Sometimes the worst in life brings your next best thing.
I heard of Shay Mendez before I met her. She baked. Was reportedly grumpy. Loved her big family. And had sinful curves she kept most men away from with her moody gaze.
We had little in common, except for the most important thing…
At college, Shay and I locked eyes in a grief support group. Both away from Starlight Canyon, she was the anchor I badly needed to keep me from floating away into darkness. My first girlfriend was my polar opposite, but everything I ever needed. Sadly, fate didn’t agree.
After years apart, with me in the NHL and her becoming a single mom, I run into Shay in Vegas of all places. A hundred teardrops, a dozen shots and two wedding rings later, we wake up in the morning married. Much like back in college, Shay and I have a lot to offer one another.
That morning in Vegas we write the perfect playbook for our fake marriage, orchestrating it right through the final buzzer. But I won’t let it end the way she thinks it does.
Sienna Judd is a small town, contemporary romance author who lives for all the spice and book boyfriends who are book husband material.
Sienna is an American girl married to her Prince Charming. She lives with her husband, three children, pony, dogs, guinea pigs and countless other animals on a small farm in England. She thinks kitchens are for dancing, is everybody's hype girl and might be known for talking too loudly.
Like every respectable woman she also loves drinking champagne and eating half of every chocolate in a truffles box.
e-ARC Review: Perfect Playbook is book #4 in the Starlight Canyon series. I love a second chance, and Sienna really delivered a beautiful story. Thank you, Sienna, for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.
Logan and Shay are drawn together by tragedies from their past. After spending time together, they develop an unlikely friendship that turns into something more. Logan falls for Shay's genuine laugh, and her sharp wit. He has never connected with someone the way that he does with her. He is willing to do whatever it takes to be with her. Unfortunately, fate has other plans for Logan and Shay. Shay has to drop out of college and move home to care for her dad, and Logan gets drafted to Boston to play hockey. Shay makes the difficult decision to end their relationship and go their separate ways. Her trust in love and in others is not strong enough to withstand the distance between them.
Now, sixteen years later Logan and Shay are brought together by fate again in Vegas. They drunkenly get married and decide to stay married. Logan needs to appear to have settled down and show he has changed his partying ways to prevent getting traded. And Shay needs help covering the cost of school for her gifted son Nino. Soon, they both realize their feelings from all those years ago never faded. The timing wasn't right before, but Shay and Logan both realize they aren't willing to lose each other a second time.
This story was full of heartbreaking/ frustrating moments when you wanted to shake some sense into Shay and tell her to take a chance, but fear wins in her situation. It broke my heart that Lo and Shay lost so many years together due to fear. I thought it was sweet when Lo said if they hadn't spent time apart, they wouldn't have Antonio. I love Logan Hunter with my whole heart. When he gives Shay the gift from sixteen years ago, I had tears in my eyes. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️ *second chance *marriage of convenience *single parent *small town *slow burn *hockey *”my wife”
✨Second chance ✨Marriage of convenience ✨ Small town ✨ “My wife”
Logan and Shay grew up in the same small town but didn’t really get to know each other until both of them suffer great loss and end up growing close after attending the same grief group. Logan is a star college hockey player with plans to play professionally, while Shay plans to move back to Starlight Canyon to her fathers ranch after completing college and continuing to bake for a career. The two end up falling head over heels for each other quickly but their relationship just isn’t able to endure all the changes that happen all at once.
Time passes and Logan and Shay run into each other at a wedding/ wedding reception in Las Vegas. One drink leads to another and they end up waking up married (OOPS). They decide that both can benefit from this “arrangement”— Logan can help Shay’s brilliant son attend the advanced school that he needs and Shay can help Logan with his image in the professional hockey world.
Of course, this isn’t the only thing to transpire out of their new marriage. The couple comes to realize that they are truly soul mates and meant to be together no matter what life throws at them.
This story is so so sweet. I loved how the couple reconnected and their chemistry is truly off the charts. Logan is 🥵 and treats Shay like she is EVERYTHING and it made my heart so happy for her. The bond that forms between Logan and Shay’s son is seriously adorable too!
Thank you Sienna for the opportunity to read this as an ARC ♥️
I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Perfect Playbook and might I say this book was one of Sienna Judd’s best work. The dual time line was written beautifully, expressing the characters within each time frame. Logan and Shay were raw, and emotional. The love story between them was heart wrenching. I laughed and cried and swooned over the SPICY 🥵 details within their newfound marriage! This second chance romance is one of a kind! Shay being a mom fits in perfectly with the present timeline, Nino is an interesting little boy and he lights up the page. The author stays true to family customs within the book and their is mention of grieve and mourning that is carefully written. Love love love Sienna Judd’s work!!❤️❤️
I don’t think I’ve ever cared less for two characters. They were so uninteresting and morose as people and I just could not get into this. The whole plot line is pretty typical fake marriage trope though the second chance aspect was an interesting twist (that did not live up to its potential). At the very least, one would hope for some updates about the other siblings from the previous three books and aside from a few cameos, there was no real development either. Such a let down. Also really didn’t care for the genius kid to juxtapose against Eve from book 1 who has DS. Finally, just ridiculous how easily Logan decides to consider Shay’s son as his own. I mean really?
This series started off strong but has just gotten worse over time. And now there’s going to be a whole second series of Shay’s brothers, “The menendez brothers”. That whole story line also seems really ridiculous. So I think I’m done with this author for the time being…
logan and shay were the epitome of soulmates. it was clear from the moment they met that they were meant to be, but the circumstances just weren’t right for them. they spent years apart before they reconnected, and though shay was reluctant to let him back in, logan was NOT taking their second chance for granted. and let me tell you, the tension between them was THICK. so good 😮💨
also, antonio was the sweetest kid!! he was such a great example of why i love kids in books so much, not only because he made me crack up with some of the things he said, but also with how he bonded with logan. and the way logan just fit so seamlessly with him and shay was so freaking heartwarming.
i loved logan and shay together, and this has become one of my favourite small town series ever. thank you so much for the arc, sienna - you’re the best 🫶🏼
- hockey romance - marriage of convenience - small town - single mom - second chance - grey sweatpants moment - «it’s always been you» - lots of “my wife” - 5 year old genius
Logan and Shay have known each other since high school… but never reconnected until the lowest points of their lives. They saw each other at a grief group meeting and decided that they would be there for each other. As they went through college all was fine until Logan got the call… the call they both wanted but also didn’t because they knew it would be the end of them.
as time passes, they see each other at a wedding and end up going out together and getting married after a drunken, careless night. They decide to go ahead and go through with the marriage as Logan is trying to clean up his image to the press and Shay is trying to put her son into a private school. However, they can only be friends… and nothing more…. Right?
These two were super cute. I will say that it was a little slow for me in the beginning but then it picked up by the end and I was swooning for both of them. Don’t miss this one on May 21st!
Tropes -second chance -single mom X NHL player -“it’s always been you” -lots of “my wifes”
I am so grateful to continue to be on Sienna's ARC team and have an opportunity to read this book! I am a SUCKER for a second chance romance (I think I say this every time I read one) and this book gave me all the feels.
I was super excited for Shay and Logan's story ever since reading the last one and let me tell you, it was so worth it! Truthfully, the marriage of convenience trope usually doesn't translate for me in a contemporary romance but this one honestly worked for me. The "oh sh*t we got married in Vegas" to "well we could help each other out" scenario seemed way more believable to me than other MOCs.
I love love loved Nino's addition to the story as well. He was so funny and I loved the balance of his intelligence but also him being 5 and silly.
Overall I had a lot of fun reading this book and can't wait to see what is coming next from Sienna!
Gahhhh. Do I cry because it happened or cry because it's over? Either way, I feel a little weepy now that this story is over.
.
The Perfect Playbook is the perfect blueprint for what a second chance romance packed with pining and chemistry should feel like. Filed with overwhelming love, friendship leaping off the pages and two people willing to work for me, this book was exactly what I needed. Sienna Judd’s characters are so real and raw and never fail to keep me on my toes while rooting for their happly ever after the whole time.
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The way Logan openly PINED and loved so fully was so emotional and his connection with Nino was so fun. Speaking of Nino, what a kid! He's exactly why I love the single parent trope. Throw in a tight knit family, past memories that pull at your heartstrings and the perfect HEA and you have one hell of a love story! 💛🍰
Oh Logan. I wasn't expecting him to be so lost and lonely. Now 16 years later, his college sweetheart and soulmate Shay are married for convenience. Now he's got the family he's always wanted and the wife to boot. Or does he? Shay struggles a good bit to open her feelings with Logan but once she does oh boy. These two were absolute perfection together. They were each other's calm and passion. Antonio, Shay's son from a previous relationship was a cutie and to see him attach himself to Logan was heartmelting.
I absolutely loved the bits of Ashton and his support for Logan. I wished the family from Starlight Canyon made a couple more appearances, but that's just a personal thought.
Shay is my fate.
Still, everything inside me screams he's my perfect match. I guess puzzle pieces don't fit together with straight lines either.
P.S. Is it just me or did she introduce new characters for a new series? 👀👀
*ARC courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. Thank you to the valued author for providing a copy.*
I’m gonna be honest, marriage of convenience is not my favorite trope… but when I love the author and series I always give it a shot.
This one was SO freaking good. The feelings and passion involved due to the second chance, dual timeline tied in.
I have been WAITING on this pair and Sienna delivered!
Logan and Shay are both from a small town and connected in a grief support group in college. They spent all of their time together and their connection was undeniable. Until Logan was headed to the NHL and Shay couldn’t leave…
Sixteen years go by and they run into each other at a friends wedding in Vegas, where she was delivering the cake.
While Logan was being a star and well known playboy in the NHL, Shay started a business to support her and her son… well her son is a freaking genius. So much so, that he needs to be sent to a school that will fit his needs and is out of her range.
They each need something from one another and they drunkenly get married in Vegas agreeing on the terms. But will they stick to them? Will he step in and be who she and Nino need? Can she trust him wholeheartedly again?
The chemistry in this book and passion filled dual timeline is a favorite because you slowly get to connect with the couple ended in the first place and watch them fall for each other all over again.
4.5 ⭐️ 2.5 🌶️
•grief • single mom • marriage of convenience • hockey player • it’s always been you• second chance • dual timeline • found family
HOLY moly what a read! This whole series has been nothing short of amazing so I wasn't surprised when this one was just as great! I loved Logan & Shay's story and it totally had me in my feels!
Sixteen years ago both Logan & Shay faced an immense loss. They sought out help with a grief support group where they met each other. They both were in a dark place and found comfort in each other. But as young as they were, their relationship had somewhat of a time limit. Logan was set to go on to play for the NHL and Shay was needed back at home. After a tough breakup they went their separate ways.
Being from the same small town they have seen each other in passing but have never really had that difficult conversation. Shay now has a son and Logan is the "playboy" of the NHL. It seems they both have "moved on" or so the other thinks.
It's now sixteen years later and they are at a mutual friend's wedding. The drinks are flowing and they are in vegas.. they just want to scratch that itch for each other. What's the worst that could happen?
This second chance romance will have you feeling all the feels. There were so many emotions between Shay and Logan that built over the past sixteen years. But even though so many years have passed, they fall back into their same routines together. But now the same reasons they weren't together before are coming up again. Can they stay together?
OMG. I absolutely adored the relationship between Logan and Nino. He treated him like his son and it had my heart swooning. I also loved Logan & Shay. The three of them were the perfect little family, which was everything Logan ever dreamed of. Shay is finally able to ask for help and Logan is there for her. This was the perfect second chance romance for me. Easy 5/5 stars for me and Sienna smashed it once again!
Read if you like: 🌷 Epic four word love note 🌷 5 year old genius 🌷 Bonded by loss/College lovers 🌷 Sweet AF grandpa 🌷 Janitor room quickie 🌷 Interesting use of frosting 🧁 🌷 Pawn shop rings 🌷 “My dirty little wife” moment
I loved Logan and Shay’s story. They have known each other since high school and reconnected in college, but it is not until they are adults that they realize the precious connection they share. He has achieved his dreams of playing hockey at the highest level, but his life is not full.
My favorite book of the series, second chances, but this one pulled the most emotion, was the hardest to put down, and I loved the characters.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
This exceeded all my expectations when I saw Logan was going to have a book. Logan and Shay are so perfect together and I was so happy with this story. Logan is definitely top 5 book boyfriend after this. The way he also knew what Shay needed just by a look or a gesture was true love. Shay being a single momma had to allow someone to show her love in a way she really hadn't before outside of familal love and it was beautiful to see Logan be that for her. Im sad to leave this town and these people.
✨ I received this book as an ARC for my honest review✨
Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sienna has done it again with another amazing book. The Perfect Playbook follows Logan and Shay, who meet in group therapy in college, and the rest is history. Or it should have been. Logan and Shay are the definitions of right person and wrong time.
While they were deeply in love with each other, neither wanted to hold each other back from chasing their dreams. Logan was willing to try and make it work, but Shay felt like there was no other choice, and she made the decision for the both of them.
Fast forward 16 years, and they end up seeing each other at a mutual friend's wedding. During those 16 years, Shay's had failed relationships, and Logan's turned into a playboy. Shay is now a business owner and a single mom to Nino, a genius, while Logan is a hockey player who may get traded. One night is all they need to open their heart to each other, and due to their history, it wasn't easy. But the alcohol for sure helped! However, being drunk in Vegas always comes with a few surprises the next day, and in their case, they are now married! A blessing in disguise since they both need each other's help. Shay with her son's school tuition and Logan with his playboy image.
An opportunity is an opportunity, and I'm glad Logan did not waste it. Logan is not willing to lose Shay a second time and fights for her day after day. Logan not only cares for Shay but also her son Nino as if he was his own. From experience, a man who has been through therapy is one worth keeping. While I wish Shay was honest with herself without Logan pushing her, I think she needed it to show her what she was losing if she let Logan go again.
I didn't like Shay's character. She loved the guy but didn't even want to try a long distance relationship even though he was clearly devoted to her and so in love with her. He learned about her culture, was there for her family...and then she broke his heart. Then 15 years later they're still hung up on eachother, get a second chance and she almost ruins it again 🙄
Second chance at love and a marriage of convenience…what? I loved this book and Logan and Shay. The things we do to protect our heart….
Logan and Shay have history is putting it mildly. Coming together over grief is a bond that builds quietly. I really loved how this book flipped between the past and the present, slowly giving the reader all the information as to who these characters are, and why. Little glimpses slowly put together the whole picture, until we understand why Shay has built such a wall around herself, and why Logan has curated an image that has nothing to do with his real self.
Seeing these characters come back to themselves, and each other, gaining trust, lively banter, and heartfelt connection…it’s all there. Sienna writes her women beautifully. Shay has her flaws, and anxieties, and while wanting to deal with them by herself, realize slowly to let not only their family and friends in, but Logan. And Logan? He’s more sensitive then we first glimpse and creates a persona so he won’t get hurt. But feeling, and falling first, is what he needs to do.
Plus the heat…wow! Those scenes are spicy!
It was really refreshing to see grief, and depression shown in a honest way. They are tricky subjects, but Sienna deals with them both really well.
Plus Shays little boy, and the families of both characters….it was really great to be immersed with these characters again. May I hope we will read about Shays brothers soon?
I won’t lie it took me a little while to get into this one- and I truly think bc I was so obsessed with the 3rd book lol. But once I got into it I couldn’t put it down!!! Shay was not my favorite fmc, but I LOVED LOGAN AS A MMC!!!!! And let’s be real the true star of the book was Antonio!!! His relationship with Logan was so pure and special!!! I loved seeing Ashton and Logan’s friendship in this as well. The epilogue really made me love it all!!! 4 stars!
Thank you to Sienna and her team for giving me the opportunity to read this book as an arc. This is a second chance trope, marriage of convenience and small town romance which is always great!
FMC Shay and MMC Logan were once college sweethearts, separating when Logan gets drafted by his hockey team and Shay has to drop out of college and move back home. Their relationship ends, with both of them not happy with the decision. Logan connects with Shay in a way that he hasn’t been able to with anyone else. You can see that they have such a special relationship with one another. After spending so much time away from each other, it was obvious that when they reconnected that their connection was still a strong one.
Shay and Logan meet once again after so many years in Vegas. While there, they drunkenly get married. They decide that they should stay married for Logan’s image. He is at risk of being transferred in his hockey team, so believes that staying married to Shay will help to improve him in the public eye. What started off as a fake romance (I’m not convinced it even started off as this cause they for sure still have some unresolved feelings) ended with Shay and Logan realising that they wanted to give being with each other another try.
Shay isn’t alone this time, she has her son Antonio to think about too, as she initially has her own worries about allowing Logan into her and Antonio’s life. Logan treats Antonio as if he were his own son, which only makes Shay fall even more for him. I think this story is so beautiful, it truly encaptures how second romances work. Shay and Logan are so sweet with one another and it is nice to see how their trust builds back up with one another.
This book was pretty cute, though personally I didn’t think it was as good as the other ones. Second chance romance has never really been for me, so it took longer to get through and didn’t really hold my attention that well.
I found Shay was actually quite a relatable character and she really had this inner strength about her that came through the story really nicely. Through both Shay and Logan’s inner monologues, this book explored love and connection on a deeper level, really diving into what it means to be loved and how love shapes a person.
Beyond the romance of it all, the book also explored the connection found through a shared grief really well, the way grief allowed both Shay and Logan to meet and really know each other was a real, and brighter depiction of all that is grieving.
Other than the messages about love and grief, the book was definitely harder to get into because every time there was a flashback, I would get bored.
Overall, it was a bit difficult to get into and probably could have been more entertaining, but some aspects were lovely and a bit deeper than previously seen in the Starlight Canyon series.
Do ARC readers get paid to rate things as five star? Because there’s no way?? This was a boring read for me. I am not a fan of second chance romances in general, but I go into all books with an open mind especially if I have read the rest in a series. Both of the main characters lacked depth, the first spicy scene in the present was awkward, and the ending was predictable. It felt like the author was trying to see how many tropes she could fit in one book.
Tropes: 🏒Marriage of Convenience 🍰Single mom 🏒Hockey Player MMC 🍰Second chance 🏒It's always been you 🍰Gifted son 🏒He falls first
"Just like Logan said, there I was preparing for the worst, and Logan was preparing for the best. It’s just the most heart-wrenching example of how our most essential qualities, how our boundaries, defenses, fears, and even strengths can be the worst of us."
This quote sums up this book perfectly! I loved this book so much! It brought out so many emotions and I was here for it! It was a refreshing read to see the MMC struggle with being loved and the FMC loving someone.
They truly are meant for each other! The connection and support they have for each other was something else. No matter how much time passed and who else came into their lives , they were always meant to be together💛
Shay and Logan meet at college in a grief counseling group. Although they know each other from high school they never really interacted until now. Logan falls for Shay instantly and will do anything to have her. Shay's more guarded with her heart, but she also falls hard for Logan. But their love for each other wasn't enough.
Both loved each other so much and didn't want to hold the other back from their dreams, so they chose to let each other go. Shay thinking there was no other option, while Logan realizing that he had already lost her.
Now 16 years later they run into each other at a mutual friend's wedding in Vegas. After a night full of drinking and having fun they find themselves married the morning after. Shay is in need of money to pay for her son's tuition into an academy for advanced students. Logan needs to clean up his reputation to avoid getting traded. They agree to stay married and help each other out.
Not going to lie Shay frustrated me up until the very end of the book. She did redeem herself, but still😅 Shay is an amazing strong and independent women. She knows what she wants in life and isn't afraid to put in the work and effort. Except when it comes to love. My heart broke for Shay so much. The pain that she went through with her family💔 Shay's dependence on Logan scares her. She's so focused on her own hurt & the power Logan has on her that she didn't realize just how much she has power over Logan and was hurting him.
Logan is the ultimate book boyfriend and is a complete giver. That's the best way to describe him. He gives his all to the one's he loves. When Shay decides that losing Logan and their love for each is the better alternative than a long distance relationship he's completely broken. Even if he had the help of his friend Ashton, in his vulnerable state he fell victim to his agent's PR stunts and gained the playboy reputation.
In the end the break up was needed for them to have Nino in their lives, but it was still heartbreaking.
In romance novels it's always hard seeing the FMC having to choose between having a career or being with the love of their lives and it was just as hard seeing the MMC in the same position. I think it was harder to see Logan in this position because it was so uncertain whether Shay would be there for him. It was devastating seeing him give his all for Shay & Nino, but not seeing his actions & love returned.
I was so relieved and happy that Shay finally found the courage to love Logan, but wish she came to that conclusion without Logan pushing her. She chose to be with him and no matter what happens work for their love!
'Perfect Playbook' is the fourth and final installment in Sienna Judd's Starlight Canyon series. In this story, Shayla 'Shay' and Logan's story unfolds with layers of complexity, weaving together themes of love, loss, and redemption.
Read if you love: -Small-town -Hockey Romance -Single Mom -Marriage of Convenience -Second Chance
4.75 ⭐️ 2.5 🌶️
“Shay becomes everything I never knew I was missing. She becomes the glue that puts me back together. She becomes my moon, and she calls me her sun, and with the collision of me and Shay Mendez, a brand-new universe is born.”
Their paths first crossed amidst the backdrop of college, where mutual hardships drew them closer, forging a bond that would withstand the test of time. Shay, grappling with the loss of her mother, found solace in Logan's unwavering support, while Logan, haunted by the absence of his father, discovered a kindred spirit in Shay.
As they navigated their relationship, dreams diverged, and paths separated, leading to a fateful parting. Yet, fate intervened once more, orchestrating a reunion sixteen years later in Las Vegas.
Their reunion, though unexpected, reignited dormant feelings and set the stage for a whirlwind romance. Despite their tumultuous past, Shay and Logan found themselves entwined in a complex mix of desire and apprehension, culminating in a spontaneous marriage forged out of necessity.
Yet, beneath the surface lies a tale of resilience and sacrifice. Logan, burdened by the weight of his reputation as an NHL playboy, grapples with the complexities of fame and authenticity. Shay, haunted by past traumas and insecurities, struggles to reconcile her desires with the realities of her life as a single mother.
Their journey is marked by second chances, where every kiss and touch serves as a reminder of their love. Through the highs and lows, Shay and Logan find themselves confronted with difficult decisions and heart-wrenching revelations, testing the limits of their love and resilience.
I love that Logan calls her 'pastelito' (little cake). Leaving romance aside, let’s talk about the spicy scenes. Gray pants? Check. Dirty talk? Check. Kitchen scene? Check. Stadium closet? Check. In other words, the spice was amazing, and I loved every minute of it.
“Everything about you is delicious, pastelito.”
Amidst the backdrop of small-town charm and familial bonds, 'Perfect Playbook' weaves a story of hope and redemption, where grief is met with understanding and second chances abound. As Shay and Logan navigate the complexities of love and loss, they discover that sometimes the greatest victories are born out of the ashes of our past.
Logan was very supportive of her. He helped her with high-end contacts to grow her wedding cake business. He gave her support and let her know that she is no longer alone; now it’s "we." Shay’s son, Antonio “Nino,” was a sweet kid who added a heartwarming touch to the story, and Logan was amazing with him.
One aspect I loved was how Shay’s Mexican culture is highlighted throughout the book, including Día de los Muertos and the emphasis on being strong. Understanding her background gives us insight into her decisions and fears.
“I’m not asking you to be unafraid. I’m just asking you to love me anyway.”
With its richly drawn characters and intricate plot twists, ‘Perfect Playbook’ serves as a great conclusion to the Starlight Canyon series. I will miss the beloved characters and am eagerly anticipating what’s next.
If you haven’t read the Starlight Canyon series, what are you waiting for? I can’t recommend this series enough, so I hope you decide to give Sienna’s series a try. Now, Sienna, are the next ones about Shay’s brothers? If so, I can’t wait for them.
Thank you, Sienna, for the advance copy. This review was left voluntarily.
the gist: New Mexico • hockey • small town • second chance • then and now chapters • college relationship • NFL player x baker • marriage of convenience • Vegas wedding • gifted 5 yo child • private school • PR stunt • reformed playboy • grief counseling • "pastelito" • feminist activist (F the patriarchy) • Mexican culture • Cayenne the kitty • away games & facetime • cake company success • HEA❤️ • deleted scene via BookFunnel
If Shay is comparing herself to my fans, there really is no comparison. I’ve never forgotten one damn inch of this woman, inside or out, in sixteen years.
I hate thinking about our past. I hate thinking about how Logan Hunter once used to cherish me. How he made me feel seen, heard, and valued in the worst moment of my life, but it turned out I wasn’t really special. No. I’ve seen over the years everyone is special to Logan, which technically means nobody is.
I will not fall for Logan Hunter again. Not now. Not when I know better. After years of lying men, tearstained nights, and enough streaked pillows for a lifetime, I’ve sworn off men. Certainly ones like Logan who think women are some game.
A good woman. A wonderful child. And, of course… hockey. If you’d asked me what my holy trinity was when I was twenty years old, that would be it.
When a woman doesn’t love freely, it’s the best thing in the world when she gives it to you.
>>Phew, I'm on a roll with new authors this month! This was my first book by Sienna and I am glad I gave it a go. I love her writing style and the characters she created are top tier. Logan and Shay came together in college after reconnecting at a grief group after they each lost a parent. They went to high school together but being total opposites - Logan the extrovert and Shay the introvert - they didn't get close. Shay is a baker and just started her company, Shino Cakes, when she travels to Vegas for a wedding. As fate would have it, Logan is there, too, and after 16 years apart they get a second chance. I LOVED the push/pull with these two - Shay's grumpiness and Logan's sunshine created great banter and the families were even better. Shay's brothers and Logan's siblings had me from the first introduction. And Luis and Joy aka the parents? The fact they read spicy books in a book club together? Bonus points! I can't wait to dive into the new series with the Mendez brothers - Enzo & Ava's story to start!
Special thanks for Sienna for the eARC of this book!! Perfect Playbook is ~technically~ out on paperback 👀👀 and will be available on KU tomorrow (May 21)!!
Tropes: 🏒sports romance (hockey) 🧁second chance 🏒single mom 🧁marriage of convenience 🏒it's always been you 🧁he falls first (and HARD) 🏒dual timeline 🧁opposites attract
4.5 ⭐
Shay and Logan met at a low point in both of their lives, surrounded by grief over the death of a parent. Both from the Starlight Canyon, the two of them quickly hit it off, despite being polar opposites. Unfortunately, time was not their friend, with Logan getting drafted to the NHL and Shay moving home to care for her dad. 16 years later, they are reunited, in Vegas of all places. A few drunken mistakes later, the two of them wake up married. Shay thinks that this is a fake marriage to help Logan clean up his image, but little does she know...
I know that Sienna had some troubles with this book and spent extra time making sure that Shay and Logan got the story their deserved, even if it meant pushing back the release of this book. And I'm telling you it was 10000% worth the wait. This story was such a raw love story between these characters and the second chance that they got to be together. I loved the strong headed, fierce, and independence that Shay has in taking care of Antonio and creating the life for him that is the best, especially with his giftedness, even if it is at the expense of her own dreams. But in swoops Logan, determined to help her and give all of them the HEA that they were denied all those years ago.
Even after all this time, there is no denying how perfect those two are meant for each other. I loved the dual timeline aspect of the book to be able to see what happened during their whirlwind love in college, what ultimately caused it to fizzle out, and how they were able to rectify the relationship, heal, and move on to be happier in the present day. I LOVED how protective and supportive Logan was, ensuring that Shay knew that he would always be there for her and pushed his way into her heart to support her, and show that she could lean on him and didn't have to worry.
Even though I am sad to see an end to the Starlight Canyon series with all the Hunter siblings, Sienna VERY MUCH SO opened herself to a new series with the Mendez family 👀. They were just a rowdy bunch and I hope we get to see the lucky ladies that tame those men!! I cannot WAIT to see what she comes up with next!!
PERFECT PLAYBOOK SIENNA JUDD 4 stars 3 🔥 the characters in her books feel like family to me- and Lo, Shay & Nino are the definition of family… I think a lot of the time we compare books to our real lives and although im not a single mother- i do know many- and Shay is the definition of the best single mama I know.
Logan Is in the NHL and doesn’t have the best reputation.. he is back living in his hometown, playing with his best friend and just trying to keep the demons at bay and the PR sponsors happy. He gave his heart away a long time ago… but, he knows he wont ever get another chance with Shay.. he will just have to settle for friendship.
Shay has all her eggs in one basket and is determined to be the best dang mama she can be!! & that means showing her son what it takes to be successful. When she ends up baking a wedding cake for a couple in Vegas- she has no idea what she is in for running into Logan.. the actual love of her life- well if he wasn’t such a playboy… it doesn’t matter though, they have different dreams and she has Nino to think about. No way is she putting herself through that kind of hurt ever again….. right?
I loved this second chance romance. Shay & Logan are like two pulls in the universe that just keep getting pulled together. Neither of them truly ever letting go in the first place. When they both in up in Vegas, and wake up the next morning- married…. I would say thats a meant to be kinda loveee wouldnt you?? Haha
I am absolutely obsessed with the way Logan is with Nino!! It’s the way you hope any parent coming into the picture would be. He is patient and kind, but, also trys to understand him and makes sure he is there for him in anyway he can be!!!
I loved Logans vuneralbility at the end! I loved the growth in Shay!! I loved Nino and the spin on his character!! Loved the book… a true second chance for me.
Thank you so much Sienna Judd for letting me read and review! Im so grateful!!
ARC provided by the author and I happily give my honest opinion.
Perfect Playbook by @siennajuddauthor
Shay and Logan bonded in college over their loss and it brought both of them so much comfort. Fates conspired to make them go their separate ways but they have seen each other throughout the years.
When they meet up in Vegas through a mutual friends wedding they are both struggling and after a drunken night realise they can actually help each other.
He needs to fix his playboy reputation to keep his jlace on the Hockey team, she needs help to get her incredibly gifted son in to a private school.
They start out with so many rules on their playbook, trying to avoid being hurt or hurting each other. The more time they spend together the more they remember what they had before, but also start to realise that they could be so much more!
It was nice to see the FMC struggling more to open up for a change. I was also taught to just get on with things without showing too much emotion, so I understood her, but loved seeing her eventually open her heart to Logan.
She was strong, creative, determined, but filled with mom guilt. I loved how Logan gave her that little bit of support to do the things she needed/wanted to.
Logan was talented, loyal, passionate but also lonely and a bit lost. Shay gives him back the idea of a family he thought he lost when they broke up.
I loved seeing characters from the previous stories and being introduced to new ones. I loved Luis and Nino and real hope Shay’s brothers get their own series.
This book had so many of my favourite tropes and it’s one of the quickest reads I’ve had so far this year.
Gosh I loved being back in Starlight Canyon with this tribe! Logan is the final Hunter sibling and we met both him and Shay previously in the series and I was intrigued by both of them. This was such a beautiful small town, second chance romance with the added hockey element to keep you hooked!
Logan + Shay went to school together however end up connecting later while both grieving similar losses. They fall in love but when Logan is called up to the NHL and Shay’s family needs her, they go their separate ways. Their story was a case of right person, wrong time and my heart ached for them and the hurt they both experienced. Now sixteen years later, they see each other again in Vegas and after a drunken night, wake up married.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁: small town, marriage of convenience, second chance, hockey, forced proximity, single mum, dual timeline.
I love an accidental marriage but this one had a difference, with their history and a deep love they still held for one another. Logan saw it as his second chance and I loved how he wasn’t afraid of his feelings and stepped up for both Shay + Nino. The relationship he built with her son was beautiful and I enjoyed their moments together. I did find it was a little slow with the dual timeline and I wish we got more of their history sooner but once it all fell into place I was fully team Logan, rooting for him to get his girl back. There were so many swoon worthy moments and I didn’t expect him to be such a simp considering the playboy we knew him as.
Shay is strong and independent, she resisted her feelings and although I wanted to shake her at times, I understood and admired her journey to acceptance and finding the courage to allow herself to love and choose Logan. They had such a beautiful connection and I loved the way they supported and encouraged one another.
Logan is a hotshot hockey player who's dream is to play one last season with his bestfriend Ashton before he retires. But it doesn't help when there are rumors of him being traded from the team. Logan is from Starlight Canyon and is known by everyone there. 16 years ago when his father passes he goes to a support group where he runs into a familiar face....Shay Mendez.
Shay is a small town baker and mother of a 5 year old little boy Nino. You see, Nino is special little boy and I basically a genius. He gets accepted into a prestigious school where he would be in middle school at the age of 5. That also comes with a hefty price tag..... While away at college 16 years ago, Shay goes to a support group for the passing of her mother and that's when she runs into a familiar face....Logan Miller.
Shay and Logan spark a romance up and date through college until Shay abruptly leaves and Logan has to go out of state for a hockey team. So imagine their surprise when they're both at a mutual friends wedding in Vegas and Shay made the cake. Shay decides to go to the bar to blow off steam when Logan walks in. One drunken night changes their lives forever.....
Logan and Shay were always meant to be. Always. Logan was always meant to put all of his love onto Shay and he found extra love to give for her Nino. Honestly this book was so beautifully written and thought out wonderfully. Logan and Shay are one of my top couples and I will forever think of them!
Sienna you have outdone yourself with this book. You captured their love magically. Thank you for making such an amazing book!
5⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.