Sweet and steamy romance that is a Hockey based one night stand that ends up being more after a second encounter.
Harper is probably a little 'too nice' and in my opinion avoiding a potential romance for a reason that just isn't worthy of all the drama. Keiran is the ultimate fantasy and is the perfect guy.
It was a fune story but it isn't going to stick in the memory banks

I received this book as an ARC for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Harper Roberts, a nurse who works in pediatrics, is a closeted hockey fanatic, and has a secret that is about to come back to bite her. She had a one night stand with Kieran Marsh two years ago, and never told anyone. And now he's on her city's new expansion team. Of course he sees her; it's been two years, but he's never forgotten the anti-hockey girl who was wearing his jersey when they first met. It's not a huge city, so their paths cross again, and he won't make the same mistake he made the first time around. He's not going to let her go this time.

Harper wants to be with Kieran, but is afraid to, largely due to the fact that her father - a famous hockey player, too - abandoned and divorced her mother and left them on their own. She's convinced that all hockey players are love 'em and leave 'em, untrustworthy players. Since her father was a disappointment so many times. she joined her mother in a "we hate hockey" attitude, even though it wasn't really how she felt about the game. She doesn't trust her attraction to Kieran, but slowly starts to let him in. Unfortunately, he's only on a one year contract with the team, which means he could get traded away any time, so she's afraid to let herself get attached only to have him leave. Can their growing attraction withstand the possibility of a trade? Or will Harper let her family history keep her from finding happiness?

I enjoyed this spicy hockey romance, though there was a little too much "good girl" in the scenes than I would have liked. I realize this is due to my own personal feelings about the condescending attitude that often goes along with these words when they are said to a grown woman, but it still irks me. It was one of the spicier books I've read as far as number of scenes, but it never felt repetitive or like it was overdone.

It's a classic "don't judge a book by its cover" lesson for Harper with how she initially sees Kieran. The romance is sweet and hot, and Kieran, for his part, is patient and does his best to understand Harper, and to let her take her time in becoming comfortable with him and their relationship. I only wished for a little more closure with Kieran's relationship with his parents, and maybe a more in-depth talk between Harper and her mother when she finally tells her about Kieran.

This is a great book if you like alternating points of view, lots of spice, and sexy alpha vibes. Both main characters are likeable, and there are some great side characters that will hopefully have their own stories in the future.

~ 4.5 stars for a new-to-me author ~

Ainsley Booth is a new author to me, and let me tell you, The Playing Game will keep me coming back. I have to admit, I love a good hockey romance, so nothing is too surprising that I loved this book. The main couple, Harper and Kieran, were so darn lovable. I learned while starting this book, that they do have a prequel that shows us the couple meeting and their first night together. I STRONGLY recommend reading the prequel, as some parts of the prequel are referenced in The Playing Game, but it is not necessary.

The Playing Game starts two years after the prequel and our couple’s first night together when Kieran is drafted by a new NHL expansion team in Harper’s hometown. During their first home game, he locks eyes with her and recognizes Harper as Jersey Girl, aka the girl he has been thinking about for two years now. He tries everything he can to find Harper and he lucks out through a few fateful situations. Harper has a lot of baggage from a childhood and is understandably hesitant to get into a relationship with Kieran. However, that man sure was persistent and was great at meeting Harper wherever she was at. Our main girl, Harper, worked as an inpatient pediatric nurse, which was awesome to see play out throughout the book as the author did a good job of discussing the nuances of the job, including weird hours and working night shifts. Plus, getting to see the soft side of Kieran interacting with the kids when he would visit the hospital made the story even better. I mean, it was truly swoon worthy.

The only negative I found and why I have a 4.5 star rating instead of 5 as I sometimes found the timeline confusing. The pacing of the book was hard to follow at times as chunks of time would be sped through which made some parts less believable or harder to understand. Having a more spread out time frame could have helped a bit, but honestly was not anything that would make me not recommend this book to others!

I loved getting to watch this couple grow in their relationship with each other and not have to worry about a third act breakup. There was such a genuine feeling with these two that kept me wanting to come back for more. As much as I loved the main couple, the side characters also kept me wanting to read more. The friendship and camaraderie found in sports romance books is one of my favorite parts of them. Getting insight into the other players only encouraged me to want more of them and get their love stories as well. The Playing Game was a very easy read for me and one that I binged rather quickly. Unfortunately, now I have to wait for the rest of the series to come out as we wait for the next release. Great job, Ainsley Booth! I cannot wait for the next one.

* Review given in exchange for receiving free digital review copy provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op *

As much as I wanted to get into this one, I had a hard time staying interested in the storyline. I felt it started off strong, but slowly lost my attention. I kept trying to get back into it…. I wasn’t successful. Sadly, I barely finished this story.

First of all, from a trope perspective, this book was made for me. Hockey, Golden Retriever MMC Energy, no 3rd act break up, praise k*nk... I could probably go on, but it escapes me right now. All that to say I loved it. Its definitely on the spicier end of what I normally read which I didn't mind just that some of the descriptors in certain scenes drew more than a few "wait what?" reactions from me. I loved the main characters, I loved the plot line, this was just a fun read. I would recommend it to anyone who loved hockey smut.

DNF 12%
I tried, I really tried!
But this far into the story and the ONLY three things we know is that he plays hockey, she's a nurse and they banged one time.

There is no backstory, we get introduced to so many characters in the beginning which threw me off. And the FMC? Please girl, you keep saying you never thought you would see him again but you purposefully attend a hockey game you knew he was playing wearing his jersey!! Dumb! So dumb. Sorry but life's too short to put myself through this.

This was too good! I just loved the low angst compared to other stories where it's just fake and expected. Love this!

I'm a sucker for a hockey romance...*especially* a Canadian hockey romance! While Harper has some issues surrounding dating hockey players, I love that their relationship is relatively low angst -- there doesn't always have to be a break up and make up. Kieran is so sweet and patient, playing the long game with Harper. There are some super steamy scenes and humor. The Playing Game is a book I couldn't put down.

I'm a sucker for a hockey romance...*especially* a Canadian hockey romance! While Harper has some issues surrounding dating hockey players, I love that their relationship is relatively low angst -- there doesn't always have to be a break up and make up. Kieran is so sweet and patient, playing the long game with Harper. There are some super steamy scenes and humor. The Playing Game is a book I couldn't put down.

I really loved this story and I really appreciated the conflict towards the end of the story, I often find myself watching the 80% mark coming up in a book with a lot of trepidation due to the number of books that have a lazy conflict to break the couple up ready for the HEA.

Both main characters felt completely believable with their motivations, and I enjoyed that the side characters were fleshed out enough to feel real without feeling like caricatures.

I highly recommend The Playing Game to anyone who loves a cosy story packed full of steam and heart - I've loved every Ainsley Booth book I've read so far and can't wait to read more.

No games.

Kieran Marsh isn't playing games. Nope. He had a banging one night stand with the hot mystery girl two years ago. He was already changing but that one night sealed the deal. He was a gonner for her and changed his player ways, cleaned up his act and matured.

Harper has her reasons, very, very valid reasons for keeping her distance after that one night. She has been dodging Marsh's moves to find out her identity and eventually, placing him in the friend zone. Don't worry, that doesn't even last a hot minute. Kieran can tuck me in anytime.

So, recommend for an excellent hockey book. Much needed and enjoyed.
Cheers for Kieran Marsh cuz he's what a book boyfriend should be.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to leave an honest review. I have read many of Ainsley Booth's alter ego (Zoe York) romances so was excited to read this side of her writing personality. This book is less small town romance and is a bit more spicy if you will. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend if you like a good sports romance with some dirty talking. I am really hoping we are going to get books for a lot more of the players and other characters in the book.

This book follows Kieran and Harper. Kieran is a veteran hockey player who has been traded to 3 teams within about a 2 to 3 year span. While at a game in Buffalo, he hooks up with Harper who is a closet hockey fan but at the same time hates the players and what they represent. They have chemistry from the get go but when Kieran goes back to find her the next morning she is gone and he has no name to chase down. Fast forward 2 years when he is on the new expansion team in Harper's city and you have all the makings of a good push/pull romance. Kieran is all in once he sees Harper again but she is still hesitant with her past. She can't resist him however and things heat up quickly. Nothing is ever as easy at it seems with family drama and talks of trades again.

Overall a great read and would recommend. Good writing style, great characters and easy flow. Looking forward to more stories for this new Highlander team.

Mein Leseerlebnis

Nachdem mir “The girl in the hockey jersey” gut gefallen hat, bin ich mit gewissen Erwartungen in die Geschichte eingestiegen.

Auf den ersten 200 Seiten wurden diese dann auch erfüllt. Die Liebesgeschichte war unterhaltsam, sexy und gut. Der lockere Schreibstil wirkte auf mich einnehmend und machte es mir leicht, der Geschichte gut zu folgen.

Ich fand es schön mitzuerleben, wie die Hauptcharaktere sich langsam näher kennengelernt haben und einander geöffnet haben. Übrigens ist das Buch ziemlich sexy, heiße Sexszenen sollte man in Liebesromanen mögen, um mit dem Buch eine gute Zeit zu verbringen.

Nach Seite 200 schlichen sich leider einige Längen in den Roman ein. Eine längere Sexszene fühlte sich wie ein reiner Lückenfüller an und überhaupt nicht sexy. Eine zuvor groß aufgebaute Entwicklung verlief im Sand, neue Entwicklungen wirkten auf mich zu konstruiert. Das letzte Kapitel wirkte gleichzeitig seltsam gehetzt.

Ich denke, dass dem Roman im letzten Drittel rund 30 Seiten weniger gut getan hätten. Dann wäre das Buch insgesamt eine rundere Sache gewesen.

🖤🖤🖤3/4

Für wen?

Wer sexy sports romances mag, sollte sich die Buchreihe mal näher anschauen.

Sometimes you need a straight foreword, drama-free read and this book easily fills that need. Harper and Kieran had one steamy night together that neither can forget when she was just a random fan at his hockey game. Now he’s been traded to her hometown team and, even if she is reluctant to explore it, the connection is still there. The two take their time, getting to know each other and they are both such solid characters that it is mostly enough to create a satisfying read. Interesting secondary character add some flavor as does all of the hockey chatter. A solid start to a new series that I will continue to read

I received a coot of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It was definitely fate!
Stop me from swooning!
One hot night two years ago... she never gave him her name or any way to contact her but they both were left with a night that ruined them for anyone else.
Harper never expected to see Kieran in the flesh ever again. At least that was her plan. But he just so happened to end up playing for the new hockey team in her hometown. And doing charity appearances in the pediatric ward she works in. He never thought he'd see her again either but was determined to somehow find his Jersey Girl, and now he has, and now he never wants to let her get away again!

These two are off the chemistry charts hot! They keep finding new ways to blow that first amazing night out of the water.
*If you want every sexy detail of that night, get the prequel 'The Girl in the Hockey Jersey.' Oh, what a night!! Have a fan and some ice water nearby to cool you down!*

I loved this book! Ainsley Booth books never disappoint and this was no exception! I could not put it down! Love love love it!


(I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley)

This book had the three S's - - sweet, swoony and spicy. Kieran and Harper were a wonderful match. I love that they had history and then found each other again a few years later.

Kieran was a romantic player for years until he realized it wasn't who he was and didn't fill the void he had. Then once he met Harper, no other woman would do. Meanwhile, Harper swore to never date a hockey player. So, Kieran was supposed to be a one time thing not her one and only. The pacing of the story was done well and Kieran worked hard to woo Harper by "showing up."

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Slow burn, fantastic characters and a whole lot of smexiness is what I got from Playing The Game, the long awaited newest book from Ainsley Booth. It was absolutely worth the wait, but maybe let’s not wait that long again, m’kay?!
Kieran and Harper lit up every page and I fell for them immediately. If you read The Girl in the Hockey Jersey, you might have thought this book would be angst ridden, considering the ending. But while this couple had issues to work out, their relationship really was slow and steady, but never boring.
Great dialogue, a few characters from her alter ego author’s small town series and a wonderful storyline kept me engaged and more than a bit tired at work the following day! I loved Kieran and Harper!

This is such a brilliant hot steamy read.
Kieran and Harper had an amazing night together two years ago and neither has forgotten about the other, so when he sees her in the stands at his first home match for his new team he knows that it's fate.
Harper has a thing against hockey players but realises that she can't stay away from Kieran but can she give him her heart.
I loved how they were together and the hot steamy scenes are not to be missed. This is a must read with a perfect ending.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book

This was a really fun book! I really liked both of the characters, and I thought they were sweet and fun together. It was a really delightful read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

As a lover of hockey romances, I couldn’t wait to read this. Let me tell you, this did not disappoint!!!

Kieran and Harper met two years ago and had a one night stand. She didn’t even tell him what her name was. So when he is traded to Canada to play hockey, he couldn’t believe that the girl he hasn’t stopped thinking about, was in the stands watching the game.

Harper is strong yet vulnerable, and is not looking for a relationship, especially with a hockey player. But she cannot deny the attraction she feels towards Kieran. Starting with friendship, little by little she lets him in.

Kieran was such a charming and sweet character. I loved that he never pushed or pressed Harper. He just let things happen how they were meant to be. He was honest and loyal and just a great character.



The steamy scenes were SPICY! I liked that this book actually had a plot, talked about the game itself, and of course, the spice! This book felt realistic and was enjoyable.
This was a quick and hot read. I’m looking forward to reading more of Ainsley’s books!


📘: The Playing Game by Ainsley Booth
🗓 Pub Date: March 9, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley, Ainsley Booth, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Reviewed on NetGalley and Goodreads. Will review on retail once published!