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!

"𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑 𝚜𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚢, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛."

Never thought I'd enjoy this story so much, but I did. Read in one sitting, it was addictive, full of feeling, tension, humor and sweetness.

I loved Gabe and the fact that he's not the man everyone describes as a rich, heartless womanizer allergic to any kind of commitment. I loved the more damaged and insecure, funny man who fiercely defends and protects those he loves, watching him break free from toxic chains and fully be who he wants to be.

I really liked Miri. Discovering her dreams and aspirations kept in the background, her fears and insecurities, protecting her heart from being damaged again, her family as crazy as they are close, her determination and sense of sacrifice, putting blood, sweat and tears into protecting her family.

I loved the fact the series focused on women's football, reading about its recognition, the differences in treatment, the sexist and sexualized attitudes women face in this world, the inequalities and preconceived ideas that exist between a men's and a women's team playing the same sport.

It was gripping, tender, funny, sensual and romantic, then more explosive, poignant and full of tension. I bonded quickly with the characters, intrigued by Miri's complex life, worried about how things would turn out, succumbing to and looking for every moment she spent with Gabe, deeply disliking Gabe's family and loving Miri's one. Some of the themes are déjà-vu, but the author handles them so well that I devoured it.

Playing the game was quick and easy read. There was some plots in the story that didn't make sense. *Review contains spoilers.
For example: Gabe didn't realize that Mari and Violet were the same person. In the beginning of the book, it was believable that Gabe wouldn't realize that Mari was violet in the strip club. However, toward the end of book Gabe was shocked to find ou that Mari was violet.
I would have loved to see more about Mari's experience on the soccer field.

This was my first book by this author. I really liked Miri as a lead and rooted for her to find her happy ending. Gabe was also a well-developed and intriguing character. The dynamic between them was sizzling hot yet sweet. I enjoyed this book so much I immediately started the second book as soon as I finished this despite having no interest in sports. Definitely an author to keep an eye on.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this arc!

I loved this, it was a fun romance with a twist. I really loved it, it was short and sweet which is what I needed for a holiday read. I loved that it wasn’t dragged out and it felt real.

Solid 4 stars!!

I have been enjoying sports romance series lately. The Playing the Field series is my latest read. Book 1 was fabulous!

This was my first Sasha Lace book and it was the perfect companion for a road trip. It’s fast paced and short enough that I was able to finish it in the one sitting. I appreciated the plot and enjoyed the billionaire/sports romance tropes.

Thanks NetGalley and the Publishers for this ARC

The plot had so much potential, and reminded me of the TV Series Footballers Wives meets Ted Lasso - both of which I really like.
However I couldn’t warm to the hero. I thought he was pretty aimless and frankly unemployed until his Dad died - at which point he inherited his Dad’s fortune and the football club.

This was a fun if slightly unmemorable romance. I was initially wary of the power imbalance, which can be hit or miss for me, but it worked well in this case.

The story centers on a forward, Miri, playing for an underperforming squad, while Gabe, heir to his late father's soccer legacy, finds himself in charge of a women's team. Gabe is determined to elevate the team to new heights, and as he sets his sights on success, he can't help but notice Miri's talent and determination. But as their professional relationship deepens, Gabe must grapple with the question of whether pursuing her will ruin everything.

The book was decent overall. It followed the familiar trope of a wealthy, entitled man who’s used to getting whatever he wants, including the girl. What stood out most for me was Miri's journey, especially her strength in overcoming past hardships. Gabe had his frustrating moments, coming off as a spoiled rich boy who had rarely faced rejection. There was one particular scene where he was especially unlikable, and I almost gave up on the book. However, the second half redeemed itself, and the resolution of Miri and Gabe’s relationship felt satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the eARC!

It was a fun quick read. I did like how the tables were turned and it was a female athlete rather than a male. Gabe was an ok love interest, his past and struggles were not that interesting. Miri was about the same, she is trying to help her family and will do it by any means possible. The end of the book was predictable. Not sure if I would continue the rest of the series. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much for the ARC Montlake & Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hmm, this review is hard because I enjoyed the book to an extent. I loved the characters and the idea of plot however, for me I felt like this book predominantly focused on the relationship between the two main characters and whilst that absolutely was not laking the rest of the book sort of fell away and was lost?

Yes, we got to know the characters and I fell in love with them all but this book is supposed to be a sports romance and whilst there was mentions of it here and there, it didn't really go anywhere. It was there at the start but then once Gabe had secured Miri onto the team there was no development/mention of the team.

The epilogue was what I had the most trouble with I mean, they just had his awful mother playing Monopoly and Miri was all of a sudden pregnant and the team still hadn't progressed and we don't know where they stand in the league or if they've been promoted?

Sorry, no. First Gabe and Miri's relationship didn't feel fast paced enough to result in pregnancy so soon. It felt way too rushed. And also, from what I gathered this book was supposedly set in the UK therefore, year later to where the team should have been/where the were made absolutely no sense.

I want to stress, I really think this book had/has potential and I enjoyed the book but lack of substance and plot holes is making me question whether or not I want to continue the series.

Fun sports romance book! Miri, the female main character, is the athlete, which is different from the sports romance books I've read in the past. Throughout this book, Miri is trying to juggle her home life, football life, and relationship life. Gabe is her football team's new director, but there's just something about Miri that makes him want more. This book kept me on my toes and made me want to get to the end. This book has many interesting characters who sometimes wanted to make me scream, but that's what makes them feel real and authentic. I enjoyed reading Miri and Gabe's story. I apprecaited Miri's devotion and passion to her family, and I'm glad we got to see that in action. Overall, this book had good humor, real characters, and a happy ending that we always want.

Thank you NetGalley & Montlake for allowing me access to this ebook.
Playing the Game: 1 (Playing the Field) by Sasha Lace is being released on Nov 15th and it's the perfect debut of a series of sports romance! I loved Miri and Gabe and could not put this one down! I recommend it to anyone who wants to a sports romance where the FMC is the one playing football!

I have never really been a huge football fan (soccer in my country) but I’ve recently been branching out. I have to say that this blew my expectations out of the water. I was hooked from the first chapter and it didn’t end there.

The characters were easy to relate to, or hate which is always a compliment. I am going to binge read these so I’m very excited!

Loved this book! I’m not a big fan of football but even if you don’t know much about the sport this book is still such a good book if you like romance books. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series!!

A new author for me, and also the first time reading football (soccer) sports romance - I think I'd avoided it, because most of what I'd seen was written by non Brits and didn't really appeal. But this felt like a series I might be able to enjoy, being set at home - and that was very much the case! It ticked all the boxes for a sports romance, in particular the sense of depth outside the central pairing, and the potential for enjoying further stories - for the first in a series, that's something I look for as much as the central romance.

On that note, I enjoyed Gabe and Miri's story - they had good chemistry, and I was definitely rooting for them! I did think the whole 'wanting to keep the relationship professional' thing wasn't ever fully addressed, given how important it was supposed to be as a barrier. They just seemed to handwave it in the end. But shifting the focus onto the issue of trust made sense from a relationship pov. I also loved that the athlete in this particular romance was the FMC. And the themes of power imbalances and systemic misogyny within the woman's league was really well handled.

All in all, a satisfying and entertaining read, and a great introduction to a new series!

read this in one sitting. it was refreshing to see a female football player rather than a male for once. i liked Miri but i didn’t like Gabe that much, he was always used to getting what he wanted without delay and he was acting that way towards Miri as well. The reason i gave this a 3.75 stars was the miscommunication that could have easily been avoided and Gabe’s persistant wants towards Miri and stating he always gets what he wants. Also the third act breakup is a no for me, but that is just my opinion. not yucking anyone’s yum. overall, it was my first book from the author and i enjoyed it besides the things i stated. it was a fast read and saved me from a slump. so if you want to give this book a chance, i would say go ahead. i saw the tropes of book 3 and excited for that one!

3.75/ 🌟
3/5 🌶️

Sasha Lace has written an incredible story that I would 100% recommend any fans of romance add to their TBR.

I was only a couple pages into the prologue when I felt that the characters were relatable to both real people and real world problems. This sense of relatability was aided by Sasha's ability
to create believable and vivid images through her writing. From the very first word I felt as if the world of the Playing The Field series was one that I would be able to step into at any given moment.

Sasha Lace has created a wonderful storyline in which you can't help but feel sorry for the MMC from the very beginning. This sense of connection between the reader and the characters is one that I am constantly looking for in all the books I read. This is because I believe it helps the reader begin to develop ideas for where the story could be heading and, therefore, creates a sense of intrigue that encourages the reader to keep reading the book.

Sasha Lace thrusts you right into the drama of the story whilst still having the ability to build a believable world that mirrors our own.

Thank you, Montlake and author, for the ARC.

This is such a good short hot romance! There’s not much regarding the sport but you definitely can expect a good romance!

This book is for those who can handle or LOVE a little spice with a good plot.

The side characters need better development. Somehow they sound robotic or told to say whatever they were saying. Other than that the book is a fun short romance read.