What do you think?
Rate this book
Playing Her Game
Standalone Book Two in the Hearts on Ice Series
A Second Chance · Fake Dating · Friends-to-Enemies-to-Lovers Romance
He broke her heart once.
Now he wants a second chance—
and he’s willing to play dirty to win her back.
Mara O’Brien swore she’d never speak to Jensen Calloway again—let alone date him.
Not after he shattered her heart the same night she lost her twin brother. Not after he disappeared when she needed him most. And definitely not now that she’s rebuilt herself into someone who doesn’t break.
But Denver has other plans.
Mara’s fresh start—new job, new city, new boundaries—is already unraveling thanks to her parents’ messy divorce. Meanwhile, Jensen, now the flirty golden-boy forward for the Denver Mountaineers, is in PR hell after a deranged hookup sells a tabloid “tell-all” about his so-called party life.
The team demands a clean image. A steady relationship. A miracle.
Enter their mutual friends with the worst idea
Fake date the one person he’s never stopped loving.
Fake date the one man she’s spent years trying to forget.
Mara refuses… until she realizes the arrangement might lift her dad’s spirits—and give her the upper hand in her own family chaos. Jensen agrees because it’s a chance he thought he’d never get again. Being near Mara feels like coming home… and like punishment he deserves.
Their fake relationship quickly spirals into real tension, real nights, real memories—and real danger of old wounds tearing open. Mara’s trust issues. Jensen’s survivor’s guilt over her brother’s death. The secrets neither wants to confront.
And under it all, the truth they’ve buried for
They never stopped belonging to each other.
When the past collides with the spotlight, they’ll have to decide whether this second chance is worth the pain—or if they’re playing a game only one of them can survive.
Perfect for fans of gritty banter, broken boys with golden hearts, inked-up heroines, slow-burn tension, and found family chaos.
Perfect For Readers Who ✔ Friends-to-Enemies-to-Lovers
✔ Second Chance Romance
✔ Fake Dating
✔ Tattooed Goth FMC × Golden Retriever MMC
✔ Mutual pining + hurt/comfort
✔ Hockey boys who melt for their girls
✔ Tension, banter, and major spice
A Second Chance · Fake Dating · Friends-to-Enemies-to-Lovers Romance
He broke her heart once.
Now he wants a second chance—
and he’s willing to play dirty to win her back.
Mara O’Brien swore she’d never speak to Jensen Calloway again—let alone date him.
Not after he shattered her heart the same night she lost her twin brother. Not after he disappeared when she needed him most. And definitely not now that she’s rebuilt herself into someone who doesn’t break.
But Denver has other plans.
Mara’s fresh start—new job, new city, new boundaries—is already unraveling thanks to her parents’ messy divorce. Meanwhile, Jensen, now the flirty golden-boy forward for the Denver Mountaineers, is in PR hell after a deranged hookup sells a tabloid “tell-all” about his so-called party life.
The team demands a clean image. A steady relationship. A miracle.
Enter their mutual friends with the worst idea
Fake date the one person he’s never stopped loving.
Fake date the one man she’s spent years trying to forget.
Mara refuses… until she realizes the arrangement might lift her dad’s spirits—and give her the upper hand in her own family chaos. Jensen agrees because it’s a chance he thought he’d never get again. Being near Mara feels like coming home… and like punishment he deserves.
Their fake relationship quickly spirals into real tension, real nights, real memories—and real danger of old wounds tearing open. Mara’s trust issues. Jensen’s survivor’s guilt over her brother’s death. The secrets neither wants to confront.
And under it all, the truth they’ve buried for
They never stopped belonging to each other.
When the past collides with the spotlight, they’ll have to decide whether this second chance is worth the pain—or if they’re playing a game only one of them can survive.
Perfect for fans of gritty banter, broken boys with golden hearts, inked-up heroines, slow-burn tension, and found family chaos.
Perfect For Readers Who ✔ Friends-to-Enemies-to-Lovers
✔ Second Chance Romance
✔ Fake Dating
✔ Tattooed Goth FMC × Golden Retriever MMC
✔ Mutual pining + hurt/comfort
✔ Hockey boys who melt for their girls
✔ Tension, banter, and major spice
465 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2026
3 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Pastrano
3 books4 followersKristen Pastrano is a romance author, mom of two under two, and a caffeine-powered human attempting to balance real life with fictional hockey players who refuse to stay quiet. She writes stories about messy love, real people, and second chances—with plenty of spice and even more heart.
Her books feature curvy heroines, morally gray men who fall hard, and enough banter to make you sigh. When she’s not writing, she’s wrangling kids, mixing protein coffee, or avoiding laundry by plotting her next book.
Join her ARC team or follow along as she builds the Hearts on Ice universe—one swoony disaster man at a time.
Her books feature curvy heroines, morally gray men who fall hard, and enough banter to make you sigh. When she’s not writing, she’s wrangling kids, mixing protein coffee, or avoiding laundry by plotting her next book.
Join her ARC team or follow along as she builds the Hearts on Ice universe—one swoony disaster man at a time.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 14, 2026
This and ARC Review!!
I loved this book. I love hockey romance and I love a book that makes you want to keep reading. It was emotional and angsty it literally gives you all the feels.
I loved this book. I love hockey romance and I love a book that makes you want to keep reading. It was emotional and angsty it literally gives you all the feels.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🩵 Blurb-
Mara O’Brien swore she’d never speak to Jensen Calloway again—let alone date him.
Not after he shattered her heart the same night she lost her twin brother. Not after he disappeared when she needed him most. And definitely not now that she’s rebuilt herself into someone who doesn’t break.
Mara’s fresh start—new job, new city, new boundaries—is already unraveling thanks to her parents’ messy divorce. Meanwhile, Jensen, now the flirty golden-boy forward for the Denver Mountaineers, is in PR hell after a deranged hookup sells a tabloid “tell-all” about his so-called party life.
The team demands a clean image. A steady relationship. A miracle.
Enter their mutual friends with the worst idea
Fake date the one person he’s never stopped loving.
Fake date the one man she’s spent years trying to forget.
Mara refuses… until she realizes the arrangement might lift her mother’s spirits—and give her the upper hand in her own family chaos. Jensen agrees because it’s a chance he thought he’d never get again. Being near Mara feels like coming home… and like punishment he deserves.
Their fake relationship quickly spirals into real tension, real nights, real memories—and real danger of old wounds tearing open. Mara’s trust issues. Jensen’s survivor’s guilt over her brother’s death. The secrets neither wants to confront.
And under it all, the truth they’ve buried for
They never stopped belonging to each other.
When the past collides with the spotlight, they’ll have to decide whether this second chance is worth the pain—or if they’re playing a game only one of them can survive.
🩷 Review -
This was such an enjoyable read, I couldn't put it down and I read it in less than a day. From the very first page I was hooked and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. The story was easy to follow and had a great cast of characters. I loved the chemistry between Mara and Jensen and the tension between them. There was also a good cast of background characters. Overall an enjoyable read that I highly recommend to other readers.
💝 Thank you to the author, Kristen pastrano for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Mara O’Brien swore she’d never speak to Jensen Calloway again—let alone date him.
Not after he shattered her heart the same night she lost her twin brother. Not after he disappeared when she needed him most. And definitely not now that she’s rebuilt herself into someone who doesn’t break.
Mara’s fresh start—new job, new city, new boundaries—is already unraveling thanks to her parents’ messy divorce. Meanwhile, Jensen, now the flirty golden-boy forward for the Denver Mountaineers, is in PR hell after a deranged hookup sells a tabloid “tell-all” about his so-called party life.
The team demands a clean image. A steady relationship. A miracle.
Enter their mutual friends with the worst idea
Fake date the one person he’s never stopped loving.
Fake date the one man she’s spent years trying to forget.
Mara refuses… until she realizes the arrangement might lift her mother’s spirits—and give her the upper hand in her own family chaos. Jensen agrees because it’s a chance he thought he’d never get again. Being near Mara feels like coming home… and like punishment he deserves.
Their fake relationship quickly spirals into real tension, real nights, real memories—and real danger of old wounds tearing open. Mara’s trust issues. Jensen’s survivor’s guilt over her brother’s death. The secrets neither wants to confront.
And under it all, the truth they’ve buried for
They never stopped belonging to each other.
When the past collides with the spotlight, they’ll have to decide whether this second chance is worth the pain—or if they’re playing a game only one of them can survive.
🩷 Review -
This was such an enjoyable read, I couldn't put it down and I read it in less than a day. From the very first page I was hooked and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. The story was easy to follow and had a great cast of characters. I loved the chemistry between Mara and Jensen and the tension between them. There was also a good cast of background characters. Overall an enjoyable read that I highly recommend to other readers.
💝 Thank you to the author, Kristen pastrano for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this book! It pulled me in right from the first few pages and I honestly couldn’t put it down. I was hooked immediately and kept reading because I had to know what would happen next. Their story explores some heavy emotions like grief and guilt, loss and so much more. but it’s handled with so much care that it never feels overwhelming or too much. I really enjoyed this book and found myself fully invested in the characters and their story. I loved Mara and Jensen so much. I also loved that the FMC and I share a name 🤭🤭
I totally got the black cat vibes from Mara. She had to save herself from drowning and she did it all in her own and made a future for her self?! Loved it! Mara has her walls up high and who would blame her. I love that she didn’t give in right away she’s guarded and although she still loves Jensen you can tell she still waiting for the other shoe to drop. “Does this feel like pretending, Mara?” Ummm no no it does not, I was literally screaming nooooooo lol I wanted to kiss Jensen and smack him at the same time. Their tension was so good, and when Jensen uttered the nickname “Trouble” SWOON. I was like Jensen I hate you and love you at the same time. Watching Jensen finally let everything out after carrying so much guilt was heartbreaking, I could definitely feel his emotions! He was carrying so much and although I’m on Mara’s side I can definitely see his too. His parents definitely didn’t make it easy either. No teenager should have to deal with that. Overall, this was an emotional, well-paced read with great chemistry and depth, and I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves heartfelt sports, 2nd chance romance
Thank you for the opportunity of reading this in advance 🥰💕
I totally got the black cat vibes from Mara. She had to save herself from drowning and she did it all in her own and made a future for her self?! Loved it! Mara has her walls up high and who would blame her. I love that she didn’t give in right away she’s guarded and although she still loves Jensen you can tell she still waiting for the other shoe to drop. “Does this feel like pretending, Mara?” Ummm no no it does not, I was literally screaming nooooooo lol I wanted to kiss Jensen and smack him at the same time. Their tension was so good, and when Jensen uttered the nickname “Trouble” SWOON. I was like Jensen I hate you and love you at the same time. Watching Jensen finally let everything out after carrying so much guilt was heartbreaking, I could definitely feel his emotions! He was carrying so much and although I’m on Mara’s side I can definitely see his too. His parents definitely didn’t make it easy either. No teenager should have to deal with that. Overall, this was an emotional, well-paced read with great chemistry and depth, and I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves heartfelt sports, 2nd chance romance
Thank you for the opportunity of reading this in advance 🥰💕
February 14, 2026
I went into this expecting a quick, lighthearted sports romance… and while it is easy to read, I didn’t expect how emotional it would be. This is a second‑chance, fake‑dating romance between two people who were once best friends, until an unfortunate accident pulled them apart, leaving both of them carrying guilt and unable to forgive themselves.
What really stood out to me was how the story handled grief. Their reunion wasn’t just about rekindling romance, but about giving themselves a second chance at life and happiness.
I loved how their journey wasn’t about forgetting what happened, but about learning to forgive themselves and move forward. Watching them slowly rebuild trust, friendship, and something deeper was heartwarming and emotional in the best way.
Overall, this turned out to be much more meaningful than I expected — a soft but impactful story about love, loss, and choosing happiness again.
What really stood out to me was how the story handled grief. Their reunion wasn’t just about rekindling romance, but about giving themselves a second chance at life and happiness.
I loved how their journey wasn’t about forgetting what happened, but about learning to forgive themselves and move forward. Watching them slowly rebuild trust, friendship, and something deeper was heartwarming and emotional in the best way.
Overall, this turned out to be much more meaningful than I expected — a soft but impactful story about love, loss, and choosing happiness again.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book carries haevy topics. From grief. Trauma. Guilt. Suffocating society / family expectation. Navigating them was never easy, but the author handles these subjects with care and understanding. The story unfolds in a whirlwind of emotions, pulling you into the characters’ inner worlds.
But what stands out is the resilience of the characters. They aren’t broken...just deeply guarded, shaped by tragedy, and fearful of what comes next. Watching them confront hurt after hurt rebuilding their lives, navigating growing tension, and redefining their dynamic with amazing support by those who truly matter is both heartbreaking and hopeful.
There are genuine ups and downs, amazing banter that lightens the heaviness, and a well-paced narrative that keeps everything balanced. I absolutely love this book.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this in advance.
But what stands out is the resilience of the characters. They aren’t broken...just deeply guarded, shaped by tragedy, and fearful of what comes next. Watching them confront hurt after hurt rebuilding their lives, navigating growing tension, and redefining their dynamic with amazing support by those who truly matter is both heartbreaking and hopeful.
There are genuine ups and downs, amazing banter that lightens the heaviness, and a well-paced narrative that keeps everything balanced. I absolutely love this book.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this in advance.
February 22, 2026
Playing Her Game pulled me right in with the emotions, I knew from the beginning this was going to be a lot of ups and downs. This had everything I could have wanted in a book, a second chance romance, fake dating, he falls HARD, an fmc that knows what she deserves. The tension between the fmc and mmc was off the charts, I could not wait for them to give in to that. I found myself tearing up or crying at several spots in the story and the growth of both characters throughout was such a great thing to see. I can’t even begin to explain the way the author was able to illustrate the emotions of the characters with her words, it was a beautiful thing to read. I will definitely be going back and reading the first book of the series and cannot wait for the third one!
February 3, 2026
Wow! Just wow! My initial experience to a sports romance novel was not all that great. However, this book is my redemption sport romance novel and I absolutely love it.
What an amazing FMC and frustrating a but alluring MMC. I adored all aspects of this book. From the storyline, witty banter, Brother beat friend/enemy to lovers. Once I started reading I could not put it down.
Definitely will be reading more on this series.
What an amazing FMC and frustrating a but alluring MMC. I adored all aspects of this book. From the storyline, witty banter, Brother beat friend/enemy to lovers. Once I started reading I could not put it down.
Definitely will be reading more on this series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I did not want this book to end. Heartfelt and gritty, with lots of angst and longing and the pain that comes with unrequited love. Mara and Jensen are both complex well written characters. I loved how their love grows organically despite the fact that is messy. They have so much unresolved issues which they have to deal with it to get their well deserved ending. I love that their moments are quiet yet meaningful. One of my top reads this year
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨ARC Review✨
Please check the trigger warnings for your mental health🖤as there was definitely some heavy topics.
Playing Her Game is a standalone within a series world. It also had some of the best quotes from a book I’ve ever read. Not to mention an amazing MMC and FMC. Jensen and Mara were a fantastic fake dating arrangement for Jensen’s career. But the hoops that came along the way, with a very different and shared past, makes both these characters very likable and relatable.
One thing to note and I’m EXTREMELY happy Kristen did this and I quote from Jensen “your safeword is RED”! I cannot tell you how important using the actual stoplight method is opposed to some cutesy word.
Can’t wait to read the 3rd book….and go back and read the 1st!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Please check the trigger warnings for your mental health🖤as there was definitely some heavy topics.
Playing Her Game is a standalone within a series world. It also had some of the best quotes from a book I’ve ever read. Not to mention an amazing MMC and FMC. Jensen and Mara were a fantastic fake dating arrangement for Jensen’s career. But the hoops that came along the way, with a very different and shared past, makes both these characters very likable and relatable.
One thing to note and I’m EXTREMELY happy Kristen did this and I quote from Jensen “your safeword is RED”! I cannot tell you how important using the actual stoplight method is opposed to some cutesy word.
Can’t wait to read the 3rd book….and go back and read the 1st!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this deep emotional roller-coaster of a ride. I am a very empathetic person so im drawn to the books that make me break and put me back together. I have to be put back together happily or I cant read it and this book did it perfectly. Not some unrealistic fairytale but real life emotions and how awful pain and loss can be. Such a great book. Thank you for allowing me to read it early.
February 2, 2026
What a wonderful emotional roller coaster. Author did a wonderful job showing what’s it’s like to learn trust and love again through grief and lies.
I can’t wait for the next one!!
I can’t wait for the next one!!
February 4, 2026
AMAZING read!! A hockey romance that gave me all the feels and had me glued to every page! 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
I truly loved this book and all the aspects this is now my favorite hockey romance. Theis book is one that will hook you and not let go.
February 21, 2026
This is a 10/10. I absolutely love this book, and can't wait to read more of her work. She did a phenomenal job. I only put it down because of work and sleep.
Must Read
Must Read
Review of advance copy received from Author
For my very first sports romance it did not disappoint. I loved the storyline and fell in love with the characters. I can't wait to go back and read the first book and continue the series with the next book! Great writing, great story telling, all around great at depicting the emotions through out the book. Grief, betrayal, freedom all mixed into one.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews