Power Play Rivals

Puckered Hearts #2

by Ivy Fox

Never fall in love with a client.
Just one of the many guidelines you must follow when you represent the best athletes in the game.
The rule never bothered me.
A pretty smile from a cocky player couldn’t do it for me anyway.
As a no-nonsense sports agent, I've seen it all in this cutthroat world of athletic negotiations and powerplays.
And say what you will about me, I know how to handle business.
The only person who pretends I’m not a freaking badass is Trent Nichols, the infuriating, albeit sexy-as-all-hell, Boston Guardians general manager.
With his dark eyes and even darker soul, Trent doesn’t bend to my will like the rest of them, which is a problem.
Especially since one of my hockey players is under threat of suspension.
That can’t happen. Not on my watch.
If Trent wants to play hardball, I’m more than happy to give him a run for his money.
I’ll show him what a real rival looks like.
And who knows? Maybe I’ll have a little bit of fun too.
While the first law of being a good agent is to never fall for a client, there’s no written rule that says I can’t mess around with their boss behind closed doors.


What can you expect from Power Play Rivals:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Forbidden Romance
- Age Gap
- Hero Falls First
- Strong heroine
- And a whole lot of ANGST!

Author note: Please be aware that Puckered Hearts is an interconnected standalone series. Though you do not need to read the first book in the series to start Power Play Rivals, for full enjoyment, it is highly recommended you do so, as there will be significant spoilers in this book. Also, unlike its predecessor, Power Play Rivals starts off HOT right from the get-go. And I mean scorching!
*Wink Wink*
Happy Reading!
xoxo
Ivy

*Power Play Rivals is a hockey standalone romance with a guaranteed HEA.
*Recommended 18+ due to mature language and situations.

Genres: Sports Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Hockey, Romance, Sports, Hockey Romance, Contemporary Romance

473 pages, Paperback

Published March 28, 2024

About the author

Ivy Fox is a USA Today bestselling author who thrives on angst, yearning, and the kind of soul-crushing tension that keeps readers up way past their bedtime.
A shameless connoisseur of emotional chaos, Ivy crafts stories where feelings hit hard, desire simmers low, and falling in love feels completely inevitable. She believes love is beautiful and should be celebrated in all its forms, so readers can expect everything from MF, MM, and MMF romances to one lucky heroine collecting an entire harem of devoted soulmates.
When she’s not unleashing emotional devastation on the page, Ivy lives a pretty chill life with her two favorite men—her husband and her son.
The only thing that truly keeps her up at night are the fictional characters in her head who refuse to shut up until she tells their story. She’s long learned to let them run the show… and honestly, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
A firm believer in happy endings, Ivy writes romance fueled by passion, heart, and the promise that no matter how messy things get, love will always prevail.

For more news on current and upcoming projects, get the inside scoop and sneak peeks by stalking Ivy on Social media!

@ivyfoxauthor

But for all the brave and sassy, join her FB reader's group - Ivy Sassy Foxes.

Reviews

[˚₊‧꒰ა vruxreads ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh I love you so much 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝘀!!

Tropes:
- enemies to lovers
- forbidden/workplace romance
- age-gap romance (10 years)
- he falls first and harder 🥰
- he has been celibate for a year (YASSS)
- he learns sign language for her deaf mom. *swoony*
- she is always mean to him but he gets turned on by it.
- him scaring the guys who she tries to hook up with.
- he is whole heartedly, irrevocably in love with her but she is hesitant to give in.
- ahhh the mf smut was SMUTTING 💥💳

It started with a one night stand between them but soon he wanted more from her but she was hesitant. Their chemistry was off the charts. Trent was so in love with her and all he wanted was one chance but she pushed him away always. My heart broke for that poor man. HE WAS EVERYTHING!!!

‼️no cheating, no ow drama‼️

[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books} · Rating 5 out of 5]

***5 "Mavericks!!!" stars***



"Never fall in love with a client."

I will start this review by saying that Trent Nichols was a revelation and I fell deeply in love with him!!!
Piper was an amazing creature and I was anticipating her story so badly!!! And then she got paired with Trent and all bets were off...
In my defense, I wasn't much of a fun with the Boston Guardian's general manager in the first book, but in here, this man was proving over and over again that he was a keeper and I wanted to shake Piper up to stop torturing the poor guy!!!
Yes, I know that I am talking about fictional characters, but I can not help myself! LOL!

"While the first law of being a good agent is to never fall for a client, there's no written rule that says I can't mess around with their boss behind closed doors..."

Piper Lee, even young in age, she is thriving as a sports agent in a world full of men... She is living and breathing work and when one of her client's, Nathan Wilder (the hero of the first book in the series) is creating a mess, she needs to take action and fight for his spot in the team...
Enter Trent Nichols, the GM of the Boston Guardians, who has the hots for Piper for a while now, but he is keeping things professional, and he is responsible for a player that he is giving him a headache with his antics...

"If Trent wants to play hardball, I'm more than happy to give him a run for his money."

Trent and Piper are always butting heads because of the nature of their jobs, but they is underlying desire between them and when they will decide to act up on it, everything will change between them...
Piper is afraid of love and doesn't like commitment. She only wants a night with only fun and that's what she is all that she wants from her rival GM.
Trent from the other hand wants so much more than one night with the beautiful vixen that has stolen his heart.
Who will overpower the other in this power play of the hearts???

"You think getting in my way will do what? Break me?"
"I'm not interested in breaking you, Piper. Just bending you a little."

I love this series so much!!! And this story had it all... It was well written, fun, emotional, and very sexy.
Trent as I told above was a revelation. I was never expecting him to be so caring, so protective, so insisted... I loved the way he was handling Piper and how he was crawling inside her heart slowly and steadily. But my heart was breaking for him when Piper was fighting him in every turn...
Piper had her issues, and she wasn't treating Trent always right... She was kind of a bitch sometimes, but I can forgive her. LOL
The only sure thing is that there was a push and pull between them that was very hot to witness!!!

"When he wants something, he goes after it, and come hell or high water, he always gets what he wants. And apparently, what he wants... is me."

And OMG!!! That ending!!! I am still in shock, and I am praying for a miracle!!!
Poor Caleb!!! Poor Jack!!! Poor Erin!!!
I will drive myself crazy till I get in my hands the next story...
I am scared for my reckless boy that after what happened, he will be utterly broken...
Oh, Ivy!!! You have broken my heart with that ending!!!

"Love is not a punishment, Piper. It's a gift. Don't squander this gift, sweetheart. You'll live your entire life regretting it."

**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**

[Kari Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piper is strong, independent and more than capable of competing with men when it comes to her career as a sports agent. She has an adversarial relationship with Trent, the GM of the Boston Guardians, and that situation is only going to heat up when she is willing to fight to protect the career of one of her clients who also happens to be one of his players.

Trent has been trying to keep his distance from Piper in large part due to the feelings he has for her that he hasn’t wanted to act on. When the lines between them are finally crossed he is determined in his pursuit of her and is willing to do whatever is necessary to show her that the only place she belongs is with him.

The heat between them is intense but that was only the beginning as Trent showed her that she could trust him to be there for her through all the ups and downs that they would face.

[Jesse Adler-Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the puckered hearts series by Ivy. With that being said, you don’t have to read the first one to understand this one. It just has similar characters. You can absolutely read these all as stand alone.

This book is about Piper Lee, a sport agent and a fearless one at that and hockey general manager, Trent Nichols. These two are like kerosene and matches together they are hot and go up in flames. Piper doesn’t like to mix work and pleasure. So Trent is off the table. Trent, hasn’t dated anyone in a while bc he only has eyes for piper. Their relationship goes through the wringer. You can’t help but feel for Trent. Piper is very stubborn and adamant about keeping things casual, whereas Trent wants to take things further. The fights, make ups, and everything inbetween is so worth it.

And the prologue chapter has a WTF moment in it and just wait…it has you on the edge of your seat through the entire book. There is a small age gap here nothing crazy but this book…each chapter has you wanting more until you hit the end. I’m obsessed with Trent, he’s pretty much everything you’d want in a man. Piper is one lucky lady.

[Belle Y · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
🏒 enemies to lovers
🏒 forbidden/workplace
🏒 age gap
🏒 he falls first/"it's always been you"
🏒 the ultimate amount of pining
🏒 deaf representation

Piper is the ball-busting sports agent, representing a number of hockey players on the Boston Guardians. She's young but powerful, and has a love/hate relationship with the Guardians' GM. Trent doesn't wither under Piper's stare - he meets her match for match. But while Piper sees Trent as her rival, he sees her as anything but.

Trent's content to pine after Piper from afar. She's too young for him and he's too jaded to be in a relationship. The problem is that he just can't stay away.

This book absolutely took me by surprise! We get such an amazingly written world and such a rich cast of characters, both primary and secondary. This story takes place alongside the story of the first book in this series, so we also get a glimpse into that story as well; it all twines together beautiful.

The chemistry between Trent and Piper is phenomenal; there's no build-up (they hookup in the first few chapters!) and so much build-up at the same time. The PINING on Trent's part is amazingly written and full of emotion and it's perfectly foiled with Piper's heartbreak and avoidance of love. The moment the emotions sorted themselves out was so satisfying!

The whole series is set in Boston (my city!), and it is so apparent. Such good sense of place, picking up on the nuances of the city - especially describing the traffic.

This is such a wonderful story of found family, letting people in and tearing down walls, and realizing that you are worthy of love and a fulfilling life.

Thanks so much to @wordsmithpublicity and @ivyfoxauthor for the chance to receive an ARC and review early!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Piper in Perfect Pucking Match and I was really happy to see that she was the FMC in this book. She and Trent have such amazing chemistry and I loved how even when they hated each other it was clear to see that the heat and the spice between them was still going strong. Also Piper is such a strong and confident woman which I always love seeing and the way she handled things at the end of the book was so amazing. I won’t give anything away, but it was a glorious moment and she shined so brightly that you’re going to love her and this story so much. This story and its predecessor are so great and I would highly recommend them if you enjoy enemies to lovers and workplace romance tropes. Thank you so much to Ivy Fox and Wordsmith Publicity for the ARC of this amazing book.

[Emma (emjbookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the Puckered Hearts series. We met our girl Piper in Perfect Pucking Match and I'm glad she got her own story. Piper is a sports agent and when one of her players is under the threat of suspension, she makes it her mission to make sure Trent the general manager keeps her player in the team.

Trent plays hardball with Piper, he has been watching her for a while now as they run in the same circles and once he gets a taste of her he cannot let her go. Piper frustrated me a little as she was playing too hard to get but once we find out the reason she is afraid to love and enter a relationship I'm glad Trent never gave up on her and I was happy that Piper let her guard down to let Trent into her heart.

This was a fantastic read where the hero falls first, small age gap and the angst is real.

[Larisa O · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately, the female character ruined everything. 🤦🏼‍♀️She was so aggressive and selfish. Trent demonstrated his good intentions more than once, but it wasn't enough for her.😤 It wasn't until the end of the book that Piper realized what a wonderful man Trent is. It was very frustrating! Ughhh, I hated her very much. 😒

[Mandyloves2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic story in this series! I absolutely loved it! This author is a favorite of mine for a reason I love her angsty emotional writing style no matter the story I definitely get up in all my feels and this one was no different! Loved it!

[bookspaced · Rating 4 out of 5]

Power Play Rivals is the second novel in Ivy Fox' Puckered Hearts series. Its a standalone romance where you do not have to read the first one but I highly recommend doing so anyway.

This story is about Piper Lee, a fearless sports agent and the general manager of a famous hockey team Trent Nichols.
I genuinly enjoyed this book! Trent and Piper'S story was a rollercoaster for sure and I fell sooo hard for Trent!

4.5 Stars

[Sarah Anne]

DNF @ 5%

Writing style not for me. Felt very juvenile.

Aug 22, 2024

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved loved loved it!

This is book 2 in the series but can be read as a standalone.

I was hooked from the prologue and the WTF moment that leaves you on the edge of your seat wanting answers.

This is Piper and Trent’s book, Piper is the no-nonsense sports agent and Trent is the General Manager of the Boston Guardian’s hockey team.

Piper has a rule not to mix business and pleasure but she can’t deny the attraction to Trent and he isn’t hiding the fact he wants her.

Trent is determined to make Piper realise there could be more between them but Piper has her walls up and doesn’t want to believe in love. She doesn’t make it easy for him at all.

The chemistry between these two was explosive!
Also, the mouth on this man was pure filth! And I loved every second.

There is a OMG moment near the end that got me in the feels!

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Power Play Rivals is a standalone book in the Puckered Hearts series and it focuses on Sport Agent - Piper. Who popped up in book 1 her friend Charlotte's book. Piper and Hockey Manager - Trent definitely have a fiery relationship. Both are passionate about their jobs which puts them in each other's orbits constantly which turned up the heat between them both. That bubbled along brilliantly throughout this book. This book takes place at the same time as book 1 so some of the content overlaps. I loved Piper and Trent as well as the banter that they had together. It made this book for me. Loved It.

[Viola · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ Power Play Rivals by Ivy Fox – A Fiery, Passion-Filled Hockey Romance

I don’t know what it is about hockey romances, but they’ve completely taken over my reading list, and Ivy Fox delivers yet another powerful, emotionally charged story in Power Play Rivals. From the very first page, I was drawn into Piper and Trent’s world—a world of tension, passion, and undeniable chemistry.

Piper Lee is a force to be reckoned with. A top sports agent in a male-dominated industry, she’s built a reputation as one of the best in Boston, refusing to let anyone stand in her way. Enter Trent Nichols, the brooding, commanding General Manager of the Boston Guardians, a man who can make or break careers—including those of Piper’s clients. Their paths have crossed before, with Piper always finding him cold and rigid, while Trent has secretly admired her from afar, drawn to her fire and brilliance but wary of their age gap.

From the moment Piper and Trent collide, their relationship is a push-and-pull battle of wills. Piper is fiercely independent, carrying past wounds that make her hesitant to let anyone in, while Trent is determined to prove that love doesn’t have to end in heartbreak. Their dynamic is electric—whether they’re exchanging sharp-witted banter or setting the pages on fire with their undeniable chemistry. And let’s talk about Trent for a moment—this man is pure, tattooed deliciousness. When he finally decides to make his move, he goes all in, and it’s impossible not to swoon over his relentless pursuit of Piper.

One of the standout aspects of Power Play Rivals is how it runs parallel to Lottie and Nathan’s story from book one, intertwining the characters and events in a way that makes you want to revisit the entire series. While this book can be read as a standalone, experiencing the full scope of Piper and Trent’s journey is even more rewarding if you’ve read the first installment.

The writing flows effortlessly, pulling me through every emotional high and gut-wrenching low. There’s humor, passion, heartbreak, and moments that had me gripping my Kindle, needing to know what happened next. And that ending? Gutting. But it also sets up the next book beautifully, leaving me desperate to dive into Caleb’s story.

If you’re a fan of the he-falls-first trope, sizzling chemistry, and strong-willed characters who challenge each other at every turn, Power Play Rivals is an absolute must-read. Ivy Fox has once again proven her ability to craft compelling, heart-stealing romances, and I can’t recommend this book enough.

Loved. Every. Second.

[Geri Stoikova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puckered Hearts series gets even better with Power Play Rivals, Trent and Piper's story. Ivy Fox once again did it. With that prologue she got my attention on point and kept me at the edge of my seat worrying about it, breaking my heart and making me guessing what will happen next if that's at the beginning. Trent was such a mystery at the start but being in his head and learning how he operates was insightful. He's the king of the alpha males who has the patience for the long game when he knows what he wants. I loved Piper from Lottie and Nate's story. I knew it that together with Trent they will be so intense and explosive. Piper is fierce and loyal, strong willed and hard working to be at the top of her game. She's true boss lady and loved seeing her winning her battles. And that moment when she delivered her revenge on her rival was priceless, even more she played by the book. Being on opposite sides with Trent just made their interactions more intense and that board room negotiations were chef's kiss. Both Trent and Piper were at their best. I loved the banter, the witty and sarcastic remarks, that constant push and pull between them. Loved all the back story that they got; it made them real with their fears, hopes and struggles with their feelings. When they finally acted on their attraction they went with a bang. And if some other events are indication it wasn't a fluke. But after that all that angst, tension and slow burn were killing me big time. Because those two needed time to get on the same page at the same time. But when they did it was so good. Loved it how their story was intertwined with Nate and Lottie's ; seeing them here and there was so good. Loved it that both Trent and Piper had a good and loyal friends and family. And let's not forget the added found family. Power Play Rivals was everything that I expected and then some. I need to know there will be a story about Laurie Preston, the new owner of the Boston Guardians . Needless to say I have some suspicions there but I'll wait. Because Caleb's story is next and I'm more than curious.

Thanks to WordSmith Publicity for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this book.

[Danielle Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author may have promised angst in the write-up for Power Play Rivals, but I seriously underestimated just how angsty this book would be. While this is Trent and Piper's story and they are the focus of the book, the way the author writes to include other characters and their story, which is running alongside the main plot, saw me feeling for not just Trent and Piper but Lottie and Nathan and even Caleb and Jack. You can't help but fall in love with the characters—well, the main ones anyway; some characters like Ethan and Coop belong in the bin.
 
Trent and Piper made the perfect couple, even if their relationship was reluctant and had Piper fighting against it from the very beginning. The passion was there, with spice happening so very early on, and it was the kind that gives you the tummy tingles; it was so hot, and that fiery nature of their relationship continues throughout, with Piper often weaponising spicy times in order to avoid the more emotional moments.
 
Both Trent and Piper have been very focused on work only and nothing else, but Trent changed when he saw Piper, and for him, it was instant love, and he has spent two years pining for her without her realising it. Piper is a kick-ass boss lady and is so likeable, but she keeps herself unattainable. When she first talks about having loved someone and getting her heart broken, I assumed she meant a boyfriend, but it turns out it was her dad, and he passed away, and that's why she doesn't want to let herself feel because she's scared after seeing how her mother coped following her father's death. The way the author wrote those moments of Piper, using her POV to let us witness her inner thoughts, was so beautifully and brilliantly written, but they were equally heartbreaking. Trent hadn't exactly had things the easiest either, but he loved hard, and he made himself so vulnerable for Piper, and it quite often blew back in his face, and I just wanted to hug him.
 
It was a brilliantly written book, and although the ending has my heart in my mouth, I can't wait to read Caleb's book, as I need more details and information and to know just what happened. I shall have the tissues ready just in case.

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️

Piper was by far my favourite side character in Perfect Pucking Match, so I knew I had to read her story in Power Play Rivals and I can honestly say it was everything I was hoping it would be and more!

Going into this book, there were a couple of things I was pretty certain I already knew would happen, just from reading the previous book. Piper was a feisty character in PPM, who was strong-willed, opinionated and was passionate about those she loved (and I absolutely loved that about her!). There was no doubt she and Trent would bump heads in this book. I also figured we’d be getting some pretty steamy hookup scenes, and I can happily say we got plenty of those! 😉😏

But there were also some things I wasn’t expecting. I wasn’t expecting for Trent to be such a persistent yet considerate guy. He was understanding and caring and honestly at one point I felt like maybe Piper didn’t deserve him after all. I was not expecting her to be so determined to stay single! lol After learning her backstory I can understand her better now, but wow. I’m glad she finally opened her eyes and heart and allowed Trent into her life. Those two truly are perfect for each other! The other thing I was not expecting was to cry so much while reading this book! Gahh! 😂 There were several scenes that just pulled on my heartstrings and while I know I’m an emotional person, I wasn’t expecting to feel so many of them in this book!

As stated by the author at the beginning of the book, while this is a standalone novel it does have a lot of overlap with the first book in the series and I truly believe it would be best to read this one after Perfect Pucking Match. There would definitely be some spoilers for that book if you planned on going back to read it afterwards.

The ending of this book has left me shook though! I have so many thoughts and ideas about what’s coming next, and I can’t wait to find out if any of them are right! I’ll be anxiously waiting for Penalty to the Heart to release so I can finally get some answers! 😂

[books.tea.happy · Rating 5 out of 5]

🏒ARC Review🏒

Power Play Rivals by @ivyfoxauthor

ARC provided by the author via @wordsmithpublicity and I happily give my honest opinion.

Piper is a quick ass woman in a man’s world and works hard to gain her reputation as one of Boston’s best Sports Agents.

Trent is the commanding General Manager who can make or break some of her clients world.

They have met at various events, she has always found him cold and rigid. He has been hiding his fascination with her for years. He has been drawn to her fiery, beautiful, talented personality, but is wary of letting anyone in and of their age gap.

Trent has always pushed Piper’s buttons at every possible opportunity but when one of her clients is in trouble she starts to see there is more to the brooding, tattooed man.

When she finally gives him an inch he takes a mile. When he gets a little of her it makes him realize he wants everything.

There was so much passion between them! I loved their interactions out the bedroom/wherever almost as much as the ones in it.

I really loved how when he realized what he wanted Trent went all in to show Piper they were meant to be together. Even if his efforts were a little misguided at times.

It was so nice to see feisty Piper break through the walls that were holding her back, even if she did have good reason for them.

This story runs parallel to the first book in the series so I would definitely recommend reading it to get the most out of the story.

The ending was really gutting and did make me so sad, but it did set up nicely for the next story which I imagine will be pretty intense.

This book drew me in, made me smile, made me 🔥and a little sad but ended on a lovely note.

#powerplayrivals
#ivyfox
#wordsmithpublicity
#hockeyromance
#enemiestolovers
#agegap
#hefallsfirst
#⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to learn that Piper was getting her own story! From Puckered Hearts, Book 1, when we met Piper, you were instantly obsessed. With this - this series can be read as a standalone, but they are so much fun to read together. You will not be disappointed.

This book starts off right away in the prologue, grabbing your attention in a drama-filled, all-consuming information dump of emotion. Then the author tragically leaves us hanging by backtracking to 6 months earlier.

Piper is the decimating sports agent for the Boston Guardians. She takes nothing, and is not to be trifled with. Trent Nichols is the GM of the Boston Guardians and is apparently off limits to his dream woman, Piper.

The fast burn of this book took you by surprise, but then leveled out to a slow burn of emotion for our girl. Never mix business with pleasure. Also, if you never fall in love, you can never get hurt, right? Goodness, this woman had me ready to throw my kindle across the room with how stubborn she was. Thankfully, our author pulled me through and always leaves us happy in the end.

The chemistry and tension between Piper and Trent was so tight, it could literally be cut with a knife and fireworks would spark every where. Not only that, but the back and forth between the two characters left you with a goofy smile on your face you couldn't shake off. They were so good together and I was so happy when Piper realized what was standing right in front of her all along.

This amazing read is all about finding your found family and learning to grow both internally for yourself and finding your people. Ivy Fox just does it all the time and consumes you in anything she writes. I cant wait to read the next book!!!!

*Overall 4.5/5
*Heat/ 4/5
*Fast Burn then Slow
*Dual first person POV
*Ends on HEA

[Anna Whin · Rating 4 out of 5]

yeah, i really liked this one.

it starts off with our emotionally unavailable heroine, Piper who is sooo badass and so hot. i love her. she takes no ones shit and is unapologetically herself. now the general manager of the team, Trent has liked her since he met her but she refuses to give him the time of day until one night where she wants a one night stand. they both rocked each other's world but can't seem to stop their ever-growing chemistry.

i loved this one because the H is so decisive in what he wants, and he wants Piper 😈 he literally chases her down every. where. because he can't seem to stay away and has to persuade her to give him literally a second of her time. i loved that he never backed down and he falls FIRST AND HARDDD. like this man is so determined and nothing will stop him from getting her. now Piper is very emotionally unavailable. she avoids relationships like the plague and tends to hook up rather than have a relationship so she avoids Trent's advances for the longest time. never giving him ANYTHING and always making him work for it. now, i loved this in the beginning but when she has continuously pushed him away until like 70% of the book, i grew tired of it since Trent was going above and beyond trying to show her how much he loves her.

but its ok since i always want the men to suffer a bit and suffer did Trent 😊 i truly love Trent sooo much that man is so perfect and sooo cute to Piper, ugh he's just so in love with her and i was so happy when his feelings were being reciprocated finally and he deserves it all.

safety: safe for me, no owd, no virgins, celibate H (over a year)
- omd: made H jealous by going on dates with a guy but it doesn't progress into anything
- heroine kissed another guy (he was gay) because she was trying to push H away and hurt him

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙍𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙨
Interconnected standalone in the Puckered Hearts series! (I suggest reading after Perfect Pucking Match though)!

This book did not disappoint- Ivy blessed us with her usual angst and swoon worthy romance! It takes place concurrently with the timeline of PPM, but you get a different aspect and side of the story (plus lots more). So, while some of the same events occur, it’s not repetitive, and the different pov is so worth it.

I loved FMC Piper from the start of the series, she is sassy and strong headed. What I loved most was reading her story with Trent, and watching her slowly open up her heart to love.

I needed tissues & teared up more than once, and there is a little bit of a cliffhanger. So you bet your as$ I will be impatiently waiting for the next book in the series to release lol!!

Add to your TBR if you like:
-Age Gap
-Sports Romance
-Enemies/Rivals to Lovers
-Black Cat x Golden Retriever vibes
-Spice right at the start
-Found Family

Overall, I loved this next installment in the Puckered Hearts series. I enjoyed reading the main characters POV’s, and I adored most of the side characters, especially Rex and Pipers mom 💕. Also, find yourself a man that would learn a language for you. If that’s not love, idk what is 🫠🫠 *swoon*.

The spice was friggin HOT 🥵 and Ivy always seems to put just the perfect amount in her stories!

I am so appreciative to be on Ivy’s A R C team, and was blessed with this A R C, but good news for y’all is that it is released already🖤🖤🖤 and available now in paperback and kindle unlimited !

Thank you to the author for my AR Copy.
My review is 100% my honest review and thoughts.

[Marni Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Perfect Pucking Match the first book in this absolutely amazing series . I thought to myself Nothing Could Possibly Beat This !!! Well I was wrong just so so wrong because Piper and Trent just might be my favorite couple yet . Frenemies to lovers , bad boy / good girl , forced proximity, hockey romance, he falls first , angst , humor , witty banter , love , passion, pain , heartbreaking and heartwarming, drama , family , friendships, second chances, power play rivals is the perfect blend of all the things I look for when reading a great romance. Oh how I adored both Trent and Piper ( no really something just pulled me to them from the very first page , grabbed onto my heart and just sucked me right in . Both have endured so much heartbreak in their lives , but that’s all about to change .. all I can say without giving anything away because trust me when I say this is one story best enjoyed by going in with a completely open mind and no spoilere . Omg what an emotional rollercoaster that literally plays on all your emotions in ways you won’t even be expecting. Prepare yourself for a very long night of reading. Prepare yourself to he speechless, prepare yourself to be yelling outta pure frustration one second and then laughing , sobbing like a baby and rooting so freaking hard the next . Power Play Rivals really is one of the best books I’ve read this year - but then again why wouldn’t it be as it’s written by the queen herself Ivy Fox . And I can genuinely say that every single time I pick up one of her books all my expectations are exceeded and I’m completely blown away in all the best ways 🖤🖤🖤
a few seconds ago

[DeAnna · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/2.5 ⭐️
“I’d wait for her forever. Even if means that, in the end, I’ll never have her heart. I’d still wait.. and live off hope.” ❤️

Tropes
NHL GM x Sports agent
Enemies to lovers (one sided IMO)
He falls first
Age gap

After reading Perfect Pucking Match and loving it, I wanted to love this one so bad. But I didn’t like it unfortunately.

Piper was a really irritating fmc in my opinion. I get her needing/wanting to be fierce, hard, opinionated, and feisty and to excel in her career which is more dominated by men, but she just took all of that and went over board. She was just too aggressive, and for as much as she said Trent was heartless, I didn’t get that from him. If anything she was cold and heartless.
Her continuously acting like she was going to let Trent in and then shutting him down afterwards every time just came off like she was toying with him and I don’t like that type of person.
Piper was so up and down, hot and cold, and continuously played with him. Trent showed her from the beginning how much he wanted her and how serious he was about being with her. When she FINALLLY decided she wanted to love him and came running back to apologize to him, he forgave her and let her back in so easily and I didn’t really like that. If it was the other way around the man would’ve needed to do some serious groveling and she didn’t do anything.
About 50/60% into the book I gave up and just started skimming and only reading the spicy parts and wanted to get to the turning point when they finally got together.
The 2 stars I gave this are for Trent, and the fact that the epilogue was cute

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're like me and can't resist a juicy series with intertwined characters that tug at your heartstrings, then prepare to be glued to the pages of this book. We're talking about Guardian's GM Trent and the fiery Piper, who just happens to be Lottie's best friend from the first book in the series, "Perfect Pucking Match."

Piper may be a bad a$$ sports agent, but when it comes to matters of the heart, she's as stubborn as they come. And Trent? Well, let's just say he's not exactly immune to her charms either. But with Piper's strict "no mixing business and pleasure" rule, you can bet there's going to be some serious sparks flying on and off the ice.

The chemistry between Piper and Trent is so electric it'll leave you reaching for the nearest fire extinguisher. And the banter? Let's just say it's hotter than a summer day in the desert. But fear not, fellow romantics, because amidst all the sizzling tension, there's a romance brewing that'll have you swooning faster than you can say "hat trick."

Sure, Piper may have had me yelling at her a time or two (okay, maybe more than that), but hey, that's all part of the fun, right? And with Ivy Fox at the helm, you know you're in for a wild and unforgettable ride.

So grab your copy, settle in, and get ready to fall head over skates for "Power Play Rivals." Just don't blame me if you find yourself daydreaming about hockey GMs and sassy sports agents long after you've turned the final page.

I was blessed with an Advanced Reader copy of this book.

[Elizabeth Satala (ElizaJayneReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️.5

While the first book in the series was more of an emotional story, this one was full of hilarious banter, steamy exchanges, and a hero and heroine who are as fiery as they come. Trent and Piper loved to bicker and every turn, but they are more alike than they let on. Piper Lee is a sports agent in a male-dominated world and when one of her players is in hot water, it is her job to prove that he shouldn’t be shunned by the hockey community and to prove to the GM of the team that he deserves to be there. That GM happens to be Trent Nichols, a take no crap, tell it like it is, grumpy man, who really only has a soft spot for two people: the owner of the team and Piper (but, shhhhh don’t tell her that). Trent loves to rile Piper up at every turn, but really, he loves their exchanges. He has had a crush on her for years, so when she finally lets her guard down a bit with him, he swoops in. He makes it known that they should be together, but Piper has her walls so high that it’s hard for Trent to climb them. Little by little, he shows her that he’s not going to run and that he does everything with purpose. She is scared to let people in after tragedy struck her family and left it in shambles. She told herself that if she didn’t fall in love, then she couldn’t be hurt. But that’s far from the truth. She tries to push Trent away every chance she gets, but he proves to her that she’s stuck with him. The chemistry between these two was fire. She was young but was wise beyond her years, so it wasn’t a surprise that Trent liked her. He made her feel like the most beautiful person in the room and never once made her feel alone. He did little things for her to make it known he was thinking about her, and by the end, her resolve had faded, and the two of them were lights out. Loved this second book, and I can’t wait for the next one!

[Sharon Moritz-rosenthal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary early release e-book prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This is Trent and Piper's story. It's the second book in the series but it also easily stands alone. If you read the first book, it runs concurrently with this book but also extends past it so you also see what happens with the first couple, Nate and Lottie.

In the first book we met Nate and he is a hockey player on General Manager (GM) Trent's team. Nate's agent is Piper and Lottie is Piper's best friend and also a matchmaker. Lottie tried to find a bride for Nathan to help rehab his bad media reputation but instead they fell for each other. In that book we see that Trent and Piper have a very interesting relationship and in this book we get the real story behind their relationship.

To say it is complicated is an understatement. Piper does one night stands and well Trent is an enigma to her. They start out as a fling and when Trent wants more, Piper does not and this is his story primarily.

He has a long road ahead to convince Piper that they are meant for more. Piper is desperately afraid of love and the risk to her heart and Trent wants her like no one else. Can he convince her? Will she give him a shot? Well, this story answers all those questions and more.

This is not a light read. It has some really hot scenes and is a lot of fun as we watch Trent run after Piper. But some serious things happen in this book that made me shed a tear or two. It is wonderfully written and I really adored Trent and Piper.

[Silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first book I fell head over heels for Nathan and honestly didn’t think that another character could capture my heart as quickly and as strongly as him. Well thank you Ivy Fox for proving me wrong!!!
Trent Nichols came off as a hard@$$ GM in the first book. In this one he starts out as this untouchable, unflapple , and kind of arrogant man. He exudes an air of dark sensuality. He is $ex personified! Once you add in the push/pull dynamic between him and Piper, everything is elevated and I couldn’t tear my eyes off the page!!
I loved Piper from the first book and how protective she was of her Nathan. What truly got me was that she didn’t just do it for business, she truly cares about her players. I loved her take no cr@p attitude.
These two had so many amazing, sultry moments together, some I’ve them blindingly hot, but there were some heartbreaking ones, too. Those that guard their hearts the most, can sometimes cause the most damage. Their road to a HEA wasn’t easy and had plenty of hurdles, even if they themselves were the hurdles, but it was a breathtaking and beautiful journey nonetheless.
There’s something major that happens in this book, and two days after finishing this book I’m still shaken by it. I’m desperate to find out what happened. That’s how much these characters have come to mean to me, even the supporting characters! There was a word that was used quite a bit towards the end of this book that was so fitting: family.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest opinion.

[Natasha Deen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars !!Trent Nichols stole my heart 😍!

OMG this was hotness overload and I loved it!! Ivy Fox gave us another great book in this series, with some excellent writing. It was fast paced and gave me all the feels. This book was everything, it was emotional, funny, and sizzlingly hot. The pull and push between Trent and Piper was exciting and steamy and captured my attention from the first page.
Trent was the epitome of my perfect book boyfriend. I mean who wouldn't love a tatted, smart, dominant, possessive, man who was secretly really warm, gooey and caring. I loved how obsessed Trent was with Piper. His patience, perseverance and the fact that he fell hard and fast was very adorable. His friendship with Rex and his love for Piper showed his softer side which made me love him even more.
Although I had a love hate relationship with Piper and did not always appreciate her stubbornness and how she treated Trent, I fully understood where her fear of being in a relationship was came from. However, I really liked how protective she was of the people she cared for and how absolutely fierce and confident she was in everything she did.
I was very excited for these two because even from book 1 their chemistry was evident and in this book my gosh they were electrifying together, totally explosive and hot. Also, their banter was hilarious and scintillating.
I thoroughly enjoyed all the loveable side characters and the fact that this story line ran parallel to that of the first book. This was a fantastic addition to this series and I can't wait for Caleb's book.

[the_romance_regent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ivy Fox's "Power Play Rivals," the second book of the Puckered Hearts series, follows a timeline that coincides with the first book, "Perfect Pucking Match." Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the book without any complications. While there are some spoilers from the previous novel, they only heightened my desire to revisit it.

Piper is a determined strong and fiery sports agent who strives to secure the best contracts for her clients. Trent is the dedicated general manager of Boston's esteemed hockey team, The Guardians. His unwavering commitment to his career leaves no space for anything or anyone else.

From the moment Piper began representing his players, Trent knew there was something special about her. Despite her seemingly carefree attitude towards casual hookups at events, Trent couldn't shake the feeling that they had a powerful connection. One night, consumed by desire, he proposed a one-night stand. Although Trent fell for Piper quickly and deeply, she remained hesitant to mix business with pleasure. Piper's past trauma and demons only added to her reluctance, but Trent was determined to convince her to take a chance on love. With his sexy tattoos and possessive nature, Trent was both patient and persistent in pursuing Piper. Despite the challenges they faced, the chemistry and tension between them were undeniable, and Trent knew that he would stop at nothing to win Piper's heart.

I enjoyed the push and pull between Trent and Piper, as well as the entertaining banter with the side characters. “Power Play Rivals” completely sets up the next book in the series at the end and I cannot wait for Ivy Fox’s story about Caleb.

Thank you Ivy Fox and Wordsmith Publishing for the advanced reader’s copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Ana Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do I start my review???
Honestly, I don't know because just that cover.... Dayum... that's one hot muffin...
Ivy Fox has written some of my favorite books and she did not disappoint with this one. Oh no.
Her writing will leave you breathless... trust me.
Power Play Rivals is her latest release and it's the second book from the Puckered Hearts series.
This book explores the lives of Piper and Trent.
Before you start reading this book, read Perfect Pucking Match first. You'll thank me later.
Piper is a sports agent. She's ruthless as anyone can be and doesn't take shi*** from anyone.
When one of her players is in danger of being suspended...
Trent is the general manager of a hockey team, and his goal is to keep his team in order and to win.
He has had a thing for Piper but didn't had the courage to succumb to that and now...
OMG, this book was so freaking good.
Spectacular plot, well written, super engaging and hot as hell.
I love a book when the female character is as ruthless as the male character is.
Love that Piper wasn't a damsel in distress and didn't backtrack from what she wanted.
And Trent... OMG...Trent is Hot as Hell and I wanted to keep him for myself. lol
Can I??
Love the push-and-pull game they dwelled on. Loved the fact that she always had an answer.
And the hot stuff... lord have mercy.
The passion these two had, the way they were when they were near each other. I love it all.
Ivy told us that there was going to be a lot of angst but dayum, it was so much more than that.
ANother masterpiece Ivy. You nailed it once again.