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League Valencia #1
Winning Match: League Valencia, Book 1
He’s Spain’s hottest bachelor, a soccer sensation—and now, my fake boyfriend.
Hours after landing in Valencia, Spain, I’m newly single, tipsy, and stranded at a bar with three declined credit cards.
Enter swoon-worthy local with a smirk that should be illegal and dance moves that leave me breathless. He covers my tab, takes me to dinner, and somewhere between cocktails and a reckless kiss, I forget about the awful start to my trip.
By the following morning, we’re trending on social media.
Turns out, Ale isn’t just a charming stranger—he’s a European soccer star with a PR problem.
So, we strike a a fake relationship to rehab his playboy image while I use his connections to expand my family’s business.
But lines blur fast when kisses stop feeling staged and late-night talks hit too deep. I’m falling for him—for real.
Can something built on a lie turn into the real thing?
Hours after landing in Valencia, Spain, I’m newly single, tipsy, and stranded at a bar with three declined credit cards.
Enter swoon-worthy local with a smirk that should be illegal and dance moves that leave me breathless. He covers my tab, takes me to dinner, and somewhere between cocktails and a reckless kiss, I forget about the awful start to my trip.
By the following morning, we’re trending on social media.
Turns out, Ale isn’t just a charming stranger—he’s a European soccer star with a PR problem.
So, we strike a a fake relationship to rehab his playboy image while I use his connections to expand my family’s business.
But lines blur fast when kisses stop feeling staged and late-night talks hit too deep. I’m falling for him—for real.
Can something built on a lie turn into the real thing?
Audible Audio
Published August 15, 2025
7 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Gina Azzi
69 books817 followersHi! I'm Gina and I write realistic, relatable, sweet New Adult and Contemporary Romance books. A NJ native, I have lived and worked abroad before settling in Canada with my husband and Littles. Although I can't iron (at all), I am a passionate reader, frequent globetrotter, and aspiring baker (recipes appreciated!). I love hearing from fellow readers so please connect!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
July 31, 2025
Sports romance
Duet narration - Marcio Catalano & Angelina Rocca
Fantastic narration these two were amazing together.
This was a fun and cute steamy romance. Marlowe is trying to salvage her family’s business while she is in Spain after flying to surprise her long term boyfriend who had a surprise for her. Heartbroken and without money because her cards aren’t working Ale steps in to help her pay for her stuff.
Marlowe and Ale spend a fun night out on the town getting to know each other. Ale just wants one night to be a regular guy but the paparazzi have other thoughts. When they post pictures of the two of them out they strike up a deal. He will help her get the meeting with a potential client and she will fake date him to help his image in the public eye.
Instant chemistry, a caring and sexy MMC. Strong FMC.
I loved the writing style. Easy to follow and very enjoyable. Great start to a new series and great intro to a new to me author.
Duet narration - Marcio Catalano & Angelina Rocca
Fantastic narration these two were amazing together.
This was a fun and cute steamy romance. Marlowe is trying to salvage her family’s business while she is in Spain after flying to surprise her long term boyfriend who had a surprise for her. Heartbroken and without money because her cards aren’t working Ale steps in to help her pay for her stuff.
Marlowe and Ale spend a fun night out on the town getting to know each other. Ale just wants one night to be a regular guy but the paparazzi have other thoughts. When they post pictures of the two of them out they strike up a deal. He will help her get the meeting with a potential client and she will fake date him to help his image in the public eye.
Instant chemistry, a caring and sexy MMC. Strong FMC.
I loved the writing style. Easy to follow and very enjoyable. Great start to a new series and great intro to a new to me author.
August 13, 2025
Winning Match by Gina Azzi completely stole my heart! ❤️⚽
I’ll be honest… I don’t even like soccer, but this story had me hooked from page one. I did an immersive read with this one (listening + reading) and it made the experience even better! 🎧📖
This swoony sports romance follows a talented soccer star who’s all grit and determination on the field, but completely disarmed by the one person he never saw coming. There’s banter, chemistry, and just the right amount of drama to keep you flipping the pages.
The writing flows so smoothly, the characters feel real, and the romance had me rooting for them like it was the championship game. 🏆 Whether you’re a sports romance fan or not, this one is worth every second.
💯 Highly recommend! This was an ARC and it releases August 15—don’t miss it!
#WinningMatch #GinaAzzi #SportsRomance #BookReview #5Stars #RomanceReader #BookTok #RomanceBooks #NewRelease #BookWorm #BookLover #SportsRomanceBooks #BookAddict #MustRead #RomanceAddict #ImmersiveRead 📚💖
I’ll be honest… I don’t even like soccer, but this story had me hooked from page one. I did an immersive read with this one (listening + reading) and it made the experience even better! 🎧📖
This swoony sports romance follows a talented soccer star who’s all grit and determination on the field, but completely disarmed by the one person he never saw coming. There’s banter, chemistry, and just the right amount of drama to keep you flipping the pages.
The writing flows so smoothly, the characters feel real, and the romance had me rooting for them like it was the championship game. 🏆 Whether you’re a sports romance fan or not, this one is worth every second.
💯 Highly recommend! This was an ARC and it releases August 15—don’t miss it!
#WinningMatch #GinaAzzi #SportsRomance #BookReview #5Stars #RomanceReader #BookTok #RomanceBooks #NewRelease #BookWorm #BookLover #SportsRomanceBooks #BookAddict #MustRead #RomanceAddict #ImmersiveRead 📚💖
July 28, 2025
I was so excited when this hit my kindle and loved this story. “Winning Match” is a swoony, romantic and heartfelt fake dating, sports romance that was a fantastic start to this new series by Gina Azzi.
Marlowe has flown from Rhode Island to Valencia, Spain to surprise her boyfriend but is heartbroken to find out that he had been cheating on her. Drowning her sorrows at a local cantina, her credit cards get declined and a handsome stranger steps in to pay for her tab. Alejandro Garcia, also known as Ale, is one of Spain’s most successful soccer players but when Marlowe doesn’t know who he is, he’s intrigued by her. Ale ends up whisking her away for a night on the town she’ll never forget. But the paparazzi end up catching some of their night out and are convinced that she’s his new girlfriend. Ale comes up with the idea for her to be his fake girlfriend so it will help his public image and he can introduce her to the businessman who can help save her family’s company. The two agree to 10 weeks but as they spend time together, the lines start to blur.
I love that this new series is set in Spain and the sport is soccer. From the moment I started reading, I was hooked on Ale and Marlowe’s story. Marlowe is kind, genuine and in the position to be an amazing CEO for her family’s company. Her heart might have gotten broken in Valencia but it was also healed there. I loved how Ale swooped in to help her at the bar without asking for anything in return. He was captivated by her from that first moment and truly wanted to help her out and to forget the terrible night she had been having. Things might have started out fake but they developed a solid friendship by wanting to help each other out. The chemistry they had was great and I loved the slow burn to them giving into the attraction they had for each other, it was worth weight. Both also had some personal struggles that had me sympathizing with them so much. The ending for them was perfect and I can’t wait to read what happens next in the League Valencia series.
Marlowe has flown from Rhode Island to Valencia, Spain to surprise her boyfriend but is heartbroken to find out that he had been cheating on her. Drowning her sorrows at a local cantina, her credit cards get declined and a handsome stranger steps in to pay for her tab. Alejandro Garcia, also known as Ale, is one of Spain’s most successful soccer players but when Marlowe doesn’t know who he is, he’s intrigued by her. Ale ends up whisking her away for a night on the town she’ll never forget. But the paparazzi end up catching some of their night out and are convinced that she’s his new girlfriend. Ale comes up with the idea for her to be his fake girlfriend so it will help his public image and he can introduce her to the businessman who can help save her family’s company. The two agree to 10 weeks but as they spend time together, the lines start to blur.
I love that this new series is set in Spain and the sport is soccer. From the moment I started reading, I was hooked on Ale and Marlowe’s story. Marlowe is kind, genuine and in the position to be an amazing CEO for her family’s company. Her heart might have gotten broken in Valencia but it was also healed there. I loved how Ale swooped in to help her at the bar without asking for anything in return. He was captivated by her from that first moment and truly wanted to help her out and to forget the terrible night she had been having. Things might have started out fake but they developed a solid friendship by wanting to help each other out. The chemistry they had was great and I loved the slow burn to them giving into the attraction they had for each other, it was worth weight. Both also had some personal struggles that had me sympathizing with them so much. The ending for them was perfect and I can’t wait to read what happens next in the League Valencia series.
August 4, 2025
4.5 stars!!!
My first ever Gina Azzi book but definitely not my last, I really loved the writing and the chemistry between the main leads. That first meeting was super cute and romantic 🥰💖💗🥹😍🌸 Alejandro ilysm 🥹🥹🥹💗💗💗 and I LOVED MARLOWE AS A HEROINE!!!!!!! Why not 5 stars??? I wanted the book to be longer!!!!! With babies pls 🥹🥹🥹
THANK YOU GINA FOR MY ARC HIHI 💕💕💕
My first ever Gina Azzi book but definitely not my last, I really loved the writing and the chemistry between the main leads. That first meeting was super cute and romantic 🥰💖💗🥹😍🌸 Alejandro ilysm 🥹🥹🥹💗💗💗 and I LOVED MARLOWE AS A HEROINE!!!!!!! Why not 5 stars??? I wanted the book to be longer!!!!! With babies pls 🥹🥹🥹
THANK YOU GINA FOR MY ARC HIHI 💕💕💕
August 12, 2025
League Valencia #1
I loved this story and what a great start to a new series.
Marlowe Prescott decides to fly from Rhode Island to Valencia, Spain to surprise her boyfriend but she gets the surprise of catching him with another woman and now she's single and alone in a bar with her credit cards being denied.
She gets rescued by Ale who takes her to dinner and then gets her a hotel room for several days and then leaves. She has no idea who he really is which intrigues him even more.
"she's different"
Alejandro "Ale" Garcia is League Valencia's center forward, the hot soccer star and one the media has a field day with. He wants to be the captain but he needs to clean up his public image for that to happen.
When the media finds out about Marlowe thinking it's his new girlfriend they decide on an arrangement. "I need you to pretend to be my girlfriend" and in exchange he will help her set up a meeting with a business contact that she needs for her family's sailing boat business. They agree to a timeline to make it all happen.
What started out as just friends there is no denying they have chemistry. When her apartment is broken into by his ex he moves her into his place to keep her safe. They struggle to keep to their agreement as just friends and it becomes so much more.
What happens when their time is up?
5 stars
I love the "Sewing Circle" ladies. Also his teammates how they were there for him and Bianca.
I loved this story and what a great start to a new series.
Marlowe Prescott decides to fly from Rhode Island to Valencia, Spain to surprise her boyfriend but she gets the surprise of catching him with another woman and now she's single and alone in a bar with her credit cards being denied.
She gets rescued by Ale who takes her to dinner and then gets her a hotel room for several days and then leaves. She has no idea who he really is which intrigues him even more.
"she's different"
Alejandro "Ale" Garcia is League Valencia's center forward, the hot soccer star and one the media has a field day with. He wants to be the captain but he needs to clean up his public image for that to happen.
When the media finds out about Marlowe thinking it's his new girlfriend they decide on an arrangement. "I need you to pretend to be my girlfriend" and in exchange he will help her set up a meeting with a business contact that she needs for her family's sailing boat business. They agree to a timeline to make it all happen.
What started out as just friends there is no denying they have chemistry. When her apartment is broken into by his ex he moves her into his place to keep her safe. They struggle to keep to their agreement as just friends and it becomes so much more.
What happens when their time is up?
5 stars
I love the "Sewing Circle" ladies. Also his teammates how they were there for him and Bianca.
July 30, 2025
3.5
Winning Match is a cute, low angst romance that reads like a good old romcom movie. Somehow it combines insta lust with pining and a tad of slow burn and I was surprisingly intrigued by that. While I might have had minor issues with parts of it, I overall enjoyed my first soccer romance audiobook.
PLOT
Between the instalust, the MMCs past and the whole situation, there was a lot of potential for plot driving conflicts. While I was surprised by the ones the author chose, I was glad they didn’t take the classical paths of angst and betrayal. It is very much a sweet romance where good things happen like miracles at times and while I personally don’t love that so much, it made sense for this story.
CHARACTERS
Overall, I liked both the MMC and FMC. They had chemistry and they generally worked well together. The way their relationship evolved and they were allowed development, both individually and together, was great.
Upon closer look, I had minor issues that threw me off.
The FMC was business smart, or so it seemed, and was on her way to taking over a company, yet a lot of times I was irritated by moments that felt like unwarranted naivety that didn’t always seem to align with what else I knew of her.
The MMC has his past and has very much reflected on that. I do like that a lot, even though we don’t really see his past self, mostly just the evolved version. Which, fine by me. It allowed focus on the development necessary for these two to work.
One thing I had an issue with was their dynamic in certain situations. The ‘She’s not like other girls’ vibe or comments that felt like unreflected nagging from his end when in fact meant with love. There seemed to be some deep seated believes underlying their relationship that I don’t love.
WRITING
The writing was good, some dialogues felt a tad unrealistic but matched the romcom vibe and I overall enjoyed the style. (Though I’m still confused as to how everyone, including his abuela, speaks English and it’s not addressed once).
I liked the elements of Spanish language and culture incorporated in both plot and writing. Personally I didn’t feel like all terms for uniquely Spanish items would have needed explanation when they came from his POV but I imagine many would find it helpful.
I also loved the narration, both narrators did a great job with this one!
---
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Select and Gina Azzi for an ALC of this book
Winning Match is a cute, low angst romance that reads like a good old romcom movie. Somehow it combines insta lust with pining and a tad of slow burn and I was surprisingly intrigued by that. While I might have had minor issues with parts of it, I overall enjoyed my first soccer romance audiobook.
PLOT
Between the instalust, the MMCs past and the whole situation, there was a lot of potential for plot driving conflicts. While I was surprised by the ones the author chose, I was glad they didn’t take the classical paths of angst and betrayal. It is very much a sweet romance where good things happen like miracles at times and while I personally don’t love that so much, it made sense for this story.
CHARACTERS
Overall, I liked both the MMC and FMC. They had chemistry and they generally worked well together. The way their relationship evolved and they were allowed development, both individually and together, was great.
Upon closer look, I had minor issues that threw me off.
The FMC was business smart, or so it seemed, and was on her way to taking over a company, yet a lot of times I was irritated by moments that felt like unwarranted naivety that didn’t always seem to align with what else I knew of her.
The MMC has his past and has very much reflected on that. I do like that a lot, even though we don’t really see his past self, mostly just the evolved version. Which, fine by me. It allowed focus on the development necessary for these two to work.
One thing I had an issue with was their dynamic in certain situations. The ‘She’s not like other girls’ vibe or comments that felt like unreflected nagging from his end when in fact meant with love. There seemed to be some deep seated believes underlying their relationship that I don’t love.
WRITING
The writing was good, some dialogues felt a tad unrealistic but matched the romcom vibe and I overall enjoyed the style. (Though I’m still confused as to how everyone, including his abuela, speaks English and it’s not addressed once).
I liked the elements of Spanish language and culture incorporated in both plot and writing. Personally I didn’t feel like all terms for uniquely Spanish items would have needed explanation when they came from his POV but I imagine many would find it helpful.
I also loved the narration, both narrators did a great job with this one!
---
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Select and Gina Azzi for an ALC of this book
September 1, 2025
Thank you, @libro.fm and @gina_azzi, for the #gifted advanced listening copy!
Marlowe thought she was making a grand romantic gesture by flying to Spain for her long-term boyfriend - until she ended up single, stranded, and broke. Enter Ale: the impossibly charming stranger who offers her dinner and delivers one of the most unforgettable nights of her life. What Marlowe doesn’t realize? Ale is actually Spain’s notorious Premier League bad boy - famous, ridiculously handsome, and desperate to fix his public image.
Soon, Marlowe is swept into a fake-dating scheme that could rebuild Ale’s reputation while giving her the chance to secure a Spanish contract to save her family’s sailboat-building business. What starts as convenience quickly turns into something deeper—because sparks this real are impossible to fake.
I went into this audiobook blind and absolutely loved it. It’s the perfect kickoff to Gina Azzi’s new series - equal parts swoony romance, heartfelt family dynamics, and series-building goodness. The slow burn between Ale and Marlowe hooked me from the start, and the side characters make me so excited for what’s coming next.
🎧 Audiobook Notes: Narrated in duet by Marcio Catalano and Angelina Rocca, the performance is magnetic. At just over 7 hours, it’s the ideal short-ish listen that delivers both fun and emotional depth.
This one is a win all around - I’m already counting down to book two.
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Marlowe thought she was making a grand romantic gesture by flying to Spain for her long-term boyfriend - until she ended up single, stranded, and broke. Enter Ale: the impossibly charming stranger who offers her dinner and delivers one of the most unforgettable nights of her life. What Marlowe doesn’t realize? Ale is actually Spain’s notorious Premier League bad boy - famous, ridiculously handsome, and desperate to fix his public image.
Soon, Marlowe is swept into a fake-dating scheme that could rebuild Ale’s reputation while giving her the chance to secure a Spanish contract to save her family’s sailboat-building business. What starts as convenience quickly turns into something deeper—because sparks this real are impossible to fake.
I went into this audiobook blind and absolutely loved it. It’s the perfect kickoff to Gina Azzi’s new series - equal parts swoony romance, heartfelt family dynamics, and series-building goodness. The slow burn between Ale and Marlowe hooked me from the start, and the side characters make me so excited for what’s coming next.
🎧 Audiobook Notes: Narrated in duet by Marcio Catalano and Angelina Rocca, the performance is magnetic. At just over 7 hours, it’s the ideal short-ish listen that delivers both fun and emotional depth.
This one is a win all around - I’m already counting down to book two.
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️
August 15, 2025
Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Select and Gina Azzi for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5⭐️ This was a quick and easy listen. Low angst and relatively low conflict.
FMC flies to Spain to surprise her boyfriend who is there for business and finds him with another woman. Without a place to stay, she goes to a bar to regroup and get a drink only to find her credit cards are frozen. Our MMC steps in to pay for her drink and cannot seem to stay away, especially since she doesn’t know who he is. He invites her to dinner and a friend’s birthday party.
After a fun night of dancing, they part ways. The next morning they are both surprised to see their front page news on the tabloids and agree to pretend to date for 2 months to help him improve his reputation and help her close a business deal.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. The narrators were good and loved that it was duet narration. I’m not sure if it is because it’s a shorter book but it just felt like part of the story was left out.
3.5⭐️ This was a quick and easy listen. Low angst and relatively low conflict.
FMC flies to Spain to surprise her boyfriend who is there for business and finds him with another woman. Without a place to stay, she goes to a bar to regroup and get a drink only to find her credit cards are frozen. Our MMC steps in to pay for her drink and cannot seem to stay away, especially since she doesn’t know who he is. He invites her to dinner and a friend’s birthday party.
After a fun night of dancing, they part ways. The next morning they are both surprised to see their front page news on the tabloids and agree to pretend to date for 2 months to help him improve his reputation and help her close a business deal.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. The narrators were good and loved that it was duet narration. I’m not sure if it is because it’s a shorter book but it just felt like part of the story was left out.
August 15, 2025
3.5⭐️
Winning Match is a fun, quick-paced fake dating romance that’s perfect for an easy, entertaining listen.
Ale is a star soccer player with a PR problem. Marlowe has flown to Spain to surprise her boyfriend, only to find him cheating. On top of that, she also needs to land a prominent client to save her family’s business. While drowning her sorrows in a foreign bar, she meets Ale (having no idea who he is), and after a night of unexpected fun, they agree to fake date to solve both their problems, only to find that their staged feelings might be turning real.
The romance leans heavily into insta-lust and did feel a rushed, especially given Marlowe had just discovered her boyfriend’s infidelity. It’s also a touch on the cheesy side for my taste, but it’s full of charm and swoon-worthy moments. The duet narration was a highlight! Both narrators really brought the story and emotion to life!
Overall, Winning Match is a fun, fast-paced fake-dating romance brimming with charm, swoon-worthy moments, and sunny Spanish vibes—perfect for a quick, feel-good listen.
Thank you to Dreamscape Select and NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
Winning Match is a fun, quick-paced fake dating romance that’s perfect for an easy, entertaining listen.
Ale is a star soccer player with a PR problem. Marlowe has flown to Spain to surprise her boyfriend, only to find him cheating. On top of that, she also needs to land a prominent client to save her family’s business. While drowning her sorrows in a foreign bar, she meets Ale (having no idea who he is), and after a night of unexpected fun, they agree to fake date to solve both their problems, only to find that their staged feelings might be turning real.
The romance leans heavily into insta-lust and did feel a rushed, especially given Marlowe had just discovered her boyfriend’s infidelity. It’s also a touch on the cheesy side for my taste, but it’s full of charm and swoon-worthy moments. The duet narration was a highlight! Both narrators really brought the story and emotion to life!
Overall, Winning Match is a fun, fast-paced fake-dating romance brimming with charm, swoon-worthy moments, and sunny Spanish vibes—perfect for a quick, feel-good listen.
Thank you to Dreamscape Select and NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
August 17, 2025
I really enjoyed this dual POV, fake dating football (European soccer) sports romance set in Valencia, Spain that has Marlowe, an American heiress making an agreement with Alejandro, a pro footballer to help land a deal for her family's company and in exchange for helping him try to land the captain position on his team.
The chemistry between the leads was great and their slow burn buildup from friends to more never felt rushed. I also liked the emotional depth involved with Marlowe being a caregiver for her father who has dementia. Great on audio narrated by Angelina Rocca and Marcio Catalano (who had a sexy Spanish accent!).
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review! This was my first book by the author and I'd definitely read more. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Elena Armas or Millie Perez.
The chemistry between the leads was great and their slow burn buildup from friends to more never felt rushed. I also liked the emotional depth involved with Marlowe being a caregiver for her father who has dementia. Great on audio narrated by Angelina Rocca and Marcio Catalano (who had a sexy Spanish accent!).
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review! This was my first book by the author and I'd definitely read more. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Elena Armas or Millie Perez.
August 17, 2025
*2.5, rounded down*
RECAP: In Valencia, Marlowe is swept up by Ale, a charming stranger who turns out to be a scandal-plagued soccer star. Their fake romance is meant to fix his image & help her family’s business, but the sparks between them feel anything but fake.
REVIEW: Kudos to the narrators because this duet narration was well done. As far as the book goes, however, the plot fell flat. It was too insta-love for my taste, and I found myself suspending disbelief & rolling my eyes more as it went on. It’s definitely on the lighter side of romance, and I adored the Valencia setting.
RECAP: In Valencia, Marlowe is swept up by Ale, a charming stranger who turns out to be a scandal-plagued soccer star. Their fake romance is meant to fix his image & help her family’s business, but the sparks between them feel anything but fake.
REVIEW: Kudos to the narrators because this duet narration was well done. As far as the book goes, however, the plot fell flat. It was too insta-love for my taste, and I found myself suspending disbelief & rolling my eyes more as it went on. It’s definitely on the lighter side of romance, and I adored the Valencia setting.
January 4, 2026
él es perfecto
August 3, 2025
My first audiobook of the month:
Winning Match
by Gina Azzi
Narrated by Marcio Catalano; Angelina Rocca
This is an ARC from Netgalley. It’s about an American woman that flies to Spain to visit her boyfriend of 5 years, just to find him cheating on her. So, she goes to a bar to get a little tipsy, only to find 3 of her credit cards rejected. A handsome stranger pays for her tab, offers an open ear, a dinner, dancing, and picks up her hotel room fee - all without the expectation of anything in return. The next day, the media goes wild, handsome perennial bachelor, Alejandro Garcia, of League Valencia, has been seen looking rather serious with a mystery woman.
Due to Ale’s terrible PR image, he proposes a fake relationship. The two are obviously already head over heels for each other, but they are letting logic and common sense get in their way.
I’m 40% through this book and 100% loving it!
I just finished the audiobook and it was great. I highly recommend this book to romance fans.
Winning Match
by Gina Azzi
Narrated by Marcio Catalano; Angelina Rocca
This is an ARC from Netgalley. It’s about an American woman that flies to Spain to visit her boyfriend of 5 years, just to find him cheating on her. So, she goes to a bar to get a little tipsy, only to find 3 of her credit cards rejected. A handsome stranger pays for her tab, offers an open ear, a dinner, dancing, and picks up her hotel room fee - all without the expectation of anything in return. The next day, the media goes wild, handsome perennial bachelor, Alejandro Garcia, of League Valencia, has been seen looking rather serious with a mystery woman.
Due to Ale’s terrible PR image, he proposes a fake relationship. The two are obviously already head over heels for each other, but they are letting logic and common sense get in their way.
I’m 40% through this book and 100% loving it!
I just finished the audiobook and it was great. I highly recommend this book to romance fans.
August 30, 2025
4,5 rounded up to 5 stars because the beauty of the cover. Tarot card style and so classy, I loved it so much.
It was light, cheesy, insta-love, and perfect cleansing palate for me after back to back reading books with heavy subjects.
Definitely insta-love but I don't care, I still loved it so much.
Everything was so good to be true and smooth, very low angsty, and I was really in the mood of this kind of book. Hence, this book was perfect for me.
Marlowe. What an unique name! This was the first time I have heard Marlowe as a name. I already fall in love with her just because her name.
Marlowe was actually a really strong FMC. She was a caretaker of his father and loved her family company. She would do everything for her family, including became the fake girlfriend of Alejandro, famous football/soccer player in Spain.
Insert Alejandro. He was so sweet with Marlowe. Toward the end he was kinda a dick but I understood why he liked that.
The ending was satisfying enough but I wish there would be like bonus epilogue because I didn't want their story to end yet.
Since this is the first book of the series, I can't wait to be back to Valencia. I think the next book would be about Andrés and Bianca.
Thank you to Gina Azzi and Good Girls PR for the ARC.
It was light, cheesy, insta-love, and perfect cleansing palate for me after back to back reading books with heavy subjects.
Definitely insta-love but I don't care, I still loved it so much.
Everything was so good to be true and smooth, very low angsty, and I was really in the mood of this kind of book. Hence, this book was perfect for me.
Marlowe. What an unique name! This was the first time I have heard Marlowe as a name. I already fall in love with her just because her name.
Marlowe was actually a really strong FMC. She was a caretaker of his father and loved her family company. She would do everything for her family, including became the fake girlfriend of Alejandro, famous football/soccer player in Spain.
Insert Alejandro. He was so sweet with Marlowe. Toward the end he was kinda a dick but I understood why he liked that.
The ending was satisfying enough but I wish there would be like bonus epilogue because I didn't want their story to end yet.
Since this is the first book of the series, I can't wait to be back to Valencia. I think the next book would be about Andrés and Bianca.
Thank you to Gina Azzi and Good Girls PR for the ARC.
September 19, 2025
I’ve never heard such talent in an audiobook!
Marcio’s Spanish dialect , plus his Italian and American accents were f*cking amazing!!
Angelina rocked her role as well. There were so many different character voices, had I not known beforehand, I would have thought this was performed by a multicast.
Gina, this was a wonderful intro to your work. Well done on landing these two narrators and the magic they’ve created.
This was a fun and cute fake dating/ sports romance.
You have yourself an instant fan.
Marcio’s Spanish dialect , plus his Italian and American accents were f*cking amazing!!
Angelina rocked her role as well. There were so many different character voices, had I not known beforehand, I would have thought this was performed by a multicast.
Gina, this was a wonderful intro to your work. Well done on landing these two narrators and the magic they’ve created.
This was a fun and cute fake dating/ sports romance.
You have yourself an instant fan.
August 15, 2025
I absolutely love when you discover a new-to-you author and instantly fall in love with their work—that’s exactly what happened when I read Winning Match by Gina Azzi.
Marlowe flies to Spain to surprise her boyfriend… only to find him in a compromising position with another woman. Heartbroken, she ends up at a local bar, down on her luck and unable to pay for a drink. That’s when Ale walks in and changes the course of her night.
Ale is a professional soccer player with a not-so-perfect public image. When photos of the two of them hit the tabloids, he proposes the perfect solution: fake dating.
📚 Tropes you’ll love:
Fake dating
Forced proximity
He falls first
While this book delivers all the romcom goodness—spice, banter, longing—it also dives into heavier topics: the emotional toll of watching a loved one’s mental health decline (something I’ve personally experienced with a grandparent) and the pressure of family expectations.
If you’re looking for a quick read and an easy escape, this one is perfect. I read it in under 24 hours because I simply couldn’t put it down.
Thank you to Good Girls PR and Gina Azzi for the advanced copy. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
Marlowe flies to Spain to surprise her boyfriend… only to find him in a compromising position with another woman. Heartbroken, she ends up at a local bar, down on her luck and unable to pay for a drink. That’s when Ale walks in and changes the course of her night.
Ale is a professional soccer player with a not-so-perfect public image. When photos of the two of them hit the tabloids, he proposes the perfect solution: fake dating.
📚 Tropes you’ll love:
Fake dating
Forced proximity
He falls first
While this book delivers all the romcom goodness—spice, banter, longing—it also dives into heavier topics: the emotional toll of watching a loved one’s mental health decline (something I’ve personally experienced with a grandparent) and the pressure of family expectations.
If you’re looking for a quick read and an easy escape, this one is perfect. I read it in under 24 hours because I simply couldn’t put it down.
Thank you to Good Girls PR and Gina Azzi for the advanced copy. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
December 26, 2025
Ale = 5 star book boyfriend! He had me swooning from the start of this when he paid Marlowe’s bill after her credit card was declined, and he didn’t even know what kind of day she’d had!
She doesn’t know he’s a star football player when she accepts to continue her night with him resulting in their image being plastered all over the media with speculations about her being a new girlfriend.
They enjoyed their night together so he leverages the press and has her agreeing to embark on a fake relationship with him, with an end date, so they can both achieve what they need.
What follows is a really sweet story, with an international flavour (I loved that it was set in Spain), great banter between these two very likeable characters, and an almost slow burn romance. I loved how they were both pining for the other without admitting as much 😊
Ms. Azzi’s writing is so easy to read this story flows effortlessly, there’s some drama for interest, but mainly this is low on angst.
The secondary characters bring a lot to the story, I really liked that Marlowe connected with and built solid friendships in Spain and I especially loved her “older” friends back in Rhode Island, the family relationships are strong for both of them.
I enjoyed this a lot. For the first in a series, it sets the world and the tone for the series brilliantly making me look forward to more to come.
She doesn’t know he’s a star football player when she accepts to continue her night with him resulting in their image being plastered all over the media with speculations about her being a new girlfriend.
They enjoyed their night together so he leverages the press and has her agreeing to embark on a fake relationship with him, with an end date, so they can both achieve what they need.
What follows is a really sweet story, with an international flavour (I loved that it was set in Spain), great banter between these two very likeable characters, and an almost slow burn romance. I loved how they were both pining for the other without admitting as much 😊
Ms. Azzi’s writing is so easy to read this story flows effortlessly, there’s some drama for interest, but mainly this is low on angst.
The secondary characters bring a lot to the story, I really liked that Marlowe connected with and built solid friendships in Spain and I especially loved her “older” friends back in Rhode Island, the family relationships are strong for both of them.
I enjoyed this a lot. For the first in a series, it sets the world and the tone for the series brilliantly making me look forward to more to come.
August 27, 2025
Tropes:
- Sports romance
- Contemporary
- Fake dating
- Family themes
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️
Thank you so much to @Dreamscape Select and @Netgalley for the ALC
Marlowe Prescott, American heiress, flies to Spain to surprise her boyfriend only to walk in on him cheating. Heartbroken, she stumbles into a nearby bar to drown her sorrows, but when every card in her wallet gets declined, things go from bad to worse. Enter Alejandro García: the mysterious local who pays her tab and sweeps her into a whirlwind night of dancing, drinking, and one unforgettable kiss.
What Marlowe doesn’t realize is that her charming stranger is actually one of the top football players in Spain—and that the kiss they shared is already making the rounds on social media.
So, all in all, this was a short and sweet book.
The main couple has great chemistry, the drama is minimal, and everything flows pretty easily (sometimes *too* easily). Alejandro is all green flags: caring, sexy, responsible. Marlowe is warm, determined, and refreshingly honest. Plus, I liked that they’re both family oriented, it made their connection feel grounded.
That said, a few things didn’t sit as well with me. For one, Alejandro’s history as a self-proclaimed playboy is brushed off the moment he meets Marlowe, who stands out because she’s “classy” and “serious.” It felt a bit reductive—almost as if every woman before her was disposable until *the right one* came along. Seemed like a missed opportunity to spice the narrative a bit.
And while the story is enjoyable, I couldn’t shake the sense that the author was hesitant to lean into real conflict. Without spoiling anything, issues that could have been truly dramatic or even traumatic were glossed over and resolved in days or even less. As a result, the lows never felt very low, which meant the highs didn’t quite soar either.
Still, I had a good time with it, especially thanks to the audiobook narrators, who completely elevated the story. So if you’re looking for a fluffy, light sports romance (with a really fun audio), *Winning Match* is worth a try.
Next is solely for the audiobook:
Wow, duet narration makes a world of difference in how I experienced this book.
Angelina Rocca and Marcio Catalano are the narrators and both are amaazing. At first, I was worried the MMC would sound off since he’s supposed to have a Spanish accent. Worries unfounded—Marcio nails it, completely bringing Alejandro to life with all his smoothness, tenderness, and sexiness. I was giggling and cackling half the time. And let me tell you: listening with headphones on is a whole experience.
Angelina was fantastic as well; she infused Marlowe with candor and just the right touch of naïveté, making her a very likable FMC.
There are a few minor grammatical and pronunciation slips in the Spanish (like *bienvenido* instead of *bienvenida*, or “Reuben” instead of “Rubén”), but nothing that truly detracts from the performance.
All in all, I had a great time listening and completely recommend it.
- Sports romance
- Contemporary
- Fake dating
- Family themes
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️
Thank you so much to @Dreamscape Select and @Netgalley for the ALC
Marlowe Prescott, American heiress, flies to Spain to surprise her boyfriend only to walk in on him cheating. Heartbroken, she stumbles into a nearby bar to drown her sorrows, but when every card in her wallet gets declined, things go from bad to worse. Enter Alejandro García: the mysterious local who pays her tab and sweeps her into a whirlwind night of dancing, drinking, and one unforgettable kiss.
What Marlowe doesn’t realize is that her charming stranger is actually one of the top football players in Spain—and that the kiss they shared is already making the rounds on social media.
So, all in all, this was a short and sweet book.
The main couple has great chemistry, the drama is minimal, and everything flows pretty easily (sometimes *too* easily). Alejandro is all green flags: caring, sexy, responsible. Marlowe is warm, determined, and refreshingly honest. Plus, I liked that they’re both family oriented, it made their connection feel grounded.
That said, a few things didn’t sit as well with me. For one, Alejandro’s history as a self-proclaimed playboy is brushed off the moment he meets Marlowe, who stands out because she’s “classy” and “serious.” It felt a bit reductive—almost as if every woman before her was disposable until *the right one* came along. Seemed like a missed opportunity to spice the narrative a bit.
And while the story is enjoyable, I couldn’t shake the sense that the author was hesitant to lean into real conflict. Without spoiling anything, issues that could have been truly dramatic or even traumatic were glossed over and resolved in days or even less. As a result, the lows never felt very low, which meant the highs didn’t quite soar either.
Still, I had a good time with it, especially thanks to the audiobook narrators, who completely elevated the story. So if you’re looking for a fluffy, light sports romance (with a really fun audio), *Winning Match* is worth a try.
Next is solely for the audiobook:
Wow, duet narration makes a world of difference in how I experienced this book.
Angelina Rocca and Marcio Catalano are the narrators and both are amaazing. At first, I was worried the MMC would sound off since he’s supposed to have a Spanish accent. Worries unfounded—Marcio nails it, completely bringing Alejandro to life with all his smoothness, tenderness, and sexiness. I was giggling and cackling half the time. And let me tell you: listening with headphones on is a whole experience.
Angelina was fantastic as well; she infused Marlowe with candor and just the right touch of naïveté, making her a very likable FMC.
There are a few minor grammatical and pronunciation slips in the Spanish (like *bienvenido* instead of *bienvenida*, or “Reuben” instead of “Rubén”), but nothing that truly detracts from the performance.
All in all, I had a great time listening and completely recommend it.
August 28, 2025
⚽ Winning Match by Gina Azzi
⭐⭐⭐
A football star with a PR crisis and shipping heiress with a failing business decide on a fake relationship for their benefits - but lines start to blur as they find more common ground between themselves, a recipe for swoon-worthy romance.
KICKOFF THOUGHTS
It was my first ever audiobook. I never read an audiobook with no text support, so this was new for me and surprisingly enjoyable and made me eager to try more.
❤️LOVELYY
•The initial idea of book, their relationship was absolutely entertaining, and I really enjoyed the idea of a football player and a shipping heiress.The club and everything, it was all very fun.
•The book flowed, the plot was simple and entertaining, the characters were fun with smooth pacing that kept me engaged.
•I liked the side characters - Ale's teammates, Marlow's new friend Bianca--and also the sewing circle,.
•I love Marlow as she's very headstrong, supportive and loving character.
•Their relationship development was so soft and sweet, and I loved how it grew.
•And for the audiobook part, I am not someone who is well-versed in Spanish so I don’t know much about it enough to have a lot of opinion on it. I do think that the narrator's made the book engaging and also loved the duet narration. They nailed all the charcters perfectly , did justice to the book.and I enjoyed it.
🚫UNLOVELY
•Ale just let his insecurities take the front seat which frustated me. He only saw what his insecurities showed him .He didn’t have the perspective, didn’t confide his feelings to Marlo or any other person.
•The conflict relied too heavily on Ale’s insecurities, which felt frustrating
•The third-act breakup and miscommunication trope just didn’t land well, it felt like forced obligation.
•When the conflict reached the height , it felt underwhelming.
•The storyline overall wasn’t unique enough for me.
💫FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, Winning Game was a fun, refreshing and entertaining listen. Not groundbreaking, not unforgettable, but definitely worth a try if you like football romances and want a breezy audiobook experience.
P.S. Anyways, I just want to confess that the reason for me picking up this book was just my feelings, myself, and I couldn’t miss the opportunity because Shakira’s Waka Waka World Cup days live rent-free in my head… and since this is about Spanish football, I couldn’t resist, because maybe it would have those feelings. And it did, and that’s why I was absolutely entertained. I loved this book."
✨ Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for providing me with an ALC of this book.
⭐⭐⭐
A football star with a PR crisis and shipping heiress with a failing business decide on a fake relationship for their benefits - but lines start to blur as they find more common ground between themselves, a recipe for swoon-worthy romance.
KICKOFF THOUGHTS
It was my first ever audiobook. I never read an audiobook with no text support, so this was new for me and surprisingly enjoyable and made me eager to try more.
❤️LOVELYY
•The initial idea of book, their relationship was absolutely entertaining, and I really enjoyed the idea of a football player and a shipping heiress.The club and everything, it was all very fun.
•The book flowed, the plot was simple and entertaining, the characters were fun with smooth pacing that kept me engaged.
•I liked the side characters - Ale's teammates, Marlow's new friend Bianca--and also the sewing circle,.
•I love Marlow as she's very headstrong, supportive and loving character.
•Their relationship development was so soft and sweet, and I loved how it grew.
•And for the audiobook part, I am not someone who is well-versed in Spanish so I don’t know much about it enough to have a lot of opinion on it. I do think that the narrator's made the book engaging and also loved the duet narration. They nailed all the charcters perfectly , did justice to the book.and I enjoyed it.
🚫UNLOVELY
•Ale just let his insecurities take the front seat which frustated me. He only saw what his insecurities showed him .He didn’t have the perspective, didn’t confide his feelings to Marlo or any other person.
•The conflict relied too heavily on Ale’s insecurities, which felt frustrating
•The third-act breakup and miscommunication trope just didn’t land well, it felt like forced obligation.
•When the conflict reached the height , it felt underwhelming.
•The storyline overall wasn’t unique enough for me.
💫FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, Winning Game was a fun, refreshing and entertaining listen. Not groundbreaking, not unforgettable, but definitely worth a try if you like football romances and want a breezy audiobook experience.
P.S. Anyways, I just want to confess that the reason for me picking up this book was just my feelings, myself, and I couldn’t miss the opportunity because Shakira’s Waka Waka World Cup days live rent-free in my head… and since this is about Spanish football, I couldn’t resist, because maybe it would have those feelings. And it did, and that’s why I was absolutely entertained. I loved this book."
✨ Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for providing me with an ALC of this book.
September 2, 2025
Winning Match kicks off the new League Valencia series and takes us to Valencia, Spain, a place that's near and dear to the author's heart. I love traveling internationally through books and this was no exception. I could envision what Valencia would be like and all the beauty that lies within.
Marlowe travels to Spain to surprise her boyfriend but discovers his infidelity. She goes to a local bar where she meets Alejandro, star fútbol player, but she has no idea who he is. He picks up her tab, they dance and spend the evening together simply enjoying each other's company. After pics of them go viral the following morning, Marlowe and Alejandro take advantage of the opportunity to create a narrative. They agree to a fake relationship to help both Alejandro's recent negative press and Marlowe's family business.
And that's where it all begins. What happens when real feelings become involved? When friends become lovers and lines blur, is a future even possible between Marlowe and Alejandro? Alejandro wants to be a good man, for his family, for his legacy, for his teammates, for Marlowe.
Marlowe takes care of everyone else especially with her dad's health failing but who shows up for her? And that's where Alejandro comes in. I could completely identify with what Marlowe experienced with her father and I only wish I could find a man like Alejandro. I loved how he was all in from the start, protective and patient and understanding. And I loved Marlowe's growth as she moved on from her ex and stepped up for her family's business.
This was a feel-good story of love and hope and possibility. Marlowe became Alejandro's undoing and I loved the way he fell hard and fast for her. The things this man says...
"I won't let you go."
"Please, mi niña, let me love you."
Swoon! The narration was fantastic, Angelina Rocca already one of my favorites and new to me Marcio Catalano nailing Alejandro's sexy accent. If you want to travel to Valencia and enjoy the following, this story is definitely worth the listen!
⚽️ Soccer Romance
🌟 Fake Relationship
⚽️ Secret Celebrity
🌟 Forced Proximity
⚽️ Reformed Playboy
🌟 He Falls First
⚽️ Found Family
* Special thanks to author Gina Azzi, Dreamscape Select and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this ALC!
Marlowe travels to Spain to surprise her boyfriend but discovers his infidelity. She goes to a local bar where she meets Alejandro, star fútbol player, but she has no idea who he is. He picks up her tab, they dance and spend the evening together simply enjoying each other's company. After pics of them go viral the following morning, Marlowe and Alejandro take advantage of the opportunity to create a narrative. They agree to a fake relationship to help both Alejandro's recent negative press and Marlowe's family business.
And that's where it all begins. What happens when real feelings become involved? When friends become lovers and lines blur, is a future even possible between Marlowe and Alejandro? Alejandro wants to be a good man, for his family, for his legacy, for his teammates, for Marlowe.
Marlowe takes care of everyone else especially with her dad's health failing but who shows up for her? And that's where Alejandro comes in. I could completely identify with what Marlowe experienced with her father and I only wish I could find a man like Alejandro. I loved how he was all in from the start, protective and patient and understanding. And I loved Marlowe's growth as she moved on from her ex and stepped up for her family's business.
This was a feel-good story of love and hope and possibility. Marlowe became Alejandro's undoing and I loved the way he fell hard and fast for her. The things this man says...
"I won't let you go."
"Please, mi niña, let me love you."
Swoon! The narration was fantastic, Angelina Rocca already one of my favorites and new to me Marcio Catalano nailing Alejandro's sexy accent. If you want to travel to Valencia and enjoy the following, this story is definitely worth the listen!
⚽️ Soccer Romance
🌟 Fake Relationship
⚽️ Secret Celebrity
🌟 Forced Proximity
⚽️ Reformed Playboy
🌟 He Falls First
⚽️ Found Family
* Special thanks to author Gina Azzi, Dreamscape Select and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this ALC!
November 3, 2025
I gave this book 4 stars because it was a sweet, easy, low drama, quick read. There were some shortcomings in terms of the MFC and the utter lack of making the MMC character beg when he okie doked her near the end, but the plot, pacing, intimacy was just where it should have been for a ch a fast story.
The book’s main characters are Spaniard Alejandro “Ale” Garcia and kick her when she’s down Marlowe. They meet at a bar where Marlowe is licking her wounds after having flown all the way from the states to surprise her now ex-boyfriend, but finding him in a compromising position. Alejandro sensing that she’s in the dumps, kindly pays for her drink, and that kicks off the start of their relationship. Alejandro is not doing too well himself and is considered quite a difficult professional soccer player who brings scandal and embarrassment in the way he lives his life.
So Marlowe and Ale, decide to concoct a fake boyfriend and girlfriend scheme to get certain groups off of Alejandro‘s back in exchange for helping Marlowe with her family‘s struggling company.
To be very frank Alejandro‘s character is very well drawn and has more depth and complexity than Marlowe‘s. And that takes the book down a notch for me because Marlowe is actually this beautiful, quiet strength that is underappreciated by those that she supports. She is a bottomless well of patience, kindness, grind and grit she is not flashy about how she gets things done.
There is one scene in the locker room with a stiff arm, where if I were her character, he would’ve gotten a heel to the nuts. But Marlow being this decent person allows the stiff arm.
By the end of the book, it is an absolute disgrace that Marlowe welcomes him back in very easily and with little fuss or fanfare, and the HEA is complete.
The secondary characters are lovely and the storyline with Marlow and her father was very heartwarming to see handled in a book with a lot going on. So a very quick sweet read and I think also a solid start to this series.
The book’s main characters are Spaniard Alejandro “Ale” Garcia and kick her when she’s down Marlowe. They meet at a bar where Marlowe is licking her wounds after having flown all the way from the states to surprise her now ex-boyfriend, but finding him in a compromising position. Alejandro sensing that she’s in the dumps, kindly pays for her drink, and that kicks off the start of their relationship. Alejandro is not doing too well himself and is considered quite a difficult professional soccer player who brings scandal and embarrassment in the way he lives his life.
So Marlowe and Ale, decide to concoct a fake boyfriend and girlfriend scheme to get certain groups off of Alejandro‘s back in exchange for helping Marlowe with her family‘s struggling company.
To be very frank Alejandro‘s character is very well drawn and has more depth and complexity than Marlowe‘s. And that takes the book down a notch for me because Marlowe is actually this beautiful, quiet strength that is underappreciated by those that she supports. She is a bottomless well of patience, kindness, grind and grit she is not flashy about how she gets things done.
There is one scene in the locker room with a stiff arm, where if I were her character, he would’ve gotten a heel to the nuts. But Marlow being this decent person allows the stiff arm.
By the end of the book, it is an absolute disgrace that Marlowe welcomes him back in very easily and with little fuss or fanfare, and the HEA is complete.
The secondary characters are lovely and the storyline with Marlow and her father was very heartwarming to see handled in a book with a lot going on. So a very quick sweet read and I think also a solid start to this series.
July 29, 2025
Winning Match by Gina Azzi is an absolute delight for any romance reader looking for a story that's as charming as it is heartfelt! From the moment Marlowe, newly single and in a pickle in Valencia, crosses paths with the swoon-worthy Alejandro, I was completely hooked. Their meet-cute, involving a stranded Marlowe and a chivalrous (and incredibly attractive) Ale, sets the stage for a fake relationship trope that's executed to perfection.
What truly shined in this book was the character growth. Marlowe starts off a bit lost, but throughout the story, she truly comes into her own, finding her footing both personally and professionally. And Alejandro? Oh, Ale! He's introduced as the quintessential playboy soccer star, but as the layers are peeled back, you see a man with depth and genuine affection. Watching them both evolve, individually and as a couple, was incredibly satisfying. You really root for them!
The pacing of Winning Match was spot on. It's a quick, engaging read that never drags. The story moves at a delightful clip, keeping you eager to turn the page and see what happens next. There's a perfect balance of witty banter, emotional moments, and just enough tension to keep things interesting without ever feeling rushed.
And the chemistry! Goodness, the chemistry between Marlowe and Alejandro practically sizzles off the page. Their fake kisses quickly turn into something undeniably real, and you can feel the connection building with every shared glance, every late-night conversation. Gina Azzi does an excellent job of making their romance feel authentic and earned, even with the initial "fake" premise. The way their relationship develops from a convenient agreement to genuine, deep affection is beautifully done.
If you're a fan of fake relationship tropes, charming heroes, strong heroines, and a romance that will leave you with a big smile, you absolutely need to pick up Winning Match. It's a winning match indeed!
What truly shined in this book was the character growth. Marlowe starts off a bit lost, but throughout the story, she truly comes into her own, finding her footing both personally and professionally. And Alejandro? Oh, Ale! He's introduced as the quintessential playboy soccer star, but as the layers are peeled back, you see a man with depth and genuine affection. Watching them both evolve, individually and as a couple, was incredibly satisfying. You really root for them!
The pacing of Winning Match was spot on. It's a quick, engaging read that never drags. The story moves at a delightful clip, keeping you eager to turn the page and see what happens next. There's a perfect balance of witty banter, emotional moments, and just enough tension to keep things interesting without ever feeling rushed.
And the chemistry! Goodness, the chemistry between Marlowe and Alejandro practically sizzles off the page. Their fake kisses quickly turn into something undeniably real, and you can feel the connection building with every shared glance, every late-night conversation. Gina Azzi does an excellent job of making their romance feel authentic and earned, even with the initial "fake" premise. The way their relationship develops from a convenient agreement to genuine, deep affection is beautifully done.
If you're a fan of fake relationship tropes, charming heroes, strong heroines, and a romance that will leave you with a big smile, you absolutely need to pick up Winning Match. It's a winning match indeed!
August 8, 2025
First, I'd like to thank Good Girls Pr and Gina Azzi for the arc!!
Now, I liked this book sm. It had a very good premise. The MMC, Ale, is Spain's hotshot football player(the real football). His reputation is not so great lately, mostly because he has a bit of a playboy image.
The FMC, Marlowe, is the heir to a sailing company that seems to be in trouble. She is in Spain to secure a deal for her family company.
They meet by chance, and there is an instant click. The best part? She doesn't seem to recognize the popular player, so for Ale, she is like a breath of fresh air, someone who seems to like him for him and not for his popularity.
I enjoyed the night scene so much, Marlowe getting the taste of how people partied over there was really fun.
With a twist of turn, they agree to fake date. Ale gets to revamp his image and deal with the PR crisis he has, and Marlowe secures a meeting with the man she had come to deal with in Spain.
it was a mutual agreement, but soon the lines began to blur, and both of them are in a race against time because giving in to each other was inevitable.
I enjoyed the side charachters a lot and I'm excited to read their books, if they get one ofcourse. Another thing I adored was the sewing circle and Marlowe's bond with them. Also both of their families were so amazing, they loved it each other so much. It was fun to read about them.
I really wanna know more about Rafa and I'm so excited for Bianca's book(i hope she gets one)
The only thing I didnt like was that there were some instances where the fmc was kind of described as 'not like other girls' which is personally not for me but other than that i liked this book.
Now, I liked this book sm. It had a very good premise. The MMC, Ale, is Spain's hotshot football player(the real football). His reputation is not so great lately, mostly because he has a bit of a playboy image.
The FMC, Marlowe, is the heir to a sailing company that seems to be in trouble. She is in Spain to secure a deal for her family company.
They meet by chance, and there is an instant click. The best part? She doesn't seem to recognize the popular player, so for Ale, she is like a breath of fresh air, someone who seems to like him for him and not for his popularity.
I enjoyed the night scene so much, Marlowe getting the taste of how people partied over there was really fun.
With a twist of turn, they agree to fake date. Ale gets to revamp his image and deal with the PR crisis he has, and Marlowe secures a meeting with the man she had come to deal with in Spain.
it was a mutual agreement, but soon the lines began to blur, and both of them are in a race against time because giving in to each other was inevitable.
I enjoyed the side charachters a lot and I'm excited to read their books, if they get one ofcourse. Another thing I adored was the sewing circle and Marlowe's bond with them. Also both of their families were so amazing, they loved it each other so much. It was fun to read about them.
I really wanna know more about Rafa and I'm so excited for Bianca's book(i hope she gets one)
The only thing I didnt like was that there were some instances where the fmc was kind of described as 'not like other girls' which is personally not for me but other than that i liked this book.
August 8, 2025
This book was a very easy to read romance. I did have some issues with some aspects of the book but overall I did somewhat enjoy it!
The whole plot of the story is something that kept me engaged, I was eager to see how Ale’s career, Marlowe’s family business and her dad would turn out in the end. I loved how this book was based in Valencia Spain and how the author included the Spanish culture all the way through the book. As I mentioned, this book I found very easy to read and it was easy to follow along but it doesn’t mean the writing was simple. The author’s actual writing and the language they used was very plausible and added to the book.
Like I mentioned I did have a couple of issues. First is how quick Ale’s and Marlowe’s relationship developed. This may just be a me thing because I don’t enjoy the whole insta love thing but they met one night in a bar and instantly became infatuated with each other and Ale wants to protect her even when he knows nothing about her. Then Marlowe goes from not wanting to open up to Ale because he’s a stranger then in the next chapter doing exactly that. I did like Marlowe’s friendship with Bianca, but again it was very quickly developed. I did say I liked the author’s writing however they would mention Marlow biting her bottom lip at least once in every chapter and it just became repetitive and frustrating to me.
Even though I had some qualms with this book it was a good read and if you’re into fast paced quick read romances you will probably thoroughly enjoy it.
Thank you Good Girls PR for providing me with an arc for this book!
The whole plot of the story is something that kept me engaged, I was eager to see how Ale’s career, Marlowe’s family business and her dad would turn out in the end. I loved how this book was based in Valencia Spain and how the author included the Spanish culture all the way through the book. As I mentioned, this book I found very easy to read and it was easy to follow along but it doesn’t mean the writing was simple. The author’s actual writing and the language they used was very plausible and added to the book.
Like I mentioned I did have a couple of issues. First is how quick Ale’s and Marlowe’s relationship developed. This may just be a me thing because I don’t enjoy the whole insta love thing but they met one night in a bar and instantly became infatuated with each other and Ale wants to protect her even when he knows nothing about her. Then Marlowe goes from not wanting to open up to Ale because he’s a stranger then in the next chapter doing exactly that. I did like Marlowe’s friendship with Bianca, but again it was very quickly developed. I did say I liked the author’s writing however they would mention Marlow biting her bottom lip at least once in every chapter and it just became repetitive and frustrating to me.
Even though I had some qualms with this book it was a good read and if you’re into fast paced quick read romances you will probably thoroughly enjoy it.
Thank you Good Girls PR for providing me with an arc for this book!
August 15, 2025
Marlowe Prescott is beyond excited to surprise her boyfriend in Valencia, but finds out he’s unfaithful and quickly makes him an ex. Alone, tipsy, and unable to pay for her drinks, a stunningly handsome stranger offers to help her. Alejandro Garcia is a futbol star for League Valencia. Frequently caught in the tabloids for his playboy antics, Ale tries desperately to mend his image while living up to the expectations of his legendary father. When he meets a stunning woman in a bar and she has no idea who he is, Ale finally feels like he can be himself. Instantly attracted to one another, Ale and Marlowe test out a fake relationship that will help both of them if they can keep up the ruse.
This is a low-angst, sweet story that captures the whirlwind romance of Ale and Marlowe. This gave off such cute rom-com vibes as Marlowe lives out a dream of finding a sexy professional athlete who sweeps her off her feet. Marlowe has always put family and obligations first, and is now under pressure to close a deal to save the family business. But Ale is there to encourage and support Marlowe as she seamlessly integrates herself into life in Valencia. Ale has lived under constant scrutiny and pressure, and never feels like he’s enough, but Marlowe’s ease and genuine spirit finally help him become the man he wants to be. The way Valencia was described might make you want to jet-set to Spain, and I enjoyed the way that the soccer culture was portrayed. This was fun, light, and overall a cute read for those that enjoy instant-love sports romances.
Thank you to Good Girls for the opportunity to read. This is my honest review and is provided voluntarily.
This is a low-angst, sweet story that captures the whirlwind romance of Ale and Marlowe. This gave off such cute rom-com vibes as Marlowe lives out a dream of finding a sexy professional athlete who sweeps her off her feet. Marlowe has always put family and obligations first, and is now under pressure to close a deal to save the family business. But Ale is there to encourage and support Marlowe as she seamlessly integrates herself into life in Valencia. Ale has lived under constant scrutiny and pressure, and never feels like he’s enough, but Marlowe’s ease and genuine spirit finally help him become the man he wants to be. The way Valencia was described might make you want to jet-set to Spain, and I enjoyed the way that the soccer culture was portrayed. This was fun, light, and overall a cute read for those that enjoy instant-love sports romances.
Thank you to Good Girls for the opportunity to read. This is my honest review and is provided voluntarily.
August 16, 2025
This book was just a delight to read.
I loved the characters.
The main characters Alejandro and Marlowe.
They are genuinely good nice people. People I’d love to have in my circle.
Ale is a love’em and leave’em type of guy. But he always always is upfront with this intentions.
Or in his case lack of intentions. Lol. He is not a bad guy. He just doesn’t want to settle down.
But because he’s a professional soccer player.
And the paparazzi always detailing his every move. With photos splashing the front pages.
He’s under strict orders to tone down his behavior.
Marli is the biggest sweetheart. Her circle is small. But the love with them is big.
She is COO of her family business. One that is going through difficulties.
Her father is sick. Her grandfather is up there in years. So it falls on her shoulders to succeed.
Her and Ale come to a mutual agreement that will benefit them both.
A fake relationship.
I enjoyed their interactions and their conversations. I adored how Ale was so protective of Marli.
Their chemistry is simmering and brewing. I knew they would be magical together.
What makes this story more special is the bonds of family in the book.
Both Ale and Marli have strong family ties. Their families are an integral part of their lives.
I just loved that.
Seeing the love of family and how they come together in times of crisis and need was just heartwarming.
The secondary characters are all amazing and play important roles in the story.
Found family and friends made Winning Match a special heart warming story.
When I finished reading the book I was happy and content.
I loved the characters.
The main characters Alejandro and Marlowe.
They are genuinely good nice people. People I’d love to have in my circle.
Ale is a love’em and leave’em type of guy. But he always always is upfront with this intentions.
Or in his case lack of intentions. Lol. He is not a bad guy. He just doesn’t want to settle down.
But because he’s a professional soccer player.
And the paparazzi always detailing his every move. With photos splashing the front pages.
He’s under strict orders to tone down his behavior.
Marli is the biggest sweetheart. Her circle is small. But the love with them is big.
She is COO of her family business. One that is going through difficulties.
Her father is sick. Her grandfather is up there in years. So it falls on her shoulders to succeed.
Her and Ale come to a mutual agreement that will benefit them both.
A fake relationship.
I enjoyed their interactions and their conversations. I adored how Ale was so protective of Marli.
Their chemistry is simmering and brewing. I knew they would be magical together.
What makes this story more special is the bonds of family in the book.
Both Ale and Marli have strong family ties. Their families are an integral part of their lives.
I just loved that.
Seeing the love of family and how they come together in times of crisis and need was just heartwarming.
The secondary characters are all amazing and play important roles in the story.
Found family and friends made Winning Match a special heart warming story.
When I finished reading the book I was happy and content.
July 18, 2025
After a trip to Spain to see her boyfriend backfires spectacularly, Marlowe finds herself in a foreign country having her credit card declined. Enter Ale, a playboy futbol star who offers to pay for her drinks with no strings attached when he realizes she doesn't know who he is. When he leaves the bar, but comes back to check on her, he offers to take her out for a night to experience Valencia before she flies home. When the paparazzi catches wind of their night out and Marlowe mentions that she needs to make some connections for her business, Ale realizes a fake relationship might benefit both of them. You know where this is heading... soon lines are blurred but the clock is ticking down.
Ale had me swooning from his first interaction with Marlowe, proving that he is more gentleman than player for the right lady. Watching their friendship and subsequent romance unfold was heartwarming yet frustrating in a good way. This is a slow burn story, but the chemistry is fantastic. I also really liked the peek into professional soccer. There was a nice balance between the sport and the romance developing, as well as a small window into Marlowe's passion of sailing near the end of the story. With just enough drama to further the story and a cast of fun, supporting characters, this sports romance kicks off the series with a bang.
Winning Match is the standalone book one in the League Valencia series, a new interconnected series. Can't wait to read more about Luca, Bianca and the rest of the team!
Ale had me swooning from his first interaction with Marlowe, proving that he is more gentleman than player for the right lady. Watching their friendship and subsequent romance unfold was heartwarming yet frustrating in a good way. This is a slow burn story, but the chemistry is fantastic. I also really liked the peek into professional soccer. There was a nice balance between the sport and the romance developing, as well as a small window into Marlowe's passion of sailing near the end of the story. With just enough drama to further the story and a cast of fun, supporting characters, this sports romance kicks off the series with a bang.
Winning Match is the standalone book one in the League Valencia series, a new interconnected series. Can't wait to read more about Luca, Bianca and the rest of the team!
August 21, 2025
Winning Match by Gina Azzi, book one in the League Valencia series, is a wonderful, emotional, heartfelt, fake-dating, sports romance. Taking a break from her duties running Prescott sails, Marlowe Prescott flew from Rhode Island to Valencia, Spain to surprise her boyfriend but she gets the surprise; catching him with another woman. Drowning her sorrows at a local cantina, her credit cards get declined, feeling stranded, when a handsome stranger pays her tab. Alejandro Garcia, Ale, is a talented, handsome soccer player for League Valencia and is intrigued that Marlowe doesn’t know who he is.
Ale and Marlowe spend a fun night out on the town getting to know each other. Ale just wants one night to be a regular guy but the paparazzi have other thoughts. When they post pictures of the two of them out they strike up a deal. He will help her get the meeting with a potential client and she will fake date him to help improve his image in the public eye. They agree to a timeline to make it all happen, but the more time they spend together the more the lines begin to blur.
From the first second they laid eyes on each other magnetic attraction and sizzling chemistry sizzled between them, but depending on friendship while pretending to be together built a stronger foundation for the feelings that neither expected or saw coming. Decisions about feelings and a future need to be decided before their time is up and Marlowe returns to Rhode Island.
I love the "Sewing Circle" ladies with their support and guidance, along with Ale’s his teammates who were there for him. Then there’s Bianca, sister of Ale’s best friend, who bonded with Marlowe, sharing an apartment together, and being her friend. This story definitely touched my heart and I can’t wait for the next one in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#WinningMatch #GinaAzzi #LeagueValencia #SportsRomance
Ale and Marlowe spend a fun night out on the town getting to know each other. Ale just wants one night to be a regular guy but the paparazzi have other thoughts. When they post pictures of the two of them out they strike up a deal. He will help her get the meeting with a potential client and she will fake date him to help improve his image in the public eye. They agree to a timeline to make it all happen, but the more time they spend together the more the lines begin to blur.
From the first second they laid eyes on each other magnetic attraction and sizzling chemistry sizzled between them, but depending on friendship while pretending to be together built a stronger foundation for the feelings that neither expected or saw coming. Decisions about feelings and a future need to be decided before their time is up and Marlowe returns to Rhode Island.
I love the "Sewing Circle" ladies with their support and guidance, along with Ale’s his teammates who were there for him. Then there’s Bianca, sister of Ale’s best friend, who bonded with Marlowe, sharing an apartment together, and being her friend. This story definitely touched my heart and I can’t wait for the next one in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#WinningMatch #GinaAzzi #LeagueValencia #SportsRomance
July 29, 2025
3.5 stars
🎧ALC review 🎧
📚WINNING MATCH by Gina Azzi
🎤Duet narration by Marcio Catalano & Angelina Rocca
💘 Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Select for this ALC!
This was a fun sports rom-com and an insaannnneee audiobook!
What I did like:
-Set in Valencia, Spain - made such a nice and unique setting
-Good diverse cast of characters across the board
-Family obligations is a good theme across the board and you get to hear from a lot of fun side characters
-Appears this will be a series, looking forward to reading on!!
-The AUDIO??? A beautiful performance from both narrators but my god… I didn’t know I needed Marcio doing a Spanish accent / speaking Spanish at all, but I am obsessedddd.
-Duet audio already made this such a fantastic experience and I love anything Angelina narrates obviously
-Audio alone is 5 stars
What I didn’t like:
-I felt the story overall was very rushed
-She arrives in Spain to meet her boyfriend of 5 years, finds him cheating on her, and really he’s hardly discussed again. Same night she meets our MMC and things take off from there.
-I had a hard time suspending reality here, it just felt glossed over
-Same with the progression of their relationship, I didn’t feel like they spent much time together and then suddenly they were in love
-Characters felt a bit immature for their age (mid 20s?)
🎧ALC review 🎧
📚WINNING MATCH by Gina Azzi
🎤Duet narration by Marcio Catalano & Angelina Rocca
💘 Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Select for this ALC!
This was a fun sports rom-com and an insaannnneee audiobook!
What I did like:
-Set in Valencia, Spain - made such a nice and unique setting
-Good diverse cast of characters across the board
-Family obligations is a good theme across the board and you get to hear from a lot of fun side characters
-Appears this will be a series, looking forward to reading on!!
-The AUDIO??? A beautiful performance from both narrators but my god… I didn’t know I needed Marcio doing a Spanish accent / speaking Spanish at all, but I am obsessedddd.
-Duet audio already made this such a fantastic experience and I love anything Angelina narrates obviously
-Audio alone is 5 stars
What I didn’t like:
-I felt the story overall was very rushed
-She arrives in Spain to meet her boyfriend of 5 years, finds him cheating on her, and really he’s hardly discussed again. Same night she meets our MMC and things take off from there.
-I had a hard time suspending reality here, it just felt glossed over
-Same with the progression of their relationship, I didn’t feel like they spent much time together and then suddenly they were in love
-Characters felt a bit immature for their age (mid 20s?)
August 17, 2025
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:
Story: 5 stars Narration: 5 stars Overall: 5 stars
The Winning Match is a delightful sports romance set in Valencia, Spain. Alejandro is a football player for League Valencia with a poor PR image. Marlowe came to Spain for a surprise visit to see her boyfriend. However, she is disappointed to find him cheating on her. The same evening, Marlowe meets Ale in a bar. He is fascinated by her at first because she doesn’t know who he is. This changes to something else over time. Can their fake dating relationship become real and last? Sit back, relax and listen(with headphones please).
The duet narration by Angelina Rocca and Marcio Catalano was absolutely phenomenal. All of Marlowe’s emotions, from her sadness, uncertainty, anxiety, apprehension to her sass, caring nature, passion and love were clearly expressed by Angelina Rocca. Her portrayal of the sewing circle ladies was marvelous. Marcio Catalano as Alejandro-absolute perfection. His Spanish accent was swoon worthy. I loved the tone he used just for Marlowe-soft, sultry, seductive and sweet. You could feel the chemistry between the characters. The author’s description of the Spanish countryside was beautiful. I highly recommend listening to this fantastic audiobook. It is brilliantly narrated by two extremely talented voice actors.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for this ALC.
Story: 5 stars Narration: 5 stars Overall: 5 stars
The Winning Match is a delightful sports romance set in Valencia, Spain. Alejandro is a football player for League Valencia with a poor PR image. Marlowe came to Spain for a surprise visit to see her boyfriend. However, she is disappointed to find him cheating on her. The same evening, Marlowe meets Ale in a bar. He is fascinated by her at first because she doesn’t know who he is. This changes to something else over time. Can their fake dating relationship become real and last? Sit back, relax and listen(with headphones please).
The duet narration by Angelina Rocca and Marcio Catalano was absolutely phenomenal. All of Marlowe’s emotions, from her sadness, uncertainty, anxiety, apprehension to her sass, caring nature, passion and love were clearly expressed by Angelina Rocca. Her portrayal of the sewing circle ladies was marvelous. Marcio Catalano as Alejandro-absolute perfection. His Spanish accent was swoon worthy. I loved the tone he used just for Marlowe-soft, sultry, seductive and sweet. You could feel the chemistry between the characters. The author’s description of the Spanish countryside was beautiful. I highly recommend listening to this fantastic audiobook. It is brilliantly narrated by two extremely talented voice actors.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for this ALC.
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