Stickhandle With Care

Canadian Played #3

by Cynthia Gunderson

Country's gearing up for the biggest face off of his life: winning Jenna back.

Known for his stick-handling as much as for wrangling cattle on his family's ranch, Country Maddox becomes an overnight sensation with his viral hot takes on hockey highlights. But when he's invited to join Hockey Evening in Canada as a guest announcer, he's about to go stick to stick with the one adversary he can't his own failed love life.

Jenna McCallister was the girl who left Country's heart colder than a puck in a winter playoff. After years of globetrotting and a stint in journalism school, she's back—unannounced and as unreachable as the Stanley Cup after a losing season. Now, she's arm-in-arm with the show's golden boy broadcaster, whose ego is as inflated as a Zamboni's tires.

With Country's heart on thin ice, he's not keen on sticking around the show, but he might just have to stick it out and play the most important match of his life to win Jenna back.

Will Country be able to net the ultimate hat trick by reclaiming his career, his love, and his pride? Or will he find himself watching Jenna skate away with someone else?

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

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 27, 2024

Reviews

[Jenna Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cute second chance romance story. This is the 3rd one in the series and they have all been clean & closed door, while still having great chemistry and romance between the main characters!

[Samantha Simspon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Canadian Played series by Cynthia Gunderson, and just like the first two, it did not disappoint. Although part of a series, they can be read as standalone. I wasn't sure I'd particularly get on with an Ex's to Lovers trope, however, I loved this! Jenna and Country broke up thirteen years earlier due to a situation that wasn't properly communicated between them, leaving Country in the dark as to why Jenna had left him. All these years later, they are forced to reconnect due to a work thing, and they both still clearly hold a flame for one another, but neither one of them is quite able to admit it until tensions rise and Jenna finally reveals the reason behind her decision to leave all those years ago. A lovely story full of misunderstanding and angst, but with an HEA ending and good representation of the genetic disorder Turners Syndrome, which is seldom spoken about but effect 1 in every 2000 females here in the UK. I listened to this on audiobook and Cynthia does a fantastic job at differentiating between the characters voices.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my ef ! This was good, maybe my favorite from the series so far . Bringing a fountain soda in the middle of the night cause cause she’s sick ?!?! Immediate betrothal !!

[Ynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one from this lovely series done!

Some parts felt a bit random to me but the build up in this book has to be my favorite yet. I love getting to know all these characters better as the series continues and I like the fact it’s very easy to read.

Excited to be reading the next book in this series!

[Kenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book ATE DOWN !!!!!!!! The author needs their pussy ate fr !! The flashbacks, the tension, ughhh 😚🤌

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite (so far) of the Canadian played books. I really enjoyed the second chance romance between Jenna and Cowboy. Can't wait to listen to the fourth book.
I didn't give it 5 stars because 1. Sometimes I was confused when they would switch to a past memory, because I listened there was no clear way to know the story had gone from present day to past. Also 2. The ending kinda fizzled out. You know how it is going to end and that doesn't bother me, but it was just kinda blah.

[Anne Danieletto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amei o desenrolar da historia, e de como foi o reencontro dos nossos dois protagonistas, e apesar de o motivo do termino ter sido bem xoxo foi um motivo que eu considero valido e vejo acontecendo na vida real. Adorei o fato de apesar de 13 anos terem se passado e ambos terem se envolvido em outros grupos de amizade, outros lugares e relacionamentos, terem amadurecido e evoluído ao longos de todos esses anos, uma coisa eles sempre foram fieis, aos seus sentimentos.

o Capitulo 27, a primeira noite deles foi simplesmente incrível, quando nossa mocinha veio ate a casa do Country para confessar seus sentimentos por ele, e como ele estava rezando com todas as suas forcas por 13 anos para que esse momento chegasse ... foi incrível e muito fofo.

[mizuki · Rating 3 out of 5]

i don't like the second-chance trope but in this book i really enjoyed it.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun, cute, and enjoyable book in this series.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy read. I listened to the whole thing during my move I was also crocheting granny squares at the time. The book has simple themes, loveable characters and engaging stories.
0🌶️
Listened x1.5

[Pau · Rating 3 out of 5]

[3,5]

Este y el anterior son mis favoritos💕 me encantaron ambos personajes y al final estaba deseando demasiado que por fin estuvieran juntos. creo que mi única queja de este libro es que me costaba creer que después de 13 años aún se quisieran casi que igual pero quien soy yo para detener el amor? Si hubiera un libro por cada jugador del equipo lo leería seguro. Estos libros son un confort read totalmente y ojalá estuvieran en español🥺

[Dana Reinke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite one out of the series. Super cute and a fun read! Can’t wait to start the next book of the series!

[LuluLobbesReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

I absolutely loved this couple.

There wasn't any unnecessary drama or issues. It is a second chance romance that truly deserves to have a HEA!

Their dynamic, banter, and level of understanding is perfect!

Spice: 3: Passionate kisses and below the belt innuendos/mentions but all fade to black.

Language: 2: Some cussing limited to certain sections.

[Ann Witherspoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 I liked this series. I enjoy this author and the Canadian setting/culture. Cute.

[Gabrielle Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐

[Tiffany (Bluestocking) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually enjoyed this book. The second chance romance was sweet, I just wished the ending wasn’t so abrupt/meh. But all in all a good read.



Content: PG-13 Clean, Innuendo throughout

[Melissa Nedbalek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cute hockey story from this author. No spice but the stories aren’t bad so far that I’ve picked. Wish she did dual narration. Cute 😊

[Lily 🍉 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok ok, so.

I love this author's books, they are so cute and iugdkfrhjlfb.
I honestly the only thing stopping my from giving this book a 5 star is because I REALLLYYYY wanted more of the character on screen. It was honestly my favourite part of the book when they were live together and getting their screen banter and also SHE WAS SO FRICKEN COOOL I LOVE HER!!!

other then that I love it and I'm sad and depresso expresso that its the last book. I a a sucker for books that are all interconnected

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5* - Rounded up to 5...

Country and Jenna have a lot of history, and so much of it is heartbreaking. And yet, as they reconnect, we watch them overcome their history, and rebuild their friendship. I enjoyed their interactions and banter. And I laughed when they realised that they had mutual friends that they'd never noticed before.

There are some sensitive topics addressed in this book, so readers should check content warnings, but these topics were addressed in a good way, and I loved how it worked into their HEA.

Overall, a really great read/listen...

[Saila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Christine Fancher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book of the Hockey romance Canadian Played series, and it is probably my favorite so far! Every time I read one of the books, I think that and then love the next one more!
The story is about Jenny and Jentry (Country) breaking up in the past and they dont speak again for 13 years. They end up forced together and Jenna is attempting to avoid communicating about.
This story has a great flow, fun banter, light spice, and a wonderful story and ending. It gives *big V energy* 😂
I laughed and teared up for the main characters and got frustrated over some of the lack of communication between them, but I loved it all the same!
Every book I read by Cindy makes me love her writing more and she has quickly become one of my favorite RomCom authors!
Trigger warnings mentioned: men vs women in work industry, miscommunication/ lack of communication, Illness, pregnancy issues

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

now, i'm totally invested with this series! 🤍✨️

tbh i was hesitant to listen to its audiobook at first because country didn't really give me "that" kind of push whenever he was mentioned in the first two books, but these lovebirds made me thirsty for them (LMAO that sounds dirty 😭 but you get the point), to the point that i will prolong doing my chores just to listen to it instead of reviewing my notes (PLEASE PLEASE do not procrastinate!!!)

and i would love to read and annotate country & jenna's story on a physical copy someday 🥺🤍✨️

[PollyAnna Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Country and Jenna

The old lovers reunited trope is not one that's at the top of my list of favorites, but I do love when a book comes along that changes my mind. Country and Jenna are absotively posolutely adorable together. I love how he puts the ball in his court and lets her make a decision without any pressure.

[Sunshine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! It's a classic second-chance romance that really hit the mark for me. The representation of Turner syndrome was beautifully done, as was the strong female lead. The character development was top-notch.
Plus, the tension between the characters was just perfect—I couldn't get enough of it!😊📚

[Mariah Kollock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suddenly I love second chance romance.? Usually I’m not a fan but this one was so cute! I loved country and jenna. I thought everything played out nice and their story was really endearing. This one is about tied with the second book in the series for me. I’m so invested in this friend group, I want to be a part of it. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to on YouTube (via Authors page). I really enjoyed it. I usually don't like miscommunication or lack of communication in this case, but I still really enjoyed it and was not annoyed at the characters, quite the opposite.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

second chance. miscommunication. I want to jump into the book and yell at both of them. their problems could have been solved a lot quicker if they just put everything on the table instead of a guessing game. slow burn. satisfying happy ending

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

fav of the series!
Gen + Jen 4ever <3

[Ier · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's cute romance but the ending is kinda weird

[sam :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

HE’S SO OBSESSED WITH HER 4.5