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Blue Devils Hockey #1
Play the Game
A sexy, marriage-of-convenience, enemies-to-lovers, hockey romance by Amazon Top 50 and USA Today bestselling author, S.J. Sylvis.
There's nothing wrong with playing the game - except when you know you're about to lose.
As a little girl, I dreamed of becoming many things. A twenty-five-year-old photographer struggling to make ends meet with a mountain of legal fees wasn’t one of them. Making questionable decisions wasn’t either.
After hanging up my camera, I start a job I loathe that has me questioning my morals on a daily basis.
Until I run into Chicago’s newest bad-boy goalie whose reputation is a trainwreck— Emory Olson.
In a desperate effort to rid my debt, I corner Emory and try to exploit him. When my plan backfires, I not only have a new enemy with steely blue eyes and a talent for the game but a man now on a mission with his own insane plan in mind.
Marry me.
The terms are I marry Emory and act like his doting wife in front of the press to clean up his image, and he’ll pay off my debt when the job is done. But now, instead of my bills keeping me up at night, I find myself fantasizing about my fake husband and his devilish stare.
He tells me to play the game, but when lines start to blur and his touches linger, I’m not sure what’s real or fake anymore. The sizzling attraction and fiery chemistry between us can’t be contained.
Emory Olson says he never loses, and by the end of our marriage game, I’m pretty sure I’m no exception.
There's nothing wrong with playing the game - except when you know you're about to lose.
As a little girl, I dreamed of becoming many things. A twenty-five-year-old photographer struggling to make ends meet with a mountain of legal fees wasn’t one of them. Making questionable decisions wasn’t either.
After hanging up my camera, I start a job I loathe that has me questioning my morals on a daily basis.
Until I run into Chicago’s newest bad-boy goalie whose reputation is a trainwreck— Emory Olson.
In a desperate effort to rid my debt, I corner Emory and try to exploit him. When my plan backfires, I not only have a new enemy with steely blue eyes and a talent for the game but a man now on a mission with his own insane plan in mind.
Marry me.
The terms are I marry Emory and act like his doting wife in front of the press to clean up his image, and he’ll pay off my debt when the job is done. But now, instead of my bills keeping me up at night, I find myself fantasizing about my fake husband and his devilish stare.
He tells me to play the game, but when lines start to blur and his touches linger, I’m not sure what’s real or fake anymore. The sizzling attraction and fiery chemistry between us can’t be contained.
Emory Olson says he never loses, and by the end of our marriage game, I’m pretty sure I’m no exception.
486 pages, Paperback
First published September 25, 2024
1397 people are currently reading
8484 people want to read
About the author
S.J. Sylvis
30 books2,681 followersS.J. Sylvis is an Amazon top 50 and USA Today bestselling author who is best known for her angsty new adult romances and romantic comedies. She currently resides in North Carolina with her husband, two small kiddos, and dog. She is obsessed with coffee, becomes easily attached to fictional characters, and spends most of her evenings buried in a book.
For upcoming info on new releases, join her Facebook reading group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/21537...
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For upcoming info on new releases, join her Facebook reading group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/21537...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,167 reviews
on-hold
December 20, 2025putting this on hold for now.
------
pre-read: enemies to lovers and marriage of convenience, two tropes I love and now we're talking about them together.....🔥🪭
------
pre-read: enemies to lovers and marriage of convenience, two tropes I love and now we're talking about them together.....🔥🪭
February 17, 2025
“I hope she’s ready to play the game.”
Emory Olson.
The new goalie for the Chicago Blue Devils Hockey Team.
His reputation precedes him.
But not the good kind.
He has to fix his image, and he will do anything.
Anything including the pole dancer that just tried to blackmail him.
Scottie Monroe.
The girl he just can’t seem to get out of his head.
It’s a mutual agreement. A marriage of convenience.
It’s not real.
No matter how much they try to deny it.
“Ready or not, here comes Mr. and Mrs. Olson.”
I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review 💙💍🏒
“I swear, she’s tempting me.Tempting me to do what?I have no idea.But my new wife is stirring something up inside of me that I have never felt in my life.”
S.J. Sylvis just KNOWS how to write hockey romance and you can take that to the bank. Scottie and Emory have the elite BANTER, they have the temptation, the chemistry, and the spice.
I cannot wait to see where the rest of the series takes us but with this masterpiece of a start I know it is going to be AMAZING and I am going to be absolutely OBSESSED 💙💙💙
“You can run, Scottie, but you can’t hide.”
Scottie Monroe needs money. Plain and simple. She doesn’t owe any explanation to the extremely hot hockey player offering to marry her for money and to save his image. But it is just an arrangement. Nothing more…
When I started this book I was so curious to see where it would go - I love S.J.’s characters and each time I get introduced to new ones I absolutely SWOON and this was not different. Scottie is an independent woman who does not take shit and doing what she needs to do for her and for those she cares about. She especially is not going to take shit from her “fake” husband.
“She’s a devil disguised as an angel.”
I fell so hard for Emory Olson I am not even going to lie to you. Again, plain and simple - FELL FOR THIS MAN. How Scottie did not fold like a paper chair immediately I will never know - stronger woman than me.
Hockey player? Check.
Alpha hole? Check.
Literally will let this man run me over with his Audi and then skate over me? Definitely.
“That’s it. Look how well we work together when we’re on the same team.”
This playlist is giving “Ice Hockey Pump Up Romance” and I am always here for it 😇😇
(Link - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7bp... )
🎶 “For the Love of the Game” - Secrets in Stereo
🎶 “Juno” - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 “GOSSIP” - Maneskin, Tom Morello
🎶 “Bang Bang” - Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj
🎶 “Dirtier Thoughts” - Nation Haven
🎶 “Money, Money, Money” - ABBA
🎶 “Too Sweet” - Hozier
🎶 “Breathe” - Little Mix
🎶 “eyes don’t lie” - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 “Troubled Waters” - Alex Warren
🎶 “BABYDOLL” - Ari Abdul
🎶 “play pretend” - margo
🎶 “Dirrty” - Christina Aguilera, Redman
🎶 “Softcore” - The Neighbourhood
🎶 “HEARTBEAT” - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 “favorite sped up” - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 “Moth To A Flame” - Swedish House Mafia, The Weeknd
🎶 “Lose Control” - Teddy Swims
🎶 “Better Man” - 5 Seconds of Summer
🎶 “Crowded Room” - Meghan Trainor
🎶 “Harder To Breathe” - Letdown.
🎶 “Devil in Her Eyes” - Bryce Savage
🎶 “Good Graces” - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 “Cologne” - SM6
🎶 “Suffocate City” - The Funeral Portrait, Spencer Charnas
🎶 “Winner” - Conan Gray
🎶 “what it means to be a girl” - EMELINE
🎶 “What Was I Made For?” - Billie Eillish
🎶 “Natural”- THE DRIVER ERA
🎶 “Black And White” - Niall Horan
🎶 “Silence” - Marshmello, Khalid
🎶 “Kiss Her You Fool” - Kids That Fly
🎶 “Lady Marmalade” - Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya, P!nk
🎶 “Fire On Fire” - Sam Smith
🎶 “butterflies” - GAYLE
🎶 “Dance Without You - Remix” - Skylar Grey, Ricky Luna
🎶 “Pour Some Sugar On Me” - Def Leppard
🎶 “Smells Like Sex” - Sizzy Rocket
🎶 “Oops” - Little Mix, Charlie Puth
🎶 “Lipstick” - Charlie Puth
🎶 “Whatever” - Alex Coles
🎶 “happy ending” - Bailey Spinn
🎶 “Happy World” - Debbii Dawson
🎶 “Devil I Know” - Allie X
🎶 “Rue’s I’m Tired” - Zendaya, Labrinth
🎶 “Mount Everest” - Labrinth
🎶 “Miss Independent - Cover” - Meet Me @The Altar
🎶 “Troublemaker” - Olly Murs, Flo Rida
🎶 “trouble” - Camylio
🎶 “Since We’re Alone” - Niall Horan
🎶 “Control” - Zoe Wees
🎶 “Wild Ones” - Flo Rida, Sia
🎶 “Beauty” - Layto
🎶 “Good Enough” - Little Mix
🎶 “Drop Dead Gorgeous” - VOILA
🎶 “Talk” - Retronaut, Salvatore Ganacci
🎶 “Hate Me” - Nico Collins
🎶 “R U Mine?” - Arctic Monkeys
🎶 “dancing in the kitchen” - LANY
🎶 “GIRLS” - The Kid LAROI
🎶 “Clumsy” - Fergie
🎶 “End of Beginning” - Djo
🎶 “Talk Dirty” - Jason Derulo, 2 Chainz
🎶 “Dangerous Hands” - Austin Giorgio
🎶 “Cravin’” - Stileto, Kendyle Paige
🎶 “No Mercy” - Austin Giorgio
🎶 “Kiss or Kill” - Stela Cole
🎶 “One Kiss” - Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa
🎶 “Insomniac” - Timeflies
🎶 “Play with Fire” - Sam Tinnesz, Yacht Money
🎶 “Be My Baby” - Ariana Grande
🎶 “Teeth” - 5 Seconds of Summer
🎶 “She Looks So Perfect”- 5 Seconds of Summer
🎶 “Shower” - Becky G
🎶 “Desire” - MEG MYERS
🎶 “I Think I’m In Love” - Kat Dahlia
🎶 “Living Legend” - Club Danger
🎶 “goosebumps” - Travis Scott
🎶 “I Want To” - Rosenfeld
🎶 “BLUE” - Billie Eilish
🎶 “Drinking With Cupid” - VOILA
🎶 “3D” - Jung Kook, Jack Harlow
🎶 “A Little Death” - The Neighbourhood
🎶 “Hands To Myself” - Selena Gomez
🎶 “I’m a Sucker for a Liar in a Red Dress” - Adam Jensen
🎶 “On My Mind” - Ellie Goulding
🎶 “That’s My Girl” - Russ
🎶 “nasty” - Ariana Grande
🎶 “WOW - Remix” - Zara Larsson, Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 “You Put a Spell On Me” - Austin Giorgio
🎶 “Friday Night Big Screen” - girli
🎶 “To The Moon” - Meghan Trainor
🎶 “My My My!” - Troye Sivan
🎶 “Kill My Time”- 5 Seconds of Summer
🎶 “Perfect” - One Direction
🎶 “Strings” - Shawn Mendes
🎶 How You Get The Girl (Taylor’s Version)” - Taylor Swift
🎶 “Nonsense” - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 “the boy is mine” - Ariana Grande
🎶 “I Was Made For Lovin’ You (Orchestral Version)” - YUNGBLUD, Dominic Lewis
🎶 “When You Say My Name” - Chandler Leighton
🎶 “Spectrum” - Florence + The Machine
🎶 “Made For Me - Sped Up Version” - Muni Long
🎶 “Seven” - Jung Kook, Latto
🎶 “Can’t Do Better” - Kim Petras
🎶 “pink skies” - LANY
🎶 “If I Can’t Have You” - Shawn Mendes
🎶 “Carry You Home” - Alex Warren
And the spice was definitely SERVING in this book 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
”Fuck,You like knowing I’m picturing you, don’t you?”
”You like to be my good girl?”
”Get on your knees, and let me show you what you do to me.”
🏒 Tropes 🏒
💍 Enemies to Lovers
💍 Sports Romance (Hockey)
💍 Forced Proximity
💍 Marriage of Convenience
Book Edit - https://www.instagram.com/p/DAGqlI6AB...
Emory Olson.
The new goalie for the Chicago Blue Devils Hockey Team.
His reputation precedes him.
But not the good kind.
He has to fix his image, and he will do anything.
Anything including the pole dancer that just tried to blackmail him.
Scottie Monroe.
The girl he just can’t seem to get out of his head.
It’s a mutual agreement. A marriage of convenience.
It’s not real.
No matter how much they try to deny it.
“Ready or not, here comes Mr. and Mrs. Olson.”
I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review 💙💍🏒
“I swear, she’s tempting me.Tempting me to do what?I have no idea.But my new wife is stirring something up inside of me that I have never felt in my life.”
S.J. Sylvis just KNOWS how to write hockey romance and you can take that to the bank. Scottie and Emory have the elite BANTER, they have the temptation, the chemistry, and the spice.
I cannot wait to see where the rest of the series takes us but with this masterpiece of a start I know it is going to be AMAZING and I am going to be absolutely OBSESSED 💙💙💙
“You can run, Scottie, but you can’t hide.”
Scottie Monroe needs money. Plain and simple. She doesn’t owe any explanation to the extremely hot hockey player offering to marry her for money and to save his image. But it is just an arrangement. Nothing more…
When I started this book I was so curious to see where it would go - I love S.J.’s characters and each time I get introduced to new ones I absolutely SWOON and this was not different. Scottie is an independent woman who does not take shit and doing what she needs to do for her and for those she cares about. She especially is not going to take shit from her “fake” husband.
“She’s a devil disguised as an angel.”
I fell so hard for Emory Olson I am not even going to lie to you. Again, plain and simple - FELL FOR THIS MAN. How Scottie did not fold like a paper chair immediately I will never know - stronger woman than me.
Hockey player? Check.
Alpha hole? Check.
Literally will let this man run me over with his Audi and then skate over me? Definitely.
“That’s it. Look how well we work together when we’re on the same team.”
This playlist is giving “Ice Hockey Pump Up Romance” and I am always here for it 😇😇
(Link - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7bp... )
🎶 “For the Love of the Game” - Secrets in Stereo
🎶 “Juno” - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 “GOSSIP” - Maneskin, Tom Morello
🎶 “Bang Bang” - Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj
🎶 “Dirtier Thoughts” - Nation Haven
🎶 “Money, Money, Money” - ABBA
🎶 “Too Sweet” - Hozier
🎶 “Breathe” - Little Mix
🎶 “eyes don’t lie” - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 “Troubled Waters” - Alex Warren
🎶 “BABYDOLL” - Ari Abdul
🎶 “play pretend” - margo
🎶 “Dirrty” - Christina Aguilera, Redman
🎶 “Softcore” - The Neighbourhood
🎶 “HEARTBEAT” - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 “favorite sped up” - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 “Moth To A Flame” - Swedish House Mafia, The Weeknd
🎶 “Lose Control” - Teddy Swims
🎶 “Better Man” - 5 Seconds of Summer
🎶 “Crowded Room” - Meghan Trainor
🎶 “Harder To Breathe” - Letdown.
🎶 “Devil in Her Eyes” - Bryce Savage
🎶 “Good Graces” - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 “Cologne” - SM6
🎶 “Suffocate City” - The Funeral Portrait, Spencer Charnas
🎶 “Winner” - Conan Gray
🎶 “what it means to be a girl” - EMELINE
🎶 “What Was I Made For?” - Billie Eillish
🎶 “Natural”- THE DRIVER ERA
🎶 “Black And White” - Niall Horan
🎶 “Silence” - Marshmello, Khalid
🎶 “Kiss Her You Fool” - Kids That Fly
🎶 “Lady Marmalade” - Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya, P!nk
🎶 “Fire On Fire” - Sam Smith
🎶 “butterflies” - GAYLE
🎶 “Dance Without You - Remix” - Skylar Grey, Ricky Luna
🎶 “Pour Some Sugar On Me” - Def Leppard
🎶 “Smells Like Sex” - Sizzy Rocket
🎶 “Oops” - Little Mix, Charlie Puth
🎶 “Lipstick” - Charlie Puth
🎶 “Whatever” - Alex Coles
🎶 “happy ending” - Bailey Spinn
🎶 “Happy World” - Debbii Dawson
🎶 “Devil I Know” - Allie X
🎶 “Rue’s I’m Tired” - Zendaya, Labrinth
🎶 “Mount Everest” - Labrinth
🎶 “Miss Independent - Cover” - Meet Me @The Altar
🎶 “Troublemaker” - Olly Murs, Flo Rida
🎶 “trouble” - Camylio
🎶 “Since We’re Alone” - Niall Horan
🎶 “Control” - Zoe Wees
🎶 “Wild Ones” - Flo Rida, Sia
🎶 “Beauty” - Layto
🎶 “Good Enough” - Little Mix
🎶 “Drop Dead Gorgeous” - VOILA
🎶 “Talk” - Retronaut, Salvatore Ganacci
🎶 “Hate Me” - Nico Collins
🎶 “R U Mine?” - Arctic Monkeys
🎶 “dancing in the kitchen” - LANY
🎶 “GIRLS” - The Kid LAROI
🎶 “Clumsy” - Fergie
🎶 “End of Beginning” - Djo
🎶 “Talk Dirty” - Jason Derulo, 2 Chainz
🎶 “Dangerous Hands” - Austin Giorgio
🎶 “Cravin’” - Stileto, Kendyle Paige
🎶 “No Mercy” - Austin Giorgio
🎶 “Kiss or Kill” - Stela Cole
🎶 “One Kiss” - Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa
🎶 “Insomniac” - Timeflies
🎶 “Play with Fire” - Sam Tinnesz, Yacht Money
🎶 “Be My Baby” - Ariana Grande
🎶 “Teeth” - 5 Seconds of Summer
🎶 “She Looks So Perfect”- 5 Seconds of Summer
🎶 “Shower” - Becky G
🎶 “Desire” - MEG MYERS
🎶 “I Think I’m In Love” - Kat Dahlia
🎶 “Living Legend” - Club Danger
🎶 “goosebumps” - Travis Scott
🎶 “I Want To” - Rosenfeld
🎶 “BLUE” - Billie Eilish
🎶 “Drinking With Cupid” - VOILA
🎶 “3D” - Jung Kook, Jack Harlow
🎶 “A Little Death” - The Neighbourhood
🎶 “Hands To Myself” - Selena Gomez
🎶 “I’m a Sucker for a Liar in a Red Dress” - Adam Jensen
🎶 “On My Mind” - Ellie Goulding
🎶 “That’s My Girl” - Russ
🎶 “nasty” - Ariana Grande
🎶 “WOW - Remix” - Zara Larsson, Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 “You Put a Spell On Me” - Austin Giorgio
🎶 “Friday Night Big Screen” - girli
🎶 “To The Moon” - Meghan Trainor
🎶 “My My My!” - Troye Sivan
🎶 “Kill My Time”- 5 Seconds of Summer
🎶 “Perfect” - One Direction
🎶 “Strings” - Shawn Mendes
🎶 How You Get The Girl (Taylor’s Version)” - Taylor Swift
🎶 “Nonsense” - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 “the boy is mine” - Ariana Grande
🎶 “I Was Made For Lovin’ You (Orchestral Version)” - YUNGBLUD, Dominic Lewis
🎶 “When You Say My Name” - Chandler Leighton
🎶 “Spectrum” - Florence + The Machine
🎶 “Made For Me - Sped Up Version” - Muni Long
🎶 “Seven” - Jung Kook, Latto
🎶 “Can’t Do Better” - Kim Petras
🎶 “pink skies” - LANY
🎶 “If I Can’t Have You” - Shawn Mendes
🎶 “Carry You Home” - Alex Warren
And the spice was definitely SERVING in this book 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
”Fuck,You like knowing I’m picturing you, don’t you?”
”You like to be my good girl?”
”Get on your knees, and let me show you what you do to me.”
🏒 Tropes 🏒
💍 Enemies to Lovers
💍 Sports Romance (Hockey)
💍 Forced Proximity
💍 Marriage of Convenience
Book Edit - https://www.instagram.com/p/DAGqlI6AB...
October 5, 2024
2,5 🏑 🤔⭐️s
Mixed feelings about this story...
I liked the characters and their banter.
However, it was slightly longwinded and sometimes the flow was fluctuating.
Also, some serious aspects were unexploited and scattered within the story.
Regarding the ending, it was rushed…
Mixed feelings about this story...
I liked the characters and their banter.
However, it was slightly longwinded and sometimes the flow was fluctuating.
Also, some serious aspects were unexploited and scattered within the story.
Regarding the ending, it was rushed…
Read
December 18, 2025˖˚♡ ⊹ pre read ˖
enemies to lovers & marriage of conveni — u don’t even have to finish that cuz I AM SOLD🤭 *please please please be good*
also thanks for this totally random recommendation that jumped on my gr home page from my love aira (happy reading bb <3)
enemies to lovers & marriage of conveni — u don’t even have to finish that cuz I AM SOLD🤭 *please please please be good*
also thanks for this totally random recommendation that jumped on my gr home page from my love aira (happy reading bb <3)
Currently reading
June 15, 2025Available now!
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: mybook.to/bluedevilsone
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4buZbHr
Tropes:
• 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
• 𝗽𝗿𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘆
• 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘆
• 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: mybook.to/bluedevilsone
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4buZbHr
Tropes:
• 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
• 𝗽𝗿𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘆
• 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘆
• 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀
September 26, 2024
"𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆."
First of all a fake marriage with a stripper? IT WAS SO ENTERTAINING I have never read anything so fast! The premise was so fun: you've got a grumpy af goalie needing to clean up his reputation, and then comes Scottie, who's just trying to make ends meet and decides to try blackmailing a hockey player. Spoiler alert: she fails, but it all backfires (in a good way) with an NDA and an actual marriage contract!
The story of how they met, their pasts, and the character development between them was so well done. I was rooting for them from the start! I’ve read a ton of marriage of convenience tropes, but this one was unique legit right down to the reasoning behind them kissing in public (so hot).
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves sports romance, steamy vibes, and a beautiful HEA!
Tropes
🏒 hockey romance
🏒 marriage of convenience
🏒 grumpy x sunshine
🏒 forced Proximity
Thank you Valentines PR & S.J Sylvis for the eARC in exchange for my honest review
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 ꪆৎ ˚⋅ marriage-of-convenience, enemies-to-lovers, AND hockey romance SOOOOOLD!!!!
First of all a fake marriage with a stripper? IT WAS SO ENTERTAINING I have never read anything so fast! The premise was so fun: you've got a grumpy af goalie needing to clean up his reputation, and then comes Scottie, who's just trying to make ends meet and decides to try blackmailing a hockey player. Spoiler alert: she fails, but it all backfires (in a good way) with an NDA and an actual marriage contract!
The story of how they met, their pasts, and the character development between them was so well done. I was rooting for them from the start! I’ve read a ton of marriage of convenience tropes, but this one was unique legit right down to the reasoning behind them kissing in public (so hot).
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves sports romance, steamy vibes, and a beautiful HEA!
Tropes
🏒 hockey romance
🏒 marriage of convenience
🏒 grumpy x sunshine
🏒 forced Proximity
Thank you Valentines PR & S.J Sylvis for the eARC in exchange for my honest review
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 ꪆৎ ˚⋅ marriage-of-convenience, enemies-to-lovers, AND hockey romance SOOOOOLD!!!!
October 5, 2024
I liked the first half but then the second half fell flat and I got bored.
I need Rhodes love interest to be Chastity.
I need Rhodes love interest to be Chastity.
January 14, 2025
☆1 DNF 29% I hate it when the H is straight up mean and disrespectful to the h, just because he’s mad that she’s hot and nice and making him like her. It’s…not hot, and not nice. Amazingly, I don’t like him.
March 29, 2025
I was so excited for this book to release and it absolutely lived up to the hype!! With so many of my favorite tropes, there was no way I couldn’t love this book!
Scottie is so strong, sassy, independent and also so kind and caring with the biggest heart She has a tough exterior, but she’s a softie on the inside, just trying to help those that she cares for. Emory might be a grumpy goalie, but he’s got a soft spot for a certain sassy woman that he can’t stop thinking about. He’s protective and possessive, but also caring in his own ways.
Needing to clean his image up after an incident and traded to a new team because of it, Emory quickly comes up with a plan to help both of them get what they need at the moment - a marriage of convenience. Both think it’s a perfect solution and will be easy peasy, but will they be able to stick to the rules of the contract?
The banter and tension between these two is so thick and the spice is so freaking amazing! The fundraiser scene….sheeesshhhh that was hot! I literally will be re-reading this and cannot wait to have copy on my bookshelf as well!
Also, I lived for every single moment Shutter was around! I couldn’t help but smile at that cat and how she wormed her way into Emory’s heart.
This is a must read if you love hockey romances, and especially if you love a good ‘my wife’ moment - because there are plenty of those!
Audiobook:
Narrated in dual by Lee Samuels and Samantha Brentmoor - they both did a wonderful job at narrating this book! I loved getting to listen to Scottie and Emory's story with this audiobook and didn't want to stop until it was over!! I loved this book when I first read it, and I love it more after listening!
ᴛʀᴏᴘᴇꜱ:
💕 Hockey romance
💕 Marriage of convenience
💕 Enemies to lovers
💕 Forced proximity
💕 Only soft for her
💕 My wife
💕 One bed
Thank you so much to S.J. Sylvis for the ARC & ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Scottie is so strong, sassy, independent and also so kind and caring with the biggest heart She has a tough exterior, but she’s a softie on the inside, just trying to help those that she cares for. Emory might be a grumpy goalie, but he’s got a soft spot for a certain sassy woman that he can’t stop thinking about. He’s protective and possessive, but also caring in his own ways.
Needing to clean his image up after an incident and traded to a new team because of it, Emory quickly comes up with a plan to help both of them get what they need at the moment - a marriage of convenience. Both think it’s a perfect solution and will be easy peasy, but will they be able to stick to the rules of the contract?
The banter and tension between these two is so thick and the spice is so freaking amazing! The fundraiser scene….sheeesshhhh that was hot! I literally will be re-reading this and cannot wait to have copy on my bookshelf as well!
Also, I lived for every single moment Shutter was around! I couldn’t help but smile at that cat and how she wormed her way into Emory’s heart.
This is a must read if you love hockey romances, and especially if you love a good ‘my wife’ moment - because there are plenty of those!
Audiobook:
Narrated in dual by Lee Samuels and Samantha Brentmoor - they both did a wonderful job at narrating this book! I loved getting to listen to Scottie and Emory's story with this audiobook and didn't want to stop until it was over!! I loved this book when I first read it, and I love it more after listening!
ᴛʀᴏᴘᴇꜱ:
💕 Hockey romance
💕 Marriage of convenience
💕 Enemies to lovers
💕 Forced proximity
💕 Only soft for her
💕 My wife
💕 One bed
Thank you so much to S.J. Sylvis for the ARC & ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
September 21, 2024
If SJ Sylvis writes it, your girl is going to read it. And dare I say that Play the Game is hands down the BEST book that SJ Sylvis has released yet! I literally could NOT put this book down. I blame adult responsibilities for me for finishing this book in one sitting because if I could have, I would have. It was just that good! There was not a single thing that I did not like in this book.
I really fell in love with hockey romances with Sammy's Bexley U series and I was so sad that Emory did not get a book in that series but she she announced he was getting a book in a brand new series, I was over the moon excited. And let me tell you that this book lived up to all of my expectations and more.
Emory is my favorite MMC by Sammi to date, which is saying something because Ford Collins was so swoon worthy but every time Emory said "my wife" my millennial knees became so weak! He was so protective and possessive with an acts of service love language that made me swoon. Like every time he did something for Scottie, I got butterflies. And Scottie, what a spit fire! I love her so much! She's such a force. She's fiercely independent and to see her finally tear down her walls and be vulnerable with Emory, it made me so happy.
Now the banter in this book... is TOP TIER! I found myself giggling so much throughout this book with every witty comeback that Scottie had for Emory. And Emory's nickname for Scottie Biscotti had me rolling. It was so fitting and cute. I also loved the added element of the "dumpster" cat Shutter. It was just another add element to see the kindness that radiates of Scottie. Plus who doesn't love an added element of a four legged friend?
Ok so as you can tell, I straight DEVOURED and LOVED everything about this book and I think you will too! If you have not read anything by SJ Sylvis, what are you waiting for? This is your sign. Add Play the Game to your TBR and you can thank me later! I can't wait to see what this series has in store because I loved all of the side characters!
You should read this book if you like:
- Pro Hockey Romance
- Marriage of Convenience
- Enemies to Lovers
- Forced Proximity
- Possessive MMC
- My Wife
* I would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to SJ Sylvis for allowing me to read Play the Game as an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts, opinions and review.
I really fell in love with hockey romances with Sammy's Bexley U series and I was so sad that Emory did not get a book in that series but she she announced he was getting a book in a brand new series, I was over the moon excited. And let me tell you that this book lived up to all of my expectations and more.
Emory is my favorite MMC by Sammi to date, which is saying something because Ford Collins was so swoon worthy but every time Emory said "my wife" my millennial knees became so weak! He was so protective and possessive with an acts of service love language that made me swoon. Like every time he did something for Scottie, I got butterflies. And Scottie, what a spit fire! I love her so much! She's such a force. She's fiercely independent and to see her finally tear down her walls and be vulnerable with Emory, it made me so happy.
Now the banter in this book... is TOP TIER! I found myself giggling so much throughout this book with every witty comeback that Scottie had for Emory. And Emory's nickname for Scottie Biscotti had me rolling. It was so fitting and cute. I also loved the added element of the "dumpster" cat Shutter. It was just another add element to see the kindness that radiates of Scottie. Plus who doesn't love an added element of a four legged friend?
Ok so as you can tell, I straight DEVOURED and LOVED everything about this book and I think you will too! If you have not read anything by SJ Sylvis, what are you waiting for? This is your sign. Add Play the Game to your TBR and you can thank me later! I can't wait to see what this series has in store because I loved all of the side characters!
You should read this book if you like:
- Pro Hockey Romance
- Marriage of Convenience
- Enemies to Lovers
- Forced Proximity
- Possessive MMC
- My Wife
* I would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to SJ Sylvis for allowing me to read Play the Game as an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts, opinions and review.
September 21, 2024
♾️/5⭐️
2/5🌶️
MY FAVORITE SJ BOOK TO DATE👏🏼👏🏼 I wasn’t sure what to expect but wow. SJ blew me out of the water. I’m a sucker for the Marriage of Convenience trope and to add to it that the grumpy goalie falls HARD for the misunderstood heroine in need of help? Ugh I was a goner.
Emory & Scottie’s story was so perfect. It had just the right amount of spice, plot, romance, banter, angst… I couldn’t get enough. Thank you to SJ & her team for the ARC 💙
Tropes:
- Hockey Romance
- Marriage of Convenience
- Enemies to Lovers
- Grumpy NHL Goalie
- Forced Proximity
- Protective & Possessive MMC
- Sassy & Independent FMC
- One Bed
- “My Wife”
2/5🌶️
MY FAVORITE SJ BOOK TO DATE👏🏼👏🏼 I wasn’t sure what to expect but wow. SJ blew me out of the water. I’m a sucker for the Marriage of Convenience trope and to add to it that the grumpy goalie falls HARD for the misunderstood heroine in need of help? Ugh I was a goner.
Emory & Scottie’s story was so perfect. It had just the right amount of spice, plot, romance, banter, angst… I couldn’t get enough. Thank you to SJ & her team for the ARC 💙
Tropes:
- Hockey Romance
- Marriage of Convenience
- Enemies to Lovers
- Grumpy NHL Goalie
- Forced Proximity
- Protective & Possessive MMC
- Sassy & Independent FMC
- One Bed
- “My Wife”
November 27, 2024
Goalie love!
So followed from their colleges years and loooooved it! Follows Taytum’s brother who has gotten into trouble and meets up with a stripper who tries to blackmail him. Oh yes completely hooked! Loved the story and more sweet than dark, light on the smut which was refreshing since most will clobber but this had a nice spice, would’ve loved a bit more since seemed ending was rushed, but still good!
So followed from their colleges years and loooooved it! Follows Taytum’s brother who has gotten into trouble and meets up with a stripper who tries to blackmail him. Oh yes completely hooked! Loved the story and more sweet than dark, light on the smut which was refreshing since most will clobber but this had a nice spice, would’ve loved a bit more since seemed ending was rushed, but still good!
September 26, 2024
I mean it was a solid hockey romance, with some likable characters and the story was solid… HOWEVER, and it is time to get real, the entire first 20% of this book was a struggle for me personally. The ‘meet cute’ was a little rough for me to get into and it took me a HOT minute to really get invested into the story and the characters. Once I got there it was a much better reading experience for me, but at the same time, overall, it did not give what I really wanted it to give…
I DO WANT TO ALSO PREFACE THIS REVIEW WITH THE STATEMENT THAT A 3 STAR READ IS NOT A BAD RATING FOR ME PERSONALLY!!! 3 stars simply means it was a middle of the road read for me, I liked it and it was solid, however I didn’t love it.
I DO WANT TO ALSO PREFACE THIS REVIEW WITH THE STATEMENT THAT A 3 STAR READ IS NOT A BAD RATING FOR ME PERSONALLY!!! 3 stars simply means it was a middle of the road read for me, I liked it and it was solid, however I didn’t love it.
September 23, 2024
yep. LOVED THIS.
I read Sticks and Stones and needed more S.J. Sylvis so I was very excited for this and let me just tell you, it did not disappoint. I really really enjoyed this. Both characters were so loveable. I mean, Emory is legit perfect.
I think if you love Play Along by Liz Tomforde, you're going to devour this!!
-hockey romance
-hate to love
-marriage of convenience
-MY WIFE!!!
I read Sticks and Stones and needed more S.J. Sylvis so I was very excited for this and let me just tell you, it did not disappoint. I really really enjoyed this. Both characters were so loveable. I mean, Emory is legit perfect.
I think if you love Play Along by Liz Tomforde, you're going to devour this!!
-hockey romance
-hate to love
-marriage of convenience
-MY WIFE!!!
September 24, 2025
This was my first time reading S.J. Sylvis and WOW… why did no one warn me I’d get obsessed this fast? Her writing is chef’s kiss and now I’m just over here building a TBR shrine of her backlist. Obsessed is an understatement.
This book had ALL the tropes I live for. Marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, and of course the iconic he falls first!! The way Emory said “my wife” had me straight up squealing and kicking my feet. Like sir, relax, my heart can’t handle this.
Scottie instantly became one of my fave FMCs. She’s strong, sassy, independent, and such a fierce little queen. And Emory.. ugh. The way he was so protective of her while also letting her stand on her own two feet?? I melted. Their chemistry and banter were next-level. Also we cannot forget Shutter the cat, who lowkey stole the show. 10/10 would adopt.
The pacing was flawless, the nicknames had me grinning, and the banter kept me hooked the whole way through. I laughed, I swooned, I teared up, and basically didn’t move until I finished. Scottie and Emory are officially locked in as one of my fave couples ever, and this book sealed the deal: I’m an S.J. Sylvis girly for life.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
❤️🔥 Marriage of Convenience
❤️🔥 Enemies to Lovers
❤️🔥 Forced Proximity
❤️🔥 He Falls First
🚨🚨 TW: Death of parent, Substance abuse, Panic attacks
This book had ALL the tropes I live for. Marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, and of course the iconic he falls first!! The way Emory said “my wife” had me straight up squealing and kicking my feet. Like sir, relax, my heart can’t handle this.
Scottie instantly became one of my fave FMCs. She’s strong, sassy, independent, and such a fierce little queen. And Emory.. ugh. The way he was so protective of her while also letting her stand on her own two feet?? I melted. Their chemistry and banter were next-level. Also we cannot forget Shutter the cat, who lowkey stole the show. 10/10 would adopt.
The pacing was flawless, the nicknames had me grinning, and the banter kept me hooked the whole way through. I laughed, I swooned, I teared up, and basically didn’t move until I finished. Scottie and Emory are officially locked in as one of my fave couples ever, and this book sealed the deal: I’m an S.J. Sylvis girly for life.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
❤️🔥 Marriage of Convenience
❤️🔥 Enemies to Lovers
❤️🔥 Forced Proximity
❤️🔥 He Falls First
🚨🚨 TW: Death of parent, Substance abuse, Panic attacks
September 19, 2024
Emory and Scottie are everything💙
100% knew I was going to love this book
Play the Game is the first book in the Blue Devils Hockey Series. A fun start to a new series
I am obsessed with this book!
"My Wife" ✨chefs kiss✨
These two had me hooked from the beginning! Also couldn’t get enough of the banter and jokes throughout the whole book, Emory is the grumpy hot headed hockey player and he gets to know Scottie and softens only for her. The contract is simple enough… she marries him and it will help rebuild his image and stop random rumors and Scottie needs help and she will get her debts paid
I really loved the tension in this book
I couldn’t put down! Obsessed with Emory and his possessiveness, protectiveness
scottie biscotti 😂👌🏻my fave nickname
.
.
Tropes💙🖤
🏒 Hockey
🏒 possessive/ protective MMC
🏒 sassy/ independent MFC
🏒 struggling Photographer
🏒 Marriage of convenience
🏒 Enemies to lovers
Throughout the entire book i kept praying Rhodes’ book is next and guess what ? IT IS.
I can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you so much to @valentine_pr_ and @authorsjsylvis for an ARC of this book.🖤💙
100% knew I was going to love this book
Play the Game is the first book in the Blue Devils Hockey Series. A fun start to a new series
I am obsessed with this book!
"My Wife" ✨chefs kiss✨
These two had me hooked from the beginning! Also couldn’t get enough of the banter and jokes throughout the whole book, Emory is the grumpy hot headed hockey player and he gets to know Scottie and softens only for her. The contract is simple enough… she marries him and it will help rebuild his image and stop random rumors and Scottie needs help and she will get her debts paid
I really loved the tension in this book
I couldn’t put down! Obsessed with Emory and his possessiveness, protectiveness
scottie biscotti 😂👌🏻my fave nickname
.
.
Tropes💙🖤
🏒 Hockey
🏒 possessive/ protective MMC
🏒 sassy/ independent MFC
🏒 struggling Photographer
🏒 Marriage of convenience
🏒 Enemies to lovers
Throughout the entire book i kept praying Rhodes’ book is next and guess what ? IT IS.
I can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you so much to @valentine_pr_ and @authorsjsylvis for an ARC of this book.🖤💙
September 25, 2024
When SJ announced that she was writing a professional hockey romance, I was really excited. And I am happy to say that she came through and gave me a book that I absolutely love.
This follows Scottie and Emory. Scottie is just trying to survive. Her story is pretty heartbreaking with all she has been through, and everything she is trying to handle alone. But she does what she needs to do. Emory is newly with the Blue Devils and trying to clean up his image. After some encounters with Scottie, they come to a mutual agreement to enter into a fake marriage.
Scottie has to be one of my favorite FMCs to date. She is fierce, she is sassy, and she is independent doing whatever she needs to do to survive. She is just a fighter and I love a FMC that can hold her own. Her and Emory complimented one another so well and were exactly what the other needed…and I am not talking about the agreement LOL.
Where do I even begin with Emory…there were so many times during this one where he had me in goosebumps with the words that came out of his mouth…plus all the “my wife” I melt every time. I cannot get enough of that.
SJ always delivers with the banter and spice and there was no exception here. The spice was spicing…I mean that gala bathroom scene!??! PHEW!
Thank you to SJ and team for the eARC.
Overall: 4.5
Spice: 2.5
Tropes:
- Hockey Romance
- Marriage of Convenience
- Hate to Love
- Forced Proximity
- One Bed
- MY WIFE
This follows Scottie and Emory. Scottie is just trying to survive. Her story is pretty heartbreaking with all she has been through, and everything she is trying to handle alone. But she does what she needs to do. Emory is newly with the Blue Devils and trying to clean up his image. After some encounters with Scottie, they come to a mutual agreement to enter into a fake marriage.
Scottie has to be one of my favorite FMCs to date. She is fierce, she is sassy, and she is independent doing whatever she needs to do to survive. She is just a fighter and I love a FMC that can hold her own. Her and Emory complimented one another so well and were exactly what the other needed…and I am not talking about the agreement LOL.
Where do I even begin with Emory…there were so many times during this one where he had me in goosebumps with the words that came out of his mouth…plus all the “my wife” I melt every time. I cannot get enough of that.
SJ always delivers with the banter and spice and there was no exception here. The spice was spicing…I mean that gala bathroom scene!??! PHEW!
Thank you to SJ and team for the eARC.
Overall: 4.5
Spice: 2.5
Tropes:
- Hockey Romance
- Marriage of Convenience
- Hate to Love
- Forced Proximity
- One Bed
- MY WIFE
October 1, 2024
This was a very enjoyable read for me! I have not read anything by SJ Sylvis before but can tell you that I plan to go back and read Bexley U as well as future books in this series. I liked the flow of this one a lot. Sometimes you read books that feel off. This one did not. It seemed realistic. The feelings of the characters seemed realistic. I liked how the feelings grew and grew until they combusted. I have to admit I had a hard time with Emory at first. He was a little too much of a d*** at first BUT at the same time Scottie had tried to blackmail him. I was trying to understand things from his perspective. I found myself rooting for them to work from the very beginning. I liked that they worked through things together. They made each other better. I also enjoyed the not break up third act. It was a nice touch and believable based on the characters.
Scottie doesn't recognize herself anymore. She is working as a stripper to be able to cover legal fees for her undiagnosed brother. She is living off of scraps. Something has to change. Which is when she comes up with a crazy plan. She is going to blackmail Emory Olson. The new goalie for the hockey team who seems to have some shady things around him. He will obviously fall for what she brings to him and then she will have money and all will be well. But of course that is not what happens. He sees right through her plan but then instead of pushing for charges or anything. He comes to her with a different scenario. Be his fake wife for a year and he will pay her monthly as well as a large sum at the end. It will be a contract. Nothing more. So of course she says yes because she has to. Which is how she finds herself living in a beautiful home with a hot hockey player who she finds she wants to learn more about. But that isnt in the contract. Neither is keeping house. Or making nice. But she finds herself warming up to him. She finds herself wanting him. She hasn't wanted in so long. Surely things won't get too messy right? But now she has feelings for him and he doesn't even know all of her baggage. He will definitely run if he finds out. Or if the world finds out their secret. That they are fake but things don't feel so fake anymore.
Emory is frustrated. He was left high and dry by his old teammates and has now been moved to a new team where he has to prove himself all over again. He isn't this bad guy that the media is making him out to be. He is actually pretty cool. But when another story threatens his job things need to change. It just so happens that a stranger attempts to blackmail him and he comes up with a crazier idea. They will get fake married and then all of these women will stop coming out of the woodwork with crazy stories. No big deal right? She will just have to live with him, go to his hockey games. They can be all over each other in public but the line is drawn in private. But there is something about Scottie that he likes. She is super hot but he senses there is so much more to her. When he starts to get glimpses of the real girl, he cant help falling for her HARD. Now he has to convince her that what they have is real and that they can weather the storms that may come.
I liked Scottie a lot. She had been through so much but was still resilient and SASSY. Except in bed with Mr. Olson where she took direction (HOT). She wore a lot of masks and had been let down so many times that it was awesome to watch her be supported by someone and to build out some friendships because of who she was. Emory on the other hand was hard to like at first. He was jaded as all get out. Everyone was out to get him. I liked when he realized that he was putting on an act. His sister asked him if he had ever been in a relationship. Could he do sweet and romantic? Then he seemed to make it his mission to do the little things. And we all know that the little things go a LONG way. These two had GREAT chemistry. I liked the spice and the amount of it- YES MAAM. I also liked the side characters and am excited to see who all will be MMCs in this series. I am looking forward to Rhodes and the illusive nanny!
Thank you to Valentine PR and SJ for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I definitely recommend this one if you are looking for a spicy quick hockey read :)
Scottie doesn't recognize herself anymore. She is working as a stripper to be able to cover legal fees for her undiagnosed brother. She is living off of scraps. Something has to change. Which is when she comes up with a crazy plan. She is going to blackmail Emory Olson. The new goalie for the hockey team who seems to have some shady things around him. He will obviously fall for what she brings to him and then she will have money and all will be well. But of course that is not what happens. He sees right through her plan but then instead of pushing for charges or anything. He comes to her with a different scenario. Be his fake wife for a year and he will pay her monthly as well as a large sum at the end. It will be a contract. Nothing more. So of course she says yes because she has to. Which is how she finds herself living in a beautiful home with a hot hockey player who she finds she wants to learn more about. But that isnt in the contract. Neither is keeping house. Or making nice. But she finds herself warming up to him. She finds herself wanting him. She hasn't wanted in so long. Surely things won't get too messy right? But now she has feelings for him and he doesn't even know all of her baggage. He will definitely run if he finds out. Or if the world finds out their secret. That they are fake but things don't feel so fake anymore.
Emory is frustrated. He was left high and dry by his old teammates and has now been moved to a new team where he has to prove himself all over again. He isn't this bad guy that the media is making him out to be. He is actually pretty cool. But when another story threatens his job things need to change. It just so happens that a stranger attempts to blackmail him and he comes up with a crazier idea. They will get fake married and then all of these women will stop coming out of the woodwork with crazy stories. No big deal right? She will just have to live with him, go to his hockey games. They can be all over each other in public but the line is drawn in private. But there is something about Scottie that he likes. She is super hot but he senses there is so much more to her. When he starts to get glimpses of the real girl, he cant help falling for her HARD. Now he has to convince her that what they have is real and that they can weather the storms that may come.
I liked Scottie a lot. She had been through so much but was still resilient and SASSY. Except in bed with Mr. Olson where she took direction (HOT). She wore a lot of masks and had been let down so many times that it was awesome to watch her be supported by someone and to build out some friendships because of who she was. Emory on the other hand was hard to like at first. He was jaded as all get out. Everyone was out to get him. I liked when he realized that he was putting on an act. His sister asked him if he had ever been in a relationship. Could he do sweet and romantic? Then he seemed to make it his mission to do the little things. And we all know that the little things go a LONG way. These two had GREAT chemistry. I liked the spice and the amount of it- YES MAAM. I also liked the side characters and am excited to see who all will be MMCs in this series. I am looking forward to Rhodes and the illusive nanny!
Thank you to Valentine PR and SJ for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I definitely recommend this one if you are looking for a spicy quick hockey read :)
October 10, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
September 20, 2024
5/5 ⭐️s
Nobody does banter like SJ Sylvis and I will die on that hill.
This book was SO good. Definitely my favorite I’ve read by her so far. The characters, the story line, Scottie’s backstory… every single thing about this book had me not wanting to put it down.
First of all, I absolutely LOVED Scottie’s character. She was fierce, independent, stubborn, and just an overall bad a** of an FMC. She was EXACTLY what Emory needed in his life. They complimented each other so well and their banter was just SO GOOD.
The spice in this book, sheeeeesh. The gala bathroom scene, iykyk.
🖤Professional Hockey
💙Marriage of Convenience
🖤”My Wife”
💙Banter
🖤Enemies to Lovers
Nobody does banter like SJ Sylvis and I will die on that hill.
This book was SO good. Definitely my favorite I’ve read by her so far. The characters, the story line, Scottie’s backstory… every single thing about this book had me not wanting to put it down.
First of all, I absolutely LOVED Scottie’s character. She was fierce, independent, stubborn, and just an overall bad a** of an FMC. She was EXACTLY what Emory needed in his life. They complimented each other so well and their banter was just SO GOOD.
The spice in this book, sheeeeesh. The gala bathroom scene, iykyk.
🖤Professional Hockey
💙Marriage of Convenience
🖤”My Wife”
💙Banter
🖤Enemies to Lovers
September 22, 2024
Loved this book Emory was the perfect grumpy goalie 😍
November 24, 2024
PLEASE. Not my first hockey romance absolutely destroying my soul LMAO. I mean, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Romance is romance. But Emory is ROMANCE. Words? Don’t have them. But take all my 5 stars.
Olson and Cherry made my heart so happy. As a woman who has a mother in an identical predicament to Cherry's mom, made her very relatable to me. I loved the growth this couple experienced throughout the book and the happiness they found within one another.
What stuck out to me was the attention to detail in side characters, and now I can't wait to read their books, too!
Olson and Cherry made my heart so happy. As a woman who has a mother in an identical predicament to Cherry's mom, made her very relatable to me. I loved the growth this couple experienced throughout the book and the happiness they found within one another.
What stuck out to me was the attention to detail in side characters, and now I can't wait to read their books, too!
September 26, 2024
4.5/5 ⭐️
2/5🌶️
Tropes:
💙Marriage of Convenience
🖤Hockey Romance
💙Grumpy NHL Goalie
🖤Enemies to Lovers
💙Forced Proximity
🖤”My Wife”
💙Sassy & Independent FMC
OMG. I THINK I AM IN LOVE. I’ve only read sticks and stones by S.J. Sylvis and I knew I needed to read more of her books and man I am sooo happy I did. I am obsessed with her writing, and I can’t wait to read her backlist! She blew this out of the water! I am such a sucker for the marriage of convenience & when Emory said “My Wife” I WAS KICKING MY FEET. I was soo giddy.
Play the Game is the first book in the Blue Devils Hockey Series following Emory Olson & Scottie Monroe. Scottie is just trying to survive & in need of money. Emory is newly with the Blue Devils, and he is trying to clean up his name after some allegations were made about him. After some encounters with Scottie, they come to a mutual agreement to enter a fake marriage. She will help him with his image, and he will pay her for her help. He even has her move in with him.
I love these two with all my heart. Their chemistry & THE BANTER!!!! Its everything I needed and more. I was kicking my feet like a girl with a school crush. Scottie has become one of my favorite FMCs. She is so strong and fierce. She is sassy and most of all she is independent. I loved the way Emory did everything for her. He wanted to help her, so she wasn’t alone. He was soo protective over her and I loved how Scottie was just as protective over him as well. BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT SHUTTER?? I adored him so much. The way he was always by her side and knew if something was wrong. I ABSOULATLY ADORED THIS BOOK. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for the rest of this series.
Thank you S.J. Sylvis and Valentine PR for this ARC!
2/5🌶️
Tropes:
💙Marriage of Convenience
🖤Hockey Romance
💙Grumpy NHL Goalie
🖤Enemies to Lovers
💙Forced Proximity
🖤”My Wife”
💙Sassy & Independent FMC
OMG. I THINK I AM IN LOVE. I’ve only read sticks and stones by S.J. Sylvis and I knew I needed to read more of her books and man I am sooo happy I did. I am obsessed with her writing, and I can’t wait to read her backlist! She blew this out of the water! I am such a sucker for the marriage of convenience & when Emory said “My Wife” I WAS KICKING MY FEET. I was soo giddy.
Play the Game is the first book in the Blue Devils Hockey Series following Emory Olson & Scottie Monroe. Scottie is just trying to survive & in need of money. Emory is newly with the Blue Devils, and he is trying to clean up his name after some allegations were made about him. After some encounters with Scottie, they come to a mutual agreement to enter a fake marriage. She will help him with his image, and he will pay her for her help. He even has her move in with him.
I love these two with all my heart. Their chemistry & THE BANTER!!!! Its everything I needed and more. I was kicking my feet like a girl with a school crush. Scottie has become one of my favorite FMCs. She is so strong and fierce. She is sassy and most of all she is independent. I loved the way Emory did everything for her. He wanted to help her, so she wasn’t alone. He was soo protective over her and I loved how Scottie was just as protective over him as well. BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT SHUTTER?? I adored him so much. The way he was always by her side and knew if something was wrong. I ABSOULATLY ADORED THIS BOOK. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for the rest of this series.
Thank you S.J. Sylvis and Valentine PR for this ARC!
October 7, 2024
4.4⭐️
Play The Game by S.J. Sylvis is the first book in the Blue Devils Hockey Series.
The story follows Emory, a pro hockey grumpy goalie who is the new guy in the Blue Devils due to the fact he got traded after a misunderstanding/scandal and, too, cleans his image from the press and decides to make a deal with Scottie.
Scottie is a strong and independent woman. Didn’t have an easy life; struggling to make ends meet caused her to make questionable decisions, like trying to exploit Emory, but when the plan backfired and she had to be his wife to fix his image, she didn’t want to, but she needed the money to pay off her debt and also help her brother.
This is the first book I read from S.J. Sylvis.
I enjoyed her writing; I would’ve read it in one sitting, but life got in the way. I want to read all her other books that are on my TBR this year (Hopefully 🤞).
I really enjoyed the book. The chemistry between these two characters was phenomenal, and their banter, My wife moments plus the MMC possessive and jealousy side was everything and more. 👏
“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐮𝐧, 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞”
”𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐞. 𝐈 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞. 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫.”
“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞, 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞, 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞, 𝐈’𝐦 𝐡𝐢𝐬. 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞’𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲’𝐬.”
Tropes:
✨ Marriage of Convenience
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Pro-Hockey
✨ “My Wife”
✨ One bed
✨ Slow Burn
Play The Game by S.J. Sylvis is the first book in the Blue Devils Hockey Series.
The story follows Emory, a pro hockey grumpy goalie who is the new guy in the Blue Devils due to the fact he got traded after a misunderstanding/scandal and, too, cleans his image from the press and decides to make a deal with Scottie.
Scottie is a strong and independent woman. Didn’t have an easy life; struggling to make ends meet caused her to make questionable decisions, like trying to exploit Emory, but when the plan backfired and she had to be his wife to fix his image, she didn’t want to, but she needed the money to pay off her debt and also help her brother.
This is the first book I read from S.J. Sylvis.
I enjoyed her writing; I would’ve read it in one sitting, but life got in the way. I want to read all her other books that are on my TBR this year (Hopefully 🤞).
I really enjoyed the book. The chemistry between these two characters was phenomenal, and their banter, My wife moments plus the MMC possessive and jealousy side was everything and more. 👏
“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐮𝐧, 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞”
”𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐞. 𝐈 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞. 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫.”
“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞, 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞, 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞, 𝐈’𝐦 𝐡𝐢𝐬. 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞’𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲’𝐬.”
Tropes:
✨ Marriage of Convenience
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Pro-Hockey
✨ “My Wife”
✨ One bed
✨ Slow Burn
dnf
March 21, 2025DNF at 34%
Sadly I feel no chemistry and the story is not capturing my attention.
Sadly I feel no chemistry and the story is not capturing my attention.
February 11, 2025
3.5 Biscotti Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level:🌶️.5/5
I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I picked up this book. I saw that the sequel was coming out and wanted to get familiar with the characters and world before diving in. I had never read a S.J. Sylvis book on her own (only her co-writing with S. Massery), so I wasn’t sure what her solo style would be like.
At first, I marked this as a dark romance, but the more I read, the more I realized this wasn’t really dark. It has some heavy topics and difficult triggers, but nothing that makes the main characters morally gray or questionably unhinged. The darkness comes from their situations rather than their actions, particularly what Scottie has been through and what she continues to endure in her personal life. But Emery? He is a walking green flag, even though the world has painted him as a red one.
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Emery has just been traded to the Chicago Blue Devils. He is a goalie, and he is not happy about the trade. The Devils don’t have the best reputation, and it is seen as a "last-resort" move because they are the only team willing to take him after his difficult run-in with the press. His reputation has been completely twisted, making him seem problematic, violent, and a womanizer. Then we have Scottie, who is doing everything she can to survive. She works as a stripper because it is the only way she can make enough money to support her wrongfully imprisoned brother. She is desperately trying to raise money for his legal fees, since she can’t even begin to challenge his case until she pays off the previous debts. One night, Scottie hears about Emery’s reputation and tries to blackmail him. It goes horribly wrong, but instead of driving them apart, they keep getting thrown into the same space. Eventually, Emery comes up with a proposal. They should get married. It will help his public image by dealing with the press and unwanted advances from women, and in return, Scottie will get the money she so desperately needs. It is a win-win.
𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
This book had tension from start to finish. Scottie is a fighter in every sense of the word. She is strong, and determined, and refuses to let life break her down. She is sassy, quick-witted, and refuses to take anyone’s crap, including Emery’s. Emery starts off as a bit of a dick, but as the story unfolds, you realize that most of it is a facade. He has had to be incredibly guarded because of the situations he has been in, and he doesn’t want to be hurt or used again.
I loved that Scottie had such a heart of gold. She would literally give the shirt off her back to someone in need, and it is that selflessness that first makes Emery start to see her. His first spark of interest isn’t because she is sexy or because of her attitude. It is because he sees how much she cares about others, even when she has nothing.
The banter, the chemistry, and the way they pushed each other’s buttons felt real. It wasn’t forced, and it made their connection feel magical. You could feel the tension, the push and pull, and the slow shift from pretending to be in love to actually falling for each other.
There are dark elements, particularly around Scottie’s emotional abandonment and the difficulties she has endured. But what I loved was that Emery never tries to “fix” her. He knows Scottie wouldn’t allow it. Instead, he just stands by her, offering his strength and support without taking away her sense of doing it herself.
I could see where the plot was going from the start. It was pretty clear that Scottie’s stripper past was going to blow up in their faces at some point. It was obvious that they were going to have to deal with it publicly. I just wish they had been more prepared for that moment, rather than acting so naïve about the consequences.
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Enemies to Lovers
▶ Marriage of Convenience
▶ Dual POV
▶ He Falls First
▶ Poor GirlXRich Boy
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ One Bed
▶ Hockey Romance
𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ "My Wife"
▷ Nicknames
▷ Takes Care Of Her
▷ Dressing/Undressing Help
▷ Hockey Jersey Heat
▷ Backwards Cap
▷ "Mine"
Even though the big twist was predictable, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book. I really liked it, and I am super excited to see what happens next in Rhode's Book.
Spicy Level:🌶️.5/5
I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I picked up this book. I saw that the sequel was coming out and wanted to get familiar with the characters and world before diving in. I had never read a S.J. Sylvis book on her own (only her co-writing with S. Massery), so I wasn’t sure what her solo style would be like.
At first, I marked this as a dark romance, but the more I read, the more I realized this wasn’t really dark. It has some heavy topics and difficult triggers, but nothing that makes the main characters morally gray or questionably unhinged. The darkness comes from their situations rather than their actions, particularly what Scottie has been through and what she continues to endure in her personal life. But Emery? He is a walking green flag, even though the world has painted him as a red one.
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Emery has just been traded to the Chicago Blue Devils. He is a goalie, and he is not happy about the trade. The Devils don’t have the best reputation, and it is seen as a "last-resort" move because they are the only team willing to take him after his difficult run-in with the press. His reputation has been completely twisted, making him seem problematic, violent, and a womanizer. Then we have Scottie, who is doing everything she can to survive. She works as a stripper because it is the only way she can make enough money to support her wrongfully imprisoned brother. She is desperately trying to raise money for his legal fees, since she can’t even begin to challenge his case until she pays off the previous debts. One night, Scottie hears about Emery’s reputation and tries to blackmail him. It goes horribly wrong, but instead of driving them apart, they keep getting thrown into the same space. Eventually, Emery comes up with a proposal. They should get married. It will help his public image by dealing with the press and unwanted advances from women, and in return, Scottie will get the money she so desperately needs. It is a win-win.
𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
This book had tension from start to finish. Scottie is a fighter in every sense of the word. She is strong, and determined, and refuses to let life break her down. She is sassy, quick-witted, and refuses to take anyone’s crap, including Emery’s. Emery starts off as a bit of a dick, but as the story unfolds, you realize that most of it is a facade. He has had to be incredibly guarded because of the situations he has been in, and he doesn’t want to be hurt or used again.
I loved that Scottie had such a heart of gold. She would literally give the shirt off her back to someone in need, and it is that selflessness that first makes Emery start to see her. His first spark of interest isn’t because she is sexy or because of her attitude. It is because he sees how much she cares about others, even when she has nothing.
The banter, the chemistry, and the way they pushed each other’s buttons felt real. It wasn’t forced, and it made their connection feel magical. You could feel the tension, the push and pull, and the slow shift from pretending to be in love to actually falling for each other.
There are dark elements, particularly around Scottie’s emotional abandonment and the difficulties she has endured. But what I loved was that Emery never tries to “fix” her. He knows Scottie wouldn’t allow it. Instead, he just stands by her, offering his strength and support without taking away her sense of doing it herself.
I could see where the plot was going from the start. It was pretty clear that Scottie’s stripper past was going to blow up in their faces at some point. It was obvious that they were going to have to deal with it publicly. I just wish they had been more prepared for that moment, rather than acting so naïve about the consequences.
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Enemies to Lovers
▶ Marriage of Convenience
▶ Dual POV
▶ He Falls First
▶ Poor GirlXRich Boy
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ One Bed
▶ Hockey Romance
𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ "My Wife"
▷ Nicknames
▷ Takes Care Of Her
▷ Dressing/Undressing Help
▷ Hockey Jersey Heat
▷ Backwards Cap
▷ "Mine"
Even though the big twist was predictable, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book. I really liked it, and I am super excited to see what happens next in Rhode's Book.
September 23, 2025
3.5 🌟
Estoy en mi racha de hockey 🏒
Scottie necesita dinero de forma urgente, siendo una chica de abajo y con muchos problemas no le ajusta así que un día se le ocurre algo, chantajear a uno de los jugadores más problemáticos pero no contaba con que Emory fuera más listo y después de este inconveniente Emory le propone un trato donde ganará el dinero que necesita y él limpiará su imagen, será lo mejor para ambos?
Estos hasta hace poco no los conocía, lo leí por una recomendación y amoOo la relación de estos es pura tensión desde el inicio, ambos tiene una atracción muy buena y me gustó mucho como la pareja evoluciona, al inicio eran puras peleas y luego es empezar a preocuparse el uno por el otro, me gustó que pude sentir ese cambio y se sintió orgánico, además el hecho de que en el momento difícil ambos quieran protegerse se me hizo lindo.
La autora deja algunos cabos sueltos que tal vez no sean muy importantes pero considero que uno queda ❓ por qué son cosas que se repiten mucho a lo largo de la historia y al final quedan como al aire, no me encanta eso pero igual lo disfrute bastante.
Estoy en mi racha de hockey 🏒
Scottie necesita dinero de forma urgente, siendo una chica de abajo y con muchos problemas no le ajusta así que un día se le ocurre algo, chantajear a uno de los jugadores más problemáticos pero no contaba con que Emory fuera más listo y después de este inconveniente Emory le propone un trato donde ganará el dinero que necesita y él limpiará su imagen, será lo mejor para ambos?
Estos hasta hace poco no los conocía, lo leí por una recomendación y amoOo la relación de estos es pura tensión desde el inicio, ambos tiene una atracción muy buena y me gustó mucho como la pareja evoluciona, al inicio eran puras peleas y luego es empezar a preocuparse el uno por el otro, me gustó que pude sentir ese cambio y se sintió orgánico, además el hecho de que en el momento difícil ambos quieran protegerse se me hizo lindo.
La autora deja algunos cabos sueltos que tal vez no sean muy importantes pero considero que uno queda ❓ por qué son cosas que se repiten mucho a lo largo de la historia y al final quedan como al aire, no me encanta eso pero igual lo disfrute bastante.
December 24, 2025
I think my fake wife just became my vice.
I,unexpectedly loved this one 😭😭💙💙
I,unexpectedly loved this one 😭😭💙💙
September 27, 2024
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🔥🔥💥
Even though I knew I was going to enjoy this book, I honestly didn't think Emory Olsen was going become my favorite MMC that SJ has written, but I absolutely adore this man and would burn the world down for him and the entire Blue Devils Hockey Team.
This book was EVERYTHING I love and even more. I adore marriage of convenience and the way that this one was written made me fall even more in love with the trope.
Hockey Romance
Marriage of Convenience
Grumpy Goalie
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
He Falls Hard
Emory Olson is such a grump and I love him. This books starts with him having a huge image problem, and then on top of that, a random woman tries to blackmail him for money. That woman happens to be Scottie, and exotic dancer who is desperate, and even though he hates her on sight. He cant help but be intrigued by her. So intrigued, that he offers her a marriage of convenience to fix both of their problems.
I love that these two got married when the absolutely disliked each other, and the bater between them was top notch. Scottie was a delight, and such an interesting character. My heart went out to her and how much she had to endure. I loved how she went toe to toe with Emory over and over again, and that their snark became a love language for them.
Emory was such a simp for Scottie, even though it took him a minute to realize it. I loved all the little ways he took care of her, and how absolutely possessive of her he was with his "my wife" and his grumpy growliness. But what made me fall so damn hard for this man, was how he bonded and drew on the team.
The Chicago Blue Devils were a misfit team that no one had a lot of faith in, but Emory saw something in them and much as he did Scottie, and instead of being resentful, he chose to see the best in them. I think I would have melted into the floor in a puddle for that man from that alone.
Everything about this is fantastic and I am obsessed with this series. I loved how Scottie and Emory found what they needed in each other, and I loved every bantery , moment it took to get to that point. The spice might have taken a minute to arrive but when it did.... HOLY MOLY it was so good. I will never look at dressing rooms the same way again 🔥
I cannot wait for more, and will accept no criticisms of this book because it was a 10/10 and my favorite book by SJ yet.
SPICE: 🔥🔥💥
Even though I knew I was going to enjoy this book, I honestly didn't think Emory Olsen was going become my favorite MMC that SJ has written, but I absolutely adore this man and would burn the world down for him and the entire Blue Devils Hockey Team.
This book was EVERYTHING I love and even more. I adore marriage of convenience and the way that this one was written made me fall even more in love with the trope.
Hockey Romance
Marriage of Convenience
Grumpy Goalie
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
He Falls Hard
Emory Olson is such a grump and I love him. This books starts with him having a huge image problem, and then on top of that, a random woman tries to blackmail him for money. That woman happens to be Scottie, and exotic dancer who is desperate, and even though he hates her on sight. He cant help but be intrigued by her. So intrigued, that he offers her a marriage of convenience to fix both of their problems.
I love that these two got married when the absolutely disliked each other, and the bater between them was top notch. Scottie was a delight, and such an interesting character. My heart went out to her and how much she had to endure. I loved how she went toe to toe with Emory over and over again, and that their snark became a love language for them.
Emory was such a simp for Scottie, even though it took him a minute to realize it. I loved all the little ways he took care of her, and how absolutely possessive of her he was with his "my wife" and his grumpy growliness. But what made me fall so damn hard for this man, was how he bonded and drew on the team.
The Chicago Blue Devils were a misfit team that no one had a lot of faith in, but Emory saw something in them and much as he did Scottie, and instead of being resentful, he chose to see the best in them. I think I would have melted into the floor in a puddle for that man from that alone.
Everything about this is fantastic and I am obsessed with this series. I loved how Scottie and Emory found what they needed in each other, and I loved every bantery , moment it took to get to that point. The spice might have taken a minute to arrive but when it did.... HOLY MOLY it was so good. I will never look at dressing rooms the same way again 🔥
I cannot wait for more, and will accept no criticisms of this book because it was a 10/10 and my favorite book by SJ yet.
September 22, 2024
ARC review
Release Date 9/26
♾️ stars!
“Oh, and if you ever talk to my wife, it better be with fucking respect.”
“Tell me what you like, Scottie. I want to know if I’m right.” He is. He is so right. I answer, unable to pull myself back to reality. “Wife,” I say. “I like it when you call me your wife.”
Tropes 💍-
Marriage of Convenience
Enemies to lovers
Pro Hockey MMC
Forced Proximity
One Bed
Lots of "My wife"
Only soft for her
Spicy
Dual POV
✨️My Goodness! I absolutely devoured this book! This book checks off so many of my favorite tropes, and they're portrayed so well! I think Scottie is one of my favorite FMCs like ever. She is so sassy, but she also has the biggest freaking heart ever! Emory is such a grumpy Gus, but a softie when it comes to Scottie 😍. I loved it so much! I can't recommend this book enough! 🤭🤭 you guys definitely need to give it a read!!
Thank you to SJ Sylvis and Valentine PR, for allowing me to read and review!!
Release Date 9/26
♾️ stars!
“Oh, and if you ever talk to my wife, it better be with fucking respect.”
“Tell me what you like, Scottie. I want to know if I’m right.” He is. He is so right. I answer, unable to pull myself back to reality. “Wife,” I say. “I like it when you call me your wife.”
Tropes 💍-
Marriage of Convenience
Enemies to lovers
Pro Hockey MMC
Forced Proximity
One Bed
Lots of "My wife"
Only soft for her
Spicy
Dual POV
✨️My Goodness! I absolutely devoured this book! This book checks off so many of my favorite tropes, and they're portrayed so well! I think Scottie is one of my favorite FMCs like ever. She is so sassy, but she also has the biggest freaking heart ever! Emory is such a grumpy Gus, but a softie when it comes to Scottie 😍. I loved it so much! I can't recommend this book enough! 🤭🤭 you guys definitely need to give it a read!!
Thank you to SJ Sylvis and Valentine PR, for allowing me to read and review!!
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