold? Sign me up! As soon as I read the description I knew I had to have it.
Kennedy has just been dumped by her boyfriend and her life seems to be stalled. Alexei has been dumped by his team and he needs to restore his reputation. When a photo surfaces that is taken out of context, the team publicist confronts them with a solution to stop all the media speculation. The two of them should "date" and that way she can get back at her jerk of an ex and he can restore his reputation. That wouldn't sound so bad except for the fact that she can't stand the sight of him. She has seen the media coverage all about him and knows his type, she wants nothing to do with that, but it can't hurt to make her ex sorry for what he lost.
The jabs between the two, the tension and the heart to hearts as they learned they were totally wrong about one another. Everyone being able to see what was happening between them, but them. It was all so swoony and worth every word that I read. I loved these two and I loved how they had obstacles to overcome in the past but were working together and not expecting the other to fix them, but to let the other just be themselves and love them anyways. This was such a great hockey romance read. 4.5 stars.
Thanks to Kathryn Kincaid and Netgalley for an early copy.

I am not exaggerating when I say this book had me smiling at my phone and GIGGLING while reading. I loved it so much! Kathryn Kincaid’s debut novel tells the story of Kennedy, a sassy twenty-something year old navigating life and grief, and Alexei, a temperamental hockey player who’s desperate to make a good impression and advance his hockey career. through the powers that be (aka, a scandalous photo and social media) they’re forced to spend the next few months helping each other accomplish something that can seemingly only be solved by one thing: fake dating.

this book is so cute and might just be one of my new favorite romances, and it’s definitely my new favorite sports romance! it has all of my favorite tropes packed together so seamlessly. you’ll love this book if you like:
✨ fake dating
✨ he falls first
✨ forced proximity
✨ grumpy + sunshine
✨ dual pov

although there were some parts of the book that I would’ve liked more detail/explanation on, there was nothing left unsaid that felt vital - only things that could’ve helped push the story forward. however, the story itself progressed smoothly and never felt rushed or dragging!

this book is released on Aug 3, 2023 and I highly recommend adding it to your cart for a cute romcom summer read!

ps - kathryn kincaid… if you ever decide to write a book about Zach, let me know and I promise I’ll be first in line to buy it 😍

Kennedy and Alexei were a sweet couple and I really enjoyed their story. It was easy to get into and fun to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kathryn Kincaid for the ARC.

Faking dating and enemies to lovers between a professional hockey player and the owner of his team’s daughter. What is not to like???
This book was packed with just the right amount of hockey references, slow burn romance, spice and depth.
In terms of comparison to other hockey romances, it is definitely up there for me. It was super easy to read and a good, digestible length. The characters were all so charismatic charming - I will be on the lookout for the next book in the series (if it happens!).

Thanks so much to Kathryn Kincaid and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a super sweet hockey, enemies to lovers, fake dating romance. The story follows Kennedy, who has separated from Justin, combined with a difficult year full of grief, she joins forces with her ex's rival, Alexei Volkov who is in desperate needs of an updated reputation.

I really enjoyed this sweet and fast paced read. The relationship between the two characters was well developed and the growing tension was highly addictive. Kennedy's character was definitely my favourite, seeing the way she navigated her grief after the loss of her mother and the way she distances herself from hockey was understandable. Similarly, seeing the way Alexei handled his relationship after the fall out from his last serious commitment as well has his parent's changing dynamic served a great backdrop to his reluctance to pursue a relationship. However, the moments of vulnerability were my favourite, uplifting Kennedy whenever she had negative thoughts and showcasing his early attraction - I absolutely adored this duo.

I also really enjoyed the side characters, Zach as well as Gemma and Matt, they were a great addition to the story and a fab support network for the main characters.

Whilst the plot was well paced, the writing at times felt slightly awkward. The first person dual POV was great but at times felt strange given that everything was written in the past tense, which threw me off. In honesty, the story seamed seamless for the final 25% of the book. In addition to this, there were a few inconsistencies in the book as well as some scenes that felt unfinished and abruptly moved on which occasionally created a disjointed experience.

Despite this, I really did enjoy this story and would recommend!

"In three months, my feelings for her changed my approach to the rest of my life"

Play Your Part is initially presented as a conventional hockey romance, featuring two main characters who are reluctantly bound by a three-month fake dating contract, despite their mutual distaste. While the ending may appear cliché at first glance, the satisfaction derived from witnessing their eventual profession of love surpasses any concerns of predictability. If you are in search of a hockey romance that skillfully combines captivating romance with the alluring dynamics of enemies-to-lovers, "Play Your Part" is undoubtedly the book you've been looking for.

However, what truly sets this book apart is its unexpected depth and complexity. Kathryn Kincaid effortlessly captures the essence of genuine adult relationships—relationships that are messy and complex, plagued by grief and the everyday experiences of life. As adults, our current relationships are often clouded by ex-partners and emotional damage left behind. Kathryn consistently explores this dynamic through both characters, gradually revealing their developing feelings for one another while grappling with the weight of their personal histories.

"Play Your Part" serves as an embodiment of the notion that it is more important to heal from emotional burdens and develop as individuals than be weak together. For a couple who both take this journey separately is a stronger one when together.

*Review based on ARC provided by NetGalley
(Review will also be posted to Amazon when available to do so, Tiktok and Instagram [story and reel])

4.5/5 - Kennedy lost her mom a year ago and her life has stalled. She delayed going back to college, stopped working for her family's NHL franchise and moved back home. Her "secret" boyfriend, Justin, also just got traded to another team and wasn't even going to tell her. The team has recently signed hothead, Alexei Volkov, who is known for his rivalry with Justin. Alexei comforts Kennedy at a team event one night and a photo goes viral of them in a compromising position. This puts his career and the team's public image at risk, so in an effort to salvage things he and Kennedy agree to fake date for three months. Kennedy has been tainted of who Alexei is by Justin, but agrees to this to get back at her ex. The only problem is, the person Alexei is with her is much different than the person Justin said he was. It starts to get difficult to know what is real and what is fake in this fake dating relationship.

This was such a great debut novel! Kathryn Kincaid had the banter, enemies to lovers trope down pat. Throw in a hockey romance and some awesome side characters and this was a perfect mix. The author managed to get us to feel everything Kennedy was feeling from the loss of her mother and begin to build herself up after this loss. Alexei does something to ground her and allows her the time to believe in herself and her purpose again. Alexei is a cinnamon roll, that truly falls first and I loved that so much!

If I struggled with anything it was that the author, at times, does more showing, rather than doing. She tells us things that happened, rather than letting us experience them in the moment they are happening. With that said, a lot happened in the book in real time too, I just would have liked to be there for some of the conversations that happened.

I thought the side characters in the book were great and hope that this will lead to some companion novels especially with Briggs. Also can we get a Gemma and Matt story?

This story kept me captivated and engaged the whole time. I was rooting for both characters and could not put it down. I cannot wait to see what else Kathryn Kincaid publishes! Thank you to NetGalley and Kathryn Kincaid for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

This book was too cute! I absolutely adored Alexei’s character and was rooting for Kennedy the whole time too! This dual POV, hockey romance had everything I’m hoping for in a sports romance! Easy to follow, easy to feel for the characters, and a happy ending that left me content!

Title: Play Your Part
Author: Kathryn Kincaid
Genre: Romance, Hockey Romance
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Fake Dating, He Fell First, Hockey Romance
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kennedy Cole is ready for her life to begin again. She and her hockey player boyfriend, Justin Ward, are about to let everyone in on their secret relationship, even her father, the team owner. Or they were until he gets traded and leaves town with no more than a passing glance. Enter The Bad Boy of Hockey, and archenemy of Justin, Alexei Volkov. After being fired from his last time, he needs to make a good impression. The best way to do that? Fake dating the owners daughter. Plus, it will make Justin jealous. They hate each other, so no one will catch feelings, right?

Hockey romance? Check. Enemies to lovers? Check. He Feel First? Check. Fake Dating? Check. Spicy scenes? Check. Dual POV? Check. What can I say, this book really did check all the boxes. You immediately feel for Kennedy going through so much after her mom’s death. She’s trying to be as strong as she can, but without her mom, all of her other loves have fallen by the wayside too. Hockey. School. Friends. Life. You can see she’s just floating through life before Alexei comes in.

Bad boy of not, readers (including myself) will IMMEDIATELY fall for Alexei. He may be hot headed and rough, but the feelings he has for the people in his life like his teammates, his mom, and Kennedy, are clear from the very first time we meet him. You really do see how they both grow better when they’re together rather than when they are apart.

This book gave me all the feelings and for the most part I couldn’t put it down. If you are a hockey romance lover like I am, this is definitely one you need to pick up when it comes out on August 3rd.

Thanks to Net Galley, and Kathryn Kincaid Publishing, LLC for the chance to read it!

I almost rated this for stars, but after a couple days, I realized how much I truly love this book!!

Guys this is my first arc 🥹 and it was such a delight!! I didn’t realize I liked hockey romances but like 👀👀👀 I’ll be back to this sub genre fs.

The use of the fake dating trope is much more believable than I typically see. They’re a lot more honest about their feelings — with themselves and each other. Also the banter is excellent so that doesn’t hurt lol.

Until I read this book, I didn’t realize how often the books I’m reading have a female protagonist that has exactly one female friend. I honestly got a little teary-eyed at Kennedy’s friendships, watching the way each relationship can be completely different while still exactly what you need. By the end of the book, I’m reminded that there are some things only your closest friends can give you, no matter how supportive your partner is and I love that part of the story’s resolution centered around Kennedy’s character arc and her relationship with her friends.

I’m expecting this to be one of the most popular Kindle Unlimited books of the year so I suggest picking it up before it runs to mass market paperback 📕 Thanks Kathryn Kincaid and NetGalley for the ARC!!

I really enjoyed this book. It has Fake Dating, enemies to lovers and he falls first.

Kenned lost her mum a year ago which halted her happiness. Kennedy fell into the shadows and stopped doing the things she loved, as she did them with her mum.

Alexei did not have a great reputation and needed to clean his image, or he would kiss his hockey career goodbye. Where an innocent photo goes viral, all because he was helping a drunk and heartbroken Kennedy would not make a fool of herself in the party they were attending.

Alexei and Kennedy have a connection that cannot be explained. They enter a 3-month fake relationship to help the image of Alexei and to help the hockey team remain in the state.

The story had me capitative and engaged. Play your Part is released on 3 August 2023. Thanks NetGalley, the Publisher Kathryn Kincaid for providing the ARC for honest review.

One of the best sports romances I’ve ever read! This book includes enemies to lovers, fake dating, and he falls first. The chemistry between the characters was great and I loved the banter between the two main characters. A great read!!!! Please make this a series.

Thank you NetGalley and thank you to the publisher for the arc of this book!

I really enjoyed this hockey romance. Fake-dating is one of my favorite tropes and this did not disappoint! I thought Kennedy was an excellent FMC that clearly had some major growth throughout the book. Her spitfire personality really came through and I love how it worked with Alexei. He was also the perfect, hockey-playing MMC. I liked that he was also more complex than originally assumed. They both brought out the best in each other and their chemistry really showed! The plot was really excellent and the pacing of everything was wonderful. There was a really nice balance of storytelling with some spice thrown in. I didn’t want to put this book down! 4.5⭐️, 2🌶

special thanks to NetGalley and Kathryn Kincaid for an ARC of this book!

i mean it's a hockey romance, how can i not love it? and fake dating on top of a bunch of sweaty hockey players? i'm in.

i devoured this book in just a couple of days and simply couldn't put it down! highly recommend to all my sports romance girlies looking for a fun read!