When Marlowe decided to surprise her boyfriend in Spain the surprise was on her when she realizes that she has been the only one who was faithful while they were apart. She decides that a few drinks will help numb her pain but that brings complications of its own when she has no way to pay until Ale, a sexy stranger comes to her rescue.

Ale is a professional soccer player who appreciates the fact that she is drawn to him as man and not his occupation as she doesn’t know who he is. They spend a fun night together and plan to go their separate ways until the media interferes. Now they find themselves pretending to be a couple so that he can work towards being the captain of the team and she can secure a meeting with someone he knows to help her family business.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Marlowe and Ale develop despite the fact that she lives in the US and is devoted to her family while he lives in Spain. I also enjoyed seeing the camaraderie that Ale had with his teammates and that they were surrounded by friends and family when they needed guidance. Angelina Rocco brings out the strength and emotions of Marlowe while Marcio Catalano brings out the charming and caring sides of Ale.

Winning Match kicks off the new League Valencia series and takes us to Valencia, Spain, a place that's near and dear to the author's heart. I love traveling internationally through books and this was no exception. I could envision what Valencia would be like and all the beauty that lies within.

Marlowe travels to Spain to surprise her boyfriend but discovers his infidelity. She goes to a local bar where she meets Alejandro, star fútbol player, but she has no idea who he is. He picks up her tab, they dance and spend the evening together simply enjoying each other's company. After pics of them go viral the following morning, Marlowe and Alejandro take advantage of the opportunity to create a narrative. They agree to a fake relationship to help both Alejandro's recent negative press and Marlowe's family business.

And that's where it all begins. What happens when real feelings become involved? When friends become lovers and lines blur, is a future even possible between Marlowe and Alejandro? Alejandro wants to be a good man, for his family, for his legacy, for his teammates, for Marlowe.

Marlowe takes care of everyone else especially with her dad's health failing but who shows up for her? And that's where Alejandro comes in. I could completely identify with what Marlowe experienced with her father and I only wish I could find a man like Alejandro. I loved how he was all in from the start, protective and patient and understanding. And I loved Marlowe's growth as she moved on from her ex and stepped up for her family's business.

This was a feel-good story of love and hope and possibility. Marlowe became Alejandro's undoing and I loved the way he fell hard and fast for her. The things this man says...

"I won't let you go."

"Please, mi niña, let me love you."

Swoon! The narration was fantastic, Angelina Rocca already one of my favorites and new to me Marcio Catalano nailing Alejandro's sexy accent. If you want to travel to Valencia and enjoy the following, this story is definitely worth the listen!

⚽️ Soccer Romance
🌟 Fake Relationship
⚽️ Secret Celebrity
🌟 Forced Proximity
⚽️ Reformed Playboy
🌟 He Falls First
⚽️ Found Family

* Special thanks to author Gina Azzi, Dreamscape Select and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this ALC!

Fake dating Spain’s hottest bachelor when you don’t even know what he does? Sounds amazing. One night that starts in heartbreak turns into a night she will never forget.

I think there are so many elements of this book that I really enjoyed but I also think that the romance was a little too much in my opinion. The couple fell in love just so fast it felt a little too insta love for me. Especially with the playboy element of the book. There was no enough growth for him as a character for this big change in his life to make sense. That being said I was rooting for them to be together it just didn’t make too much sense for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story!

Fake girlfriend tropes can often be a little unbelievable, but you buy into this relationship readily because they seem to have genuine affection for one another as friends. Sure they have obvious chemistry and attraction, but it’s their understanding and respect they show towards each other that make this a five star read for me. Tropes are fun, though sometimes lazy in romance books, but when done well they are *chef’s kiss *.
**Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book early.**

Thank you so much to @dreamscape_media and @netgalley for the ALC.

Wow, duet narration makes a world of difference in how I experienced this book. 👀

Angelina Rocca and Marcio Catalano are the narrators and both are amaazing.
At first, I was worried the MMC would sound off since he’s supposed to have a Spanish accent. Worries unfounded—Marcio nails it, completely bringing Alejandro to life with all his smoothness, tenderness, and sexiness. I was giggling and cackling half the time. And let me tell you: listening with headphones on is a whole experience 🥴

Angelina was fantastic as well; she infused Marlowe with candor and just the right touch of naïveté, making her a very likable FMC.

As for the book itself: it was short and sweet 💕

Our couple has great chemistry, the drama is minimal, and everything flows pretty easily (sometimes too easily). Alejandro is all green flags: caring, sexy, responsible. Marlowe is warm, determined, and refreshingly honest. Plus, I liked that they’re both family-oriented; it made their connection feel grounded.

And while the story is enjoyable, I couldn’t shake the sense that the author was hesitant to lean into real conflict. Without spoiling anything, issues that could have been truly dramatic or even traumatic were glossed over and resolved in days. As a result, the lows never felt very low, which meant the highs didn’t quite soar either.

Still, I had a good time with it—in no small part thanks to the audiobook narrators, who completely elevated the story.
So, if you’re looking for a fluffy, light, sports romance (with a really fun audio), Winning Match is pretty much it.

Marlowe comes to Spain to surprise her longtime boyfriend, only to have her heart shattered when she finds him in bed with another woman. Drowning her sorrows in a bar, she meets Ale—a charming stranger who pays for her drinks, makes sure she gets a hotel, and acts like a true gentleman. The next morning, she discovers he isn’t just anyone—he’s Alejandro, a famous futbolista for Team Valencia.

When they realize they can help each other—Marlowe needing a meeting to save her family’s business, and Ale needing to rehab his playboy reputation—they strike a fake dating deal. But with sizzling chemistry, heartfelt moments, and unexpected tenderness, lines start to blur fast.

This book was fantastic! Five stars from me. The duet narration by Marcio Catalano and Angelina Rocca made it even better, and the setting of Spain was absolutely dreamy. I loved watching Marlowe find her independence while also leaning into love, and Ale’s protectiveness and charm made him the perfect book boyfriend. The theme of family, in all its forms, added such depth. This story made me swoon, scream, gasp, and melt. I can’t wait for the next book—more of this team and setting, please!

5/5 Stars 2/5 Spice

Tropes:
Sports Romance
Fake Dating
Forced Proximity
Opposites Attract
He Falls Harder

🎧 Narration: if you’re an audio listener then this one on audio is a must bc angelina rocca & marcio catalano hit it out of the park. the accents & the banter are 10/10. highly recommend.

marlowe & alejandro forever 😍 i loved this story. the way the culture of spain was so beautifully written into this little steamy romance was so fun! i love the “she upgraded” trope & this one had me in a chokehold. these two meet in a whirlwind of serendipity & the strangers to friends to lovers vibes are *chefs kiss* i’m a sucker for fake dating & it was so swoony to watch them both fall so hard while trying not to 🤣

⭐⭐⭐
A football star with a PR crisis and shipping heiress with a failing business decide on a fake relationship for their benefits - but lines start to blur as they find more common ground between themselves, a recipe for swoon-worthy romance.

KICKOFF THOUGHTS
It was my first ever audiobook. I never read an audiobook with no text support, so this was new for me and surprisingly enjoyable and made me eager to try more.

❤️LOVELYY
•The initial idea of book, their relationship was absolutely entertaining, and I really enjoyed the idea of a football player and a shipping heiress.The club and everything, it was all very fun.
•The book flowed, the plot was simple and entertaining, the characters were fun with smooth pacing that kept me engaged.
•I liked the side characters - Ale's teammates, Marlow's new friend Bianca--and also the sewing circle,.
•I love Marlow as she's very headstrong, supportive and loving character.
•Their relationship development was so soft and sweet, and I loved how it grew.
•And for the audiobook part, I am not someone who is well-versed in Spanish so I don’t know much about it enough to have a lot of opinion on it. I do think that the narrator's made the book engaging and also loved the duet narration. They nailed all the charcters perfectly , did justice to the book.and I enjoyed it.
......
🚫UNLOVELY
•Ale just let his insecurities take the front seat which frustated me. He only saw what his insecurities showed him .He didn’t have the perspective, didn’t confide his feelings to Marlo or any other person.
•The conflict relied too heavily on Ale’s insecurities, which felt frustrating
•The third-act breakup and miscommunication trope just didn’t land well, it felt like forced obligation.
•When the conflict reached the height , it felt underwhelming.
•The storyline overall wasn’t unique enough for me.


💫FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, Winning Game was a fun, refreshing and entertaining listen. Not groundbreaking, not unforgettable, but definitely worth a try if you like football romances and want a breezy audiobook experience.

P.S. Anyways, I just want to confess that the reason for me picking up this book was just my feelings, myself, and I couldn’t miss the opportunity because Shakira’s Waka Waka World Cup days live rent-free in my head… and since this is about Spanish football, I couldn’t resist, because maybe it would have those feelings. And it did, and that’s why I was absolutely entertained. I loved this book."

✨ Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for providing me with an audiobook ARC of this book.

Winning Match by Gina Azzi as an audiobook was fantastic and such a cute read/listen!
Goodreads review posted on: 08/25/2025

Ale and Marlow met in a bar after Marlow was dumped in Spain. Ale loved that she had no idea who he was and they had a great night of partying and talking before striking up a mutually beneficial fake-dating arrangement.

Listening to this book was great and was overall a 4.5/5 ⭐️ listen for me. I loved the duet narration and writing style that Gina Azzi used for this I loved the feeling that was invoked throughout the story and how in love I fell with these characters.

The ending was EVERYTHING and absolutely fitting for the story style and plot line. I loved the groveling and how supportive the side characters were for this story!

I’m on the fence about whether I should rate this 3 or 4 stars, so let’s just go in the middle and say that I rate this as a 3.5? This was cute and fun, and I always enjoy a good fake dating trope. So here are my thoughts.

What I liked:
- the news inserts and fan comments
- fake dating 🤭
- dual narration
- literally everything about the MMC and his narrator
- the ending gave the perfect amount of closure
- the side characters (especially the sewing circle)

What I disliked:
- the miscommunication
- the FMC’s ability to forgive and forget so easily
- the MMC’s indecision
- some parts where the story dragged on with no point

Overall, I really did enjoy this audiobook and I will probably continue on with the series as it gets published in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Select, and Three Cities Publishing for this audio ARC.

Winning Match was such a fun, feel-good sports romance. Gina Azzi delivers exactly what I love in this kind of story—banter, chemistry, and a swoony athlete who’s more than just the jersey he wears. The pacing kept me hooked, and I liked how the romance balanced sweet and steamy moments without dragging.

What really worked for me was how real the characters felt. They weren’t just perfect archetypes; they had insecurities, doubts, and growth that made the relationship feel earned. The hockey backdrop added that extra spark, but it never overshadowed the heart of the story—the push and pull of two people figuring out how to fit love into their already complicated lives.

If you like your sports romances with plenty of charm, a dash of drama, and a guaranteed happily ever after, this one’s a solid pick. I’ll definitely be picking up more of Azzi’s books.

🎧 ALC Review 🎧
Winning Match by @gina_azzi
League Valencia - Book One
Duet Narration by: Marcio Catalano & Angelina Rocca

This was a low angst book with some instalust between an American heiress visiting Spain and a European football (soccer) star that needs a bit of PR reform.
Their relationship was quick to build and it turned out to be difficult to tell where the lines were supposed to stay.

The narration was excellent - I really liked hearing the different accents and of course the words in the different languages. Super sexy!!

In terms of Smut File Rating, this one is relatively tame, but it did not really feel like it while listening.

▶ Overall Smut File Spice Score - 2 ◀

Pick this one up if you enjoy:
*Fake dating
*Sports romance (futball)
*Slow burn

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Select and the author for the advance copy of this audio.

I adored everything about this book. The characters, the storyline, the setting. All of it. When Marlowe travels to Spain to surprise her boyfriend, the surprise is on her. He is now her ex and she heads to the closest bar for a drink and to figure out what to do, make some arrangements to fly back home. When things seem to go from and to worse, she meets Ale’. He’s a world famous football player and she has zero clue who she is. They are both in need of some rescuing and decide to help each other out by fake dating. We of course know where this will lead. To a sweet, will they, won’t they, slow burn, story with a wonderful cast, fabulous narration all leading to an ending that left me very much looking forward to the next in this series. I loved that for once, that Marlowe, the MFC, was a strong, smart woman who wasn’t a simpering desperate mess and that Ale’, the MMC, realized how wrong he was and was willing to risk it all to fix things. I really enjoyed this listen.

This was a solid listen. Marlow and Ale meet each other in a bar after Marlow discovers that her boyfriend of five years has been cheating on her. They enter into an arrangement to date each other for 10 weeks. Marlow’s family business is struggling and she is eager to use Ale’s contacts to secure a large client. Ale is eager to benefit from the positive publicity he garners from having a steady girlfriend. As much as he does not want to acknowledge his feelings, at first, it is love at first sight for Ale. As the 10 week mark approaches, Ale’s anxiety over Marlow leaving for America negatively impacts his performance on the field (he is a soccer player). The fans start to turn against them and he and Marlow start to argue. Eventually, a difficult situation at home highlights their priorities.

*2.5, rounded down*
RECAP: In Valencia, Marlowe is swept up by Ale, a charming stranger who turns out to be a scandal-plagued soccer star. Their fake romance is meant to fix his image & help her family’s business, but the sparks between them feel anything but fake.

REVIEW: Kudos to the narrators because this duet narration was well done. As far as the book goes, however, the plot fell flat. It was too insta-love for my taste, and I found myself suspending disbelief & rolling my eyes more as it went on. It’s definitely on the lighter side of romance, and I adored the Valencia setting.

4.25⭐️ Fake dating, intense chemistry, and deep connection. This was a good time and I felt myself rooting for Ale and Marlowe to make it work. 5⭐️ narration by Marcio Catalano and Angelina Rocca. Wonderful portrayal of a the good girl and the playboy coming together. The emotional strain both characters were fighting through was so well narrated.

Marlowe has come to Spain in order to surprise her long term boyfriend. Too bad she found him cheating on her. She’s at a bar with no money and no plan. Enter Ale. He’s handsome and helps Marlowe out. Even paying for her to have a safe place to stay for a few days.

The next day Marlowe finds out that Ale is a famous football (soccer) player and everyone thinks she’s his new girlfriend. So, Ale takes the opportunity to ask Marlowe to fake date him. The captain spot is Ale’s goal but his playboy reputation isn’t helping.

Their chemistry is undeniable. With every kiss and conversation, their deal seems to be harder and harder to fake. Will Marlowe and Ale fight the attraction or embrace it?

Thank you @netgalley @dreamscape_media and the author for the advanced listener copy.

I really enjoyed this dual POV, fake dating football (European soccer) sports romance set in Valencia, Spain that has Marlowe, an American heiress making an agreement with Alejandro, a pro footballer to help land a deal for her family's company and in exchange for helping him try to land the captain position on his team. The chemistry between the leads was great and their slow burn buildup from friends to more never felt rushed.

I also like the emotional depth involved with Marlowe being a caregiver for her father who has dementia. Great on audio narrated by Angelina Rocca and Marcio Catalano (who had a sexy Spanish accent!). Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review! This was my first book by the author and I'd definitely read more. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Elena Armas or Millie Perez.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:
Story: 5 stars Narration: 5 stars Overall: 5 stars

The Winning Match is a delightful sports romance set in Valencia, Spain. Alejandro is a football player who has a poor PR image. Marlowe came to Spain for a surprise visit to see her boyfriend. However, she is disappointed to find him cheating on her. The same evening, Marlowe meets Ale in a bar. He is fascinated by her at first because she doesn’t know who he is. This changes to something else over time. Can their fake dating relationship become real and last? Sit back, relax and listen(with headphones please).
The duet narration by Angelina Rocca and Marcio Catalano was absolutely phenomenal. All of Marlowe’s emotions from her sadness, uncertainty, anxiety, apprehension to her sass, caring nature, passion and love were clearly expressed in her voice. Her portrayal of the sewing ladies was marvelous. Marcio Catalano as Alejandro-absolute perfection. His Spanish accent was swoon worthy. I love the tone he used just for Marlowe- soft, sultry, seductive and sweet. You could feel the chemistry between the characters. The author’s description of the Spanish countryside was beautiful. I highly recommend listening to this fantastic audiobook. It is brilliantly narrated by two extremely talented voice actors.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for this ALC.

4 Star Review Winning Match (League Valencia #1) by Gina Azzi
 
eBook/Audio
I was excited when I heard that Gina Azzi had a new series releasing.

This is soccer star Alejandro (Ale) and Marlowe’s story. From the moment they met there was something special between them.

What starts out as a fake romance quickly morphs into so much more. What follows is an entertaining, well written story with characters who you cannot help but become invested in.

This is a sweet, romantic, passionate with low angst which I enjoyed.

The narration by Marcio Catalano & Angelina Rocca was entertaining and they did a great job with their duet narration. Not only did they bring all the romance, humour, and passion of the story to life but they did justice to characters with voices that are easy to listen to.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

This romance was pure fun from start to finish. The mix of sports, fake dating, and a touch of spice kept the energy high, and the chemistry between Marli and Ale was electric. I loved watching their arrangement shift from playful and strategic to heartfelt and genuine. The friendships Marli built along the way added warmth, and Ale’s devotion to his family made him so much more than just the charming soccer star.

The pacing was quick, the setting in Spain was vivid, and the tension between staged affection and real feelings was done beautifully. Marcio Catalano captured Ale’s charisma perfectly, while Angelina Rocca once again delivered an engaging and emotional performance. Together they made the story feel vibrant and addictive.