This is a 4.25 star read. I definitely enjoyed the book and had fun reading it but i didn't like how closed off she was at times. It felt like they weren't connecting as much. Some moments were also a little cringe and the book in general didn't not give off five star read vibes still it was very fun and a fast paced read. I would have preferred to see more of them after they finally got together like we did with the other couples. The spicy scenes were amazing in all of the books but the best were in the third. I will say you don't have to read all of them in order but it will make you connect with the characters more. Another reason why i didn't enjoy this book as much is because we didn't see any of her in the other books.

"𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎, 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚙 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚘 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚘𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚗."

4,75⭐

I loved the atmosphere of this last book: cosy and warm, in a small town in Wales at Christmas. I loved every moment of it.

I really liked Lana: complex, endearing, funny, a strong temper, slightly grumpy. I loved seeing this broken, lost heart in need of a break from everyday life, grow. She mends and heals her heart, gains self-confidence, builds her family and transforms her defensive, solitary shell.

I fell in love with Geraint : a Welsh golden retriever who is tender, welcoming, funny, protective, selfless and dedicated to his family, loving completely and without false promises. They are polar opposites but complete each other and push each other forward, to accept the past, to forgive and to know what they really want to embrace their future.

It was full of introspection, pain and suffering, forgiveness, second chances, self-rediscovery, friendship and family.

The book's vibe was like a warm blanket on a cold winter's day: comforting, soft. We dive right in, yearning to get to know the characters, to stay close to them, to discover more, and to never want to leave this family we feel part of. A perfect series to read on an autumn or rainy day.

I'm afraid this was my least favourite book in the series. The previous books set the bar very high so my expectations were high, but I felt like the attraction between the two leads felt too instant and didn't feel as natural or as emotionally involved as the leads in the previous books where the author had written the build up perfectly and the pace had felt just right. Still, it was an enjoyable read and a well written book, and I'll keep an eye out for the author's future works.

Similar to the first book - slow at times but overall an enjoyable story. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this story - I thought that it was a really good football based romance!

The book had a well developed storyline that was strong and well planned romantic read.
This is the fourth book in the series and I have read books two, three and four now and they are also fine as stand alone stories.

I found that the book was well written and I liked the character development and it was a great romantic, and sexy story.

it is 4 stars from me for this one - highly recommended!

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

Unfortunately I didn’t love the end of the series the way I did the beginning of the series! I had to end as I couldn’t get into it the same way unfortunately

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. Maddie and Geraint were my favorite couple from this series!

This was a cute romance book! The banter in this book was so cute! I have really enjoyed this series. Would highly recommend!

Sasha is a gifted author and her characters are so funny - such typical British comedy banter BUT without getting too ridiculous.
I thoroughly enjoyed this series, and the last book was the best. The characters felt more deeper and well thought out versus the first 2 books.
I’d definitely be looking out for future books from Sasha!

Review to Come

Love the cover ❤️
Description intrigued me…
Author is new to me.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

This was a different twist than what the reader was used to in previous books as both main characters were brand new. Madison is an American who was scouted by Gabe. Madison is going through her own heartbreak and distances herself from the team, running to a Welsh Inn, near where her parents got married. There, she meets Geraint, an ex-rugby player, who’s attempting to make ends meet with the inn.

Despite not knowing anything from previous books of Madison or Geraint, the author does a great job of making sure the reader has everything and moves the story along fantastic. I fell in love with these two and loved the awkwardness/shyness between them. One part absolutely melted my heart and I fell hard for them as a couple. Highly recommend this book.

I have been enjoying sports romance series lately. The Playing the Field series is my latest read. Book 4 was phenomenal! This was such a good series! Five stars for sure!

I AM NOT CRYING, YOU ARE CRYING.

okay, it’s me. I’m crying.

I knew I was going to love this one because I loved all the others. This was like a warm hug on a cold winter night, i wanted to stay in its embrace longer than I was able to. Madison and Geraint were incredibly different but complimented eachother in a way that was pure perfection.

I need ten more of these books, please and thank you. 🖤

This book is my favorite of the series! I love it!

The final book in this series takes a refreshing turn by introducing two entirely new main characters. Madison, an American midfielder, is still reeling after being left at the altar, with her plans for retirement and family life shattered. Reluctantly, she agrees to join Calverdale's squad at the request of Gabe Rivers, but struggles to fit in. Overwhelmed by it all, Madison escapes to a small Welsh inn over Christmas, a nostalgic pilgrimage to where her parents once married. There, she crosses paths with Geraint, a former rugby star whose career and marriage were derailed by a severe injury, and who now fights to keep his late father's inn from going under.

With minimal ties to the previous installments, this book almost reads like a standalone Christmas romance, with Madison as the hardened, guarded one and Geraint as the warmhearted, somewhat broken counterpart. There’s a lot of emotional depth here, with Madison coming off as distant and difficult at times, but her emotional journey makes the happy ending all the more satisfying.

Eventually, Madison reconnects with the Calverdale team as she heals, finding her place both on the pitch and in her new life. The story wraps up with a heartwarming holiday scene in Wales, bringing all the characters together and giving the series a comforting sense of closure.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the eARC!

The fourth and final instalment in the series is something a little different. Unlike previous books, both the MCs here are new. Madison, an American import, reluctantly accepts an offer from Gabe Rivers to come and bolster Calverdale's midfield after she's jilted at the altar and left reeling, her plans to retire from soccer and start a family in tatters. Struggling to connect with her team and wanting to escape over Christmas, Madison books into a Welsh inn over the holidays, in a sort of pilgrimage to the area where her parents were married. There, she meets Geraint, an ex-professional rugby player who lost his career and his marriage to injury, and now struggles to keep his late father's beloved Dragon Inn afloat.

For the most part, the lack of direct connections to previous books and characters means this reads a little like a standalone Christmas novel, with a reverse grumpy/sunshine - black cat/golden retriever vibe. Like Lace's other books, there's emotional complexity; in particular, FMC Madison is not always very sympathetic given how closed-off she is for much of the book, but that makes the eventual HEA earned, I think.

And we do eventually see the Calverdale crew brought into the story, as Madison heals and finally commits to her place in the team. The book closes with a nice scene of the gang together enjoying Christmas in Wales, bringing a sense of completion and full-circle-ness to both the book and the series as a whole.

Thank you NetGalley & Montlake for allowing me access to the fourth book in the series Playing the Field, Playing to Win by Sasha Lace will be released on Nov 15 and it follows Madison & Geraint. It was one of my favourites in the series tbh, I love the British settings, the Christmas vibes and Geraint is just so swoon worthy!

The novel masterfully explores the complexities of professional and personal boundaries, showcasing the characters’ growth and the passionate connection that ignites between them. This book is a captivating journey through heartache, desire, and the transformative power of love, making it an engaging read from start to finish.