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Power Plays & Proposals
When you're a struggling hairstylist fired for refusing a cut and the man of every woman’s dreams walks in the door…
In the bustling city, Lia, a struggling hairstylist drowning in student loans and on the brink of eviction, never expected her life to collide with Nate, a hunky hockey player fighting to keep his 12-year-old daughter, Penelope, from the clutches of his conniving ex-wife, Erin.
When Erin gets Lia fired for refusing to give Penelope a haircut against her will, Nate is ridden with guilt and gratitude for protecting his daughter. He extends an invitation to a simple thank-you dinner. But what begins as a gesture of gratitude transforms into a media-fueled scandal, jeopardizing Nate's chances of securing custody. Determined to win on and off the ice, Nate proposes an audacious plan to a fake engagement to sway the court.
Caught in the whirlwind of pretend romance, Lia and Nate must navigate the maze of public scrutiny and personal feelings. As they play their parts, the lines between fiction and reality blur, raising the stakes of their charade. Power Plays & Proposals is a sweet tale of love, sacrifice, and the unexpected turns that lead to the ultimate power play — a chance at a future neither Lia nor Nate could have imagined.
Will their power play save them, or will their love story be the scandal that kicks them off the ice?
As the first in the Heartwarming Hockey series, this book features a single dad, a sweet romance with plenty of drama. No cheating. Standalone. HEA.
In the bustling city, Lia, a struggling hairstylist drowning in student loans and on the brink of eviction, never expected her life to collide with Nate, a hunky hockey player fighting to keep his 12-year-old daughter, Penelope, from the clutches of his conniving ex-wife, Erin.
When Erin gets Lia fired for refusing to give Penelope a haircut against her will, Nate is ridden with guilt and gratitude for protecting his daughter. He extends an invitation to a simple thank-you dinner. But what begins as a gesture of gratitude transforms into a media-fueled scandal, jeopardizing Nate's chances of securing custody. Determined to win on and off the ice, Nate proposes an audacious plan to a fake engagement to sway the court.
Caught in the whirlwind of pretend romance, Lia and Nate must navigate the maze of public scrutiny and personal feelings. As they play their parts, the lines between fiction and reality blur, raising the stakes of their charade. Power Plays & Proposals is a sweet tale of love, sacrifice, and the unexpected turns that lead to the ultimate power play — a chance at a future neither Lia nor Nate could have imagined.
Will their power play save them, or will their love story be the scandal that kicks them off the ice?
As the first in the Heartwarming Hockey series, this book features a single dad, a sweet romance with plenty of drama. No cheating. Standalone. HEA.
147 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2024
53 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Parker
75 books6 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name
For the Fantasy/Romance author, see Jessica Parker
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name
For the Fantasy/Romance author, see Jessica Parker
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 13, 2026
Power Plays & Proposals by Jessica Parker Review
Power Plays & Proposals by Jessica Parker is a sweet, clean contemporary sports romance and the first book in the Hockey Book Club series. The story stars Lia, a struggling hairstylist drowning in student loans and on the brink of eviction, whose life collides with Nate, a devoted professional hockey player and single dad fighting for custody of his 12-year-old daughter, Penelope. When Nate’s conniving ex-wife manipulates circumstances to get Lia fired for refusing to cut Penelope’s hair, Nate feels responsible and grateful, inviting Lia to dinner to thank her. What begins as a simple act of gratitude unexpectedly becomes a fake engagement when public perception and media frenzy threaten Nate’s custody case. As Lia and Nate navigate their manufactured façade, they find themselves confronting personal fears, genuine affection, and the question of whether pretending can turn into something real under the bright lights and curious eyes of the public. Power Plays & Proposals blends themes of love, sacrifice, and second chances with a tender focus on family, hockey, and the courage to rewrite one’s own story.
Something that genuinely drew me into this story was how warmly and earnestly Nate’s devotion to Penelope anchors the romance, so that every choice he makes feels rooted in love and a genuine desire to protect his daughter, not just save face. Lia’s journey from financial struggle to standing beside Nate in public scrutiny made her feel remarkably real and relatable, and the chemistry between them glowed more from shared values and vulnerability than from instant sparks.
The fake engagement trope here is handled with sweetness and emotional nuance, letting both characters confront deep fears about acceptance, trust, and belonging while slowly discovering that their connection may be more than just a ploy. I couldn’t help smiling at the way the hockey world and small-town friends bolstered their bond, adding warmth and humor without overt drama. Some moments do race quickly toward resolution, and a few scenes could have benefited from deeper exploration, but overall this was a feel-good romance that made me root for Lia and Nate’s happily ever after just as much as I rooted for him to be the best dad he could be.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Because the tender characters, clean romance, and heartfelt slow-burn connection made this a cozy, uplifting sports-centered love story.
Power Plays & Proposals by Jessica Parker is a sweet, clean contemporary sports romance and the first book in the Hockey Book Club series. The story stars Lia, a struggling hairstylist drowning in student loans and on the brink of eviction, whose life collides with Nate, a devoted professional hockey player and single dad fighting for custody of his 12-year-old daughter, Penelope. When Nate’s conniving ex-wife manipulates circumstances to get Lia fired for refusing to cut Penelope’s hair, Nate feels responsible and grateful, inviting Lia to dinner to thank her. What begins as a simple act of gratitude unexpectedly becomes a fake engagement when public perception and media frenzy threaten Nate’s custody case. As Lia and Nate navigate their manufactured façade, they find themselves confronting personal fears, genuine affection, and the question of whether pretending can turn into something real under the bright lights and curious eyes of the public. Power Plays & Proposals blends themes of love, sacrifice, and second chances with a tender focus on family, hockey, and the courage to rewrite one’s own story.
Something that genuinely drew me into this story was how warmly and earnestly Nate’s devotion to Penelope anchors the romance, so that every choice he makes feels rooted in love and a genuine desire to protect his daughter, not just save face. Lia’s journey from financial struggle to standing beside Nate in public scrutiny made her feel remarkably real and relatable, and the chemistry between them glowed more from shared values and vulnerability than from instant sparks.
The fake engagement trope here is handled with sweetness and emotional nuance, letting both characters confront deep fears about acceptance, trust, and belonging while slowly discovering that their connection may be more than just a ploy. I couldn’t help smiling at the way the hockey world and small-town friends bolstered their bond, adding warmth and humor without overt drama. Some moments do race quickly toward resolution, and a few scenes could have benefited from deeper exploration, but overall this was a feel-good romance that made me root for Lia and Nate’s happily ever after just as much as I rooted for him to be the best dad he could be.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Because the tender characters, clean romance, and heartfelt slow-burn connection made this a cozy, uplifting sports-centered love story.
August 23, 2025
This was such a promising plot line and had a great setup up but that’s all it was. It felt like all the exposition and most of the book was setting the scene and establishing the plot without any actual follow-through or falling in love or an actual story. It truly was a half-baked book, and it could be so much better if just a little more time and effort were put into it. It felt like the author had all the time in the world with the beginning of the story, but then ran out of time and just haphazardly threw together the middle and ending.
April 14, 2024
Way to go Superdad!
Superdad is the perfect title for Nate. He is wonderful to his daughter, Penelope. Lia made a wonderful stepmother to Penelope and showed her support from the first moment they met. Erin deserved to lose full custody as she was toxic in many forms. I love Marie, Hannah, and the hockey team. The characters made the story. This was such a good read, and I highly recommend it!
Superdad is the perfect title for Nate. He is wonderful to his daughter, Penelope. Lia made a wonderful stepmother to Penelope and showed her support from the first moment they met. Erin deserved to lose full custody as she was toxic in many forms. I love Marie, Hannah, and the hockey team. The characters made the story. This was such a good read, and I highly recommend it!
September 8, 2025
Sweet, contemporary hockey romance
Romance, sweet, contemporary, sports, hockey; series but stand alone read
Nate and Lia’s story was more of a 3.5 for me as a reader. Told from alternating points of view, it was a cute fall for two people thrown into a relationship as acquaintances. Lia was a Cinderella story, and Nate her prince. Thrown into Penelope to the mix and it was a fun story.
Romance, sweet, contemporary, sports, hockey; series but stand alone read
Nate and Lia’s story was more of a 3.5 for me as a reader. Told from alternating points of view, it was a cute fall for two people thrown into a relationship as acquaintances. Lia was a Cinderella story, and Nate her prince. Thrown into Penelope to the mix and it was a fun story.
June 29, 2024
Doing What's Best For The Child
Lia is such a sweetheart from the beginning. Nate is a great Dad for Penelope. Erin I wanted gone at first glance. Both Lia and Nate have great friends in town and on the team. I love how everything works out for the best for all of them, especially young Penelope. Good, quick read.
Lia is such a sweetheart from the beginning. Nate is a great Dad for Penelope. Erin I wanted gone at first glance. Both Lia and Nate have great friends in town and on the team. I love how everything works out for the best for all of them, especially young Penelope. Good, quick read.
April 13, 2024
Hockey, Romance, and Chocolate
Three of my favorite things. This book left me warm and fuzzy inside. Well written and as a huge hockey fan, accurate. I loved all the characters. It was a great read!
Three of my favorite things. This book left me warm and fuzzy inside. Well written and as a huge hockey fan, accurate. I loved all the characters. It was a great read!
May 28, 2024
An excellent read
My first reading of this author won't be my last! The characters come alive, the storyline kept me wanting more and made it difficult to put down. A sweet, clean romance with a slight twist that I just loved.
My first reading of this author won't be my last! The characters come alive, the storyline kept me wanting more and made it difficult to put down. A sweet, clean romance with a slight twist that I just loved.
May 30, 2024
Great idea for a story, but I was yearning for more detail and character development!
I loved the story and the characters, but wanted more. The scenes always seemed to cut off too quickly and I wanted more of Lia and Nate! It went too fast!
I loved the story and the characters, but wanted more. The scenes always seemed to cut off too quickly and I wanted more of Lia and Nate! It went too fast!
April 14, 2024
Quick fun read.
June 25, 2024
I literally read this book in one day…it was just too hard to pick a stopping point and before I knew it I was at the end of the book.
July 6, 2024
I was hoping for more plot and information on characters.
February 14, 2025
This started out so cute and fun, but then rushed so fast to the finish that I felt whiplashed. It ruined the story and felt so unnatural and weird.
September 16, 2025
Plot: Lisha’s had a crush on the mysterious “super dad” who comes into her job for months. When she refuses to cut a little girl’s hair, she gets blasted online. Come to find out, it’s super dad’s daughter and he is super grateful for her standing up for his daughter. After a misunderstanding, people assume Nate and Lia are engaged. As they run with the lie, will their feelings turn real?
What I liked: I liked that Lia stood up for what is right and for Penelope
What I didn’t like: I didn’t like how short this story was. There was promise, but it was too rushed
Swearing: none
Physical intimacy level: closed doo
Star rating: 3 stars
Trope: mutual pining, fake dating, fake engagement, single dad
What I liked: I liked that Lia stood up for what is right and for Penelope
What I didn’t like: I didn’t like how short this story was. There was promise, but it was too rushed
Swearing: none
Physical intimacy level: closed doo
Star rating: 3 stars
Trope: mutual pining, fake dating, fake engagement, single dad
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews