I really enjoyed the narrators of the audiobook.

It took me a minute to get into the story. Once it started to take shape I enjoyed it.

Book contains
- second chance at love
- woman in a male dominated field
- grief management

Heart wrenching Grief
Single dad
Love
Pain
A black firefighter x black NHL player

This wasn’t a sports romance to me. I feel like it focused more on the main characters dealing with grief and them both going through the process of dealing with that grief. Which isn’t a bad thing at all, I just thought there would be more of a sport’s romance

see now, you can't have a cover like this and call this a sports romance when there is literally no sports mentioned at all. one of my biggest pet peeves with sports romances is when the sport is hardly mentioned or we see no sports action and this falls under that category. i also wasn't a huge fan of the how much religion was included in this (but i know that's more of a personal issue than anything). and finally, where was the romance? these two had zero actual chemistry. their "romance" was purely lust. and there were several subplots that were handled the wrong way. this was a disappointment!

This had a bit of a rough start because I didn't like the way he spoke about her. It got better as the book went on but it just threw me off. They were actually cute together and were clearly dating without calling it that. The way she interacted with Khalil was adorable and she's going to be a fantastic stepmom.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I feel a little like I am in the wrong lane (or too much in the right lane?) to give a review on this book. I am a hockey wife so I think the lack of actual hockey and ins/outs of the professional hockey world was hard for me because there is a LOT to write about. Also, I'm not sure if it is fair for me to give feedback on a book surrounding a black couple. Personally, the use of "lil mama" gave me shivers in all the wrong places but I completely understand that I am reading this as if I were the female because duhhhh, who wouldn't want to be ;)
I love the diverse characters and I LOVED the banter. I think this book was extremely well written. For most sporty spice girlies, this will be very well received!

I didn’t finish this book fully, I got about 50% through and just couldn’t do it. The religion I felt was being pushed at me, and as someone who is non religious I didn’t enjoy it in the slightest. I also feel like the book lacked the sports aspect of a sports romance, which is highly disappointing given that I love sports romances. I also feel the only diversity in this book is that some of the characters are black, no other diversity to be seen, which is upsetting. Overall I definitely didn’t feel like this was the book for me. Would I pick it back up? Maybe! If it was revamped!

Not sure I would call this a hockey romance but the second chance at love trope hooked me and kept me reading. The therapy representation was nice to see but I wasn’t always a fan of Solomon’s behavior which made it hard to be fully invested in the relationship.

Adina is a woman who has always faced adversity both when it comes to who she is and gaining respect in her career as a firefighter. In the aftermath of a fire, she locates a journal and from what she read she senses a kindred spirit however the owner of that journal is not happy that she is privy to his innermost thoughts and feelings, so they do not get off to a great start.

Solomon is a professional hockey player who is still struggling in the aftermath of a tragic loss which has left him a single father. He doesn’t know how to handle the attraction and feelings he is developing for Adina and his actions reflect that, but he does find a way to make peace with himself when it really matters.

Adina is an independent character who learns that asking for help is a strength and not a weakness even if it was a long time coming while Solomon was able to open his heart even if he fought it every step of the way. This is a story about love, loss and moving forward despite how difficult it may be.

•Dual POV
•Sports romance- hockey
•Overcoming grief
•🌶🌶

Not my favorite but I think this may work for someone who has lost a spouse and is looking for love again.

3 stars

good romance and loved how they found love and each other. They survived their trials and found their way back to each other. another great romance.

3.75 stars. This was a very cute romance. Adina and Solomon can connect with their tragedy from life experiences.

I really like books about hockey! But this book just wasn't for me. I couldn't stay focused on the book and the story. But it's because of the business in my life.

An emotionally unavailable man? Yes please. The characterisation in this book was fantastic, unique and totally wonderful. I enjoyed getting to know Solomon especially, and I warmed to him quite quickly. I liked Adina's character, she was likeable but I didn't adore her like I was hoping to. I think Simone fantastically conveyed the growth of the characters in their own way, which made me root for them individually.

The characters are what encouraged me to carry on this novel, as I didn't particularly enjoy the plot. Overall a good sports romance with likeable characters.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Beautifully written and soulful, Played tells the story of living with grief and love, in a world that is sometimes set to tear us down. Adina and Solomon were easy to empathize with, easy to love, easy to understand. I loved watching them reluctantly fall in love with each other, heal themselves and crawl out of the darkness and towards a life of light.

Many thanks to Montlake, Naima Simone, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a beautiful hockey romance between Solomon and Adina- both recovering from lost love and heartbreak. Such a great read!

Sports romance? Sure. Make it hockey? Absolutely count me in!!
This was a great little enemies to lovers hockey romance involving two very strong and brave main characters. They have both been through so much and watching their relationship unfold was beautiful.
Additionally the way that they each were dealing with grief was so inspiring. Love can go on…

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in return for my honest review.

Pub date: 03 September 2024

Apart than their heartbreaking incapacity to let go of past loves, Adina Wright and Solomon Young have nothing in common. Nevertheless, they manage to irritate one another from the start while simultaneously establishing chemistry right away. Played is a beautiful love story that shows the various paths that two individuals can take to find happiness and healing.

Solomon loves his career playing for the NHL. He is a widower raising his young son alone. He isn’t looking for a new relationship because he is afraid of finding happiness and losing it again. Adina loves her career as a firefighter. She is still mourning the death of her boyfriend. She isn’t looking for a new relationship either. What happens when two hardheaded people meet and figure out that they might just be a good fit for each other?

I like that the author gave Solomon pushy in laws and gave him the space and time to deal with them. Yes, I kind of hated them. I like that Adina has a family of fire fighters so she is always walking on eggshells because she wants to prove she has earned her place on the squad. I thought the bad guy was good and believable. I hated him and I liked how the issues he created were solved.

This is a contemporary romance that takes place in Rhode Island. I might read more from this author in the future but this book didn’t really spark my interest as I read it.

Oh my gosh, I am totally head over heels for this book! USA Today bestselling author Naima Simone serves up a steamy omance between a pro hockey player and a fierce firefighter, both battling their pasts as best they can.

Being a firefighter isn’t just a job; it’s a vibe—especially when you’re a Black woman in a tough field. The protagonist’s journey through grief and healing hits hard, especially when she finds a charred journal belonging to Solomon Young, the oh-so-hot left-winger for the Pirates and a widower. When she reads his words, it’s like reliving her own pain, and returning the journal? Let’s just say it sparks some serious tension!

I’m not usually into hockey romances, but the chemistry between these two is downright electric! The way Naima describes the game makes it feel sexy and exciting—I was practically itching to catch a match! The witty banter had me giggling, and her family dynamics? Total gold. Her brothers and dad are a delightful hot mess, fiercely protective and obsessed with football, which leads to some laugh-out-loud moments with Solomon.

Plus, the single dad angle adds such a sweet touch. His adorable kid is the cherry on top of this emotional rollercoaster. Overall, this book is a delightful blend of heart, humor, and swoon-worthy romance. If you're looking for a read that wraps you up in feels while keeping things fun, you definitely don’t want to miss this one!