Power Play

D.C. Stars #2

by Chelsea Curto

Piper Mitchell needs one thing to go her way.
Divorced, feeling stuck in her professional life and terrified of reentering the world of dating, she’s decided she’s going to work on something she can control: learning how to be good in the bedroom.
Enter Liam Sullivan.
The star NHL goalie might not be a people person, but he's the perfect teacher. He knows what he's doing behind closed doors, and with a little convincing, he agrees to be Piper's guide.
Things between them are casual and easy. Something they can both benefit from. And when a road trip to Vegas has Piper and Liam waking up from a night they can’t remember with matching wedding rings, they decide to figure out how much more fun they can have as husband and wife.
It’s just for the hockey season.
It doesn’t mean anything.
But as the clock ticks down on their fake-marriage-with-benefits, can Piper and Liam make it work in the real world? Or will their relationship be a power play straight to disaster?

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Hockey, Sports, Hockey Romance, Fake Dating, Marriage Of Convenience

514 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 24, 2024

About the author

Chelsea is a flight attendant and romance author who writes fun, fresh and flirty love stories with plenty of spice. When she's not making fictional characters banter for twenty chapters before they finally kiss or serving chicken or pasta on an airplane, you can find her trying to pet as many dogs as she can.


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Website: www.authorchelseacurto.com

Reviews

[Marianna Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ I’m so obsessed with this series it’s not even funny. New favorite hockey romance.

This was sooooo good oh my god! I am in fact a Liam girly. The grumpy, mean goalie, who barely speaks and hates everyone but her…. AND HAS THE FILTHIEST MOUTH ON THE PLANET???! Yeah. My type.

Gahhhhhh this had everything I adore:
- grumpy sunshine
- fake dating
- he teaches her during spicy time
- found family
- JUST A SILLY FUN GIGGLY TIMEEEEE

[Larissa Cambusano · Rating 3 out of 5]

sadly i didn’t like this as much as face off! but i still had a lot of fun!

the few things i didn’t like: it felt verryyy dragged out and long for no reason, tropes were just randomly thrown in there for no reason at all and at some points they didn’t even make any sense, the character development was lacking a lot & piper brought up her ex husband every five seconds and i could not stand it.

the things i liked a lot: this found family is so superior i love seeing the entire team!!!!!! their texts, banter, dynamic everything about the friendships! i also liked the communication between piper & liam!

very very very excited for the other books!

[ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Salma [HIATUS] · Rating 4 out of 5]

⤿ rating: 4 stars
⤿ age: 18+
⤿ spice: 3.5/5

➜ Buddy read with the lovely edie-may. Thank you so much for reading this with me!
⤷ Check out her review.

𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔:
🏒 🩷 Hockey Romance
🩷🏒 Grumpy x Sunshine
🏒🩷Accidental wedding turned Marriage of Convenience
🩷🏒 Opposites Attract

══⋆⋅☆⋅⋆══╡ Overview: ╞══⋆⋅☆⋅⋆══

This book was SO good. I was swooning, giggling, and just having a great time overall. The found family in this series is everything to me. The way the D.C Stars team care for each other and help each other out is so sweet—the same goes for the women’s friend group. Chelsea, for sure, knows how to write badass women and green flag men with an amazing friend group.

I usually space out Chelsea’s books because of how repetitive they are. This is one of the reasons this book isn’t five stars. I barely remember what happened in Face Off, but I know so many themes from that book is in this book as well. I’ve also come to notice that her writing becomes cringer as I keep reading her books. For instance, I saw the word “YOLO” in the book, and I wanted to smack my head into the nearest wall. I’m not sure if it was just me who noticed grammatical errors as well, but there were a few. And the pop-culture references? Yeah, I wasn't a fan at all.

Another reason it is not a five-star is because of how the tropes are written. I can safely say this is not how you write a marriage of convenience. They got married past the 50% mark, and the marriage was barely mentioned in the book—you’d assume they’re not even married. They didn’t strike me as grumpy x sunshine, either. I mean, Liam is a grump, but not to the extent we see in books. I also wouldn’t say Piper is sunshine; she’s just there, if that makes sense. The tropes aren’t written well enough to say they check these boxes, you know? These tropes are done way better in other books, just not in this one. I think Chelsea should have focused more on adding depth to these tropes rather than unnecessary dialogue, which was a lot.

══⋆⋅☆⋅⋆══╡ Characters: ╞══⋆⋅☆⋅⋆══

જ⁀➴ Liam: HE IS SO PERFECT. HELLO??? I absolutely loved him in this book. His attention to detail made my heart melt. Not only this, but everything else he did. The way he cared for her. The way he helped her with her migraines. The way he cooked for her and knew the right thing to say to put her mind at ease. Listen, the nickname he gives her is very cringe, but Liam can do whatever he wants. He was grumpy, but I wouldn't necessarily call him a "grumpy person". He just doesn't like to be around people.

જ⁀➴ Piper: I loved her so much, but can you please stop mentioning your ex-husband? LIKE, WE GET IT. That repetitiveness was annoying, honestly. However, she was so relatable when it came to her trust issues and other aspects. I loved seeing her grow from someone with insecurities and trust issues to someone so confident and comfortable with herself.

⋮ ⌗ ┆𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:

જ⁀➴ Hudson: Honestly, I didn’t even read his book yet, and I can’t wait already. He is, hands down, my favourite. I adore him.

જ⁀➴ Maverick and Emmy: They are not my favourite couple, to be honest. I only started this series to read books 2, 3, and 4, but I still love them so much. It was lovely seeing them together again as a couple.

જ⁀➴ Maven and Lexi: As someone who read Chelsea’s other series, it was so sweet seeing Maven’s development. I can’t wait for Lexi’s book, either!

જ⁀➴ D.C. Stars Team: They're so silly, I love them.

── .✦ 𝓕𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓵 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼: Overall, I loved this book so much, and I’m so excited for the next book.

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺ Pre-read: ༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

My first buddy read of the year with the gorgeous Edie-may. 🫶🏻 Chelsea's sports romance books/series are never a fail for me, so I hope this book doesn't break the streak!

[naz · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝑳𝒊𝒂𝒎?" "𝒀𝒆𝒂𝒉?" "𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏? 𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆?"
"𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝑰'𝒎 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆𝒈."

THIS BOOK!!!!!! 🥵

I’m not just steaming from the spice(which was amazing btw) I'm steaming because a grumpy guy going soft for his girl is absolutely ama-zing to read. Period. I adored every second, and even though it was thick, I could’ve kept reading MORE. LIAM AND PIPER 4EVER! 😍

Piper Mitchell is a broadcaster reporter for the DC Stars, divorced and determined to regain her confidence. She’s on a mission to explore everything the love department has to offer, minus the commitment 🔥 She’s all about rediscovering herself before diving into the dating pool again.

Enter Goalie Daddy Liam Sullivan a hockey star with no time for anything but the game except maybe some bedroom lessons for Piper, since she asked so nicely and he finds her VERY attractive 👀 Did I mention he needs her to play the part of his fake girlfriend for a family wedding? 🥂

AND IM NOT EVEN SAYING THE BEST PART let's just say the trip to Vegas in the book ended up rather nicely for them.

The tension, the banter, and the emotional growth were everything I could ask for. Their chemistry was off the charts, and watching Liam slowly let down his walls was just so satisfying. Piper’s journey toward rediscovering herself was inspiring and felt so real and relatable damn. This story had all the sweetness, spice, and heart I wanted and honestly? I could’ve read a hundred more pages of these two falling for each other aghhhhh

I can’t stop raving about this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The relationship was freaking amazing to watch unfold not only did Liam take such good care of Piper, but seeing her rediscover her confidence had me screaming, YESSS GIRL, GET IT! 🙌🔥

"𝑾𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒆. 𝑨 𝒉𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒆. 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒆. 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅-𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈."

The best part of this book, I swear, wasn’t even the plot or the main tropes it was the MICROTROPES! I adored every single one❤️‍🔥 taking care of her, forehead kisses, bringing her lunch, spoiling her, washing her hair... OMG, I could keep going, but I’ll stop. Seriously. READ. THE. BOOK. 📖🔥

Tropes
🏒 hockey sports romance
🏒 bedroom lessons
🏒 grumpy x sunshine
🏒 marriage of convenience (accidental)
🏒 fake dating

Thank you Lovenotes PR and Chelsea Curto for giving me an eARC in exchange for my honest review

⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ this ARC just hit my kindle and it’s sports romance more precisely a grumpy hockey goalkeeper 👀 gimme

[kim ౨ৎ]

₊˚⊹⋆ 🩰 pre-read
⤿ started august 18

i dnfed the first book because the plot wasn’t doing it for me, but im beyond excited for this one!! the synopsis sounds so good, and to make things better, im buddy reading this with my fave girls giu, har, aislinn, mads🥹💘 i love you all endlessly and i can't wait to giggle over piper and liam with you guys !!

[aislinn ౨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭑.ᐟ3.5 stars
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⤷・spoiler-free review ‧₊˚ ┊

ʚ‎ I've seen the worst side of love, but here I am, staring at Liam
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎and knowing deep within every fractured piece of my soul, I
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ am completely and irrevocably in love with him ɞ

‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⏦ﾟ♡︎ ┊tropes ‎ ٠࣪⭑

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎∘ grumpy x sunshine
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎∘ fake dating
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎∘ marriage of convenience
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎∘ found family
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎∘ he falls first
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎∘ "teach me"

‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⏦ﾟ♡︎ ┊thoughts ‎ ٠࣪⭑

wow okay so it's honestly really hard for me to agree with a rating for this one because the things that I liked about this book, I LOVED. so many aspects of this book are perfection in my eyes but at the same time, the amount of spice felt extremely excessive and not only was there a lot, it happened too quickly AND was overly descriptive when it absolutely didn't need to be. I think that where there was opportunity for more eventful scenes to take place, it was replaced with spicy scenes, making it feel incredibly repetitive. I also have been learning that I don't think I'm actually the biggest fan of the fake-dating trope so that's another reason why I didn't enjoy this one a bit more.

on the other hand, these characters are beyond perfect to me and there were countless scenes that had me just squealing, giggling and kicking my feet constantly. the grumpy x sunshine trope was done absolutely flawlessly in this book! usually there's way too much "nonchalant asshole" involved with that trope but this was not the case for Power Play. this book was the perfect example of "he hates everyone but her" but ALSO, "he's been smiling so much more since talking to you." if this trope was done as well as it was in this book every time, it would have me in the biggest chokehold.

‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⏦ﾟ♡︎ ┊characters ‎ ٠࣪⭑

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎piper mitchell 🎙
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎all-american bitch - olivia rodrigo

oh my gosh, I could go on and on about how much I love Piper. first of all, I relate to her a scary amount; all her worries, thoughts and overall outlook on life were how I feel to a T. in this book, Piper struggles with worrying about all the lost time from her 10 year marriage and discovering a sense of self-identity as well which I found so much comfort in. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say this but, I'm someone who tends to worry about the future and lost time but just like Piper, I'm still so young and there's no need to take everything so seriously all the time. Piper is such a ray of sunshine and I was so happy to see her realize her self worth and how wonderful she truly is. also I mean come on, her and I literally have the same favourite flower and colour?! yes, that's my girl.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎liam sullivan 🐈
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎from eden - hozier

he has a cat so I think that speaks for itself. but no seriously, I ended up loving Liam so much. I really didn't care for him in the first book but wowzers, he may just end up being my favourite of the whole series. this man has a heart of gold. the way he speaks to and about piper, the way he only has eyes for her, the way he has had his eye on her for YEARS?! everyone deserves a man like Liam. he pays attention to the smallest details, cooks for Piper and makes it his priority for Piper to understand her self worth. he makes it known what's his is his but also is confident enough in himself to not hold Piper back in life and encourages her to chase her dreams. Liam deserves the entire world in my eyes.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎piper & liam 💍
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎call it what you want -taylor swift

I'm geeked over these two. sorry but call it what you want is 100% their song and describes them perfectly. these two are so much fun to watch together (although I don't need to know what goes on in the bedroom) and I'm obsessed with their story. the way they have known each other for years and have always been curious about one another but nothing was ever pursued will always be something I enjoy in a romance book. their banter was so much fun and when it began to get real I was so excited! they acted so maturely throughout the book whenever it came to conflict. in fact, there really was no conflicts at all because they both talked about their feelings and emotions like the adults they are.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎piper, emmy, maven & lexi 🎀
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎new romantics -taylor swift

this girl group is once again one of the biggest highlights of this book. I love how no matter what, they will always find the time to get together and have a cute little girls night. the trust, support and love that these girls give each other is so heartwarming. I love how there is never judgement between them and they all truly have each others best interests at heart. the way they all speak of each other is the sweetest thing ever! I think it's so great of Chelsea Curto to show in these books that even if these girls find their prince charming's, they will always prioritize their best friends as well.

‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⏦ﾟ♡︎ ┊quotes ‎ ٠࣪⭑


"because it's one of the things you said you wanted, and I want them too. with you. slow dancing in the kitchen. kissing in the rain. getting matching tattoos and being an absolute idiot with the next person you fall for. be an idiot with me, Piper. I'm begging you, because I'm head over heels for you."

"I fell in love with your determination and your drive. with the way you speak into a microphone and how hard you work. I fell in love with your kind heart and the way sometimes, when I'm feeling really fucking positive, I let myself believe you might one day love me back. when you're ready. but you take all the time you need, sweetheart, because I'm not going anywhere."

"she gives me that smile again. the one that makes me feel alive. like I've been sleeping for thousands of years and now that I'm finally waking up, she's the only thing I can see."

"Liam stares at me the whole time, his gaze full of want and desire, and I'm learning this is how I should be looked at in the bedroom. not like I'm asking for too much or being a bother."


thank you again to my girls, kim, har, mads & giu for buddy reading this with me! I know not all of us loved this one but I always have the best time with you girls anyways ꨄ I love you girls always!

*ੈ✩‧₊˚--pre read ۶ৎ
‎when i tell y'all i'm so excited to be continuing this series, it's an understatement and i'm ecstatic to be reading this with my favourite girls, kim, har, mads & giu 💋 i love you girls so much, thank you for doing this with me!

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so engrossed in this book that it's now 5am and I finished it in one breath.. If that doesn't show how obsessed I'm becoming with this series, nothing will..
Piper and Liam were the cutest, love them sooo much!!

Piper was such an inspiration, hard working, determined and so amazing. She was a woman in a male dominated field and seeing her shine was so special. I loved how she was trying to take charge of her life after an awful marriage and seeing her grow more confident was my favourite part. She deserved someone who's going to cherish and respect her and Liam gave her exactly that!!
Liam was so grumpy to everyone but her and there's nothing I love more than that!! He was kind and focused and I loved how he made sure he remember everything about Piper, to show her how amazing she is and to always validate her feelings. He might be grumpy, but he was always there for his team and he made sure he was there for Piper. And the fact he has a cat, I mean, come on!!

They were so freaking cute together. Piper needed to gain her confidence in the bedroom and Liam was such an amazing teacher. He worshipped her and showed her how she deserved to be treated, in and outside the bedroom. He cooked her favourite meals, bought her favourite flowers, remember every little thing about her, listened to her, took care of her in the best way possible. That scene where her took care of her when she had a migraine attack is one my favourite scenes ever!! As someone who suffers from them, if anyone did that for me, I would marry them in a second, I honestly would give this book five stars for that scene alone.. I loved their balcony conversations, all the lessons, the wedding, the rings, the interviews, the date ahhh, I melted every single time honestly!! They communicated with each other and every conflict was resolved in a way that made me realise even more that you don't to need unnecessary drama just to make it more exciting.. This was so much better!!

There were a lot of spicy scene, which make sense since he was teaching her how to be more confident in the bedroom. I, personally, really liked that, it was empowering for her and I feel it was necessary. You get their emotional growth too, they both had things they needed to overcome, but it did take a backseat at times, so if you not a fan of that, consider this your warning..
I really enjoyed seeing them fall in love and slowly realise their feelings and I do love an accident marriage, it's always so fun!! Him calling her my wife was sooo good, I screamed every time!!

The team and the way they're with each other is so special. I love them so much, they are so present and their connection is truly everything. The group chat is my favourite thing and so is their book club!!
And, the girls, they are absolutely wonderful and I love how close they are, they really have my heart!!

I'm so excited for Hudson, he such a sweetheart, can't wait to read his book next.

[edie-may ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ── 4.00 stars .ᐟ ₊˚ෆ ⋆


‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 「 ‎ ❝ Be an idiot with me, Piper. ❞ ‎ 」


‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ read: january 10 • january 13 • 2026
‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ age rating: 17+
‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ spice level: 3.5/5
‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ content warnings: explicit sexual content, misogyny, threats of SA, strong language, violence


‎ ‎ ᯓ buddy read with this angel: salma.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⤷ find her review here !!


‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──


.۶ৎ. ݁˖ ⋮ ⌗ ❄️ ‎꒰ now playing: ꒱

‎ ‎ » [ i can see you - taylor swift ] «
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 0:46 ─〇───── 4:33
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻

‎ ‎ ╰⪼┆ᯓᰔ〝 cause i can see you waiting down the hall from me, and i could see you up against the wall with me, and what would you do? baby, if you only knew. 〞


‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──


.۶ৎ. ݁˖ ⋮ ⌗ 🏒 ‎꒰ main tropes: ꒱

‎ ‎ ⤿ fake dating
‎ ‎ ⤿ found family
‎ ‎ ⤿ goalie x reporter
‎ ‎ ⤿ grumpy x sunshine
‎ ‎ ⤿ hockey romance
‎ ‎ ⤿ marriage of convenience
‎ ‎ ⤿ spicy lessons


.۶ৎ. ݁˖ ⋮ ⌗ 🎙️ ‎꒰ review: ꒱

‎ ‎ i think chelsea curto needs to win some kind of award for the ability to write smut that doesn’t make me want to claw my eyes from my sockets. she uses words that i loathe but somehow it works?? you could tell me this woman was a spice sorcerer and i would have no trouble believing it.

‎ ‎ i’d say this was very character based. there wasn’t too much in terms of plot but the development was top tier. the romance between the main two was delectable and i’m still madly in love with the other characters.


.۶ৎ. ݁˖ ⋮ ⌗ ⛸️ ‎꒰ characters: ꒱

‎ ‎ ‎ ⇢ piper mitchell .ᐟ
‎ ‎ my sweet baby can do no wrong. other than the obligatory reference to her being ‘oh so tiny!’ i loved basically everything about her. seeing the way her confidence grew by the end of the book genuinely made me so happy.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⤷ ♪ ‘the prophecy’ by taylor swift

‎ ‎ ‎ ⇢ liam sullivan .ᐟ
‎ ‎ sweet mother of pearl, the things i’d let this man do to me. his attention to detail was so endearing and the way he treated piper throughout the entire book is so goals. #needthat

‎ ‎ ‎ ⇢ others .ᐟ
‎ ‎ emmy & maverick ; i’d say they’re my parents but i want them to do indecent things to me so they’re really not. someone call animal control because the mavemmy crumbs sprinkled throughout this book made me feral.
‎ ‎ hudson ; i’m going to eat up his book like a five course meal and shit out rainbows and sunshine.


‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──


.۶ৎ. ݁˖ ⋮ ⌗ ‎꒰ series reviews: ꒱

‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ #1. face off ; 4.25 ★
‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ #2. power play ; 4.00 ★
‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ #3. slap shot ; ? ★
‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ #4. hat trick ; ? ★
‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ #5. sin bin ; ? ★
‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ #6. cross check ; ? ★
‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ #7. weak side ; ? ★


.۶ৎ. ݁˖ ⋮ ⌗ ‎꒰ pre-read: ꒱

‎ ‎ the first book was an absolute fave of mine so i’m honoured to be reading this one with another fave of mine: salma!! — ‎( prediction ; 4.00 ☆ )


જ⁀➴ ₊˚⊹ ᰔ

[har ୧ ‧₊˚ 🍵 ⋅ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars ₊ ° ⊹ ♡
╰┈➤ review w NO spoilers ⋆

“i’ll wait the rest of my life for you, sunshine,” he says, and i can hear the smile infused in his words. “you take as long as you need.”

tropes:
.ᐟ marriage of convenience
.ᐟ grumpy x sunshine
.ᐟ opposites attract
.ᐟ fake dating

‧₊˚ ┊read this with my favourite girls, read this with my favourite girls aislinn, madi, giu &kim. i love you all so so much even though it wasn’t the best book 😽💌 so grateful for each one of you!!

‧₊˚ ┊summary and thoughts 💋
power play is about piper mitchell, an ambitious reporter for the dc stars, whose life is unraveling after a brutal divorce that shattered her confidence and left her questioning herself. between a toxic boss and the pressure to prove her worth, piper has no time for distractions. liam sullivan, the dc stars’ relentless goalkeeper, a man with one unbreakable rule: hockey first, no relationships. but that was before piper.

so! in all honesty, i had a love hate relationship with this book. purely because of the amount of spicy scenes there were. agreed that piper wanted help in the bedroom from liam, but i really did not need to know the positions they were in or any other tmi details. i had to stop reading from time to time because of how many spicy scenes there were. other than that, i loved this book too. i loved how liam helped piper build her confidence, stood up for her and was there for her as a friend whenever she needed it. and i also loved how piper was so understanding towards liam. their story was so cute! and there was no third act breakup so thats a win in my eyes because they communicated! like adults! and fit each other into their schedules

‧₊˚ ┊piper mitchell 🌸

purple lace bra - tate mcrae

i loved her so much. i loved how fierce she was towards her work and was determined to do her best. what i didn't like was her boss and how much he harrased her. which basically proves the point! that women find it harder to work in male dominated areas. but at the same time i'm so grateful that hr took her side. i really did want to give her a hug for all the things that steven, her crappy ex husband put her through. she really didn't deserve any of that. and also hello?! her friendship with maven, lexi and emmy was ADORABLE. i'm so glad she had them and liam at the same time to help her not feel alone! and also i loved how she tried her best to communicate with liam no matter what. and her confidence grew throughout the book!! my fave pink lover 💐💗

‧₊˚ ┊liam sullivan 🪽

all of me - john legend

mr grumpy but is actually a softie! i loved how he was a cat dad honestly. that made me love him even more. he was so determined to do his best as a goal keeper and not let anything distract him. and hello! the way he didn't go with any other woman for 4 years just because piper got out of a divorce and had some hope that maybe they would get together?! he really is a yearner in my opinion. he treated piper with kindness and respect. he cared for her and would've done anything for her. his reaction to the marriage was completely fair but he didn't have to yell for a drunken mistake. but at least he apologised for it so! but yes i loved how he changed in the book and would LITERALLY do anything for piper.

‧₊˚ ┊piper + liam 💌

the alchemy - taylor swift

OH. MY. GOD. spicy scenes aside, i loved their relationship so much. whether it was fake dating, or friends or even marriage. i loved how they communicated with each other and helped bring out the better side. and hello?! i need to talk about how liam DROPPED everything and ran to piper after his win?! and didn't even care about cameras but just for her!! i felt like that was so the alchemy coded with the lyric where's the tropy? he just comes running over to me. but other than that i loved how liam showed her that she was cared for and that she deserved it!! the way he helped her when she had her migrane was adorable honestly!! and how piper would read to liam cause he's dyslexic and never made him feel bad about it! oh i could go on and on about their relationship!

‧₊˚ ┊piper + lexi + emmy + maven 💐

dorothea - taylor swift

i loved their friendship so much and how much they were always there for each other! they all had different careers but somehow were able to manage their schedules with each other too which was PERFECTION. i have no complaints!

‧₊˚ ┊emmy + maverick 🌷

lovefool - the cardigans

HE. IS. ALWAYS. DOWN. BAD. FOR HER. end of discussion, they were even cuter in this book! i had to mention them here because god i loved how whipped maverick was for emmy!

‧₊˚ ┊quotes

Fuck. She’s so pretty. Has she always been this pretty? I think she has. It’s why I’ve been looking at her for four years. Because she’s so pretty.

“I think you’ve become one of my best friends, and treating you that way was out of line. I hate myself for it. This thing between us is going to be meaningless when you find the guy you’re going to settle down with, but until then, I don’t want you to walk around believing I think you’re a mistake. You’re not.”

Kind and considerate. Soft and tender. A man with a heart so big, I never have to worry about where I stand. He’s my best friend too.

Holy shit. He’s still wearing his wedding ring.

“You called the emergency nurse hotline?” “Yeah. Asked them what I’m supposed to do and how I can take care of you. I took a lot of notes. I’ll show you when the light isn’t triggering. My handwriting is chicken scratch, but you’ll get the idea. I also got your prescription refilled and delivered so you’re covered for the next few months.”

“Yell out that I can handle you? I can. Tell you that it doesn’t matter if you think you’re a mess or too difficult or too quiet or not enough because I think you’re everything in the world and more? It doesn’t, because I do. I want you in ways I’ve never wanted anyone else, and it’s driving me fucking insane.”

“Do you think you could read some of it to me when we’re together? I like listening to you. It helps me process the words.” “Hey.” I stand and touch his jaw. His eyes snap to mine, and I smile. “I’ll read you whatever you want. Monster smut. Books about fairies. A thriller that includes graphic details about brutal murders.”

“I fell in love with your determination and your drive. With the way you speak into a microphone and how hard you work. I fell in love with your kind heart and the way sometimes, when I’m feeling really fucking positive, I let myself believe you might one day love me back. When you’re ready. But you take all the time you need, sweetheart, because I’m not going anywhere.”

I watch Liam skate over the red line. His teammates surround him and Maverick, but he shoves past them. Throws off his gloves and drops his stick on the ice. He bolts toward me, blades slicing across the Stars logo, eyes locked on mine. I don’t have a second to breathe before he’s yanking me out of the tunnel. Sweeping me off my feet and hugging me to his chest.

➤ started: aug 18
➤ finished: aug 29

[madi · Rating 2 out of 5]

⋆｡˚⟡ — 2.5 stars
𐙚 spoiler-free review ♡

♡ ⋆｡˚ thoughts
i hate to say it but this is definitely my least fav in the series ☹️ i had hope that maybe the reread could redeem it bc the first time i read this i also didn’t like it, but nope… that wasn’t the case. the biggest issue for me wasn’t really the characters, it was the plot and the overwhelming amount of smut 😭 it felt like it was constant and ended up taking away from the story.

♡ ⋆｡˚ characters

♡ ⋆｡˚ piper
i love her sm 🥹 piper was literally everything. she’s ambitious, caring, and so determined to prove herself. i admired how she didn’t let her past or her awful ex define her, and she kept pushing forward even when she was treated unfairly. she definitely deserved better than what she went through, and i loved the little glimpses of her slowly building her confidence again. i also appreciated how she always tried to communicate, even when it was hard, and how she never stopped giving her full heart to the people around her 💗

♡ ⋆｡˚ liam
don’t let this man fool you, he may come across super grumpy and shut off at first, but when it came to piper he was such a softie 🥹 i liked seeing those moments where he actually showed her how much he cared. now i wouldn’t say he’s my fave mmc in this series, but he still had his sweet moments that made me smile 🤭

♡ ⋆｡˚ piper + liam
these two were sooo cute!! i really did enjoy seeing them open up to each other, and there were definitely some swoony scenes. BUT my biggest complaint is that the smut completely took over their story. it felt repetitive and honestly made me lose interest after a while. some of the things they would say during those scenes also made me a little uncomfy 😭 which just took away from the emotional connection i wanted to see more of.

♡ ⋆｡˚ final thoughts
even though i didn’t love this one, i already know that the rest of the series is gonna make up for it 🤭

₊˚ ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚₊
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ pre-read ♡⋆°｡⋆𐙚
⤷i missed these characters sm that i had to reread this series 🙂‍↕️ and i get to do it with my fav girls giu, kim, har, & aislinn ♡ i love you all sm, and i just know this reread is gonna be even better since we’ll get to yap and scream about everything together 🤭

[giu]

. . . ᝰ pre read .ᐟ

this book gives me so indy & ryan vibes but the grumpy x sunshine trope scares me a lot… still to keep me company there are my lovely girlies kim, har, aislinn and mads. i love y’all to the moon and back <3

[julia ⊹ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⟢ 4 stars┊power play — chelsea curto
⤿ no one noticed by the marías
no one tried to read my eyes,
but you..

⊹ “i would’ve always found you,” i say hoarsely. “and if i couldn’t find you, i would’ve waited for you. two years. three years or four. doesn’t matter.”

i ate this up! i love how chelsea writes this series with woman being in the spotlight in the nhl! they deserve it so so much. all the boys in this series are such gentleman’s omgg. i love them all individually so so much! the way they were there for piper after her break up and making her feel loved is so special! 🥹 chelsea’s writing is quick and easy to read so reading her stories is extremely addicting. also the way man has been utterly obsessed with piper for four years straight. 🧍‍♀️

the only random thing was the fact that the marriage in convenience trope begann at around 50-60% into the book. like at that point you could’ve just let it be.
…..

⌗ 💌⌇piper + liam -
their banter was so so good! piper and liam‘s love is so real and pure! they were always destined for eachother without even knowing eachother. i feel like they would’ve found eachother in every universe.
piper always thought she wasn’t worth anything and felt like her needs weren’t as important as others and that breaks my heart. liam showed her that she’s worth more than anything. he was so gently and supportive of her. #daddymaterial

ㆍremembers the exact weather and outfit she wore when they first met four years ago.
ㆍ makes sure her boss is fired because he overheard a conversation about him being disrespectful to her.
ㆍpanics when he realizes he lost his ring so he ties it onto his skate after finding it.
ㆍhasn’t been with any woman since laying eyes on her four years ago.
ㆍbooks a private plane because she told him she doesn’t like flying and says it makes it more comfortable for her.
ㆍkeeps a list of things she likes, hates and important dates in his wallet.

“i put other people first, preferring to help them solve their problems instead of agonizing over my own.”
“hockey is the priority. it’s always going to be the priority, and a girlfriend—real or imaginary—won’t ever change that.”

🎟️ - quotes

“shit, liam. you want me out as captain?”
“believe it or not, i think you’re the best captain this team has ever had.”
“aw, shucks, goalie daddy. you’re going to make me blush.”

“my friends’ partners look at them like they hang the moon. like they’re grateful to even breathe the same air as them.”

“you loved me when i didn’t feel lovable. you showed me that the good kind of love—the kind that lifts you up and supports you when you’re feeling low—is worth fighting for.”

“i’d run into a fire for emerson hartwell—all of the boys would and i know she’d do the same for us.”

“in every lifetime, in every reality, in every version of their story, maverick is going to pick emmy. she’s it. his top priority. his only focus. the owner of his heart.”

“i love her so much. i saw her six minutes ago, but i miss her. i can’t imagine not spending the rest of my life with her.”

“has she always been this pretty? i think she has. it’s why i’ve been looking at her for four years.”

“i need you to know just fucking existing with you in my orbit is enough.”

“it’s exactly how you look at her. like she’s the only one in the world.”

“piper grins at me, and i feel it everywhere. behind my ribs. deep in my heart.”

“the first day i met you, i thought you were the most beautiful woman in the room. any room.”

“i think i’ve been waiting for you my whole life, piper mitchell.”
“i think i’ve been waiting my whole life for you too, liam sullivan.”

“there might be a hundred people at dinner tonight, but i’m going to be the luckiest one in the room. because i’m there with you.”

“slow dancing in the kitchen. kissing in the rain. getting matching tattoos and being an absolute idiot with the next person you fall for. be an idiot with me, piper. i’m begging you, because i’m head over heels for you.”

“a million lifetimes with her won’t be enough. it’ll never be enough.“

“i fell in love with the way you laugh. the way you smile. the way you’re brave and bold and so fucking beautiful.“

you’re the thing that’s keeping me afloat.” “i always got by on being happy enough, but i didn’t know what happiness was until i met you.”

“it hurts when you’re not around.” “i miss you when you’re gone and i count down the minutes until you come home.”

“i’m so proud to be a chapter in your book, liam.”
“a chapter in my book?” you’re the whole damn story, piper. there’s some hazy version of myself that existed before i met you, and then everything after. i’ve never loved anything like i love you, and i’ll never love anything else like i love you.”

“i will love you, piper mitchell, until my dying days. when it’s stormy. when it’s sunny. you will always have my full attention. you’ve had it for years and you weren’t even mine. i wasn’t kidding when i said you’re my favorite person in the world. no one else could ever come close.”

“the day you walked into the united airlines arena was the best day of my life. it was a wednesday. partly cloudy. eighty-five in the first week of august. august seventh, actually,”

“i don’t know how i ended up here, with a man who looks at me like i hung the moon and a group of friends i couldn’t dream up if i tried, but it was worth wading through the shit for.”

[seeraaa ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙋𝙞𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙈𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡, 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨. 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙮. 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙮. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙠𝙞𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙.

𝙎𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙭 𝙎𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚 🩷

𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙’𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙙: 𝘼 𝙂𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝘽𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙚𝙭 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚, 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮.

Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me 🫤 I considered DNF’ing multiple times but pushed through till the end. It felt like several plot points were recycled from Face Off, just slightly rebranded — and that left me more bored than invested. Nothing really exciting or fresh happened. Everything felt... just average 😐

Piper wasn’t the bold, fierce woman I expected. I didn’t see it coming that she’d struggle so much with self-confidence 😕 It made her character feel very different from what I imagined.

As for Liam, he didn’t give off strong grumpy vibes at all — not sure what I was expecting from him, but this wasn’t it.

Their relationship? I seriously don’t get why it’s labeled fake dating 😂 They were doing way more than most actual couples. And the team interfering all the time — during their first date, the proposal — it ruined those moments. Some things should’ve just been between them 💔

What I did enjoy: Piper’s interviews (super fun!) 🎤 and the whole team helping Liam look for the ring — that part was actually sweet 💍💙

Overall, not for me.


🩷✨|𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 - Friends ➝ fake marriage ➝ lovers
Can’t wait to see how Liam and Piper survive all that tension and fall anyway! 🏒🎙️

[rosie (jason todd's version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

╰› (⭐5)

⋆｡°✩ 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍

y’all i can’t help it. i love this series and these characters WAY too much to not give this five stars.

THE WAY I AM IN SHAMBLES AFTER FINISHING THIS BOOK. AND IT WASN’T EVEN THAT SAD. 😭😭

i’m in tears because i love these characters so much. literally what is wrong with me.

spectacular, gimme fourteen of ‘em.


“you fixed me, liam.” “you were never broken, piper.”


⋆｡°✩ 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕

as someone who is TERRIFIED of intimacy and who also has HORRENDOUS trust issues, i felt SO seen in this story. i wasn’t too sure about the lusty beginning, but it developed into SO much more than that over the course of this story. it’s so clear to the reader how much liam cares for piper and vice versa. i highlighted so many quotes of these beautiful people being so delightfully down bad for each other. i had to take breaks from reading because i was getting too emotional over how much they loved each other.

aside from a few slightly cringe lines earlier on in the book, i was genuinely having such a fun time reading about these characters. they already hold such a dear place in my heart, and i’m only on BOOK TWO. 😋😋😋

the found family in these books is genuinely the best i’ve ever come across. i adore each and every one of these characters so much more than i ever expected to. 😭❤️

ALSO THE MAVEMMY CRUMBS. I WAS SQUEALINGGGG AHHHH I MISS THEM SO MUCH ALREADY 😭😭😭

this one was pretty heavy-handed on the spice, but it really was vital to the story, in my opinion. the emotional relevance and importance of their physical intimacy had me LITERALLY crying.


“if you take your clothes off in front of a man and he doesn’t drop to his knees to worship you, get the hell out of there. i don’t care if you’re naked. run.”


⋆｡°✩ 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔

𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘮 𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘯 ⭑.ᐟ 🥅

YESSSS SIRRRRR!! 👅👅👅

i’m ALMOST as down bad for this man as piper is.

he speaks spanish to his cat. who is named ‘pico de gato’. PICO. DE. GATO.

look me in my eyes and tell me with a straight face that pico de gato is not the CUTEST name for a cat you’ve ever heard.

THE WAY THIS MAN WOULD LITERALLY DO ANYTHING FOR HIS GIRL. I’M SAT. 😋

i adore a man who hates interacting with everyone except his girl. (and his cat, but that’s besides the point.)

his phone passcode. is the date that they met. HIS. PHONE PASSCODE. IS THE–

i’m gonna silence myself because i think you get the point by now.

i loved this man’s character so much that i actually started audibly cheering and celebrating whenever anything good happened to him.


𝘱𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 ⭑.ᐟ 🎤

piper was SO relatable that i started getting existential over it. i’m not even kidding.

it’s probably just personal experience, but MY GOD. i was so connected to this FMC that i felt PERSONALLY offended when anything bad happened to her, or someone insulted her.

chelsea curto knows the perfect formula for writing a delightful FMC. the female friendships in this book were so beautiful, and i want to scoop all of them up into a hug 🥹🥹🥹


”i saw the way she looked at you last night. it’s exactly how you look at her. like she’s the only one in the world.”


⋆｡°✩ 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔

i’m so so invested in this series it’s INSANE. i’m literally preparing to read everything else chelsea curto has ever wrote, don’t mind me 👅

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·


⋆˚꩜｡ pre-read:

IT’S TIIIIMEEE 🤭 i adored the first book in this series and can’t wait to read the next one any longer!! 🫣

[ʚ turtle ɞ (v. busy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

September 11, 2025 (3/5 ⭐️)

Okay… so turns out this was more of an accidental Vegas marriage (of all tropes, seriously 😭) type of situation rather than a fake marriage. And yeah… they did not handle it well. So safe to say, I ended up a bit disappointed.

I loved Liam’s character at first, but as the story went on I just got more and more irritated with him. He was emotionally immature and selfish (even his own sister clocked him 🧍🏻), and not once did he try to reassure Piper when she was clearly catching feelings and just needed a little validation. But no, to him it was hockey > her > literally everything else.
I mean, the girl poured her whole heart out to him at his sister’s wedding, told him everything she was feeling, laid all her fears and insecurities on the table, and what did he do? Stayed silent. Didn’t say a word. Then had the AUDACITY the next chapter to be like, “hmm something is wrong with Piper?” HELLOOO??

"Liam doesn’t answer me, and that only reiterates my fear. It makes me uneasy, like everything that happened on the balcony was make-believe. Something I dreamed up that could never come to light. I’m surrounded by love, but I’ve never felt so unlovable and alone."

I honestly felt so sad for her atp.
Thankfully, he finally came to his senses and redeemed himself after his sister called him selfish and told him to get his head out of his ass. From then on, he was actually a decent human being for the rest of the book, and I even started liking him again.

Anyways... all things considered, this book was actually a quick and fun read. Their chemistry was pretty good ngl, and I really enjoyed their scenes together. The dinner date at the arena was super cute and definitely my favorite moment in the book (I was literally giggling lol). And just like Face Off, this one also didn’t have a third-act breakup, which I appreciate the author for so much <3!
That being said, it did not need to be 500 pages long, 300 would’ve been more than enough honestly. And I went in with high expectations, so I was a little disappointed and didn’t enjoy it as much as I did Face Off. I've also realized I don’t really prefer this author’s writing style, something about it just isn’t clicking for me. But still, I’m definitely reading the rest of the series because I hate quitting halfway lol.

Leaving you with this quote because it was just too cute:

“I think I’ve been waiting for you my whole life, Piper Mitchell.”
“I think I’ve been waiting my whole life for you too, Liam Sullivan.” <𝟑 .ᐟ

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
₊˚⊹⟢ Pre-read:
grumpy x sunshine fake marriage AND he's a cat dad????
Say no more I'm already sold 🤸🏻

[Jen ♥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought about writing a long rant, but when I looked at my notes, I realized it would take forever to go through each point, so I just decided against it. And tbh, it doesn't seem worth the effort. 🤷‍♀️

I'm really frustrated with how much time I've put into this book, only to end up feeling pretty disappointed. 😩 It also annoyed me that I spent way more time into this story than I usually do for something that's over 500 pages long, because it was sooo dragged out for no reason. Some parts felt repetitive and unnecessary, like they were just written as fillers. I don't think this book needed to be that long; it could've been a bit shorter, maybe just a few pages less. 🥴

Ngl, this is definitely the least enjoyable book I've read from this author (by far), and that's saying something since I've usually rated her other works a solid 4 or 5 stars. I'm not thrilled to give this a 2, but I believe in being honest with my ratings all the time. 

I was ready to give this a 1⭐, but the last 10% got a little better, and I like the pink theme on the book cover. So I decided to bump it up by another star just for that slight improvement. 🤷‍♀️

But would I recommend this book? I don't think so. Like I said, it's way too long for a story that's not even that complicated. 😮‍💨 There’s a lot of representation that was mentioned, but it didn’t really get explored much (dyslexia, ASL, chronic migraine, insufficient healthcare, women in sports, sexism, etc...) Also, there are a ton of tropes thrown in here; it felt a bit all over the place. 😬

Anyhoo, even though this one didn't really do it for me, I'm still looking forward to checking out the next books in the series. Hoping they're better than this. 🤞


Book info:
- Sports romance
- Spicy lessons/coaching 🙄
- Vegas wedding turned MOC
- Mention of infidelity (FMC's ex-husband)
- Grumpy (debatable) x Sunshine
- No cheating, OM/OW, separation
- No V
- HEA (they're still married, so... 🤷‍♀️)


Notes:
- Piper had been with her ex for a decade, but it appears she only received an O five times during that time. 😑 He's also the only man she's ever been with. So she's inexperienced AF, and Liam became her freaking teacher. 🤧 
- Liam has never been with anyone for the last four years (since he met Piper, who was married at that time). He developed a crush on her but still didn't do anything once he found out she's single. If she hadn't asked him to teach her, I don't think anything would have happened to these two. 😒

[Becca Voisich · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only take away from this book was the cat’s name being Pico de Gato

[EMthebooktrovert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read many hockey romances and I would put Chelsea Curto along with Bal Khabra and Elle Kennedy as my favorites in this specific genre.

This book was fun, and surprisingly fresh for a romance that could’ve easily be classified as cliché.
Yet the author managed to spin magic into this series with well-crafted characters, cute banter (especially the messages between the girls, and Liam and Piper, and definitely the Puck kings). I was chuckling to myself. And the depth and development of Liam and Piper's relationship was beautiful as I sat on the sidelines reading.

Plenty of reasons why I love it
🏒 The romance build up and the slow burn. It was incredible to read.
🏒 The marriage of convenience caught me by surprise and thankfully, it didn't veer too far off from the story.
🏒 Liam Sullivan. The tattooed grumpy sexy goalie who cooks.
Piper Mitchell is sunshine incarnate, and it must be fucking exhausting to always be so happy. There’s this presence about her that makes me think she’s going to save the world or die trying. I’ve had a small, stupid crush on her since she introduced herself to me with that peppy attitude of hers, but I’ve always kept my distance.
“Get comfortable, Piper. You’re going to be here a while, and you’re not going to hide from me again.”
“If we’re going to do this, we’re going to be exclusive. No one else is going to fuck you if I’m fucking you,” I say. “I’m not someone who likes to share. What’s mine is mine.”
“I’d be very careful what you say next,” I tell him slowly, so there’s no room for the dumbass to mishear me. “That’s my wife you’re talking about.”
🏒 Watching how Piper stands up for herself, wrestling with her insecurities and learning to regain her confidence both in the bedroom and at her workplace. And damn it, the spicy scenes!
If one more man tells me I need to smile, I’m going to deck him square in the jaw and not give a damn about the repercussions.
“Liam?” “Yeah?” “Can you kiss me again? Please?” I hold myself above her, my chest almost pressing against hers. I bring my mouth to her ear and whisper, “I think I’m going to like it when you beg.”
🏒 The found family, I repeat, is so endearing and charming. I can't wait to meet Hudson next!

[Alds ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10!! the best hockey romance I've read since Face Off by Chelsea Curto 🩷 🎤 🏒

Idk what kind of crack Chelsea wove into these pages, but I was fully possessed. This book had me by the throat, and I didn’t even want to be set free. I breathed Liam and Piper. I lived for them. I would willingly sell my soul to relive this story for the first time.

Liam and Piper consumed me for daysss. The chemistry? The tension? The grumpy-sunshine trope??? It hit me like a truck. Liam’s the broody, laser-focused hockey goalie who has no time for dating or messing around because his eyes are on the Stanley Cup. He’s disciplined, serious, and quiet.

And then there’s Piper. Loud, bright, funny as hell. She talks a mile a minute and lights up every room she walks into. She’s a rinkside reporter in a male-dominated field, surviving sexism and a brutal divorce that wrecked her confidence, but she still shows up, does her job, and supports everyone around her. I love her. So much.

They make this deal to be friends with benefits — Liam helps her feel confident in bed again, Piper pretends to be his girlfriend to get his parents off his back. Simple. No emotions. No strings. Until Vegas decides to spin the bottle and suddenly these two are married. Not fake dating. Not friends with benefits. Legally bound. And oh, the way they fall — slowly, achingly, deliciously. From fake marriage to late night talks and soft looks across shared spaces. From rules to routines. From sex to something terrifyingly real.

Piper’s story really got to me. She’s so strong but still struggling. She gives so much to others that she forgets she deserves that same love in return. And Liam? He’s a grump, sure. But he’s also gentle. Thoughtful. Protective. The kind of man who remembers the little things. Who stands up for her without hesitation. Who makes her feel wanted and safe without ever making it about ego. He has a freaking list of things she likes. He cooks for her. Supports her career. And when someone talks down to her?

"I’d be very careful what you say next. That's my wife you're talking about."

That line lives in my head rent-free.

And don’t even get me started on the side characters. His teammates? Her girlfriends? Everyone feels like someone you know. The friendships are so real, so full of love. The boys literally helped Liam look for his fake wedding ring on the rink before a game. That’s loyalty and family right there!

This book wrecked me in the best way. I need a Liam Sullivan in my life. Six foot two of love, rage, tenderness, and filthy promises. A man who’s soft where it matters, rough where it counts, and absolutely unhinged when it comes to protecting what’s his.

Chelsea, you did not have to go this hard. But you did. And I’ll never be normal again.

-----------------------------------------------
"Society tells women we're supposed to hit these milestones by certain ages, or it's too late. Like, if we're not settled down by our twenties, we'll never find love or have time for children, and that's bullshit." PERIODDTT

"Roses are the bottom of the list. Peonies are my favorites. But I do like Tulips. What are these for?"
"An apology."
"No one's ever bought me flowers before."
"I'm sorry the first time you're getting them is under these circumstances. I took my shit out on you. How I reacted in your room in Vegas was uncalled for."

WE LOVE A MAN WHO KNOWS WHEN HE'S WRONG 🥹

"You said you're already on top of the world, Piper. I'm sending you to the stars next."

"Piper" I almost growls. "Open your eyes and look at me when I fuck you." SHEESHHHHHH 🥵🥵

"Almost there. God, I can't wait to see what my wife looks like when she takes all of my cock." I need this man now!! 💥

"I want to try rough. I want you to let go with me. I can take it. I want it."
"Okay, wife. I'll fuck you rough" my ovaries are in shambles 🤯😋

"If I never saw Piper again, I'd be fucking devastated. This week showed me that. When I'm not at the rink, I'm thinking about her. Wondering if she had a good day. Wondering what she was doing. Wondering if she's thinking about me too." LIAM SULLIVAN IS WHIPPED.

"I think I've been waiting for you my whole life, Piper Michell."

"You fixed me, Liam."
"You were never broken, Piper."

"You're the damn whole story, Piper. There's some hazy version of myself that existed before I met you, and then everything after. I've never loved anything like I love you. And I'll never love anything else like I love you." AWWWWW 😍🥹

[Emma.catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 was binge-worthy. Bring on the rest of the series 📚🙇🏻‍♀️💖✨

Face Off set the bar HIGH, but Chelsea went and did it again only to succeed to an even greater degree 👏🏽

Piper and Liam are my new favourite couple of the series. They were on FIRE ❤️‍🔥 but moreover, I ADORED the tenderness, thoughtfulness, and empowerment in this story. To all women: Let this be a lesson on becoming more confident. And, to all men: Let this be a lesson on how to treat a woman as she deserves to be treated 🙌🏽

“You can do it, Piper.” “There’s magic in his gentle encouragement. Affirmations I’ve never heard before, and, for half a second in a world of pretend and make believe, in a reality where I’m lifted up instead of brought down, I know I can do it." 🥹💖✨

After reading about Emmy I thought she topped FMCs. I was wrong. Piper is MY GIRL 🙌🏽 Her transformation over the course of this book was nothing short of inspiring. Watching her confidence grow was an emotional experience in itself. Who was the one to help her get there? Our MMC - Liam Sullivan…

Liam, the introverted NHL goalie might not be a people person but he is definitely a Piper person. After the two of them make a pact to help each other out, they becoming more and more involved in each other’s lives. Things are fun, casual, and easy. That is until they did a ‘Ross and Rachel’ in Vegas 🤭 Now: husband and wife - as the clock ticks on their marriage with benefits, will it remain just for the hockey season or can they make it work in real life?

AHHH 🤩 I loved this SO much!!! Especially once the accidental wedding scene took place…and the Ross Geller comparison had me laughing my head off 🤣

“I’ve never wanted to be an idiot before, but you make me want to be stupid. You make me want to get married in Vegas and laugh until my sides hurt. I thought I knew what being happy was, but then I met you, and everything changed. That wasn’t me being happy. This is me happy, and it’s because of you.” 😌

While Piper flourished, Liam cherished and respected her. He was such a kind and caring character. He may have come across as grumpy to some, but I totally understood his wanting to take a back seat from the spotlight. And most of all, he was there for the people that mattered; I loved watching his hockey vs personal life balance shift throughout the book as his priorities changed.

"Piper Mitchell is sunshine incarnate, and it must be exhausting to always be so happy. There’s this presence about her that makes me think she’s going to save the world or die trying. I’ve had a small, stupid crush on her since she introduced herself to me with that peppy attitude of hers, but I’ve always kept my distance.” 🥰💖✨

I LOVED watching their relationship morph overtime. Liam worshipped her, built up her confidence, and showed her that she had worth. Furthermore, they both communicated with each other with maturity, resolving any conflict that came their way; it was a refreshing change from toxic drama!

The ONLY thing that took this book down a notch from the full 5 ✋🏼 was that the spice level was a bit high for me, but that is just personal preference. I liked the fact he was able to give her more confidence in her mind and body, empowering her. And, although I wasn’t a big fan of these scenes, his empowerment went far beyond the bedroom and skyrocketed her confidence in the world.

"I’ve never been someone’s favorite person. I’ve never been someone’s top priority. I was married to a man for years and always came in second place. Maybe that’s what I’m destined for: being almost perfect, but never quite good enough,” she says softly. “You’re my favorite person.” 🥹💖✨

Overall, this was another knockout book by Chelsea. I really enjoyed the way she handled workplace drama in this book - showing women that they DO belong in a ‘men’s workplace’. She not only built Piper up, but she empowered women as a whole (characters and readers, alike). As with the first book, I loved the ‘found family’ aspect of the story, especially between the women. They were absolute powerhouses. All in all, this was a fantastic and entertaining read that made me laugh (A LOT), and almost cry (thank you chapter 50 🥲).

“To the women who get knocked down but come back stronger than before.” 💪🏽

"A million lifetimes with her won’t be enough. It’ll never be enough." ✨

I am SO excited for Hudson’s story next… 🙇🏻‍♀️

4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

[joni ౨ৎ (semi - ia)]

𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
im beyond excited to finally be continuing this series!!! i adored face off and i can't wait to read all about piper and liam 🤭 i have a feeling i'll love this one 🩷


↪ started dec 12
↪ finished dec 14

[lauren‎♡₊˚ &#x1f9a2;・₊✧ (semi-ia) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3💫

to the besties who told me i wasn’t going to like this one, you were right😞

there were some parts i enjoyed tho! i loved their communication with each other! they were so vocal about their feelings which i really appreciated. i also loved how sweet they were with their actions towards each other.

unfortunately, because the entire book was basically them hooking up, I wasn’t a fan. i just love an emotional connection so much and although i loved their emotional aspect, is was basically only 20% of the book.

so far i haven’t really been the biggest fan of this series. face off was a 3.5 and this is a 3. if you think i should keep reading because i will like the others then lmk!

☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️

book #2 of 2026 is book #2 of the dc stars!!!

i read face off in september maybe and it was alright- not my fave but not horrible. really hoping i enjoy this one more🤞🏻

[poppi ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆

i’m beginning to believe this is just a 5 star series, and i can’t wait to immediately pick up book 3. i am having the best time going through this series.

⋆˚☆˖°⋆｡° ✮˖ ࣪ ⊹⋆.˚ ⋆˚☆˖°⋆｡° ✮˖ ࣪ ⊹⋆.˚ ⋆˚☆˖°⋆｡° ✮˖ ࣪ ⊹⋆.˚ ⋆˚☆˖°⋆｡°

seeing liam and piper’s story unfold was so much fun, i had a complete blast. i knew i would adore them both from the very first book, but this extent? i will forever think about them.

seeing liam come out of his shell and open up was the most beautiful thing. ever. i knew there was so much to him and so much depth to his personality and i completely fell for the man, even if he’s just on paper. he’s perfect.

attentive, caring, someone who pays attention and takes actual notes of things you like, don’t like, things you want, you name it. a man who goes out of his way to do the simplest things for you because you’ve never had this done, small things like buying your favorite flowers, cooking dinner for you, taking care of you when you have a migraine attack. this man is actual perfection.

and piper is the cutest angel ever. i love everything about her and i loved learning more about her. i knew she’d be perfect the moment she became a prominent character in emmy’s life. she’s someone who has been through hell and back, but come out stronger in the end. she’s someone who puts her friends and family above herself. she’s someone who deserves the absolute world and she finally found it with liam.

“You’re the best thing to ever come out of my heartbreak, and even though it hurt like hell, I’d do it again if it meant finding you.”

oh, and liam is a cat daddy. that automatically makes him perfect in my eyes.

[пустунка · Rating 5 out of 5]

дуже гарна історія у Ліама і Пайпер. даремно відкладала на потім, бо тропи хоч і не в моєму топі (фальшиве одруження; він – її секс-тренер), але мені справді сподобалося, як усе це розгорталося між головними героями.

не сказати, що спочатку вони були друзями, але в процесі вони ними стали – і навіть більше. безмежна турбота і підтримка з боку Ліама не залишають байдужим. її тут багато, і кожній сторінці він чудовий! от що ще потрібно для ідеального вечора? ця книжка! Пайпер дуже добра та мила, і десь під усім припала пилюкою за 10 років впевненість. вона розлучена, що стало певним поштовхом, але лише зробило її кращою версією себе. їй просто потрібен був чоловік, як Ліам, щоб розквітнути! люблю цю його вразливість під шарами буркотливості.

і до чого прекрасна їхня хокейна команда. а подружки Пайпер? у цій книжці таке комфортне ком'юніті. я хочу скоріше пізнати історії всіх.

5/5 ⭐️

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

do they want a third?

♾️⭐️

[jocelyn ⊹ ₊ ˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌷𓂃𓈒𓏸 4.5 stars
↳ spoiler free review

⊹❝’Hey Sully.’
‘Hey Sunshine.’❞

…𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 | 🪽
⟡ ok well ofc i ate this up. theres just something about chelsea’s writing that is so bingeable and captivating. it literally drags you into the story and gets you connected to the characters so quickly. i adore liam and piper sooo much. and not to be indecent but the spice is this was phenomenal LFMAOO there was a lot more than book 1 and i ate it uppp 😛

⟡ i did struggle to connect with liam and piper, but i still lovedddd them!

…𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 | 🫧
⟡ piper. piper is such a queen. she works hard, knows she deserves the payoff, and is not afraid to ask for what she wants. we need more fmc like this 🙂‍↕️ loved her sooo much

⊹❝I deserve this. I’ve been waiting for this,
working for this, dragging myself through the
trenches for this, and I’m going to give it my all. I’m
going to prove every last asshole who ever doubted
me wrong.❞

⟡ liam. he is the definition of gentle giant 🙂‍↕️ based off the last book, i did not except him to he sooo sweet deep down. the way he treated piper>>>>

⊹❝…I’d rather die than tell her I know how many
freckles she has across her nose. There are twenty-
fucking-three. ❞

⤿ ⊹₊ ˚january 1st, 2026 ➤ january 3rd, 2026 ⊹₊ ˚

── ࣪˖ ࣪ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ──

𓂃𓈒𓏸 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 🌷
⤿ ⟡ power play, chelsea curto

FIRST BOOK OF 2026!!!! happiest reading year to all of you 🫶🏼
i was obsessed with liam in book 1 sooo i already know this is going to be phenomenal. not to mention marriage of convenience AND he teaches her about ykw 😛

[✨sofia✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 (there are lots 😋)

”I’ll wait the rest of my life for you, Sunshine,” he says, and I can hear the smile infused in his words. “You take as long as you need.”

Ahhh sorry gang this review took so long, procrastination is real lol.
Anyway this won’t be like my usual reviews, partly because I’m lazy and partly because fantasy (what I usually read) has way more components to rant about.
Now that’s over and done with, on to the rest!!

~read if you like~
➻ grumpyxsunshine
➻ hates everyone but her
➻ “teach me”
➻ he wants her last name
➻ gets on his knees to find their ring
➻ marriage of convenience
➻ friends with benefits to lovers
➻ she’s divorced & wants to focus on herself, he doesn’t want a relationship
➻ NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP!!!
➻ a lot of other stuff I forgot!!

💋 Intro 💋
⤷ this book was really good!! I lowk don’t remember much but that’s ok lol, I remember really liking it. It was super sweet with no big arguments and, as said before, no third act breakup. It’s basically a book of fluff with an added benefit of spice, and it is such a good breather. They supported eachother and grew together. The spicy scenes were good too, and started very early, but it didn’t feel too rushed with the romance aspect of the story. There wasn’t really a plot except for their relationship and jobs, but it’s so chill it doesn’t matter. I do wish they did more regarding her ex, but that’s ok. I’m still a Maverick girly, but Liam is a close second who had me debating who should have first place.

🫂 Characters 🫂
⤷I really enjoyed them, and the cameos of other characters (I won’t be doing those cuz they will each get their own review)

🎤 Piper Mitchell 🎤
⤷so sunshiny I love her

”I love you,” she says again, the three words muffled against my chest. Cemented in my soul and close to piercing my heart. “You’re the best thing to ever come out of my heartbreak, and even though it hurt like hell, I’d do it again if it meant finding you.”

She’s so sweet yet also knows how to stand up for herself. I was so proud of how she embraced her new job of being the head reporter, because she was absolutely amazing at it. I like the rep of how she always puts people before her, and I loved her journey in finding herself again.

🥅 Liam Sullivan 🥅
⤷this man has a mouth ahhhh

”I will love you, Piper Mitchell, until my dying days. When it’s stormy. When it’s sunny. You will always have my full attention. You’ve had it for years and you weren’t even mine. I wasn’t kidding when I said you’re my favorite person in the world. No one else could ever come close.”

He was so grumpy I loved it!! All he did was support Piper and show her what it really meant to be cared for, and I was loving for it. He had a crush on her for forever and I’m so glad he finally got to act on it. He was actually so sweet I loved him.

✍️ Quotes ✍️

MAVERICK x EMMY CAMEO!!!

“In every lifetime, in every reality, in every version of their story, Maverick is going to pick Emmy.
She’s it.
His top priority.
His only focus.
The owner of his heart.
If she disappeared tomorrow, he’d burn the world down to find her.
And if he couldn’t?
He’s leave this world before loving without her.”

MOVING ON :)

⤷ ”I’m going to prove every last asshole who ever doubted me wrong.”

⤷ “She’s so nice. The kind of woman who finds the good in everyone, even if they aren’t deserving of it.”

⤷ “I’m not a boy, Piper. I don’t need surveys or ratings. I’m a man, and I know how to listen. Listening goes a long way, and it’s not difficult to do.”

⤷ “Fuck the guy who never gave her what she needed to help her shine.”

⤷ “I might be tough on the ice, but when she’s under me, saying my name like I’m important, like I’m so much more than a hockey player who stops a couple goals every night, I’m goddamn weak.”

⤷ “I’m not looking at her like she’s my friend.
I’m not looking at her as a man who has his priorities sorted out and isn’t interested in anything serious.
I’m looking at her like my heart is about to flatline. Like I’m close to meeting my end, and this is the first time in my life I’ve ever regretted being a professional athlete.”

⤷ “We could’ve been good, I think. We work well as friends. We work well in the bedroom. WE work well doing domestic things like cooking dinner and watching TV, but it’s not meant to be.
And fuck does that make me want him more tonight.”

⤷ “I saw the way she looked at you last night.” Lani’s smile turns softer. More reverent as she rests her head on my shoulder. “It’s exactly how you look at her. Like she’s the only one in the world.”

⤷ “I would’ve always found you,” I say hoarsely. “And if I couldn’t find you, I would’ve waited for you. Two years. Three or four. Doesn’t matter.”

⤷ “A million lifetimes with her won’t be enough.
It’ll never be enough.”

⤷ “You make life so fucking fun. You’re the thing that’s keeping me afloat. I always got by on being happy enough, but I didn’t know what happiness was until I met you. Not really. Now every day is the best day of my fucking life. Because of you.”

✨Outro✨
⤷overall this book was rlly good!! It’s such a light romance that will make you giggle, yet also hide the pages from any prying eyes. I 100% recommend this series!!

~i think i’ve been waiting for you my whole life~

[ivona &#x13212;ㅤׂㅤ&#x1065a; ࣪ ⭒ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ˋ°•*⁀➷4☆

”be an idiot with me, piper. i’m begging you, because i’m head over heels for you.”

i’ve really enjoyed this one too!! chelsea’s writing is so quick and easy to read and i found myself immersed in her stories. piper and liam are such a cute grumpy/sunshine duo. on the outside liam is closed off and broody and doesn’t care for anything other than hockey, but deep down he is soft and sweet person who has been pining for piper for four years. they had to, of course, have friends with benefits arrangement. which again, isn’t my biggest cup of tea but if done good and right, i can enjoy it. they both helped each other out of their comfort zone, piper got more confident because of liam. he is patient teacher that’s all i’m going to say.🤭

i am kind of confused why is this marketed as “marriage of convenience” since they got married at like 50-60%? it’s not right from the beginning but oh well. NONETHELESS i had great time. i can’t wait enough for next one since it’s hudson book. it better be worth the wait or i’ll sue.👈🏼

“there’s something so raw, so human about sharing the things you’re most afraid of. it’s intimidating to put them out in the universe. to voice your fears and confront them head-on.”

“i would’ve always found you. and if i couldn’t find you, i would’ve waited for you. two years. three years or four. doesn’t matter.”

[Jenn C · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Piper and Liam's interactions in Book 1 of the DC Stars Series (Face-Off) so I was eager to read their story in Power Play. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with this one.

First, there were many instances where the pacing felt rushed and the conversations forced to further the plot. Early on, an entire chapter is devoted to a cringe-worthy girls' night convo where the FMC's issues are laid out simply to get the ball rolling. This type of approach to advancing the plot continues throughout the book in various admissions and conversations or in near monologues that go on for pages. It's all very glaring and issues are brought up in ways that are not at all organic. The conflict in this book is frequently unclear & there are way too many tropes/inclusivity attempts jammed into this overly long story.

I also really struggled with consistency in the characters. At times, Piper is so protective of Liam's wish for privacy. At others, she is divulging really personal details about their arrangement with mutual friends and colleagues before he has even consented to doing so. The locker room talk and banter between the teammates was off in this book whereas it was a highlight in the first book in the series. Piper is very much a people pleaser to the point of fawning and it was super ick when she did that in the bedroom.

At several points, I felt like I had already read this story. Perhaps it's partly because I've read quite a few hockey romances, but there were also several echoes of Business Casual by BK Borison here. It's possible that I am connecting thm because I happened to read the two back-to-back, but it felt odd that the silver formal event dress was described so similarily and the "you're my favorite" - "I've never been anyone's favorite" scenario happens in both books. Borison does it with finesse. Unfortunately, Curto's attempt lands flat.

The romance here is not believable and there is little if any emotional intimacy because they insist on this being a purely sexual 'teaching' arrangement while they both hide their growing feelings and attachment. YAWN. The sex scenes are frequent and yet this seems like one of the least sexy books I've read. In fact, this book unlocked several new icks for me when it comes to spicy scenarios - from gross descriptions to cringe dialogue or actions (like taking a phone call from her ex during sex & Liam threatening him then inviting him to listen in if he wants).

Lastly, I read an ARC. I hope to be able to scan the final version to see if further editing was done to finalize this for publication. I hope so. I would never rate a book based on the editing alone, but I do notice editing and grammatical mistakes that should be caught by a copy editor (ex: he's putting his hand under her shirt but 3 pages ago it described the dress she was wearing) so I find it distracting in a book. I am wondering if indie books are maybe not for me because I'm noticing this issue more and more. If the editing is being done by beta readers and the author alone, I feel like it's a disservice to the author and the readers.