Power Play

Blades Hockey #1

by Maria Luis

He's the NHL’s hottest goalie.
I'm a struggling sports journalist on the verge of losing it all.

My stick-in-the-mud boss is determined to make my life hell. He sits in my office and lays down an get an exclusive interview with the NHL's golden boy, Duke Harrison, or I’ll be out on my butt.

No way am I letting my future rest on the broad shoulders of a goalie who’s three seasons past his prime.

I’ve got eight days to convince Duke that the loyal fans of The Cambridge Tribune (annual 1,000) are dying to know about his life, on and off the ice. Eight days to face off against the sexy man who’s hellbent on blocking my shot at every turn.

This power play is going to be one for the pucking ages.


POWER PLAY is a flirty, sexy rom-com, and the first book in Maria Luis' Blades Hockey series. If you like low angst, quirky characters, and super sexy heroes, then Power Play will definitely be your jam. Power Play comes with a "be prepared to laugh" in public label!

Genres: Hockey, Romance, Sports, Sports Romance, Hockey Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary

210 pages, Hardcover

First published April 13, 2017

About the author

Maria Luis is an Amazon Top 25 Bestselling Author.

Historian by day and romance novelist by night, Maria lives in New Orleans, and loves bringing the city's cultural flair into her books. When Maria isn't frantically typing with hot chocolate in hand, she can be found binging on reality TV, going on adventures with her other half and two pups, or plotting her next flirty romance.

★ Looking for something quick, fun and sexy to read? Check out these freebies on Maria's website! (Available: Breathless, Undeniable, and The First Fix): https://www.marialuis.org/free-books

Stalk Maria in the wild at:

★ Facebook: facebook.com/marialuisauthor

★ Book Boyfriends Anonymous: http://bit.ly/MariaLuisBBA

★ Instagram: http://bit.ly/MariaLuisIG

★ TikTok: tiktok.com/@marialuisauthor

★ Website: www.marialuis.org

★ Bookbub: http://bit.ly/MariaLuisBB

Maria loves to hear from readers!

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Power Play is book one in the Blades Hockey series by Maria Luis. This is my very first book by Ms. Luis and I have to ask myself why! Because I loved it. There was just so much to love here! Amazing characters, lots of fun snarkiness, sweet, swoony moments and some great sexy times! All this adds up to a great book and an equally great start to this series!



Charlene (Charlie) Denton is twenty six years old and is a sports journalist for an on line newspaper, The Cambridge Tribune, which is slowly dying. Charlie’s boss has demanded that Charlie write a story on a local pro-hockey player. She has eight days to get an interview from the very private man, or she loses her job.



Duke Harrison is the goalie for the Boston Blades. He is thirty four years old and has been with The Blades for ten years. Duke does not give interviews. But there is something about Charlie that won’t let him walk away. Maybe, just maybe they can work out a little deal.



Duke and Charlie were amazing They were a perfect fit. Their banter was so much fun and their chemistry was HOT! Both were sort of at a crossroads in their lives, both struggling with what direction they would go next. Charlie needs this story to try to get herself noticed before the newspaper she works for crumbles. But can she really do what her boss wants her to do? Duke is about as swoony as you can get. How could I not fall for this sexy hockey player?! Can he really trust Charlie, though? Can he trust that she is really interested in him, the man, and not just playing him for the story?



I couldn’t put this down. I can’t believe it took me so long to finally read this. I loved it. The next book in the series, book two, is called Sin Bin and I can’t wait to read it!

For more about this book and so many more, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/44036...

[rae ✿ · Rating 1 out of 5]

me with painkillers made some terrible decisions sometimes

[Astrid - The Bookish Sweet Tooth · Rating 4 out of 5]

TITLE: Power Play
AUTHOR: Maria Luis
SERIES: Blades Hockey
GENRE: Sports Romance
FORMAT: Audiobook
NARRATORS: Elizabeth Hart, Joe Hempel
LENGTH: 5 hrs and 13 mins
RATING: 4 Stars
CLIFFHANGER: No

READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG






First things first: I listened to the audiobook of Power Play and don't have any complaints. Elizabeth Hart is doing a decent job narrating Charlie. We get an epilogue read by Joe Hempel, which I wouldn't have minded hearing more of during the book.

Charlie is a former hockey player who turned to sports journalism because she never was an exceptional talent. She is ambitious as they come and that is one of her strengths but also her weakness. Charlie was cute, a bit sassy and definitely likable.
When she meets Blades goalie Duke Harrison she insults him. Although Duke is actually more of a brooder he is a good sport sport about it and they hit it off pretty fast.

Since this is a (long-ish) novella you can't expect much in terms of character development. The chemistry between Duke and Charlie needs to be pretty much instantaneous for that reason. Admittedly, the story is predictable and you can see the conflict coming from miles away but that didn't negatively influence my enjoyment.

Power Play is a bite-sized sexy little number that is perfect after finishing a heavy, angst-filled book. It does lack the depth of a full length novel but I don't think the author intended it to be super deep. Maria Luis's funny writing style in this sweet rom-com will put a smile on your face.

[Syndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is Power Play a novella? The audiobook is about 5 hours long.
The story is short, standard NA romance. Not much drama/ plot/ twist. Plain vanilla.

The thrope is grumpy vs sunshine. Miss Luis captures the grumpy hero just fine. While the heroine is a bit OTT.
Not much to tell. The story does not capture my heart too much.

OK read.

3 stars

[❤️Court - Villains Do It Better❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars

Cute and short read. Lighthearted, with some insta love and cheesy parts, but I did like some of the humor too. One thing that did annoy me though, was the timeline. It wasn't a big deal necessarily, but the prologue should be completely scrapped. The prologue was set in present time right when things are heating up between them, then the 1st chapter switches to 1 week earlier where they meet, which doesn't make sense because she knew him for 2 weeks before things got steamy between them. So timeline was off by a very noticeable week. Other than that, this is not my favorite Maria read, but I still overall enjoyed it.❤

Safety:

No OM drama/tiny bit of wannabe OW drama in the form of him having gone on a few dates with his PR agent before she became his agent, and she latches onto him a bit, but hero makes it clear he doesn't reciprocate. I don't know recall how far their relationship went besides that.

No virgins or manhos

No cheating

Some details on sex history

[Cami · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I liked it just fine but it was predictable and really nothing special to set the story apart.

I love a hockey player romance so on that alone it was going to be an okay book for me.

I feel like most of the time the first book in the series is not the best one so I will probably read the next one just to give Maria Luis another chance.

[Lisa (Remarkablylisa) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one!!! Grumpy and sunshine heroine. But our heroine is sort of low self-esteem and our hero has had a rough past.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars.

This was a short, and as such I wasn't expecting much character development. It's a good thing because if I were I would have been disappointed. The plot was simple, the instant connection/lust was cliche, the TSTL mistake that was made near the end of the story was predictable, and the ending was sappy. There wasn't any OP drama, thank goodness, but the romance was underwhelming, because as I mentioned before, lack of character development. I didn't mind anything about this story, but I will have forgotten it by tomorrow. I probably would have enjoyed it more had I been a hockey fan...and if this had received another edit. Grammatical errors bother me.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend anyone that likes witty romance with a dab of steam to read this book. Blindly reading through this book without noting the author, it'd be hard to tell she is new to the scene. I found that her style stood out. It drew me in and I never found myself thinking about this book as one that was written by a newbie.

The plot was great, there was nothing too frustrating with it. Only one slightly "come on" moment but it didn't prevent me from wanting to read on. The plot moved well, it was the perfect length.

Both of the main characters are likable and relatable. The author has a fantastic voice that gets you into the story through Charlie's head, and even as a guy, I could relate. Maria did a good job of making Charlie a multi-dimensional character that you'd want to know in real life. Same with Duke, his layers are slower to reveal as we aren't in his head but it's done well.

Great grammar and wonderful writing style as mentioned before.

I'd recommend this book to anyone that enjoys wit, well-rounded characters, a fast moving plot with a dash of steam and hockey.

[Andrea Fleury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great sexy hockey romance

This is the first book I have read by this author. I preordered her second one. I thought this book was well written and it held my concentration. I loved the chemistry between these 2 characters. With a mixture of sports added. I can't wait to read other books by Maria Luis.

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I wish the drama hadn’t been a media scandal. I’m so, so bored of the old sports star in media scandal plot. Shame as it was decent otherwise. Complete story and the audiobook was included in the audible subscription.

[Linha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars.

[🦉Maggie Whitworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
Funny , serious, tense , lighthearted, full of both romance and deceit.
This book has it all .
The characters are very real in their emotions and they draw you in to a perfectly wonderful and enjoyable tale.

I very much enjoyed my first taste of this author, now I’m off for another bite .

[sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾☆ 2.75 stars ☆☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

so this started out strong. I was intrigued. But then… I wasn’t. The plot was a bit predictable and I was confused at how some situations were resolved. The whole book felt like the beginning of the book so of course I didn’t get the “we belong together” vibe. It literally feels unfinished and I’m upset 😭😭😭 Usually I don’t mind the POV being just from the h, but here I felt like a big chunk of the story was missing.

This was just not it :/ It was a fast read though.

[Mia S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Duke’s story

The book is actually funny! I did like but it felt super rushed- yes 200 pgs but it could’ve been stretched out to give a little more detail and spice.

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some cute moments, and I love a good semi-public sex scene. But I could see the 80% crisis coming from a mile away, and I just didn’t buy the reconciliation. Think it would have helped to see some of the hero’s perspective throughout, rather than just in the epilogue.

[LaSarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Has the author ever spoken to someone who plays hockey or did she just google terminology and the basics? Big mistakes on this part....just sayin'

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

While the story line itself was good, the blatent hockey errors (i.e. goalies do not sit in the box) just killed it for me.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen. I’m a hoe for hockey romances. NHL? Count me tf in. But sometimes when you see a books page count is 200 you side eye it a bit. Will this shorter read give me what I need? Let me tell you. THIS GAVE ME EVERYTHING I NEEDED.

Good characters 🤌🏼
Good plot 🤌🏼
Good drama 🤌🏼
And a lil bit of spice 🤌🏼

I was pleasantly surprised and not in the least bit disappointed. Off to the next book in the series…

[Jessa Martell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novella was okay. It moved a little fast and I felt like the build up and chemistry was a bit lacking between the MCs. They were unoriginal and underdeveloped. It said all the right things, I just didn't feel it. It was predictable. Also, as an avid hockey fan, I felt it was lacking credibility. For instance, a goalie can take a penalty, but they don't go to the box for a penalty. a member of their team goes to the box for them. Basic things an actual hockey fan should know.

I did like that Duke was not the typical womanizing man-whore that so many pro athletes are depicted as.

The scene where Charlie goes to the hockey bar wearing a Red Wings jersey is a pretty great set up, but it could have been taken a bit further.

Overall, fairly forgettable.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful read with just the right length. The characters are interesting. I like that she was a hockey player with a few insecurities but still willing to give everything a try outside her comfort zone. Even when things went awry she was tenacious to seek forgiveness anyway she could. Good short read.

[Greta · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5✨

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Court mais très sympa ! J'ai beaucoup aimé ! Charlie est très drôle. Son humour et ses nombreuses réflexions nous tirent bien des sourires ! Ah oui, "Sexy Duke" est un joueur de hockey plutôt craquant...

[Rob. C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

***spoiler alert: hot hockey player who'll make you swoon!

What a pleasant surprise! This book pulled me in from the very first chapter and kept me glued to my Kindle until I reached the end. A very enjoyable and thoroughly entertaining rom-com at its best, with a bit of steam thrown in to spice it up.
I'm not usually a fan of sexy stories and descriptive sex scenes, especially when they're used to make the book sexy but don't fit with the context. Even though there is one particularly hot rooftop scene, it was very well combined in the plot and it didn't distract from the rest of the story. If anything, it served to seal the connection and chemistry that had been building until that moment, and when they finally caved, it's safe to say that fireworks exploded in the sky of Boston! The rest of the book is a mix of funny, laugh-out-loud moments, banter, sparks and a bit of angst toward the end.
The epilogue made me swoon. I'm a big fan of epilogues and since the book is all in the heroine's point of view, I was so happy that the author decided to include a final chapter in the hero's point of view - which made me fall even harder for him.
I immediately connected with the heroine, who's as funny as she is sassy and strong-willed. I laughed and cheered, and rooted for her HEA from the very beginning. Their meet-cute is, well, to die for (meaning, I would've probably died of embarrassment had it happened to me!), and the constant push and pull will offer a roller-coaster ride from chapter one until the last page.
I can't wait to read more books by Maria Luis. This was a very well-executed debut novel and I really liked the author's writing style. Even though I'm not usually a fan of first person POV, Maria pulled me right in and kept me entertained throughout the book. Fans of smexy rom-coms will surely love Charlie and Duke's story.

[Dotti Elrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a new author for me. The book was good. It was well written, with lots of cute humorous moments.
Charlie is the sports journalist who needs the story of her life to save the tiny online paper she works for.
Duke is the aging goalie of Boston’s hockey team, who is struggling to keep his team on a winning streak.
Charlie happens to meet Duke at, of all places, her friends bachelorette party.
Charlie is probably the only ethical journalist I’ve ever heard of. She refuses to trash Duke just to further her career. Unfortunately her boss is not of the same mind. He gives her an ultimatum, do as he wants, or find a new job.
There was a lot thrown into this 180+ pages. But I found there was a lot lacking as well. Character development. We get tiny snippets of both characters. Their cute twenty question games filled in some, but I wanted more. As a result, I felt no real connection between them. Duke’s point of view. The story was told exclusively from Charlie’s side. I would have loved some of Dukes thoughts. (Other than the epilogue). Being a shorter book, the resolution and ending felt rushed. As angry as he was with Charlie, he was very quick to forgive and forget.
Over all it was not a bad book. It does have a happy ending.
Would I read it again? Probably not.

[Melliane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mon avis en Français

My English review

Here I am again with a new series by Maria Luis and I was looking forward to immersing myself in this first story!

Charlie needs an interview with the famous hockey player: Duke Harrison. So when she meets him and he refuses, she is very far from agreeing with him! Oh no, she won’t let him escape with that, and she’ll do anything to change his mind. Then follow many encounters, appointments where Duke can be as charming as he is unbearable. And then there’s Charlie. Ah Charlie! She’s so stubborn! She’s trying to do the best she can, but it’s not easy! Not at all! But between her and Duke? There are beautiful sparks!

It was a really nice novel and I had a good time with the characters. On top of that, the writing is fluid and I really liked the touches of humor throughout the story. We get attached easily to both characters and I’m curious to read more! The plot is not very original, but it doesn’t matter, because I really liked the idea. And hockey? So much fun!

[Reading in Brussels · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a solid start, I was really into it for a while. There were some funny moments, and some that were swoony. But then, it dwindled from a 4* to a 1.5* rating for me.
I had several issues with it. Sometimes there was more telling than showing. I also felt that important scenes were missing, eg him picking her up for a gala - I'd have loved to see his reaction, or how they interact given the awkwardness of how they left each other at their last meeting. It was also pretty insta-love-y which practically never works for me.
It was very disappointing how things turned out. This storyline would have been fresh in the 90s, but come on, it's been lathered, rinsed and repeated over and over.
The FMC behaves naively. And she's selfish. She glosses over her mistakes and uses sneaky methods to her ends. She screws up and has the gall to tell the MMC to not lump her with the woman who betrayed him in his past. Hypocritical much? And she didn't grovel?? Hard no.
I seriously went into this book thinking I had found a new series to binge, but I think I'll pass on the rest.

[Pelusa Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story, it keeps you entertained. We meet Charlie Denton, she is a struggling journalist, who is working for a paper that is about go under, and she needs a story that will cement her as a true journalist and keep the paper from going under and also to get the respect from her male peers. She thinks she finally has a chance when she meets legendary hockey player Duke Harriston, after she had mistakenly insults him, not knowing he was behind her at the time. They are both instantly attracted to each other, but both of them try to fight it because they do not mix business with pleasure, but they do give in, come on, we knew that was going to happen. We have a bitch, who ended up not being one, we have great side characters, and we have the unfortunate misunderstandings, but we do get our lovely HEA, and I can not wait for the next one. Maria, does not let you down. so pick it up my friends, and enjoy!!!

[Quinn Fforde · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite books are romantic comedies with an intelligent and quirky heroine and an interesting but non-jerky hero. This novella checked all those boxes. There is plenty of snappy dialogue and sexual tension between the MCs, and I had a hard time putting it down. I don't care about hockey at all, but I loved that Charlie wasn't afraid to get on the ice with Duke and play her heart out. I know this is Maria Luis's debut book, but it didn't read like most first books. I can't wait for her next book!

[Loucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chouette livre. Bon, le retournement final, dû à une négligence stupide de l'héroïne, est très prévisible. Mais à part ça, j'ai passé un bon moment avec ce livre. J'ai beaucoup aimé les interactions entre les héros, Charlie est très amusante.