"The Game Changer" by Lana Ferguson is a delightful blend of sports romance, contemporary fiction, and steamy chemistry. The plot is well-paced, with unexpected twists and turns. You'll be hooked from the first chapter, wondering how the fake relationship will evolve.

Meet hockey player Ian Chase. When his very public breakup turns into a PR nightmare for his team, he hopes to refocus on his game. But that suddenly seems less likely than a hat trick. Meet Delilah Baker. She’s the darling of baking on her local cable show, whose numbers are dwindling. Delilah proposes a collaboration with Ian's team to entice Boston's hockey fans to tune in to her show. The catch? Delilah has harboured a decade-long crush on Ian, her brother's best friend.

As the teams join forces, they create a win-win situation: higher ratings for Delilah's show and a more positive image for Ian. Viewers devour their supposed relationship, and the line between reality and showbiz blurs. But with both their careers on thin ice, this PR stunt could either be a total game changer or leave them both totally pucked.

Ian and Delilah leap off the pages with their witty banter, vulnerability, and undeniable chemistry. Their slow-burning romance keeps you rooting for them until the very end. The chemistry between Ian and Delilah is electric. Their stolen glances, stolen kisses, and stolen moments make this romance sizzle. Prepare for some heart-fluttering scenes!

Ferguson's portrayal of the hockey world is authentic and captivating. Whether it's the adrenaline on the ice or the camaraderie in the locker room, you'll feel like you're part of the team. Delilah's baking segments add a sweet touch to the story. From cupcakes to croissants, the descriptions are mouthwatering, and you'll find yourself craving treats as you read.

"The Game Changer" is a delightful escape into the world of sports, baking, and love. Ferguson's writing is engaging, and her characters will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. Whether you're a hockey fan or a baking enthusiast, this book is a definite win. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I adore Lana's voice. She's so refreshing and dynamic. This book was the soft friends to lovers I've been caving all these months. I loved Delilah and Ian, and Ferguson's master way of writing spice made this a complete package for me. She's a genius.

Game Changer is a sizzling romance that scores big on chemistry and charm.
When hockey player Ian Chase's career takes a hit, he finds an unexpected ally in Delilah Baker, his best friend's sister and a baking sensation. Their collaboration seems like a recipe for success, but as they play up their relationship for the cameras, sparks fly in more ways than one.
The author serves up a delightful blend of steamy romance and sports drama, with characters who leap off the page and into your heart. While the premise may be a tad predictable, the execution is flawless, delivering a fun and satisfying read that hits all the right notes.
Game Changer is a sweet treat for romance fans, sure to leave you craving more from this talented author.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I really like the way that Lana Ferguson is out here hustling - a contemporary, then a paranormal, and now a hockey romance. I enjoyed this - weirdly my second Boston-based hockey ARC in a row (after Tessa Bailey's Au Pair Affair - and I felt like it had a bit more of a plot than the last Lana Ferguson book that I read, The Fake Mate (which I still very much enjoyed, to be clear). Delilah Baker is a Boston-based baker with her own local baking show, but numbers have been dwindling, which her network doesn't love. After a conversation with her brother, pro hockey player Jack Baker, she jokingly suggests to her executive producer that they could bring a hockey player onto the show to increase views. That hockey player turns out to be Ian Chase, Jack's best friend and Delilah's long-time crush, who is returning to Boston after leaving for Calgary six years ago in the midst of a scandal. He's shocked that Delilah is so hot now and they have a few flirty moments during their taping that makes them a big time local ship. Encouraged by their employers, they pretend to be dating, and then they aren't really pretending anymore. I enjoyed their dynamic and I found this to be a quick and satisfying read. My main complaint here is that Ian's father - the villain of the piece - is almost too awful? Like he proves to be such a monster that it's almost beyond belief. I was able to push through that and still had a great time reading this.

Oh Lana Ferguson. Romance writer of my heart. Seriously, how does this woman see into souls and write the stories of my deepest desires?

This is Brothers Best Friend, Hockey Romance, and all heart. I love the honesty Ferguson writes her characters with, it makes the journey so much more enjoyable. I’ll keep this review short and sweet. My favorite Ferguson book so far is still ‘The Fake Mate’ but make no mistake, once I started this I couldn’t stop. Ian was such a cinnamon roll and his internal conflict once he sees the new grow up Delilah had me hooked. Invested. All in. And Delilah was a so cute, a pretty satisfying blend of sweet and sassy.

Go buy this book.

Lana Ferguson is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine, and this book proves that she is mastering her craft.

Sports romances are all the rage right now, and books like these prove why; putting together a fan-favorite baker and a hockey player whose reputation is in jeopardy is a recipe for a perfect romance.

The romance was slow-burn, but not excruciatingly slow. The pace was perfect, and the tropes were *chef's kiss.* Friends to lovers. Brother's best friend. Best friend's little sister. What more could a reader want?

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

super cute and super steamy. that is basically all i need in a romance novel! I was super into this from the start. I really liked the characters and it had a very sweet ending.

Another ace in the hole for Ferguson! She has easily climbed the ladder to be my favorite author and I need her to work faster so I can read more of her work! Though this was not one of her best novels, it was still a win. She is the queen of lovable characters, great banter, plenty of chemistry and just enough spice. I have been looking forward to this book ever since it came out that she was releasing a hockey romance (my favorite!)! The plot is very straight forward and while it was not super unique, it was executed well.

I gave this novel a four star rating. I only thing that dropped it down a star for me was the cringe factor. I love everything Ferguson, but the little sister feels threw me off a bit.

Special Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sending me this advanced copy for my honest opinions.

This was a nice easy read. It was fun and not overly complex but still a very enjoyable read. The setting of a hockey player helping on a cooking show was unique and led to some flirty moments.

🌟🌟🌟.💫/ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I was SO excited to get an ARC for Lana Fergusons upcoming release. I mean hockey romance + her smut? It’s gotta be chefs kiss. But I found myself pushing to finish this book. I wanted to love it, because The Fake Mate is iconic, I had no notes except maybe a love letter to her and the omegaverse? Unfortunately, that was not the case when it came to The Game Changer.

This is your typical hockey romance. I didn’t feel like it really had anything original or exciting to add to the genre and was what you’d except from any old NHL smutty book.

The Pros:
well written
Fantasy chemistry between FMC/MMC
No 3rd act break up
Brothers best friend
Fake Dating

The Cons:
Felt somewhat formulaic
heavy on the smut, not enough plot building
Fell flat and nothing new

Overall, if you're looking to start reading hockey romance, i recommend The Game Changer. If youre a seasoned hockey romance gal, then i think you may find this a bit boring.

Another fantastic book by Lana Ferguson! I loved The Fake Mate, so I was excited to start The Game Changer. It did not disappoint!! I love the chemistry created between the characters and how well she developed them through what could be a relationship ending situation. I love and respect how even through tough situations, the main characters actually support each other. There is trust in their relationship, and communication. All the things real relationships require to be successful, but tend to get glossed over in most stories. Lila never feeds into the gossip and she makes sure Ian knows she trusts him and truly has his back through thick and thin. I love the relationships Lana Ferguson creates and I can’t wait to read her next book! I can’t recommend any of her books enough. Thank you to Netgalley for the Advanced Readers Copy and the awesome opportunity to read this book!

Lana Ferguson's "The Game Changer" is a must-read for romance fans. This novel is a masterful blend of three romance tropes: best friend's sister, fake relationship, and sports romance. Ferguson's writing style is engaging and captivating, and this 5-star book is sure to capture your heart from the first page to the last.

One of the things I loved about this book is the immediate chemistry between the two main characters, Delilah (Lila) and Ian. The story takes us on a journey through their personal and professional lives, and the way their relationship unfolds is both heartwarming and spicy. As a hockey fan, I was thrilled to see Ferguson's fresh take on the sports romance genre. Her characters are well-developed, relatable, and make you root for them every step of the way. Overall, "The Game Changer" is a fantastic book that deserves a top spot on everyone's summer reading list.

I was so excited for this one because I've enjoyed Lana Ferguson in the past, and I ADORE hockey. The set-up for the childhood friends Ian and Delilah reuniting on her baking show is super cute, but as the book went on, there were just too many things that kept taking me out of the romance. The major conflict of the public being SO on Ian's case for the women he was seen out in public with just wasn't believable. And when a huge scene of hockey action was described almost entirely through dialog, I couldn't get past the cringe. This one, unfortunately, just isn't for me.

Ahh i enjoy Lana Ferguson's books so much, they are easy, steamy, and fun to read and this was no different. I liked the characters, and plot in this one and I especially love how versatile the author is in the type of books she writes. In this book, the fmc is a baker who employs the help of her brother's best friend who just moved back into town. She has always had a crush on him and still thinks of her as a kid but as they start to work together and have to spend a lot of time together lots of sparks and spice fly between them. This book is very swoony, it's a slow burn but the tension was a+. I loved that the sports aspect wasn't overpowering and the cute plot. The spicy scenes were well done and I loved the main characters. I'm hoping we get Jack's book next because he was an awesome side character. As always thanks to Berkley for this arc for an honest review.

Read if you like:
- Sports romance
- Brother's best friend
- Steamy scenes
- Friends to lovers
- No third act breakup

Okay I really enjoyed this book! The slow burn was so good and the tension that built up made me DIE! I loved it so much. I also loved getting to know the characters more and I absolutely adored the fmc. I would 100% recommend this to a friend! Thank you for the ARC.

I want to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me to read the ARC copy of this book. First of all Lana Ferguson, this is my first book read by you, I have The Nanny on my shelf at home. And I can’t wait to read it. I enjoyed this book. I really liked the writing style on this. There will be a few spoilers. But not ones that will give the whole book away. Those two explicit scenes the one on the ride home and the shower scene. Omg!! Those were the hottest scenes ever! I am not also not one for slow burn romances because I get annoyed and say kiss or be together already but I will say the slow burn romance in this book kept me engaged with the book and kept me wanting more. I really hope you write a sequel for this book because I want to know more about the main characters. I can’t wait to read more books by this author. I give this 5 stars ⭐️ and 5 spicy 🌶️.

I have devoured every Lana book out there, and when I dove into this one, it was no exception. This book was so funny, cute, and overall had a fantastic plot line that I loved from start to finish. Hockey + Bakers? Who wouldn't fall head over heels for these characters and storyline?

Give me brother's best friend, age gap, fake dating, hockey players who are so sweet on the girl they love. Ugh, this book was so utterly perfect! Ian and Delilah had such great banter, a cute budding romance that had me giggling and swinging my feet, and just this fantastic story line (with no third act breakup!!). Overall, the characters were so well written and their romance was just the right pace for this hockey romance! This book was definitely a Lana novel I will have no problem picking up again to enjoy!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

First off, thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! I was so excited about this one because I’ve read one of Lana’s books before (The Fake Mate) but I’m not into the werewolf stuff 😭

This was really enjoyable, I feel like the progression wasn’t too slow which was great because I didn’t find myself struggling to get into the book which is a situation I often find myself in.

Not too much plot going on but that honestly works out for me because I don’t necessarily need a crazy plot for romance. I actually kinda enjoy the parts where plot isn’t super important but I will say there was a lot of…stuff. So the book felt extra short but that’s not really a bad thing since I prefer less draggy and quicker storylines!

A quick and fun read.

Note: This review has temporarily been posted on Goodreads without a rating, as I am aware that certain publishers/authors do not want any ratings under 4 stars to be posted before the book is released.

Lana is an auto-buy author for me. She beautifully balances tender moments with spice, AND she's never written a book boyfriend I don't like. I also appreciated how she didn't let Delilah fall into the "sweet girl" stereotype and gave her some edge, although I sometimes struggled with her obsession with Ian. All that said, Alexa, blast Too Sweet by Hozier 🎶🧁

4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ian Chase, a star hockey player caught in a messy breakup, needs to repair his public image. Fortunately for him, his teammate's younger sister and baking prodigy, Delilah Baker, is also facing PR trouble. With her TV ratings in decline, Delilah agrees to enter a fake relationship for mutual gain. Sparks fly as Ian and Delilah navigate the world of staged dates and baking challenges, all while battling their undeniable chemistry and a long-held secret crush.

As previously stated, I live for fake dating and I’m a recent Lana Ferguson stan. What more is there to say? I loved Ian and Delilah together. I typically find the little sister trope to be a bit cringe, but I found that this story worked for me because Ian was completely oblivious to her crush and didn’t reciprocate when she was a teenager. In other words, it’s not giving predator which is a thumbs up from me. Finally, Jack was hands down my favorite character and I would do unforgivable things for a sequel.