Book 4 in this series, the story of Madison and Geraint. She is in the England to play football after being jilted back home in the US. He runs a pub in Wales and meets her when she is staying there over Christmas. A great read and I liked how it was told from both points of view.

These books are like a drug - i am addicted to both the stories and the way that Sasha writes. She has become an auto-buy author and I can not wait until the Edited version of Pitching My Best Friend comes out. This was a different type of story from the other but that did not detract from my enjoyment, we had a different location and this allowed for us to see a bit of life in Wales and the struggles that Madison has been through. I am also saying this is my second favourite story of the series. I can not wait to see what Sasha Lace comes out with and I will be there on day one to get this. Now to go and buy the other 3 books to have as book trophies on my shelves.

This book was a very enjoyable read. I read it in a few sittings and was hooked after just a short time reading. The story was well paced and the characters were well developed.

I am not sure if I am ready to say goodbye to this series or soccer team. The female sport romance has been a refreshing change.

This story was a gorgeous example of how relationships going wrong can have a profound impact on us, but how it can also shine a light on what is real and what is fake, what true love looks like, and how you find it in the weirdest of places. This was a perfect finish with a journey from the southern USA to the UK and specifically Wales. The growth of the Welsh golden retriever and the American black cat was just wonderful to read. The spice was glorious and the ending was exactly what we needed.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Montlake and Sasha Lane for a copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Madison

After being jilted in Kentucky, playing for Calverdale Ladies in England was a chance to escape and spend Christmas alone, avoiding my feelings.

Which is how I’ve ended up snowed in at a Welsh pub with a retired rugby player who’s hot enough to thaw me out.

But when the snow’s gone, so am I. I won’t let another man in, not even one as gorgeous as Geraint…

Geraint

Running the pub, I’ve had flings with guests, but never one as sexy as Madison.

Too bad she’s so closed off. For both our sakes, we’ve agreed to keep our relationship physical. No attachments. No regrets.

Which is good, because I promised my dad I’d hold on to the Dragon Inn, no matter what. So I’m fine with no commitments, because I can’t ask a woman with a brilliant career in London to give everything up to be with me, in the middle of nowhere. Can I?

Playing to Win is the fourth book in the Playing the Field series—addictive romances full of heart and steam, perfect for fans of T L Swan.

Loved it. WIll recommend to others.

Recently sports romance has become my favourite and this was such a easy breezy quick read with brilliant character. Both the protagonists were mesmerizing and amazing in their own way and I had a great time reading this one. This is the fourth installment in the series and it was as impressive as the previous parts of this series.

Fun and spicy with a twist of fottball. Loved it! Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was way different from the first three books in the series, yet I strangely enjoyed it!

Rather than the story taking place within the women's league as the others do, we have the FMC, Madison, who desperately needs an escape getting snowed in a Welsh pub with Geraint, the MMC who almost immediately wants her. This story almost reads as a side-quest honestly. We get glimpses of the characters from the previous books in the series, and while Madison does spend some time in the women's league as I had expected, nearly the rest of the book takes place while she is off on her holiday.

Overall, I enjoyed the read. There wasn't anything wrong with it, but I just didn't connect with it on an emotional level as I did the previous books. Madison was a great character. She was avoiding her feelings, which the same girl, but she was very back and forth at times and that kept frustrating me. Maybe it was the lack of communication because everything felt uncertain at times and I honestly wasn't sure how long it would take for these two stubborn characters to get it together.

Geraint was adorable and really stole the show for me. That ending where he leaves the pub to go after her? Solid. 10/10. Would read that scene again. Everything leading up to that moment just really solidified my feelings towards this man. I wish he would have grown a pair a lot sooner, but at least the angst made the reward at the end (them finally getting together) worth it!

Such a cute cosy read! I have loved this whole series and this one was a perfect ending. Short sweet and to the point. I loved it! Defiantly recommend this series!

This was the best series!
I devoured each and every one.
Playing to Win by Sasha Lace was just so good!
Every last bit of this story was just phenomenally done to me.

Final installment in the Playing the Field series, but this story works well as a standalone.

Unlike the first three books, this one takes place with new characters and is primarily set in Wales over Christmas—I was not expecting a holiday romance when I picked this up, but I’m definitely not mad about it!

Madison is Gabe River’s newest recruit to the Calverdale’s women’s football (soccer) team and hails from Kentucky where just was just jilted at the alter on her wedding day. Now in England hoping for a fresh start, she’s struggling to connect to her team and is grieving her old life. Uninterested in spending Christmas with her family or team members and inspired by her parents stories of their wedding in Wales, Madison decides to spend two weeks at a small town Welsh inn/pub.

Geraint is an ex-professional Welsh rugby player who retired after a career ending knee injury and now runs the inn/pub he inherited from his father. The beloved inn is struggling to make ends meet, especially between his medical bills and exwife bleeding him dry of all his professional sports earnings. Imagine his surprise as the sole guest in the inn over the holidays might be just the person he needs to thaw out his heart…and maybe he could be what she needs too.

Both characters in this novel were a little grumpy, but it was cute to see them come together. The HEA is hard earned and all the more satisfying as both FMC and MMC are pretty stubborn.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to Montlake, Netgalley and Sasha Lace for allowing me access to this ARC. I have been struggling with this series but have been wanting to finish it. I don't like not finishing a series halfway through.

My feedback remains the same as previous 3 books. More depth, more emotion and character growth.

2⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for a copy of Playing To Win.

Madison is recovering from being left at the altar when she is approached by Gabe Rivers to play football in England. She decides she needs a change so she goes. She ends up spending Christmas in Wales at an Inn owned by Geriant. They end up falling for each other but Madison is scared to commit so she leaves him for her new life in England. But she is trying to figure out if she is truly happy.

This is the fourth and last book in the series. Again it was just an okay read for me. It was hard to get into this book.

Everything you want in a romance is right here. The Calverdale Ladies are back, this time a jilted bride withdraws while a retired rugby player fans the flames. Both have baggage, both need to overcome loss and insecurities, and everyone around them is there to assist. Great storyline, great group of characters throughout the series, just read them all.

Loved this love story between Madison and Geraint. Sasha Lace wrote another winner. A tad different than the other 3 books but I didn't mind one bit. You feel for both characters as they get past things to move forward.

Thank you NetGalley, Montlake and Sasha Lace for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was not sure what to expect since I didn’t know either main character going into this book (which I haven’t experienced in a series) but I was pleasantly surprised.

Madison and Geraint were adorable. Maddie was understandably “broken” and standoff ish. Geraint was awkwardly sweet and so patient.

I enjoyed their progression to get together although the timeline was short so it’s a little crazy but luckily crazy makes a fun story!

The Welsh vocab lesson at the beginning of the book seemed daunting but the words were used in a way that helped describe them without bringing me out of the story.

I think this was my second fav book of the series which is crazy since the other characters from the series were only in the first 10% and last 15% of the book.

Open door.
Running away from heartbreak.
Just a fling, only physical.

In this heartwarming Christmas romance, Geraint, a former rugby player, struggles to keep his late father’s pub in Wales afloat. He feels a sense of duty to honor his father’s memory despite the pub’s lack of success. Madison, another American soccer player, is also dealing with heartbreak after being left at the altar. She joins a UK team but struggles to fit in. Seeking a Christmas escape, she travels to Wales, hoping to find solace where her parents married. There, she meets Geraint, whose past injuries ended both his career and marriage. A snowstorm brings them together, leading to a memorable holiday connection.


The story weaves themes of healing, connection, and found family, with a cozy holiday backdrop. Geraint and Madison’s unexpected romance blossoms, and Madison’s journey brings a sense of closure to the series, ending with the characters celebrating Christmas in Wales.

5 ⭐ 3 🌶️

I can't believe it's over 😭 I'm absolutely obsessed with these Calverdale ladies and their golden retriever beaus. They have made my insides all gooey time and time again and Gerailt was no different. This Welsh Wonder was so dang sweet and perfect for Maddie and I loved them both to bits.

While I was ever so slightly disappointed we didn't get much time in England with our other besties, the time we did get there was so perfect I forgave Sasha rather quickly. This story takes place mostly in snowy Wales, where G and Madison learn to love again and find themselves while they're at it.

I don't know what I'm going to do now that I've not only finished this series, but also Sasha's backlist... But I'm so excited to see what's next for her.

This was such a fun Christmas romance! I have loved this entire series and this was right up there with the rest of them. We are getting the black cat/golden retriever vibes in this one that just worked so well. Madison and Geraint are just swoon worthy and I couldn't help but smile with these two.

While this is book 4 in the series, I don't feel like you will miss too much starting here. They are very well written as interconnected standalone within the series.

After being left at the alter, Maddison, a professional soccer player, decides to escape to spend Christmas alone. She booked the last available room, in an inn with very bad reviews, where she meets Geraint. He isn't looking for any commitment, because he is entirely committed to running his father's inn.
This black cat/golden retriever romance is book 4 in the Playing the Field series. It's the first book I read in the series, but I didn't feel like I've missed anything since they are all interconnected standalones. I've read this series being compared with T L Swan books. They may be as steamy, but I think the ressemblance ends there, at least for this book. I am not a fan of FMCs who are "absolutely done with men" and then fall for the first man they happen to stumble upon. I hated the third act break-up, based on miscommunication and assumptions and unsaid things... All in all, though, I did enjoy the read and the Chrismas feel to it!
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.