Timing the Play

by Emery Quinn

BROCK
I've perfected two catching impossible passes and making women lose their minds with just a smile. But Julia Buckingham? She's been ice-cold to me for months, and it's driving me absolutely insane.

I should walk away—I've got plenty of other options. But there's something about her sass, her fire, the way she looks at me like I'm nothing special that makes me want her even more. I've never had to work this hard for a woman's attention, and damn if it isn't the biggest turn-on of my life.

When I finally crack her armor, she throws me a curveball I never saw one night, no strings, burn each other out and move on.

Game on.

But one scorching night becomes two. Then three. And suddenly we're both playing with fire in ways that terrify us. Because I've got demons that keep me from being the man she deserves—and unless I can face them, this explosive thing between us might be the only casualty when everything falls apart.

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 26, 2026

About the author

Emery Quinn turns all of your romantic dreams and fantasies into hot and spicy page-turners. Follow her on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@emeryquinnauthor

Reviews

[Kerri Wells Goetzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was NOT expecting this book! It absolutely wrecked me. It didn't wreck me as far as crying into my Kindle, but this book is the perfect mix of heat, heart, and healing. Julia and Brock’s story isn’t just about chemistry; it’s about two people learning how to love through their scars.

Julia’s walls are...WOW. They're skyhigh after everything she’s been through, and you feel every ounce of her fear when it comes to letting someone in. Brock, though, he’s a walking green flag. He’s patient, gentle, and refuses to push her faster than she’s ready. He’s exactly the kind of man every broken heart hopes to find. He's steady, kind, and strong enough to stay even when it’s hard.

What starts as a one night deal turns into something raw and real. A sports romance with a MMC who gets it and an FMC who learns to trust again.

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

[Dianna F · Rating 5 out of 5]

If witty banter were a sport, Timing the Play would be the championship game—and I’d be in the front row with popcorn. Emery Quinn delivers a romance that’s equal parts snark, steam, and emotional whiplash (the good kind). The push and pull between the characters had me giving the side eye and saying to myself “Just kiss already!” more times than I care to admit.

Brock and Julia are both walking bundles of unresolved trauma wrapped in sarcasm and sexual tension. Watching them try to navigate their feelings while dragging around emotional baggage the size of a U-Haul was equal parts heartbreaking and hilarious. Their dynamic is like watching two porcupines try to hug: prickly, awkward, and somehow adorable. Beneath all the heat and sass is a story with real heart—two people learning to trust again, open up, and maybe even heal a little.

If you love romance with bite, depth, and a whole lot of steam, this one’s a must-read. Just maybe keep a glass of water nearby.

[Brenda M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the struggle between these two while they faced trying to find a balance between lust and love.
They both think they're too broken to make a life with anyone. But what they both learn is that being broken isn't a bad thing.
Just because you feel broken, doesn't mean the pieces aren't beautiful when they're put back together.
There's a whole art form in Japanese culture that revolves around making something beautiful out of something broken, Kintsugi.