I really enjoyed this book! I love the world that Slaughter has created with this series. I love a lottery winning book!

A sexy, fun romance featuring second chances and high-stakes lotteries. Great chemistry, smart dialogue, and just the right amount of angst. Totally bingeable.

While second chance romances are not my favorite, the author did a great job at pacing the reprisal of the relationship. The series continues to be a fun time.

*Play to Win* is a fun, flirty romance with great banter, strong chemistry, and a touch of sports drama to keep things interesting. It follows a driven woman and a charming pro football player thrown together in a high-stakes competition, and sparks definitely fly. The story’s got heart, humor, and just the right amount of tension, making it a super enjoyable, feel-good read. Perfect if you’re in the mood for a romance that’s both swoon-worthy and empowering.

DNF @ 20%. Really enjoy this author’s writing but I didn’t realize how close to home the romance will be for me and I personally can’t continue.

Thank you to the publisher for the free review copy.

It pains me to say this one didn’t work for me. I’ll preface this by saying I normally love Jodie Slaughter’s books. This one was an estranged marriage/second chance story. I also normally love this trope, but this one was just odd. 90% of the book was the 3rd act breakup. They literally didn’t get back together until the last 10% (the last 45 min of the audiobook). That’s just not how I like my second chances. The reasons they separated 8 years prior were also not believable to me. Super bummed to say I just didn’t enjoy it. I loved the first book in the series though. And am still very excited for Jodie’s upcoming sapphic release this summer…

DNF @ 38%

This book felt very disjointed in its MC associations - the FMC displayed sadness and hatred toward the MMC, and the MMC felt apathetic towards the FMC; however, both of them had internal monologue "feelings" toward one another. Even at 38%, the reader still wasn't any closer to finding out what split the MCs in the first place, and the reason for bringing them together again was flimsy due to emotions surrounding the whole situation. The depiction of the town, and Black community, felt neglected and run down, but there weren't many secondary characters who voiced the same. It was very much Black-centric, which only served to target a reaction from a select reading population.

It is a really unique second chance romance. I would have liked more of past flashbacks because I just really couldn't see why they got separated for so long but overall I enjoyed it.

3.5 stars rounded up. Once again Jodie brings some realness into her books, this time with poverty and young love. It was a lot more serious than I expected, which is maybe why I didn't rate it as high. Second chance romances aren't my favorite, but this one was cute. The one downside to a second chance romance is that the spice doesn't come until later. Once the spice did come in, though, it was hot! I loved revisiting the characters from Bet On It and the small town. I received an advance review copy for free and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

It was a cute romcom. Miri is a strong female protagonist and I really liked her. There were a few things that I did struggle with. First, I would have loved a dual timeline... To really see how things went down in the past between Miri and Leo, not just them talking about it now. Their breakup at the beginning was based on lack of communication (what I hate the most!) and Leo's return and desire to win her back... I just wanted more. Despite the spicy scenes, I just didn't get him and Miri together and what was drawing them together. I'd like to have seen a deeper connection between the two.

This book was a fairly quick read don’t normally gravitate to second chance romances but thought I’d give this a try. It was fine, but still not my cup of tea.

The actual writing was good and this is by no means anything against the authors skill! I just found that I couldn’t get into the relationship as well as I’d have liked. I loved Miri and I wanted nothing but good things for her. She deserved it. Leo showing up after the lottery win seemed a bit suspish and I think the timing just made me naturally distrust him.

If you like a second chance romance though this might be for you!

Overall, an okay read. While I enjoyed this from Slaughter and hope to read more of her writing, her first book was more my style.

I love Jodie's writing and her storyline's. They always feel cozy and I love getting to know the characters. Miri and her family interactions were some of my favorite scenes. The small town setting is perfect for old biddie gossip and humor. Between PTW and Bet on It, I think Jodie writes those vibes perfectly. And her spicy scenes are also a slow burn that is SO worth it once you get there.

While I enjoyed the book overall, it felt like it alternated between dragging and lightning speed. When it comes to second chance romance, I think it can always be strengthened via flashbacks or dual timelines. Especially in this instance because by the end, I wasn't sure if Leo was staying with Miri because he loved her or because she won the lottery, which is not the way I want my romances to end.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the arc to review.

Play to Win was definitely a little different for me. While the premise of the story was good, I had trouble connecting with the characters.

I really enjoyed Miri and Leo’s story - emotional, funny, and hot. I would’ve liked to see more of Miri’s processing of Leo reentering her life. Perhaps a recap of a therapy session to provide a deeper understanding of her conflicted feelings.

The book was well written. I’m not a huge fan of second chance romances generally. But I enjoy the way the author discusses, family and friendships and the vibrancy of all of the relationships between the characters.

What do you get when you have a woman who wins the mega millions lottery that has a husband who took off eight years earlier for reasons unknown and now she needs to hand him divorce papers so he doesn’t have access to that mega millions? This story, Play to Win!

This was a great concept with a fabulous highlight on family and friends to surround you. I love the idea of winning the lottery and someone coming back from the past and second chances type reads. This book had mega-potential! Although it did a great job focusing on the here and now, the flirting and sexual tension and possibly getting back together, it really didn’t get into too much the why of him leaving or working through the issues. And she was mega-quick to forgive and move on.

It was a light, quick, easy read. I just wish there had been a little more depth and background to it.

Play to Win by Jodie Slaughter is a book about love and money and second chances. I am glad I had the opportunity to read this one.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

DNFed - I chose to DNF this book in the past. I am typing as a review so it doesn't harm my %. I haven't chose to pick the title back up.

I love second chance marriage stories and was looking forward to trying this new to me author. Pulling off a marriage in trouble is much more difficult in a contemporary than in historical romance and ultimately I felt like their second chance needed more growth and depth. It wasn’t enough for me that after 8 years they started over just because they finally had money. This story didn’t work for me but I am curious to try more from this author.

HOT AMAZING AND BLACK CHARATHERS I LOVE THEM TO DEATH AND THEY DESEVE ALL THE GOOD BECAUSE I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUH THEM BEING UNHAPPY