Trick Play

Heston U Hotshots #0.5

by Veronica Eden

Everyone in Heston Lake is obsessed with Heston U’s hockey team except me. I’d rather do a live reading from the spiciest romance on my bookshelf than talk hockey.

I could ignore my college town transforming into a sports bar during hockey season, but there’s no escaping the players fueling their obsession. My twin brother…and his best friend on the team.

#22. Alex Keller. Talented winger. The handsome hotshot player every girl on campus dreams of.

And my fake boyfriend for the next two weeks.

His idea, not mine.

I doubt he knew I existed—until he stops the football team from teasing me. All it takes is a pet name and his strong arm around me. Playing along is my only option.

I’m ready to go back to my side of the divide between nerds like me and athletes like Alex, but he refuses. He’s determined to protect me for real, even if our relationship is fake.

The only problem is…he’s too good at pretending. Our act fools everyone—including me.


Note: Trick Play first appeared in the Billionaires and Babes anthology. This version has been expanded with additional content.

For more swoony hockey romances, continue the Heston U Hotshots series:
#1 - Iced Out
#2 - Switch Off
#3 - Penalty Play
#4 - Lucky Shot
#5 - Line Shift

Genres: Sports Romance, Hockey, Romance, Sports, Hockey Romance, Fake Dating, Novella

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2023

About the author

Veronica Eden is a USA Today and International bestselling author of romances with spitfire heroines, irresistible heroes, and edgy twists.

She loves exploring complicated feelings, magical worlds, epic adventures, and the bond of characters that embrace us against the world. She has always been drawn to gruff bad boys, clever villains, and the twisty-turns of a morally gray character. She is a sucker for a deliciously swoony hero with a devastating smirk. When not writing, she can be found soaking up sunshine at the beach, snuggling in a pile with her untamed pack of animals (her husband, dog and cats), and surrounding herself with as many plants as she can get her hands on.

Keep up with Veronica:
Newsletter Sign up ➜ bit.ly/venewsletter
Instagram ➜ instagram.com/veronicaedenauthor
Website ➜ bit.ly/veronicaeden
Amazon ➜ amazon.com/author/veronicaeden
Facebook ➜ facebook.com/veronicaedenauthor
TikTok ➜ tiktok.com/@veronicaedenbooks

Reviews

[Noi (in & out) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Girl is a V
Guy is best friends with her brother
They pretend to date so people leave her alone
They make out
The guy takes her V
They keep dating after the time is up

That is basically the story, you are welcome
----------------------------------
Oh man, Alex Kydd is not a narrator I usually enjoy...

[rayhanah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
do you feel like being called single in about a million different ways? great! cause this is the cutest, swoon-worthy read to make you wish that was you. Brother's best friend, shy introverted book nerd x hockey player, fake dating (although it was over pretty quick cause it's a novella lol) he reads the book she likes and talks about them with her, solid smutty scenes, lotssss of "my girl" scenes, need i say more?! I had a permanent smile on my face and looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

[monica ✨ romantasyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

trick play is such a cute prequel novella to the heston hotshots series! it follows alex and lainey who make a deal to fake date for a few weeks. but alex falls head over heels for lainey and shows her he’s not just a playboy jock. boy falls first, fake dating, and brother’s best friend?? I loved.

read if you like
✨ hockey romance
✨ fake dating
✨ jock x bookish girl
✨ he falls first
✨ brother’s best friend/teammate

thank you sm Veronica for a surprise arc!!

[Omnya Ali (Free Palestine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.4/5

“I plan to take every opportunity to make sure she knows I'm hers as much as she's mine. I won't be the reason for her tears again. My only goals now are to be the reason lainey Boucher smiles every day and become her favorite hockey player”.

They were so cute 💙💙🫶

[Christi (christireadsalot) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trick Play is a prequel novella part of the Heston U Hotshots series by Veronica Eden! After loving Iced Out by this author I asked if she had any other books out yet for this series/world of characters and was told this was the only published one so far! So I definitely had to jump in after seeing this couple in Iced Out.

This was a fun, brother’s best friend, fake dating, hockey romance novella! Lainey goes to Heston U, along with her twin brother Theo who plays hockey there with his best friend Alex. Lainey’s dad owns The Landmark, the sports bar in town (which features in Iced Out too). Lainey has always classified herself as nerdy and like she doesn’t fit in with the popular crowd. One day Alex sees some football players on campus harassing Lainey and he steps in pretending to be her boyfriend. He never paid much attention to his best friend’s sister but now he can’t stop thinking about her and convinces her to go along with the fake dating! She’s putting together a winter formal to help raise funds to save a local bookshop and he says he can help her out.

This was just a fun time and I adored this couple together! I’m obsessed with this author’s Heston U hockey world and cannot wait for more when they release!

[Karina (shedreamsinwords) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a spicy + cute prequel novella following Lainey, a shy, introverted book lover and her brother’s best friend and college hockey heartthrob, Alex.

After Alex notices Lainey getting harassed by some guys on the football team, he steps in and pretends to be her boyfriend to get them off her back. Lainey agrees to a fake dating relationship after Alex proposes to keep the jig going until her school dance event so she can plan and prepare in peace without other boys around campus making trouble. His reason being once they know she’s “his”, she will be left unbothered.

The story for me lacked a bit at the conflict toward the end, with Lainey being upset about what footballers said to Alex when he stepped in to defend her yet again but she didn’t witness it because she ran away immediately.

All in all, I still look forward to continuing the series and meeting the other players on the team!

[nat. ❦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es una novela y dió todo lo que daría un libro de +300 páginas de romance!! Amo a estos dos, son muy lindos ahhhh 💖💝💝💕💕🫶🫶🫶💖

[Linna • linnareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute and fun college hockey novella! I was looking for something short and this hit the spot. It’s the classic cool guy on campus and quiet, nerdy girl and you bet I ate it up.

🏒 college hockey
🤍 brother’s best friend
🤭 fake dating

dual POV
4/5 stars ⭐️
2/5 spice level 🌶️

[Kaity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex and Lainey… complete opposites, but completely cute together.

Alex, a classic hockey athlete. Thinking of only hockey and not even considering a girlfriend, but being perfect as a boyfriend.

Lainey, apart from having a twin, we could probably be the same person! I could totally relate to her!

They have the sweetest relationship development, I loved how it turned from fake into real… and then how they referenced the start of their relationship into their future.

I will be rereading Iced Out to catch more Alex and Lainey… they are the sweetest.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review 💙💚

5/5✨
2.5🌶


Trick Play is the perfect addition to the Heston U family. This story follows Alex and Lainey. Their story begins when Lainey is being bullied and Alex jumps in to protect his best friend’s younger sister. As soon as these two decide to fake date to protect our girl and assist Lainey with her event it develops into the most enduring story. 

 Alex is a man that would scream from the rooftops how much he cares about Lainey; fake or not…he’s just a fantastic, devoted, and best loving boyfriend who does everything for her, including buying books, defending her, and helping to boost her confidence by making her feel beautiful. Lainey is shy and a romantic book lover to her core. She just shines throughout this story as she makes important friendships, cherishes what she believes in, and soon finds herself in her own romance novel. These two were everything, and they left me with the biggest smile on my face. My only complaint is that I wish they had a full book because, while I loved Iced Out, I loved this prequel a little more.

 

Read if you love:

-Brother’s best friend

-He falls first, and he’s obsessed.

-She wears his Jersey

-Nerd girl/cocky reformed playboy

-College romance

-Hockey Sports Romance

-Found Family

-Fake Dating.

 
This is now on KU.💚


Thank you, Veronica, for the ARC.

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

I didn't know we had book 2 out, and I jumped on this! It was a great book! I love that my men are still OBESSED! with their girls 🥰🥰

Alex knows of Laniey since hes best friends with her twin brother who is also on the hockey team, he had a small crush but nothing came from it until he spots bullies bullying her and he plays pretend boyfriend to make sure no one messes with her. And we'll he has a whole plan fake date to help her do her charity ball. But the more they spend together, the more they fall. Game days together, buddy reading 💞💞💞

It was so cute!! I did hate that ppls would bring up his past on dating, but I'm honest we never saw any of his hookups at all. And him taking care of her bully for her yashhh!!!
Can't wait to see who's next.



No ow drama/tiny om drama, no cheating, secondary characters, drama, sexy times, virgin gal and sorta manwhore (he slept around but he said it was balanced. We never saw any of his hook ups so idk.)

Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶
Tear-💧.5

Slowinsta
Push away from h
Tiny Pinning
Bullied
Anxiety
Praise kink
Safe sex
Hea
Epilogue

[jordane · Rating 4 out of 5]

they were so cute 🫶🫶

[Cristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise sounded interesting. The execution was bad. It made no sense why someone whom the h hasn’t talked to would volunteer to date her. The H doesn’t even know why he’s doing it. It seemed silly to me.

[Magaly | Catchy Book Nook]

I 100% bought this book because of its cover. I loved the aesthetic on this one and Iced Out. Also, hockey romance? Top tier sports romance. Fake dating? Brother’s best friend? Okay stop; I’m overwhelmed by the combination of everything I love in one place.

This is a prequel novella in the Heston U Hotshots series and I had to read it first because of who I am as a person (reading order matters over here).

The pacing was quick but that’s to be expected in a novella. Lainey, our FMC, felt extremely naive at times but I know we had to buy into her stereotype with minimal development given the length of the text. Alex was equal parts cute and cringe sometimes (shoutout to every college boyfriend ever).

A quick read I’m not really rating but that set me up for the author’s next two!

[Anne ☀️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what my little hockey-loving heart needed

[Kaelie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book

I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to continue reading this series and more from this author and I hope we will see more of these characters

[floralmess · Rating 3 out of 5]

₊˚ ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚₊

❣ Trick play by Veronica Eden ★★.75

Overall Plot﹝no spoilers﹞   : Cute bookworm Lainey is ambushed by a bunch of jocks when her brother’s best friend Alex Keller comes to her rescue and announces to them that yup uk he’s dating her.

Pacing  : it took me a day


⇢ ˗ˏˋTHE FOLLOWING PARTS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS ࿐ྂ


* ˚ ✦ Loved the protectiveness from the get go

* ˚ ✦ this novella is absolutely ADORBSSSSS

'*•.¸♡ THE SPICE WAS SCRUMDIDDLYUMPTIOUS♡¸.•*'


* ˚ ✦ the third act break up wasn’t really necessary in my opinion

————— ୨୧ —————

*•.¸♡ FMC ♡¸.•*'

➳ Lainey ✩✩✩
Lainey was sweet and introverted, her character is really relatable. She was all about nerdy things which was cute it reminded me of the good ol’ wattpad days. It was your typical innocent h with her being a virgin, book lover and an academic weapon, don’t get me wrong I LOVEEEEEE this trope I. EAT. IT. UP. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. and that’s on periodt.

❛ MMC ༉‧₊˚✧

➮ Alex Keller✩✩✩✩

The only reason I took away one star from him, is because his name reminded me of Hellen Keller like my mind played games w me every time I read his full name. But other than that Alex is everything you want from a book boyfriend, he always checked up on Lainey, he was the one to initiate every hangout like he went out of his way to always see her. One major point for him is that he always texted her even when she didn’t reply or her replies were dry, Alex actually texted her way too much for what they were supposed to be.
⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ────── ⊰
Spice : 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes :
⋆⛧Innocent h
⋆⛧ Insta-Lust from H
⋆⛧Virgin
⋆⛧ Small town
⋆⛧ Interconnected series
⋆⛧Third act break up
⋆⛧Protective H
⋆⛧Bookworms (she got him to read romance books)
⋆⛧Brother’s bestfriend
⋆⛧Kinda of manwhore H (mentioned on-page but no action)
⋆⛧Hockey centred
⋆⛧ He falls first
⋆⛧ Hea
Triggers: Bullies, why am I not good enough for my family mentality
Sad : Sort of, but no tears were shed
Older mmc : no
Ow/Om drama: yes, teeny tiny OM drama
Dual povs: yes
⋆⛧*┈┈┈┈﹤୨♡୧﹥ ┈┈┈┈*⛧⋆

[Meriyem · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝑷𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰’𝒎 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰’𝒎 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐."

I really enjoyed this book and wanted more of it but it was real short book.
Fact that the girl was a bookgirl and Alex (the mmc) would read and buy her romance books got me emotional and crying cause they only exist in books lol.
I love their relationship and how protective Alex was for Lainey.

♡𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑹𝑨𝑪𝑻𝑬𝑹𝑺 ♡
◇| 𝑳𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝑩𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒓
She is romance reader, introverted girl who kinda hates Hockey until her brother's bestfriend Alex defends her on certain occasion and becomes her fake boyfriend.
◇| 𝑨𝒍𝒆𝒙 𝑲𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓.
The man every bookgirl imagines of. He literally read a romance book because she loves to read and bought her books.


♡𝑸𝑼𝑶𝑻𝑬𝑺♡
□𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.
□ 𝑨 𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒉𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒚 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓? 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏.
□ 𝑰’𝒎 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝑳𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅’𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓.𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 𝒃𝒖𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒖𝒊𝒕. 𝑰’𝒎 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍.
□ 𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒐. 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒚, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰’𝒎 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆. 𝑻𝒐 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑.
□ “𝑾𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒖𝒔 𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒛𝒛𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒔. 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌. 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆, 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒖𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅. 𝑰𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
□ “𝑶𝒓 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒎𝒆.”
□ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒋𝒐𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒅 𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆.
□ 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔. 𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔. 𝑴𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕.
□ 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒆? (𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅 ♡)
□ “𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒂𝒍 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒆.”

[Emmy Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alex & Lainey

It’s so good to see another couple in the Heston U world. I read this one after Iced Out so it was sweet to see Easton again for a bit. Alex and Lainey have known each other indirectly through her brother Theo for years. As the playboy hockey player, he definitely breaks the mood to jump in and help Lainey by being her pretend boyfriend. Lainey is the complete opposite it seems. She is much more reserved girl who loves her books. She is absolutely more on the bookish shy side but opens up so much with Alex while Alex seems to settle down with her.

Overall these two are super cute and a sweet couple. They were the perfect novella in this world and I didn’t feel like I missed anything by not having it be a longer book. I was glad the story didn’t linger on the whole Mike plot and was more about their relationship instead. I was surprised that Lainey being Theo’s sister would’ve been a bigger plot line on the story. I’m glad it wasn’t cause it made me really like Theo!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Stand-alone: Yes**
Author: Veronica Eden
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Spiciness Rating: 2/5 🌶
POV: First Person Dual Perspective
Main Couple: Alex and Lainey
Trope(s): Hockey Romance, Brother’s Best Friend, Fake Dating, Boy Obsessed

“We might seem like opposites, but it’s what makes us click together like puzzle pieces. I like that you get excited about your books, and how hard you work. When you’re shy and stay close to my side, I like being the guy who gets to be your buffer between you and the world. It makes me feel good to protect you.” I take her chin between my fingers and hover my mouth over hers. I take her chin between my fingers and hover my mouth over hers. And I really like the way you sound screaming my name when you come for me. That’s when you know how to be loud. Just for me. “

Lainey has spent her life living in her twin brother,Theo’s shadow. Her early acceptance to Heston University was supposed to be her time to shine, until he was recruited to play hockey.

But, Lainey is a bookworm so their lives rarely intersect.

An altercation with a football player who couldn’t handle his ego taking a hit brings Alex Keller, her brother’s best friend, to her rescue. And, does so in an epic way, claiming her.

She pretends to be his girlfriend until the event she is planning for the local bookstore she is desperate to save is over and that association alone will sell tickets for the event.

However, it becomes way too easy to forget it’s fake

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hockey romance with a side of fake dating and romance books, count me in!

Alex was just the sweetest sticking up for Lainey and he had so many cute cheesy moments, the perfect book boyfriend. I loved watching Lainey come out of her shell with Alex by her side.

This book was hot, full of testosterone and flying hockey sticks and I loved every page of it, can’t wait to dig into book 2.

[Katie Thayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

great!

This book is so cute! It’s about Alex the hockey player falling fast and hard for Lainey his best friends twin sister and “nerd”. I love how protect Alex is of Lainey and how he helps her become more confident.

[Ellissa Borg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Definitely not a favourite book. It was a quick read, but I also don’t think I will read the rest of the series. I think the writing and storyline were simple and quick, which I personally didn't really enjoy.

[nia · Rating 3 out of 5]

best part about this book? HE GETS DRAFTED BY THE ISLES

[yarniabook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cheesy but cute

[Hannah June · Rating 2 out of 5]

main character did not like hockey, cannot relate. 2 ⭐️

[emily :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

“no matter what, you’re my girl”

3.25⭐️

[Alex (HEABookNerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

TRICK PLAY was a great college sports romance featuring a hotshot hockey player and a nerdy heroine who made a deal to fake date. I loved both Lainey and Alex and they made a great couple. They sort of know each other because Lainey's twin brother is also a hockey player at Heston U but they've never really spent any time together. Watching the charming and easy going Alex fall for Lainey was great and this was also a fun introduction to the series and the Heston U hockey team. My only complaint is that I don't understand why Lainey ran away from the party; yes she overhears her bully being a jerk but then Alex defends her so I don't know why she's convinced her relationship with Alex is over. It seemed contrived to create some drama and give Alex a reason to make a grand gesture.

[Kendall Garrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars? Ish?
Ok so.. this was so cheesy but at the same time..
Im here for it? I could not stop thinking this was literally the plot of “She’s all That” down to the FMC being named Lainey (Vs. laney). I was not a huge fan of the whole “but im a nerd and you’re a jock and we just simply cannot be!!” thing. Alex was cute and he had me giggling so I would say overall this was fun. I am going to continue the series (I already read Matching all The Way and had fun)

I do really hope we see more of Candace though, she is a girls girl and I want more of her!

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know this was a novella, but the fake dating happens 5 seconds into the plot, and then it's not used as part of plot at all - only to suddenly pop up as a reason for last minute "break-up" 😴

Another reason for break-up, acc to FMC? "Jocks and nerds don't mix / cannot date, it's just a fact" - I kid you not, it was ridiculous and so 2004 😭