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The Atlanta Vipers #1
Game Misconduct
I was traded to the Vipers when no one else wanted me.
Washed up. Pissed off. One incident away from flushing my legendary career down the drain.
They dumped me on a second year expansion team with no legacy, no expectations, and a new owner desperate to prove she belongs.
Sloane Carrington.
All polish and posture, her family name opens doors and her voice makes my blood run hot.
She should’ve cut me, walked away like everyone else.
Instead, she came closer.
She showed up on my doorstep with a second chance I never asked for— and now I can’t stop looking at her like she’s the only thing that makes this mess worth it.
Sloane wants headlines. Redemption. Control.
I want to hear my name fall from her mouth while I’m buried inside her.
She’s got rules. I’ve got nothing left to lose.
And I’m one press conference away from forgetting which one of us has more to risk.
She’s building a future. And I’m one wrong move from destroying it—just to feel her come apart beneath me.
I’m not the man she should want. But I’ll ruin myself to keep her looking at me like I’m still worth saving.
Washed up. Pissed off. One incident away from flushing my legendary career down the drain.
They dumped me on a second year expansion team with no legacy, no expectations, and a new owner desperate to prove she belongs.
Sloane Carrington.
All polish and posture, her family name opens doors and her voice makes my blood run hot.
She should’ve cut me, walked away like everyone else.
Instead, she came closer.
She showed up on my doorstep with a second chance I never asked for— and now I can’t stop looking at her like she’s the only thing that makes this mess worth it.
Sloane wants headlines. Redemption. Control.
I want to hear my name fall from her mouth while I’m buried inside her.
She’s got rules. I’ve got nothing left to lose.
And I’m one press conference away from forgetting which one of us has more to risk.
She’s building a future. And I’m one wrong move from destroying it—just to feel her come apart beneath me.
I’m not the man she should want. But I’ll ruin myself to keep her looking at me like I’m still worth saving.
- GenresHockeyHockey Romance
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 7, 2025
30 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Eliza Peake
18 books215 followersHey y'all! I'm Eliza and I write steamy, all the feels romance full of heart, heat, and humor. My heroes are swoony cinnamon rolls, my heroines are strong and audacious, and family is at the center of it all.
I'm a proud mom and a Southern girl who can bless a heart with the best of them. I live with my very own book boyfriend, a snoring dog, and a sassy cat.
In my downtime, I read all the panty-melting romances I can get my hands on, drink coffee by day, wine by night, and indulge my woo-woo side as often as possible. I'm also hopelessly addicted to tacos.
I dream of retiring to the beach someday where I'll continue writing sexy romance stories to my heart's content and taking sunrise and sunset walks in the sand, thinking of my next book!
Join my newsletter, The Sneak Peake, to get updates on all sorts of shenanigans, exclusive content, and news on books and appearances at http://elizapeake.com/subscribe/
I'm a proud mom and a Southern girl who can bless a heart with the best of them. I live with my very own book boyfriend, a snoring dog, and a sassy cat.
In my downtime, I read all the panty-melting romances I can get my hands on, drink coffee by day, wine by night, and indulge my woo-woo side as often as possible. I'm also hopelessly addicted to tacos.
I dream of retiring to the beach someday where I'll continue writing sexy romance stories to my heart's content and taking sunrise and sunset walks in the sand, thinking of my next book!
Join my newsletter, The Sneak Peake, to get updates on all sorts of shenanigans, exclusive content, and news on books and appearances at http://elizapeake.com/subscribe/
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
November 19, 2025
Hockey romance... sign me up! This one was entertaining for sure! You get...
• Grumpy sunshine
• Workplace romance
• Age Gap
• She's the boss
A hockey romance will always make me happy. I totally enjoyed Sloane and Maddox. The tension and the electricity was so good. Sloane was honestly such a badas$ and I love that she was boss in this one. It was a good flip on the usual workplace romance.
Overall, I enjoyed this one. It was a fun read that kept me interested.
• Grumpy sunshine
• Workplace romance
• Age Gap
• She's the boss
A hockey romance will always make me happy. I totally enjoyed Sloane and Maddox. The tension and the electricity was so good. Sloane was honestly such a badas$ and I love that she was boss in this one. It was a good flip on the usual workplace romance.
Overall, I enjoyed this one. It was a fun read that kept me interested.
November 10, 2025
What a phenomenal start to a brand-new hockey romance series! Game Misconduct delivers everything I love—gritty emotion, sizzling chemistry, and a heroine who commands every page she’s on.
Sloan is the kind of FMC I can’t help but root for—fierce, brilliant, and made of pure steel. She’s not just surviving in a male-dominated world; she’s thriving. Owning a professional hockey team is no small feat, and watching her navigate the pressure, politics, and passion of the sport is nothing short of inspiring.
And then there’s Maddox—broody, battle-scarred, and utterly magnetic. A once-legendary player whose career was left in ruins, he’s given one last shot with Sloan’s team. Their connection is instant and combustible. Beneath his gruff exterior lies a man aching to be seen—and Sloan sees everything. The age gap, the risks, the off-limits tension… it all makes for an irresistible, slow-burn ride that had me hooked from the first chapter.
The stakes feel real—their romance could cost them everything—but the payoff is worth every gut punch. Eliza Peakes balances the on-ice action, emotional depth, and scorching chemistry perfectly. And those glimpses of the rest of the Vipers? Let’s just say I’m already counting down to book two.
Thank you to Eliza Peakes for the ARC. Game Misconduct is an absolute win—and I have no doubt this series is going to be one of my new favorites. 🏒🔥💙
Sloan is the kind of FMC I can’t help but root for—fierce, brilliant, and made of pure steel. She’s not just surviving in a male-dominated world; she’s thriving. Owning a professional hockey team is no small feat, and watching her navigate the pressure, politics, and passion of the sport is nothing short of inspiring.
And then there’s Maddox—broody, battle-scarred, and utterly magnetic. A once-legendary player whose career was left in ruins, he’s given one last shot with Sloan’s team. Their connection is instant and combustible. Beneath his gruff exterior lies a man aching to be seen—and Sloan sees everything. The age gap, the risks, the off-limits tension… it all makes for an irresistible, slow-burn ride that had me hooked from the first chapter.
The stakes feel real—their romance could cost them everything—but the payoff is worth every gut punch. Eliza Peakes balances the on-ice action, emotional depth, and scorching chemistry perfectly. And those glimpses of the rest of the Vipers? Let’s just say I’m already counting down to book two.
Thank you to Eliza Peakes for the ARC. Game Misconduct is an absolute win—and I have no doubt this series is going to be one of my new favorites. 🏒🔥💙
December 16, 2025
OMG!!! I loved this book! Sloane Carrington is one fierce woman who owns a hockey team and is trying to survive a cutthroat male dominated industry. She sticks her neck out and hires Maddox Lasker against the judgement of her GM because she sees something in him. Their first meeting was filled with tension. Maddox tried his regular tricks to run folks off but Sloane wasn’t having it. She gets him to Atlanta under protest and they hit it off. The reality is that they just get each other. Although the pull between them is strong, they fight until they can’t anymore. Once they cross the line, there’s no going back. The relationship is not easy because it’s just forbidden. Their careers are on the line and they have to figure out whether saving their jobs is worth sacrificing what they’ve found together.
This book just sucked me in. I was caught up in the fiery fog that surrounded Sloane and Maddox. The sexual tension and the angst was just palpable. I was on edge waiting for Maddox to break and for Sloane to catch him when he did. The break was everything I imagined and Maddox and Sloane did not disappoint me. They were just magical and burned my reader. I give this book five stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
**I received an advanced reader copy of this book for free and I am voluntarily leaving this
review.**
This book just sucked me in. I was caught up in the fiery fog that surrounded Sloane and Maddox. The sexual tension and the angst was just palpable. I was on edge waiting for Maddox to break and for Sloane to catch him when he did. The break was everything I imagined and Maddox and Sloane did not disappoint me. They were just magical and burned my reader. I give this book five stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
**I received an advanced reader copy of this book for free and I am voluntarily leaving this
review.**
November 8, 2025
Book One in the Atlanta Vipers Series
This was an angsty, steamy, tension filled, high stakes, emotionally charged journey. Forbidden. Reckless. Inevitable. Maddox & Sloane will have you begging for more from the very beginning.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll most definitely scream in frustration but mostly you'll be rooting for these two from the very start.
Maddox Lasker is the newly acquired Goaltender for the Atlanta Vipers. Moody, broody and intense this sinfully delicious man is facing a career in turmoil, his legacy tarnished, buried under a mountain of mistruths and a community that turned their backs on him. On the back end of his career, he's now faced with damage control and rebuilding with an expansion team that's still trying to find its way. Walls firmly in place and a mask made out of steel, he has a mountain to climb in order to prove his worth. Not only to himself, but to all those that have ever doubted him. However, through it all, there's one person who truly believes in him... Her... His new boss. His new obsession.
Sloane Carrington, CEO, of the Atlanta Vipers. An expansion team in their 2nd season, she's feisty, fierce and self controlled. Ice cold steel surrounding a sweet vulnerability. Determined to prove herself in a predominantly male dominated world, she's trying hard to solidify the legacy her father put in place. Every single move is analyzed. Every word, every action, every breath she takes, criticized and demeaned by those who believe she's unqualified. On an island all by herself, she's calculating in every move she makes and she believes strongly that the final piece of her puzzle resides in Maddox Lasker. Black clouds and all. He's a gamble and she's willing to go all in...
Both with something to prove. Neither one backing down. An invisible pull from the moment their eyes meet. With high heat and intense chemistry, it's only a matter of time before lines are blurred. And once they're crossed, it's only a matter of time before it could potentially all fall apart... With outside forces determined to destroy them both, they can't resist deep diving into the uncertainties, knowing the risks, both willing to take the fall but when the smoke clears and the dust settles, will they remain whole? Is the risk truly worth the reward?
They will fight hard for it just as they fight for each other. Like moths to a flame, these two will always find themselves drawn together. They were made for one another in every way and while their road to forever isn't perfect, it's worth every misstep along the way. Every heartache. Every mistake. Every secret, fear, betrayal and perceived sacrifice. Two halves of a whole, Maddox & Sloan are absolute end game perfection.
This was an angsty, steamy, tension filled, high stakes, emotionally charged journey. Forbidden. Reckless. Inevitable. Maddox & Sloane will have you begging for more from the very beginning.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll most definitely scream in frustration but mostly you'll be rooting for these two from the very start.
Maddox Lasker is the newly acquired Goaltender for the Atlanta Vipers. Moody, broody and intense this sinfully delicious man is facing a career in turmoil, his legacy tarnished, buried under a mountain of mistruths and a community that turned their backs on him. On the back end of his career, he's now faced with damage control and rebuilding with an expansion team that's still trying to find its way. Walls firmly in place and a mask made out of steel, he has a mountain to climb in order to prove his worth. Not only to himself, but to all those that have ever doubted him. However, through it all, there's one person who truly believes in him... Her... His new boss. His new obsession.
Sloane Carrington, CEO, of the Atlanta Vipers. An expansion team in their 2nd season, she's feisty, fierce and self controlled. Ice cold steel surrounding a sweet vulnerability. Determined to prove herself in a predominantly male dominated world, she's trying hard to solidify the legacy her father put in place. Every single move is analyzed. Every word, every action, every breath she takes, criticized and demeaned by those who believe she's unqualified. On an island all by herself, she's calculating in every move she makes and she believes strongly that the final piece of her puzzle resides in Maddox Lasker. Black clouds and all. He's a gamble and she's willing to go all in...
Both with something to prove. Neither one backing down. An invisible pull from the moment their eyes meet. With high heat and intense chemistry, it's only a matter of time before lines are blurred. And once they're crossed, it's only a matter of time before it could potentially all fall apart... With outside forces determined to destroy them both, they can't resist deep diving into the uncertainties, knowing the risks, both willing to take the fall but when the smoke clears and the dust settles, will they remain whole? Is the risk truly worth the reward?
They will fight hard for it just as they fight for each other. Like moths to a flame, these two will always find themselves drawn together. They were made for one another in every way and while their road to forever isn't perfect, it's worth every misstep along the way. Every heartache. Every mistake. Every secret, fear, betrayal and perceived sacrifice. Two halves of a whole, Maddox & Sloan are absolute end game perfection.
November 6, 2025
🏒 ARC Review: Game Misconduct
📖 By Eliza Peake- Thank you for this ARC!
Rating: 3.5/5 (rounding up)
Spicy: 3/5
This story isn’t just about hockey it’s about second chances, redemption, and finding love when life feels like it’s falling apart.
Maddox is a legendary player on the brink of losing everything, traded to a team with no history and no expectations. Enter Sloane Carrington, a strong, determined owner fighting to prove herself in a male-dominated world.
Their connection starts fast, maybe too fast but as the story unfolds, it slows into a heartfelt, slow-burn romance that feels earned. I loved how Eliza Peake gave depth not only to Maddox and Sloane but also to the team. The players weren’t just names on a roster they had personalities, struggles, and moments that made the world feel real.
✔ What I Loved:
✨ A strong, independent heroine who never gives up
✨ The age gap (Maddox 39, Sloane 28) felt refreshing and realistic
✨ Maddox’s redemption arc and his heart for helping rookies
✨ The behind-the-scenes look at team dynamics
✖ What Didn’t Work for Me:
⚠️ The relationship felt rushed at first instant attraction by chapter 2–3 but got better as the book when on
⚠️ Some repetitive details (locker room smell, her perfume mentions, teeth clenching)
⚠️ The “Princess” nickname was a little too cheesy for my taste
⚠️ An epilogue would’ve been the perfect finishing touch however, I know this is part of series so this could have been why it was left off
Overall, this is a solid sports romance with heart, heat, and a heroine worth rooting for. If you love hockey, redemption stories, and forbidden workplace tension, this one deserves a spot on your TBR!
#ARCReview #GameMisconduct #ElizaPeake #SportsRomance #HockeyRomance #Bookstagram #RomanceReads #SlowBurn
📖 By Eliza Peake- Thank you for this ARC!
Rating: 3.5/5 (rounding up)
Spicy: 3/5
This story isn’t just about hockey it’s about second chances, redemption, and finding love when life feels like it’s falling apart.
Maddox is a legendary player on the brink of losing everything, traded to a team with no history and no expectations. Enter Sloane Carrington, a strong, determined owner fighting to prove herself in a male-dominated world.
Their connection starts fast, maybe too fast but as the story unfolds, it slows into a heartfelt, slow-burn romance that feels earned. I loved how Eliza Peake gave depth not only to Maddox and Sloane but also to the team. The players weren’t just names on a roster they had personalities, struggles, and moments that made the world feel real.
✔ What I Loved:
✨ A strong, independent heroine who never gives up
✨ The age gap (Maddox 39, Sloane 28) felt refreshing and realistic
✨ Maddox’s redemption arc and his heart for helping rookies
✨ The behind-the-scenes look at team dynamics
✖ What Didn’t Work for Me:
⚠️ The relationship felt rushed at first instant attraction by chapter 2–3 but got better as the book when on
⚠️ Some repetitive details (locker room smell, her perfume mentions, teeth clenching)
⚠️ The “Princess” nickname was a little too cheesy for my taste
⚠️ An epilogue would’ve been the perfect finishing touch however, I know this is part of series so this could have been why it was left off
Overall, this is a solid sports romance with heart, heat, and a heroine worth rooting for. If you love hockey, redemption stories, and forbidden workplace tension, this one deserves a spot on your TBR!
#ARCReview #GameMisconduct #ElizaPeake #SportsRomance #HockeyRomance #Bookstagram #RomanceReads #SlowBurn
November 3, 2025
🌶️2
Meet Sloane the new 28 year owner of the Vipers. She is fighting against the prejudice of being a female owner in a male dominated world whilst setting up her own legacy. Proving she is more than anyone has given her credit for.
And meet Maddox the 39 year old Goalie who has ended up with the Vipers after being labelled as volatile, a liability and a PR nightmare by a team he has given so much to.
I absolutely loved how much of a fierce and feisty bad bitch Sloane is from the start and it didn't disappear when she got with Maddox.
I am a sucker for the grumpy goalie trope, I don't think I will ever not like it.
Unlike some other sport romances, you actually got to see so much of the ice hockey and it really helped with the story and characters.
Drunk Cal was hilarious, we've all been in his position and we've all been in Maddox's too 😂
The first time was exactly how you'd expect after all the tension and yearing finally snaps 🥵
I am not one for the insta love, it didn't ruin the story or book but isn't one of my favourite tropes, however all the tension caused by trying to hide their attraction I really enjoyed.
The description of her scent was used a bit too much for me. One or two is fine but everytime she was near him it was described the same way clean, sharp but with something a bit extra about it. Again, it didn't ruin the book, just something I noticed.
I love how quick Sloane is with her banter 'Did you lace your skates with rocket fuel?'
'Steriods actually, I keep them in my bra'
The ending I understand why it happened but I couldn't help feeling sad and deflated a little. All the work Maddox put in, finally having a proper team and it's all gone after one season.
Tropes
Team owner x Ice Hockey Goalie
Age gap
Dirty talk
Phone sex
Yearning
Meet Sloane the new 28 year owner of the Vipers. She is fighting against the prejudice of being a female owner in a male dominated world whilst setting up her own legacy. Proving she is more than anyone has given her credit for.
And meet Maddox the 39 year old Goalie who has ended up with the Vipers after being labelled as volatile, a liability and a PR nightmare by a team he has given so much to.
I absolutely loved how much of a fierce and feisty bad bitch Sloane is from the start and it didn't disappear when she got with Maddox.
I am a sucker for the grumpy goalie trope, I don't think I will ever not like it.
Unlike some other sport romances, you actually got to see so much of the ice hockey and it really helped with the story and characters.
Drunk Cal was hilarious, we've all been in his position and we've all been in Maddox's too 😂
The first time was exactly how you'd expect after all the tension and yearing finally snaps 🥵
I am not one for the insta love, it didn't ruin the story or book but isn't one of my favourite tropes, however all the tension caused by trying to hide their attraction I really enjoyed.
The description of her scent was used a bit too much for me. One or two is fine but everytime she was near him it was described the same way clean, sharp but with something a bit extra about it. Again, it didn't ruin the book, just something I noticed.
I love how quick Sloane is with her banter 'Did you lace your skates with rocket fuel?'
'Steriods actually, I keep them in my bra'
The ending I understand why it happened but I couldn't help feeling sad and deflated a little. All the work Maddox put in, finally having a proper team and it's all gone after one season.
Tropes
Team owner x Ice Hockey Goalie
Age gap
Dirty talk
Phone sex
Yearning
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2025
Admittingly, I don't know a lot about hockey nor have I read many hockey romances -- but now I want MORE of this series! Maddox is everything I love in a hero. Grumpy, flawed, sees everything, has a heart so big that he worries about others more than himself, and a mouth that makes you melt into a puddle. And Sloane is an incredible heroine in how strong she is, but also how she can see her own faults that she struggles with. She isn't afraid to back down from arrogant, entitled men and does her job as the team owner with more class and grace than anyone else could.
The heat between these two is capable of melting the ice they skate on, yet they have an intimacy that I absolutely swooned over that is well beyond what they do between the sheets. From having a meal together to skating after-hours, these two were perfection! I'm excited to see how these two take care of the Vipers!
Favorite Quotes:
"No one changed the game by playing it safe."
"She flows with a quiet rhythm only she can hear, and it's...breathtaking. Power and softness. Precision and heart. It's not a show. It's a part of her. And watching it -- watching her -- wrecks me in a way I don't know how to explain."
The heat between these two is capable of melting the ice they skate on, yet they have an intimacy that I absolutely swooned over that is well beyond what they do between the sheets. From having a meal together to skating after-hours, these two were perfection! I'm excited to see how these two take care of the Vipers!
Favorite Quotes:
"No one changed the game by playing it safe."
"She flows with a quiet rhythm only she can hear, and it's...breathtaking. Power and softness. Precision and heart. It's not a show. It's a part of her. And watching it -- watching her -- wrecks me in a way I don't know how to explain."
November 7, 2025
Game Misconduct is the first book in the Atlanta Vipers series and focus on our main characters Sloane and Maddox.
Sloane is the definition of a corporate baddie. She is the owner of the Atlanta Vipers and is out to prove she deserves the legacy left by her father. Even when the whole world is watching, she stays calm and collected. And when everyone is against her signing Maddox Lasker, well she still pushes for it and gets what she wants
Maddox is a grumpy goalie. He's unpredictable and everything a hockey team shouldn't want, but Sloane does. She wants him to be the anchor for the team. Despite Maddox's reputation, Sloane fights for him even when he is dragging his feet with the contract signing. Sloane makes Maddox feel things that he hasn't let himself feel and to him that is dangerous.
Sloane and Maddox shouldn't be together but the attraction is undeniable.
What happens when they finally give in? Will it all be worth it or will they burn in the end?
What to expect:
🏒 Hockey
🏒 Grumpy/sunshine
🏒 Workplace
🏒 Age gap
🏒 She’s the boss
🏒Forced proximity
🏒 Forbidden
Sloane is the definition of a corporate baddie. She is the owner of the Atlanta Vipers and is out to prove she deserves the legacy left by her father. Even when the whole world is watching, she stays calm and collected. And when everyone is against her signing Maddox Lasker, well she still pushes for it and gets what she wants
Maddox is a grumpy goalie. He's unpredictable and everything a hockey team shouldn't want, but Sloane does. She wants him to be the anchor for the team. Despite Maddox's reputation, Sloane fights for him even when he is dragging his feet with the contract signing. Sloane makes Maddox feel things that he hasn't let himself feel and to him that is dangerous.
Sloane and Maddox shouldn't be together but the attraction is undeniable.
What happens when they finally give in? Will it all be worth it or will they burn in the end?
What to expect:
🏒 Hockey
🏒 Grumpy/sunshine
🏒 Workplace
🏒 Age gap
🏒 She’s the boss
🏒Forced proximity
🏒 Forbidden
October 29, 2025
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going in, but wow. Seriously. Sloane and Maddox are both fighting a war. They may not be in the same stages of it, but they’re both fighting and they’re both ready to burn it all down. Or are they? I mean, they both have a ton to lose. And the world to gain. It comes down to what they’re willing to risk to get there.
Trust me when I say, this will grab you, hold you, and demand that you find out every last secret along the way. Then it’ll show you that there are more secrets to come, but you’ll be happy to know that and will beg for more. Honestly. Even when someone messes up, when it seems that all is lost with no way back, you’ll yearn for whatever comes next. And you’ll be rewarded because someone gets their comeuppance. Someone gets their own destruction. And two hearts get the happiness that they deserve more than anything.
I can tell that this is going to be an excellent series. I look forward to the next player to fall.
Trust me when I say, this will grab you, hold you, and demand that you find out every last secret along the way. Then it’ll show you that there are more secrets to come, but you’ll be happy to know that and will beg for more. Honestly. Even when someone messes up, when it seems that all is lost with no way back, you’ll yearn for whatever comes next. And you’ll be rewarded because someone gets their comeuppance. Someone gets their own destruction. And two hearts get the happiness that they deserve more than anything.
I can tell that this is going to be an excellent series. I look forward to the next player to fall.
November 4, 2025
Wow I LOVED this book. Honestly this might be my favorite hockey romance I have ever read. The tension, the spice, the plot, the characters, it was all so amazing and I seriously did not want to put the book down.
Maddox Lasker the man that you are. I was so down bad for him this entire book. His character was exactly what I look for in a book boyfriend, and his mouth 🙂↕️🙂↕️ he would seriously burn the world down for Sloane. He only had eyes for her and was willing to do anything to win her over.
I also loved Sloane. She was so strong and independent and also a bad ass. I loved that she was the owner of the team. I think this is the first hockey romance I’ve read where the FMC is the owner of the team. And the tension between her and Maddox was top tier. I love a good forbidden romance and this one was written perfectly!! I can’t recommend it enough!! I’m so excited to read the next books of this series as they are released!!
Maddox Lasker the man that you are. I was so down bad for him this entire book. His character was exactly what I look for in a book boyfriend, and his mouth 🙂↕️🙂↕️ he would seriously burn the world down for Sloane. He only had eyes for her and was willing to do anything to win her over.
I also loved Sloane. She was so strong and independent and also a bad ass. I loved that she was the owner of the team. I think this is the first hockey romance I’ve read where the FMC is the owner of the team. And the tension between her and Maddox was top tier. I love a good forbidden romance and this one was written perfectly!! I can’t recommend it enough!! I’m so excited to read the next books of this series as they are released!!
November 16, 2025
Tropes:
Team owner x Team Player
Age Gap
Dirty talk
Phone sex
Yearning
Hockey
Grumpy/ sunshine
Workplace romance
Forced proximity
Forbidden
Maddox was the goalie I didn’t know I needed. Sloane was the Ice Queen he didnt know he needed, until she barged into his apartment with an ultimatum. Either sign, or fall into obscurity as a retired athlete.
Not being ready to let go, he signs the contract, and suddenly Sloane is on the hook for a Goalie with a bad reputation.
The chemistry is instantaneous, the f*ck it moment comes later. While taking responsibility for his public appearance as the team owner answering to a board, she cannot let it go any further than that.
Neither can resist the other. When they finally gave in, I had to find a fan 🥵.
Things get complicated when they end up emotionally attached, and they are outed to the board.
The author delivers heat, heart, and a goalie worth swooning over in this first installment in the Vipers Universe. If you’re a hockey romance fan, this one’s for you.
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC, I really enjoyed it. (PS, receiving a free copy did not influence my review, only made me more likely to post it in a timely manner 😂)
Team owner x Team Player
Age Gap
Dirty talk
Phone sex
Yearning
Hockey
Grumpy/ sunshine
Workplace romance
Forced proximity
Forbidden
Maddox was the goalie I didn’t know I needed. Sloane was the Ice Queen he didnt know he needed, until she barged into his apartment with an ultimatum. Either sign, or fall into obscurity as a retired athlete.
Not being ready to let go, he signs the contract, and suddenly Sloane is on the hook for a Goalie with a bad reputation.
The chemistry is instantaneous, the f*ck it moment comes later. While taking responsibility for his public appearance as the team owner answering to a board, she cannot let it go any further than that.
Neither can resist the other. When they finally gave in, I had to find a fan 🥵.
Things get complicated when they end up emotionally attached, and they are outed to the board.
The author delivers heat, heart, and a goalie worth swooning over in this first installment in the Vipers Universe. If you’re a hockey romance fan, this one’s for you.
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC, I really enjoyed it. (PS, receiving a free copy did not influence my review, only made me more likely to post it in a timely manner 😂)
October 29, 2025
Of all the hockey romance books I've read, this one had a raw edge the others have not. Each chapter, all the characters thoughts direct, slicing, right on target. The open door spice combines perfectly with the raw and edgy vibes of the book's structure. Hook, line and sinker. This book drew me in and I never saw it coming.
I loved the dynamic between the main characters. Maddox is a 39 Year old hockey veteran goalie. Sloane is the 28 year old owner of the team he plans for. AKA, she's his boss. I loved Sloane fighting the power dynamic she inherited but was not trusted to have. I loved Maddox trying to make heads or tales of his next career and life moves.
Tropes:
Hockey Romance
Forbidden Romance
Age Gap (He's 39, She's 28)
She's His Boss
Open Door Spice 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️
I received an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the dynamic between the main characters. Maddox is a 39 Year old hockey veteran goalie. Sloane is the 28 year old owner of the team he plans for. AKA, she's his boss. I loved Sloane fighting the power dynamic she inherited but was not trusted to have. I loved Maddox trying to make heads or tales of his next career and life moves.
Tropes:
Hockey Romance
Forbidden Romance
Age Gap (He's 39, She's 28)
She's His Boss
Open Door Spice 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️
I received an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 1, 2025
4.5 Stars.
I loved Game Misconduct! I’ve read the owner x player trope before but this one just hit differently in a good way. Both main characters were great and i loved that whilst they had masks they showed the world they opened up to one another, letting them really see each other. From the beginning Sloane just believed in Maddox wholeheartedly and that only got stronger as time went on. Watching these 2 fall in love was such a journey and you felt the emotions they were going through. I loved getting to know their pasts and what had shaped them into the people they were today. They were both so passionate about their jobs and took them seriously. The hockey scenes with Maddox were a blast to read. I loved getting to know the team and the different personalities. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
I loved Game Misconduct! I’ve read the owner x player trope before but this one just hit differently in a good way. Both main characters were great and i loved that whilst they had masks they showed the world they opened up to one another, letting them really see each other. From the beginning Sloane just believed in Maddox wholeheartedly and that only got stronger as time went on. Watching these 2 fall in love was such a journey and you felt the emotions they were going through. I loved getting to know their pasts and what had shaped them into the people they were today. They were both so passionate about their jobs and took them seriously. The hockey scenes with Maddox were a blast to read. I loved getting to know the team and the different personalities. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
November 5, 2025
What a great start to a new series. Ms. Peake gives us a hat trick with some sexual tension thrown in. She gives us Maddox, a professional goalie who has been given a bad wrap, and Sloane, the owner of the Vipers hockey team. She wants him for her team and he doesn't want to go but things change when she walks into his place and makes demands. He knew right there that he wanted her. Sloane felt a pull to him but there were lines they both knew they couldn't cross. The sparks ignited and got hotter every time they were together.
I love how she had Maddox's back when there were questions about her signing him on. My heart melted when he was at the children's hospital and reading to a little boy, a swoon-worthy moment.
Overall, this book was entertaining, easy to get lost in and impossible to put down.
I love how she had Maddox's back when there were questions about her signing him on. My heart melted when he was at the children's hospital and reading to a little boy, a swoon-worthy moment.
Overall, this book was entertaining, easy to get lost in and impossible to put down.
November 6, 2025
Game Misconduct is owner of the Vipers 2nd year expansion hockey team, Sloane Carrington and Maddox Lasker the goalie she wants for her team’s story and its book one in the new Atlanta Vipers Series. This author is fairly new to me but after reading this entertaining and well written story I’m wondering why our paths haven’t crossed sooner.
Maddox is not happy about being traded to an expansion team in Atlanta because he believes it’s a team with no hope and a new owner who only got the team because of her name. But from the moment these two meet sparks fly and it’s long before Maddox will do whatever is needed to win Sloane over……
I fell hard and fast for Maddox and I adored Sloane but what took this book to another level was reading about Maddox reading to a little boy in hospital which sent my ovaries into overdrive.
Maddox is not happy about being traded to an expansion team in Atlanta because he believes it’s a team with no hope and a new owner who only got the team because of her name. But from the moment these two meet sparks fly and it’s long before Maddox will do whatever is needed to win Sloane over……
I fell hard and fast for Maddox and I adored Sloane but what took this book to another level was reading about Maddox reading to a little boy in hospital which sent my ovaries into overdrive.
November 8, 2025
Maddox Lasker and Sloane Carrington both have something to prove. She's the new CEO of the Atlanta Vipers professional hockey expansion team and has her father’s big shoes to fill. He's a new trade from Boston where he left a career in shambles and a tainted reputation. Now is not the time for romance, but fate has other ideas as nefarious characters work in the background to see them both fail.
If you’re a sports romance fan who loves forbidden romance and age gap you’ll love every minute of this phenomenal read. It has all the elements we love in a good sports romance as this new team figures out how they fit. While a lot of it is fun and lighthearted, it still goes deep with themes of healing, redemption, finding your place, and found family. I’m already helmet over skates for these Vipers and can’t wait to see what's next!
If you’re a sports romance fan who loves forbidden romance and age gap you’ll love every minute of this phenomenal read. It has all the elements we love in a good sports romance as this new team figures out how they fit. While a lot of it is fun and lighthearted, it still goes deep with themes of healing, redemption, finding your place, and found family. I’m already helmet over skates for these Vipers and can’t wait to see what's next!
October 29, 2025
First I want to say thank you for the it was amazing.You can never go wrong with a hockey book.I loved it.
I don't think i've read a book where the female main character is like the boss you get everywhere. It is usually she like wax at the franchise. But never the boss and I loved this new atmosphere that I was in learning the struggles that they went to the craving, the yearning in this book was amazing. I enjoyed the moments to between the characters.I didn't enjoy the third act break up. It was not something I enjoyed. I felt like they could have talked it out. You can guess I don't like that trope.
There was so much that Was said but not said at the same time which made it an amazing book.I loved it highly recommend.
I don't think i've read a book where the female main character is like the boss you get everywhere. It is usually she like wax at the franchise. But never the boss and I loved this new atmosphere that I was in learning the struggles that they went to the craving, the yearning in this book was amazing. I enjoyed the moments to between the characters.I didn't enjoy the third act break up. It was not something I enjoyed. I felt like they could have talked it out. You can guess I don't like that trope.
There was so much that Was said but not said at the same time which made it an amazing book.I loved it highly recommend.
November 7, 2025
This story is dual POV, well written, and a steamy, contemporary taboo sports romance between Sloane, the female hockey team owner, and Maddox, the male goalie with a bad reputation. I enjoyed Sloane’s perseverance and determination to succeed against misogyny. I enjoyed the way Maddox became willing to take a risk on a relationship. I enjoyed the intimate moments, both steamy and not, and the relationship development. I appreciated Maddox’s willingness to apologise. I enjoyed the exploration of historical impacts on current choices and temperament. I enjoyed the set up for future stories, and the engaged secondary characters and community.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.
November 6, 2025
ARC Review
Game Misconduct is a captivating tale of redemption and passion. Maddox, a once-great hockey player, finds himself on a struggling expansion team, grappling with his past and a future that feels uncertain. Enter Sloane Carrington, a determined owner with her own ambitions. Their chemistry is electric, filled with tension as they navigate their desires and the risks involved.
Peake’s writing is immersive, drawing readers into the world of hockey while exploring the characters' emotional depths. The stakes are high, making every moment feel urgent and poignant. This novel beautifully illustrates how unexpected connections can spark transformation and hope. Highly recommend for fans of romance and sports!
Game Misconduct is a captivating tale of redemption and passion. Maddox, a once-great hockey player, finds himself on a struggling expansion team, grappling with his past and a future that feels uncertain. Enter Sloane Carrington, a determined owner with her own ambitions. Their chemistry is electric, filled with tension as they navigate their desires and the risks involved.
Peake’s writing is immersive, drawing readers into the world of hockey while exploring the characters' emotional depths. The stakes are high, making every moment feel urgent and poignant. This novel beautifully illustrates how unexpected connections can spark transformation and hope. Highly recommend for fans of romance and sports!
November 9, 2025
I'm not sure how I discovered this book, I probably liked the cover. Anyway it's my first time reading this author so I'm going to have a look at more.
Maddox is considered washed up in the hockey world aged 39. The reality is he is the scapegoat for and incident at his club. Snapped up by the Vipers, he remains angry, gloomy and not great for press events.
Sloane owns the team after her father died. A woman in a man's world some can't wait for her to fail.
She and Maddox had a connection, a dangerously taboo connection in their hockey world.
Life is not easy for them as secrets are sure to come out. She brings out the best in Maddox as he proves himself invaluable with his team mates.
This is an angsty but fun sports romance and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Maddox is considered washed up in the hockey world aged 39. The reality is he is the scapegoat for and incident at his club. Snapped up by the Vipers, he remains angry, gloomy and not great for press events.
Sloane owns the team after her father died. A woman in a man's world some can't wait for her to fail.
She and Maddox had a connection, a dangerously taboo connection in their hockey world.
Life is not easy for them as secrets are sure to come out. She brings out the best in Maddox as he proves himself invaluable with his team mates.
This is an angsty but fun sports romance and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
November 9, 2025
This book was spicy, had all the feels of romance and full of heart, heat, and humour. The Mc Maddox is a hockey player with secrets and traded to the Vipers team , he is mysterious, grumpy, a loner but protective of the people he likes and one look at his new boss Sloane and he likes very much. Sloane the FMc is strong having to prove herself to a male dominated workforce plus to the memory of her hard, cold father. As soon as these two meet you feel their connection and their chemistry but fight their feelings until they can’t. There’s drama, jealousy but also sweet moments and of course spice. This book had me falling in love and rooting for the MCs. I look forward to Cal the shy and sweet rookies story.
November 7, 2025
Game Misconduct is a wonderful read. I loved this one so much. I could not put this down. Sloane is trying to live up to her father's expectations even after he is gone. She is one strong cookie and has a lot working against her as the owner of a hockey team. Maddox is at a crossroads with his goalie career. He is a sweetheart once you get to know him and so misunderstood. I love Maddox so much. The chemistry is wonderful between Sloane and Maddox. It's so fun to watch them fight their attraction as team owner and athlete. Maddox and Sloane make such a great team. I cannot wait for more to come in the Atlanta Vipers series. You really need to one click this today.
November 7, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
💜 The age gap
🖤 Hockey Romance
💜 Forbidden Romance
Maddox is a hockey veteran goalie and Sloane is the owner of the team he now plans for. Sloan is trying to prove to the board that she can handle this but there is someone on the board trying to take her position. I really enjoyed watching Maddox and Sloane fall in love and then try to ignore the feelings, the chemistry between them was so good. This book was so much fun to read and also very well written. I wasn’t able to put this book down it was so good.
**I was honored to receive an advanced reader copy of this book for free, and this is my honest thoughts. **
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
💜 The age gap
🖤 Hockey Romance
💜 Forbidden Romance
Maddox is a hockey veteran goalie and Sloane is the owner of the team he now plans for. Sloan is trying to prove to the board that she can handle this but there is someone on the board trying to take her position. I really enjoyed watching Maddox and Sloane fall in love and then try to ignore the feelings, the chemistry between them was so good. This book was so much fun to read and also very well written. I wasn’t able to put this book down it was so good.
**I was honored to receive an advanced reader copy of this book for free, and this is my honest thoughts. **
November 16, 2025
Hot off the press!
Sloan and Maddox are pure fire and ice — the kind of opposites whose chemistry crackles on every page. Their story feels deeply relatable, full of raw emotion, real-world struggles, and moments that hit straight to the heart. I found myself rooting for them from the start, completely wrapped up in their push-and-pull dynamic and the vulnerability beneath it.
The writing draws you in effortlessly, making you feel every spark, every hesitation, and every step of their journey. If this book is any indication of what’s to come, this new series is going to be phenomenal. I can’t wait to dive into the next installment!
Sloan and Maddox are pure fire and ice — the kind of opposites whose chemistry crackles on every page. Their story feels deeply relatable, full of raw emotion, real-world struggles, and moments that hit straight to the heart. I found myself rooting for them from the start, completely wrapped up in their push-and-pull dynamic and the vulnerability beneath it.
The writing draws you in effortlessly, making you feel every spark, every hesitation, and every step of their journey. If this book is any indication of what’s to come, this new series is going to be phenomenal. I can’t wait to dive into the next installment!
November 16, 2025
I have been in my hockey era lately and this book helped feed that addiction. Not to mention it was based in Atlanta, which is so close to me! These chemistry between Sloane and Maddox could be felt from the beginning and all it did was continue to burn hotter as the story went on. There's some angst based on the forbidden workplace (boss/employee) aspect along with the age gap, and everything surrounding it, but that just made it extra delicious. The storyline was fantastic and the characters were those that we wish we knew in real life. I'm so happy that this is only the first book in what will become a series because I already want more!
November 24, 2025
I really enjoyed the tension and chemistry between Sloane and Maddox. The banter was so good.
Sloane is our team owner and resident badd@$$! She has to push through so many hurdles and prove so many people wrong. She has to prove she has what it takes to be team owner and also her new pick for team goalie.
Maddox is traded to the vipers as their new starting goalie. He has a lot at stake to prove to everyone he still wants to play and that he is a good fit for the team.
This was such a heartfelt read. You can see both of their struggles and that when they team up they can do amazing things!
Sloane is our team owner and resident badd@$$! She has to push through so many hurdles and prove so many people wrong. She has to prove she has what it takes to be team owner and also her new pick for team goalie.
Maddox is traded to the vipers as their new starting goalie. He has a lot at stake to prove to everyone he still wants to play and that he is a good fit for the team.
This was such a heartfelt read. You can see both of their struggles and that when they team up they can do amazing things!
November 25, 2025
4 stars! Hockey, workplace, age gap, forbidden, sign me up! This was a bit of insta lust, followed by sizzling tension until they snap. I really enjoyed it. It was a bit predictable but I really enjoyed this one. I was so thankful that there was a roster at the beginning because it was hard to keep some of the players straight. I loved so many of them though, and I can't wait to see who gets a book. I am really intrigued by Jace and his calm demeanor and strong leadership. I feel like his story is going to be amazing! This book was really enjoyable. I liked how much of a BOSS Sloane was. The gala scene was my favorite!!
November 27, 2025
Second chance, redemption and age gap are some of my favorite tropes…Eliza writes them beautifully.
Maddox is at a crossroads in her his career and isn’t where he wants to be. He has a chip on his shoulder,
Sloan is trying to prove herself in a man’s world. She is tough, determined and keeps her vulnerability close to her chest.
These two have amazing chemistry, banter and make one another better. They need each other and the snow storm happens at the perfect time
I love how they encourage one another, build their confidence, reassure their decisions and create a beautiful love story.
Maddox is at a crossroads in her his career and isn’t where he wants to be. He has a chip on his shoulder,
Sloan is trying to prove herself in a man’s world. She is tough, determined and keeps her vulnerability close to her chest.
These two have amazing chemistry, banter and make one another better. They need each other and the snow storm happens at the perfect time
I love how they encourage one another, build their confidence, reassure their decisions and create a beautiful love story.
December 19, 2025
I feel like the author has a perfume kink because it was mentioned almost on every page, no kidding.
The book is extremely repetitive. There are some great ideas but they're in the mix with never-stopping thoughts of lust. I get it, physical attraction and all. But I refuse to believe that's all a professional hockey player and a CEO can focus on. Too insta-lust with too much power and attention given to it. Too much telling and not nearly enough showing.
The whole plot twist? Awfully immature. It felt like kids in kindergarten, not adults.
The tropes were never really explored either. To sum it up, the idea was great; the execution - not so much.
The book is extremely repetitive. There are some great ideas but they're in the mix with never-stopping thoughts of lust. I get it, physical attraction and all. But I refuse to believe that's all a professional hockey player and a CEO can focus on. Too insta-lust with too much power and attention given to it. Too much telling and not nearly enough showing.
The whole plot twist? Awfully immature. It felt like kids in kindergarten, not adults.
The tropes were never really explored either. To sum it up, the idea was great; the execution - not so much.
November 4, 2025
Game Misconduct was incredible, one of my new favorite hockey romances!
The chemistry between Sloane and Maddox was off the charts, and the spice was perfectly balanced with heart and depth. I loved seeing Sloane hold her own as a strong, capable team owner while still being vulnerable, and Maddox was the perfect mix of gruff and sweet.
Their dynamic felt electric and real, and I’m already counting down to whatever Eliza Peake writes next!
Thank you for this ARC, all opinions are my own!
The chemistry between Sloane and Maddox was off the charts, and the spice was perfectly balanced with heart and depth. I loved seeing Sloane hold her own as a strong, capable team owner while still being vulnerable, and Maddox was the perfect mix of gruff and sweet.
Their dynamic felt electric and real, and I’m already counting down to whatever Eliza Peake writes next!
Thank you for this ARC, all opinions are my own!
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