Power Play: A Why Choose Hockey Romance

by Christina Sterling

Lacey Bennett is ready for a fresh start. Leaving her troubled past behind, she lands her dream job as a physical therapist for the North Carolina Titans, an NHL team that’s as dynamic off the ice as they are on it.

But her new beginning hits a snag when she discovers her high school sweetheart, Ben Kowalski, is one of the players.

Ben has never gotten over Lacey—the girl who got away. Now that fate has brought her back into his life, he’s determined to prove they belong together. But with Lacey guarded from past heartbreak and focused on her career, rekindling their love won’t be easy.

Garrett "Jonesy" Jones wants Lacey to see the man beneath his rough edges and give him the chance to be more than just the team’s playboy. But his fear of rejection—and the ghosts of his troubled past—threaten to sabotage his shot at something real. If he can’t win her over, he risks losing not only her but also the fragile sense of purpose he’s begun to find.

Scott Ward wants to protect Lacey from the chaos of the team and the shadows of her past while proving he’s more than the stoic, damaged man everyone sees. But his own scars and his fear of risking his heart again make it nearly impossible to let her in. If he can’t overcome his walls, he’ll lose the one woman who could finally bring light back into his life.

With the season heating up and team dynamics on the line, Lacey must find her footing amidst old flames, new attractions, and family betrayals. Will she risk her heart for a chance at love—or will the past keep her from scoring her ultimate goal?

"Power Play" is a steamy, emotional reverse harem hockey romance that will have you cheering for love on and off the ice. Perfect for fans of forbidden love, second chances, and unbreakable bonds.

Why Choose, Reverse Harem, Hockey Romance, Second Chance, Forbidden Romance, Workplace Romance, Surprise Pregnancy, Arranged Marriage, Age Gap, Happily Ever After

Genres: Why Choose, Hockey, Sports Romance, Sports, Second Chance, Romance, Workplace Romance

318 pages, Hardcover

Published June 17, 2025

Reviews

[Teah]

“so jonesy how do you feel about sharing your wife”

Honestly i enjoyed the second book way more than the first book.

The second book was amazing. I loved the pregnancy trope (usually hate it) but it was written great!
How they all stepped up and instantly became what they needed to be for her was just perfection.
I have a favourite MMC for both books which was my baby Gabe the grump and Ben who was just a sweetheart that had been in love with her since he was 15🥹

Just the way this whole thing was written it was such an easy read that i finished it in a day and there were no communication issues!!! I LOVE IT

All together i did really enjoy this series and i was my first time reading anything of Christina’s and i will definitely be adding more books by her to my tbr!🫶🏼🤍

[Ashley]

I liked the story but I wish there would have been more details in the second half of the book with the drama between Lacey and Tracey. The spice was spicy and the men were amazing. I loved that there was a silver fox in the mix. I have to say Scott was my favorite out of all the men. I can't say much without giving away too much. So if you like RH books you have to read this one with a silver fox, high school ex, and a playboy you won't get a better mix of men. So different and delicious.

[Dolores Evans]

Another incredible RH read by Christina Sterling! I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. I love her writing style, which is so unlike others it draws you in. I was so incredibly excited that this was the 2nd book to Hat Trick. I devoured the book and then reread it because I love the lightness of it. I absolutely loved Lacey and her men, I don't think I could choose a favorite, though. But I guess that's the point, you get them all, and they complete her. I will definitely be buying this one, too!

[Casey]

Lacey Bennet had a tough upbringing, dealing with neglectful parents and a pretty toxic twin sister, which made trusting others a real challenge for her. But she didn’t let that hold her back! Lacey worked hard to earn her sports clinical specialist certificate and got a job as a junior physical therapist for the NC Titans NHL team. There, she surprisingly reconnected with her high school sweetheart, Ben Kowalski, and met Coach Scott Ward and Garrett "Jonesy" Jones. Things took a twist when Lacey found herself unexpectedly pregnant after three one-night stands, but the three men in her life stepped up in amazing ways, providing her with the love and support she always dreamed of. Scott quickly became my favorite character! He was incredibly caring and protective of Lacey, always putting her first and showing a commitment that really made him shine. On the flip side, Lacey's twin sister, Tracey, was a constant source of frustration, doing her best to sabotage Lacey at every turn. This book is packed with several fun tropes like age-gap, second chance romance, reverse harem, hockey, surprise pregnancy, and family drama. It’s a captivating read for anyone who enjoys these themes, and I would absolutely recommend it!

[Justina Staniforth]

Ohemgeeeee… These three men and their woman - swoon!
I loved everything about Scott, Ben, Garrett and Lacey.
Their trust in each other, their devotion, and their desires!
When Lacey finds herself her dream job, and confidence to find herself, if only for one night, with not one but three men, the drama ensues.
Buried away by a lifetime of being brought up by parents that favoured a sibling and a sibling, that would do anything to destroy her twin, Lacey doubts everything good that comes into her life.
When life throws the biggest curve ball her way, will her three hockey players find the will and determination to be the men they need to be, or will self-doubt get in the way.
I loved these characters soooo much!!!
5 ⭐️
3.5 🌶️

[Jenn Dawson]

I loved this RH hockey read. What I loved most was how engaging not only the story was but also the characters. Christina did a great job of giving us a female character who worked to overcome her past and trusted her instincts as she fell in love with the different men in her life. I enjoyed that who I thought would be my favorite going in did not end up who I thought. Will definitely look for more from this author.

[₊⋆ Nyxia ☾]

This was a great spicy why choose!
The men were amazing. Super sweet and obsessed with Lacey.

ʟᴀᴄᴇʏ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴍʏ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ.
ᴍʏ ʙᴇɢɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍʏ ᴇɴᴅ.

The book is overall wholesome, which I loved. There is a lot of drama and family issues. The spice was super hot!

“𝕐𝕠𝕦'𝕧𝕖 𝕡𝕦𝕥 𝕦𝕡 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕖𝕟𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕖. 𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕕𝕖𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕."

I loved the forbidden aspect, we get a agegap and second chances. If you like why choose, with lots of spice I recommend so much!

[Melissa Wilks]

Before I read power play I quickly went back and read book 1 Hat Trick, and I'm glad I did, because our mmc Ben is introduced during this time. And he was such a sweetheart.
Book 2 focuses on Ben and his high school girlfriend Lacey as they navigate being around each other and having a second chance, plus introducing other people into the polygamous relationship Garrett and Scott.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and christina did brilliant with this series.

Chapter 40 is a repeat of chapter 32??? Error???

[Joleen Grace]

Love to see another RH where the men aren’t all cocky, perfect versions of themself. Love that Jonesy needed to learn to be loved and Coach was older but commanding. And Ben was the perfect balance. Plowed through this story so quickly! I want more!!

[Chantal]

This was tame for a RH book. I felt like the spice was very mild. I also felt like there were chunks missing from the book. It was like a lot was edited out. That was my main problem.

[Cheyenne Rivera]

This is a good read. I love a good why choose and this book is one of them. I enjoyed this read so much.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vivien R]

If you like reverse harems and hockey, then you'll love this book! I loved the characters' relationships with each other. There is drama and spice. I loved that there is twin sister drama. That always makes it so much more interesting. I definitely recommend reading it.

[C]

3.75⭐️

[Jessica Tomlinson]

A quick reverse harem instalove read. There is nothing like reading one of these when you need a palate cleanser from reading the heavy heavy stuff! Highly recommend!

[Nay]

Amazing! Christina writes another masterpiece. It’s steamy! It’s love. So much love. It’s family. The good, bad, and indifferent. I couldn’t put it down! It’s a must read!

[Alexis Miller]

This book sent me on such a wild ride for sure. All the past heartbreaks, banter, past issues, love and everything else made this book very much worth the read. I couldn't get enough of there characters. The drama and spice were top tier for sure and majorly made this a great read

[Narelle]

Lacey gets a new job with an NHL team, the North Carolina Titans, where she finds her high school sweetheart, Ben, is listed as a player. She finds herself entwined with three men - Ben, Garrett and Scott - who will do anything for her. This story has a bit of everything - sexy and spicy, forbidden, workplace, second chance, why choose, and family issues. A fab read, I wonder who's next??.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Madison]

I usually hate the surprise pregnancy trope but Christina wrote this so well, I really enjoyed it.

I felt connected to all of the characters and they all complimented each other really well. It was a great book!

The only part that needed a bit more was the drama with Tracey, it got resolved a little too quickly and then wasn’t mentioned again.

[Sheila M.]

Lacey Bennet’s family life growing up wasn’t great. She had neglectful parents, a psycho twin sister, and was too afraid to love. Despite her upbringing, Lacey put herself through school to earn a sports clinical specialist certificate and was hired as the junior physical therapist with the NC Titans NHL hockey team. Initially Lacey met Coach Scott Ward, and thought he was a handsome silver fox. She was shocked to find that Ben Kowalski, her first love from high school, was on the team. They hadn’t seen each other in eight years, but they never forgot each other.

Lacey met Garrett Jones (Jonesy) when she was having a panic attack, and they were fascinated with each other. Jonesy was tired of being a playboy and loner and wanted to be taken seriously. Lacey saw something in Garrett, so Scott and Ben did too. Lacey had a night with all of them, and they were enthralled with her and wanted more. The men get that opportunity when Lacey becomes pregnant. Their love for Lacey was so great that they were willing to share her. This is where the book title came into play. A hockey power play is when a team has a numerical advantage. Wink, wink!

My favorite character was Garrett, who grew emotionally and matured when he met Lacey. My least favorite character was Lacey’s twin sister Tracey, who was psycho. Tracey bullied Lacey their entire life and tried to take whatever Lacey had. Tracey’s latest antics included that she followed Lacey to NC, moved in next door so she could watch Lacey, lied on her resume to get as the social media manager with Lacey’s employer, and then Tracey set her sights on anyone that talked to Lacey.

This book covered multiple tropes: age-gap, second chance, reverse harem, hockey, surprise pregnancy, love at first sight, enemies to lovers, incapable of love, and family drama. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others that like these tropes.

[Tonna]

Lacey hadn't had an easy life, neglected by her parents, stalked and harassed by her twin sister, no luck with men. She is ready for a fresh start by becoming the Titan's newest PT. What she doesn't count on, after several intimate encounters with her ex, Ben, the coach, Scott, and the moody playboy, Jonsey (Garrett), I becoming pregnant with twins! The guys stand together and vow to protect Lacey and the babies, become a family, and all have a relationship, all while nor knowing who the father/fathers truly were.
All of these characters had a life lacking in love, but they quickly found it in each other, which made my heart melt. The way they didn't even care what the situation looked like to outsiders, they just wanted to be there for her, even though that meant sharing her.
Ben was my favorite. He had a history with Lacey but knew she needed more than just him. Garrett grew on me quickly. He never took any woman seriously until he met Lacey. His adoration of her was adorable. Scott was the glue that held their little family together, and I loved how he took control over the situation.
The babies, ahhhh... I was crying over how beautifully they all handled everything and how their family turned out, including marrying one of the guys!
This story was SO sweet and insanely spicy! Wow!
Lacey's twin was a psychopath though, did not like her one bit!
This was the best why choose romance!

[SJ]

Swoon and heat!

This hockey romance had a little bit of everything mixed in and I loved that! So many of my favorite tropes. Gahh, I just love this series. After the first book, I just knew I had to read this one and it did not disappoint. Christina Sterling is quickly becoming one of my fave sweet and spicy RH authors. I was laughing and swooning left and right. The romance and steam were spot on.

What you'll get:
RH
Series Book 2
Forbidden
Second Chance
Age-gap
Arranged marriage
Oopsy baby

Lacey is the girl next door. Totally down to earth and relatable. I like how her character was written. Her imperfections make her even more approachable and attractive.

Ben is ready to find love and settle down, except he gave his heart away a long time ago. He's her ex and first true love. First love never dies and that flame still burns strong. He is just the sweetest and his romance game was strong. *Swoon*

Garrett is the playboy flirt not ready to settle down, until...Tattooed bad-boy, yes please! As he slowly let his guard down he quickly became my favorite.

Scott aka Coach Ward (45) yummy white knight. Boss man. Total daddy vibes. Their instant attraction and connection gave me butterflies.

Lacey and her guys made me laugh and gave me good vibes. I love that giddy feeling I got throughout reading this story. There's a perfect amount of sweetness and spice. These book boyfriends are so yummy, I ate this book up.

Fantastic series, more please!

[Angie]

more like 2.5

Contradictions is the name of game.
There’s no way to get fully vested in this story. Lacey is a new PT, she can’t bare anything hockey because of her ex, but here she is 1st day new job with Titans hockey, she doesn’t look into the team or look up her ex. Surprise, Surprise guess who she bumps into. For Ben he regrets letting her go, wants another chance. There’s the silver fox Coach and selfish team brat.
The inconsistencies never end- the whole build up about the ex, and a blink after they meet again she’s “ I’ll always love, but l don’t want you” - age gap with the Coach is poorly executed- he played for 15 yrs, he’s been a coach for 2 decades, he’s 45 yrs old - math that. Coach is mega wealthy but the players aren’t. Of course the arrogant playboy, is under pressure to get married and produce an heir within the next year or lose his trust fund, is he doing anything to make this happen, well he’s having a pity party. Let’s not forget the manipulative psycho twin.
Ton of inconsistencies, Ben left high school and went straight to NHL -appx 8 years ago, but he’s been a rookie for 3 yrs - what happened to the other five, when she tells him to put a shirt on he puts on a college hoodie.
I really don’t get why I as a reader should be vested in storytelling if the author doesn’t care enough to stick their own plot lines.

[Xchartjex]

Power Play by Christina Sterling completely pulled me in and didn’t let go. I loved Lacey, she’s strong, layered, and easy to root for. Watching her navigate everything thrown at her while building relationships with her guys was such a satisfying journey. The chemistry was intense, the emotional moments hit hard, and the connections felt genuine and earned.

Her family, though? Whew. Her jealous twin, Tracey was just awful. The tension and toxicity there felt so real it made my blood boil at times. That conflict added so much depth to the story, but wow, I wanted to shake some sense into them more than once!
And then there’s Jonesy. I understood him. I really did. His perspective and struggles made sense… but sometimes I just wanted to kick him under the table and tell him to get it together! The emotional push and pull added so much to the story, though, and made the payoff even better.

If you love strong heroines, complicated family drama, and intense romantic dynamics with real emotional stakes, this one is definitely worth reading. I was hooked from start to finish and can’t wait for more from this author.

[Kaitlyn]

"Power Play: A Why Choose Hockey Romance" is another engaging addition to Christina Sterling's repertoire. While it didn't captivate me quite as much as her previous works, I still found plenty to love in this story.

Ben shines as a steady, drama-free presence, always there for Lacey. His grounded nature and unwavering support add a comforting layer to the narrative. Ward, on the other hand, brings the heat with his dominant and passionate personality. His deep love for Lacey and his dedication to building a family create some truly touching moments.

And then there's Garrett. Watching his character evolve was one of the highlights of the book for me. Sterling did a fantastic job bringing his journey full circle, adding a satisfying conclusion to his arc.

While the book may not have been my absolute favorite, it still offered a delightful reading experience with plenty of emotional depth and romance. If you're a fan of the why choose genre, this is definitely a story worth diving into.

[Jennifer English]

I actually adored this book. RH, multi POV, and in first person, makes it much easier for me to get sucked into a story, and this book has all 3! The support and love that all the guys gave Lacey in their own ways just goes to show that sometimes it takes more than 1 guy to give you all you need. 🤷🏼‍♀️😏 And spice, yeah, there's some good spice happening between the pages too. 🌶 🌶🌶

The background issues with Tracey, I feel, could have been a little more developed. We were told more of her threat than seeing it, except for a couple of instances, and I think it would have helped with seeing her as an actual threat instead of a nuisance. I enjoyed getting to see Lacey grow into a stronger version of herself while Jonesy grew into a softer version of himself. Ben stayed the loving boyfriend throughout and and Ward went from yummy silver fox to Daddy. Iykyk.

With a little more editing and some polishing up, this book could easily be upgraded to a 5 🌟 read for me.

[Rocky Mountain Red]

Ok, so good poly is HARD to find, and this, while a truely GREAT polyamory tale, still made me want to spank (and not in the fun way!) some common sense into the FMC. Why?!?! Because I WAS her. For the longest time (until my own grizzly man came into the picture) I was that sister (though not a twin) that shrank back, moved aside so the other sister could have all the attention she required. Yeah, I know why alligators eat their young. So, yes, I wanted to take the FMC by the shoulders and shake some sense into her. Thankfully by the end, the HEA comes through and I'm not as close as I once was to wanting to throw her from a moving train, but for a good chunk of the book, it was a close thing. The guys are too hot for words, so have a drool cloth ready for the spicy scenes, and hold on, 'cause once you get over wanting to smack a girlfriend, this is one wild ride.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Richard]

This is essentially a replay of the first book in this series in terms of the setup surrounding a NHL ice hockey team and a developing polyamorous relationship. This time we have Lacey as the MFC where she is starting her first job after qualifying as a physical therapist. As with the previous book she has a troubled family background, but here she enters into brief intimate encounters with three men in the team which results in an unplanned pregnancy.

Unlike the previous book there is not a strong linked background for the three men so we have a different dynamic on this front along with the pregnancy.

The characters are well developed, the plot moves forward well and there is a fair amount of emotional engagement along with erotic encounters.

This all comes together to make a strong story, although I would have liked some of the humour from the first book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Em]

📚✨ Power Play by Christina Sterling
⭐️ 3/5 | 🌶️ 2/5

This one had an unexpected pregnancy trope, which is usually a big turn-off for me. I will say, it was handled better than I expected, and I didn’t completely hate it, but it’s still not something I gravitate toward.

Overall, this was just okay for me, but I had some pretty big issues. I’m all for character growth, but I didn’t actually see enough change to buy into that redemption.

The family dynamics also felt off. I get that complicated families exist, but this one leaned a little too unbelievable for me. And honestly, I don’t think keeping them in her life made sense at all...I was fully on team cut-them-off.

Also… the whole coach + players dynamic? It just felt awkward. The overlap between personal and professional boundaries made it hard to fully settle into the story without side-eyeing the situation.

Reading mood: skeptical, conflicted, and mildly entertained

[Mette Bülow-Olsen]

Power play by Christina Sterling is a why-choose, surprise pregnancy hockey romance.

If you are in the mood for a steamy romance, filled with unexpected love, loyalty and xx, this book is for you. It perfect for readers of forbidden love, second chances, and unbreakable bonds.

Power play is the second book in the Titan hockey series. I haven’t read the first one, but only felt in the prologue that I was missing something.

It’s written in an easy language with dual point for view. All the four main characters are so different, and it definitely makes the book better making it easier for the reader to related to the characters.

Tropes: Why Choose, Reverse Harem, Hockey Romance, Second Chance, Forbidden Romance, Workplace Romance, Surprise Pregnancy, Arranged Marriage, Age Gap

[W]

This was ok, but I had some major problems. I didn’t like Garrett at all. Like I get she’s got some parental neglect, but she’s all “you’re not a bad person” GIRL he is I’m sorry, not saying people can’t change, but he didn’t, she just felt like he was already a good person underneath and like NO. And he didn’t really change that much for me. And then I’m sorry, her family was so strange, like I guess it could happen, but it just felt so unbelievable. And she didn’t totally forgive them but she shouldn’t have them in her life at all, totally cut them off. And idk, it felt a little weird having the coach and two players, like how do you all sleep together and then go to the rink where he’s in charge?