This was my 1st book I read by Sasha Lace and it was SO GOOD! I didn't want to put it down and read it within a day!
Miri and Gabe are such a great couple! Love the aspect of sports but it's more on her than him! Great read and anyone who got interested in Rugby during the Olympics this year, should probably read this! I know not the same sport but same energy!!

Cute romance story with a billionaire male lead and a strong female lead. Enjoyed the back story to both and the stripper club was a good extra. Not many steamy sex scenes which would have enhanced the book further.

Quick sports romance read. It’s a nice change seeing the FMC as the athlete. I think we needed a little more getting to know you time between characters, and to see them fall in love. Good start to the series.

A solid start to this sports romance series. Sasha Lace is a new author to me, and I found myself enjoying the writing style of this book. Lookinf forward to reading the next one.

"Playing the Game" is the first book in the "Playing the Field" series by Sasha Lace. I've never read a book by Lace, but I was intrigued by the book's cover and summary. In this book, Gabe is a rich playboy who doesn't take anything seriously but has big dreams of taking over his father's premier soccer league. When his father unexpectedly passes away, Gabe expects to be handed the keys to the kingdom, but his mom doesn't think he's ready yet. In order to prove he's grown up and matured, he has to first prove himself by leading the women's soccer team to victory. He recruits Miri, an amazing player who has struggles of her own off the field. She's desperately trying to juggle handling her family's failing finances with her own love for the game. While she tries to ignore Gabe's advances, she can't help but feel the sparks between the two of them. Will she give in or will she hold her ground?

I typically enjoy books with a similar story line, but felt this one needed a little editing. There seemed to be too many side stories happening at the same time. I also had a hard time liking Gabe since he's so used to getting everything he wants at once. Overall, I'll give Lace's future books another chance. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I am very excited to be reading this book! My full review to follow.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. All thoughts and comments are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this! 2.5 rounded to 3 stars
This was a fun read about Mari, a football/soccer player who has been down on her luck financially and Gabe, a wealthy socialite and new general manager of the team that recruits her. This has a little bit of everything: heavy chemistry, friends with benefits, workplace romance, stripping, cheating: you name it, this hits it. Its an enjoyable read with a good amount of spice.
Gabe wasn't my favorite. He's really pushy a few times in a way that isn't sexy so much as creepy? I want my male leads to be less forceful, especially in the times it seemed Mari wasn't fully into it. I also really just wanted more football action! This is sold as a sports romance based on the cover and byline but really its a romance that just happens to have some scenes on a football pitch.
I probably won't keep going in the story line

Such a fantastic read and series. I loved the characters and all the connections from book to book. They all felt like a family by the end and really linked so well together.

Miri and Gabe had me on chokehold! I went in without any expectations, but the plot, angst, and chemistry made this a worthwhile soccer romance 😍

A very enjoyable sports romance with some great spicy scenes - I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series

I am so glad i got to read this as ab arc from net galley. I read the entire series and overall the series is a 4 star for me. I definitely enjoyed this book. The romance was perfect, i loved both of the main characters and i loved how it dealt with so many different problems that celebrities and women face in their life. The reasons that it wasn't a five star read its because it didn't give me that feeling and i there were some small cringe moments.

2ish stars for most, but that epilogue is awful so Im droppping it down to 1. Most of this didn't work for me.

Gabe is a bad hero and not in a good bad boy kind of way. He's used to getting what he wants, demanding, doesn't listen or communicate. He's a spoilt child and that's just not sexy. Yes he had a rough time family wise but he also never had to care about consequences for any of his actions. No accountability.

Miri had potential but she was so dumb. Taking a loan from a drug dealing family and not expecting any kind of consequences when you dont pay on time is just pure stupidity.

Its supposedly a sports romance but there wasn't much time spent on the field. A short scene or two and that was it. Mostly it was just for Gabe to drool over Miri in her shorts and bra too. I expected more than just continuously being told she is the best and he used to play.

The issues for the relationship were never really dealt with. There's the want to keep it professional that lasts all of 10 seconds and how this is such a big deal but nothing comes of it. Their whole relationship was a rushed, lust filled mess. And the sex scenes weren't even good.

I appreciated how the misogyny was dealt with. There are huge discrepancies between women's and men's sports. Plus the way woman can have their careers destroyed by men in power over them was done well here.

This was my first book by the author and I dont intend to read another. Not for me.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

This was such a good book. I really enjoyed it. More than I thought I would. I loved the writing style. This book had me hooked from page one. This is a first for me by this author but will not be my last!!

I absolutely ate this book up in the space of 24 hours, it was everything I want from a sports romance and I loved how the roles were reserved. Miri and Gabe were a delight to read about, I loved the complexity that came from both of their stories and how all of that brought them together. I loved Miri's family and the dynamic they have going between them. I had such a fun time with this book and I can't wait to eat the rest of this series up, four books just doesn't seem like enough!

Slow at times but overall an entertaining romance story. I liked the combination of sports, work, and love. I think Lace did a good job developing the story and characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a fun, spicy sports romance series! Loved the interconnected characters and how they had real problems, but it was still an escape read.

If you are looking for a great sports romance this book is for you! The romance was perfect and so cute!

Just over a year ago, I read this book for the first time and fell in love with a debut author. Getting to read it again, with the same story but some new scenes, had me falling in love with this story and these characters all over again. Funny, heartwarming, heart breaking, and all kinds of swoony sexy, this book plays with all your feels.

- sports romance
- woman athlete
- billionaire mmc

Miri is a football (soccer in my country) player who has a lot on her plate - including taking care of an ill mother and sharing responsibilities with her siblings to take care of her. Gabe is a cocky, spoiled billionaire who is trying to prove that he can take over his dad's legacy. He gets what he wants. And he decides that he wants Miri on his team.

I enjoyed this book SO much. The writing, the pacing, the dramatics of it all. I finished it in one sitting. I loved that it was a sports romance with the woman as the athlete, it was a fun dynamic. Gabe was a little shit at times but I think it added a lot to his character (plus, who can really blame him for the things he's gone through?) Miri, though naive at times, really had the best intentions and it was heartwarming to see someone taking care of her after she seems to be taking care of everyone else.

I can't wait to continue this series!

First of all thank you Netgalley and to publisher for this arc! It is a good short love story and I did like listening to Gabe and Miri’s story! It was some spicy 🌶️ scenes that were part of the storytelling.

I need to get this physical book now when it comes out in the market. It is funny. I found myself laughing while
Listening to this book.

Thank you Netgalley for the read aloud feature it really helps arcs become more manageable when they are some form of audiobook as I’m not fast reader. I appreciate that feature!