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Power Play: A Steamy Sapphic/Lesbian Hockey Romance
She built the Valkyries on discipline. Her newest player refuses to follow the rules.
Head coach Mara Ellison has finally taken Phoenix Ridge Valkyries into the PWHL—and she’s not about to let one reckless rookie ruin it.
Lex Landry is a former international field hockey superstar chasing bigger fame, bigger money, and a place at the top of a new sport. She’s brilliant, arrogant, and completely unwilling to be controlled.
Mara demands perfection.
Lex plays like the rules don’t apply.
Their rivalry is explosive from the first practice.
The attraction might be even worse.
Power Play is a steamy sapphic hockey romance featuring a fierce head coach, a rebellious rookie, an age gap, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Head coach Mara Ellison has finally taken Phoenix Ridge Valkyries into the PWHL—and she’s not about to let one reckless rookie ruin it.
Lex Landry is a former international field hockey superstar chasing bigger fame, bigger money, and a place at the top of a new sport. She’s brilliant, arrogant, and completely unwilling to be controlled.
Mara demands perfection.
Lex plays like the rules don’t apply.
Their rivalry is explosive from the first practice.
The attraction might be even worse.
Power Play is a steamy sapphic hockey romance featuring a fierce head coach, a rebellious rookie, an age gap, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
- GenresSportsContemporary
263 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 6, 2026
About the author
Emily Hayes
223 books83 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name
For lesbian romance author please go to
Emily^^Hayes
For psychology (autism, ADHD, etc.) author please go to
Emily^^^Hayes
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name
For lesbian romance author please go to
Emily^^Hayes
For psychology (autism, ADHD, etc.) author please go to
Emily^^^Hayes
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 18, 2026
4.5/5
My favourite of the series so far (I read book 3 before book 2)
Full disclosure: the writing is repetitive, and so is the structure — across both books I've read, you'll spot the same patterns, the same formulas, the same character dynamics and sources of angst. Hayes has a type, and she's sticking to it.
But it still works. What she's really great at is writing intimacy — not just the sex scenes, though this one brings the heat — but the quieter moments of vulnerability. There's a physicality to how she writes those scenes, something in the word choice that makes it work. It's not far-fetched, but it does lean into rom-com cheese if you squint, and it gets a little overzealous with that toward the end. Still, it never quite crosses the line into too much, and I closed the book fully satisfied.
And of course, the characters are magnetic — especially Lex. Irresistible. Masc athlete characters: will I ever get tired of them? Doubtful.
***Disclaimer, same as I posted in my review of Off the Ice: A Steamy Sapphic/Lesbian Hockey Romance. These books are clearly heavily AI assisted. It's obvious in the repetition and in the many turns of phrases that are very chatGPT, and over-used. So if you're not into that, maybe don't give it a try. However, if you don't care and you're into good romance, whether human or AI or AI-assisted - it's worth a read.
My favourite of the series so far (I read book 3 before book 2)
Full disclosure: the writing is repetitive, and so is the structure — across both books I've read, you'll spot the same patterns, the same formulas, the same character dynamics and sources of angst. Hayes has a type, and she's sticking to it.
But it still works. What she's really great at is writing intimacy — not just the sex scenes, though this one brings the heat — but the quieter moments of vulnerability. There's a physicality to how she writes those scenes, something in the word choice that makes it work. It's not far-fetched, but it does lean into rom-com cheese if you squint, and it gets a little overzealous with that toward the end. Still, it never quite crosses the line into too much, and I closed the book fully satisfied.
And of course, the characters are magnetic — especially Lex. Irresistible. Masc athlete characters: will I ever get tired of them? Doubtful.
***Disclaimer, same as I posted in my review of Off the Ice: A Steamy Sapphic/Lesbian Hockey Romance. These books are clearly heavily AI assisted. It's obvious in the repetition and in the many turns of phrases that are very chatGPT, and over-used. So if you're not into that, maybe don't give it a try. However, if you don't care and you're into good romance, whether human or AI or AI-assisted - it's worth a read.
April 14, 2026
For me, I was frustrated with the way the author changed the description of Phoenix Ridge from a desert town in the southwest in book 1,"Crossing the Line " (the team drove back to Phoenix Ridge from L.A. in book 1), to a coastal city in the northeast. As I got further into Lex and Mara's story, I was skipping some sentences/paragraphs because, to me, it had become repetitive with the back and forth between player and coach. We get it! Lex is a rebel and likes to push societal norms to the brink, and Mara's a "been there, done that, & learned from it" kind of woman who is trying to keep her head above water.
April 20, 2026
This story travels at the speed of a puck after a slap shot across the ice!
Emily Hayes has spoiled this genre for anyone else! The characters she has developed and the setting, especially at Lavender’s are just so real! Even the media issues are realistic. So many lines are crossed you can’t help but cheer for the entire cast of characters! The fierce nature of the game is matched by the ferocious heat between the two MC’s. This style of writing fills my old body with memories of my youth. Thank you Emily for that gift.
Emily Hayes has spoiled this genre for anyone else! The characters she has developed and the setting, especially at Lavender’s are just so real! Even the media issues are realistic. So many lines are crossed you can’t help but cheer for the entire cast of characters! The fierce nature of the game is matched by the ferocious heat between the two MC’s. This style of writing fills my old body with memories of my youth. Thank you Emily for that gift.
April 14, 2026
unlikeable MC
Lex is a completely unlikable MC.
I don’t know why so many authors cannot differentiate between CONFIDENCE and ARROGANCE.
Yes, there are similarities between the two, but confidence doesn’t come with cruelty, and casual disregard.
Lex is cruel.
I also don’t know why so many readers find themselves falling over to fawn over said arrogance.
Having the casually dickish character like and treat dogs well doesn’t negate their otherwise douchebaggery.
Lex is a completely unlikable MC.
I don’t know why so many authors cannot differentiate between CONFIDENCE and ARROGANCE.
Yes, there are similarities between the two, but confidence doesn’t come with cruelty, and casual disregard.
Lex is cruel.
I also don’t know why so many readers find themselves falling over to fawn over said arrogance.
Having the casually dickish character like and treat dogs well doesn’t negate their otherwise douchebaggery.
April 17, 2026
started off promising
Good tension and chemistry. But it failed to develop the characters and their backstories fully. It also did the coach dirty, when she finally gives into the romance she’s shrunken somehow.
Good tension and chemistry. But it failed to develop the characters and their backstories fully. It also did the coach dirty, when she finally gives into the romance she’s shrunken somehow.
April 7, 2026
Loved it!!!
I love everything by this author. It's laugh out loud funny, heartfelt, and relatable. The characters are amazing. Can't wait to read all of her books.
I love everything by this author. It's laugh out loud funny, heartfelt, and relatable. The characters are amazing. Can't wait to read all of her books.
April 24, 2026
Good spice but storyline was a bit generic 🫣
April 29, 2026
loved it
Very nice story and fun to read . Loved it !!! Phoenix Ridge rocks !!! Love the stories and all the conflicts
Very nice story and fun to read . Loved it !!! Phoenix Ridge rocks !!! Love the stories and all the conflicts
April 17, 2026
Great read loved it. The character's, Mara and Lex had me laughing, crying a awesome story with a happy ending. Well done, Emily. I can't wait for the next hockey story.
June 6, 2026
Seriously I read it like 3 times but I’m too shy to put it again . I love Mara and Lex and let’s not forget Goldie 💅🏼❤️
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews