What do you think?
Wild Card #3
The Game Plan
Not yet published
Expected 31 Oct 26A fake dating ice hockey romance to fall in love with! Perfect for fans of Heated Rivalry, Rachel Reid and Chelsea Curto 🏒 💕 When Sienna Anderson’s partner – in life and work – decides to trade her in for a younger, slinkier model, she’s at risk of losing everything…and being deported. That’s how she comes to be crying on the shoulder of her manchild client and ice hockey star, Jax Harris, on a Las Vegas chapel crawl with him and his New York Dragons teammates.
Jax has been called many things – hockey sensation, superstar, playboy, irresponsible, irresistible, and most likely to spend time in the sin bin. But waking up in his Las Vegas suite with his PR in his bed and a jelly ring on her wedding finger, is the first time he’s been called an accidental husband.
Sienna needs their fake relationship to last just long enough to get her life – and visa – back on track. And dating Sienna seems to be having a positive impact on Jax’s reputation on and off the ice.
All they need to do is stick to the game plan. But one of them is about to have a shift change. Can their marriage of convenience become something more?
Sports romance Hockey romance Fake dating Marriage of convenience Workplace romance Opposites attract Grumpy x sunshine Haters to friends to lovers Found family
Jax has been called many things – hockey sensation, superstar, playboy, irresponsible, irresistible, and most likely to spend time in the sin bin. But waking up in his Las Vegas suite with his PR in his bed and a jelly ring on her wedding finger, is the first time he’s been called an accidental husband.
Sienna needs their fake relationship to last just long enough to get her life – and visa – back on track. And dating Sienna seems to be having a positive impact on Jax’s reputation on and off the ice.
All they need to do is stick to the game plan. But one of them is about to have a shift change. Can their marriage of convenience become something more?
Sports romance Hockey romance Fake dating Marriage of convenience Workplace romance Opposites attract Grumpy x sunshine Haters to friends to lovers Found family
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 31, 2026
About the author
Laura Carter
23 books451 followersAmazon top 10 and internationally bestselling author of romcoms and sports romance, translated into multiple languages. Exploring relationships and getting under the skin of her characters is Laura’s passion. She takes inspiration from everything she loves from sports to law, from music and books to on screen romances, and from her own friends and family (shhhhhh, don't tell them!). Laura lives in Jersey, Channel Islands and loves nothing more than being active outdoors.
Rep'd by Tanera Simons of Greenstone Literary Agency.
Connect with Laura through Facebook (@lauracarterauthor), Instagram (@lauracarterauthor) and TikTok (@laura.carter.author).
Learn more about Laura and her books here: www.lauracarterauthor.com.
Rep'd by Tanera Simons of Greenstone Literary Agency.
Connect with Laura through Facebook (@lauracarterauthor), Instagram (@lauracarterauthor) and TikTok (@laura.carter.author).
Learn more about Laura and her books here: www.lauracarterauthor.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Currently Reading
October 2, 2026. ݁⋆ 🏒 ⌗
pre-read
༉‧₊˚.
⤷ started: 2nd october ── .✧
the cover instantly drew me in, so glad i was able to receive the arc for this one and i can't wait to dive in! 🏒💗
Many thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for providing me a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
⤷ started: 2nd october ── .✧
the cover instantly drew me in, so glad i was able to receive the arc for this one and i can't wait to dive in! 🏒💗
Many thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for providing me a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐ Rating: 3.25 Stars.
✨ The Vibe
A fun, easy-to-read ice hockey romance with fake dating, marriage of convenience, workplace tension, opposites attracting, and a lively found-family cast. Expect banter, sports romance energy, a reformed playboy, and two people figuring out when a fake relationship stops feeling so fake.
🫶 Who Will Love This?
If you enjoy hockey romance, marriage of convenience, and a little grumpy/sunshine energy, this could be a fun one to pick up!
🔥 Tropes & Elements
- Ice hockey romance
- Marriage of convenience
- Workplace romance
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Opposites attract
- Haters to friends to lovers
- Found family
💭 My Thoughts
Okay, first of all: this book is fun. It's easy to read, funny, and has great pacing, so I flew through it. I really enjoyed Jax and Sienna's chemistry, and their dynamic definitely had its moments.
Jax had some great character development. He starts off as a total manchild who lives for hockey and hookups, but we really see him grow up throughout the story. I especially liked how protective he became of Sienna and how much he wanted to become a man worthy of her.
Sienna was more complicated for me. I LOVE that she's a boss babe; smart, funny, strong, and capable, but I struggled with how rude she was to Jax at times. Yes, he absolutely needed to be called out for his teenage-boy-in-a-dorm lifestyle 😂, but sometimes she went a little too far for me.
I also felt like we missed some of the development of her feelings for him. We go from her being pretty rude to him to suddenly not being rude anymore, and I wanted more of the actual transition. I liked their chemistry, but I kept wishing we'd gotten more of it.
The supporting cast was great, though! Jax's teammates and siblings were so much fun, and I especially loved their brotherly dynamic. The found-family aspect was definitely a highlight.
I also wanted a little more revenge for Sienna's cheating ex because, honestly, he got off WAY too easily. 😂 And the ending felt a little abrupt to me. There isn't a real cliffhanger, but I still had questions about some of the storylines and wanted more resolution.
Overall, I enjoyed this! It was fun, funny, easy to read, and I definitely don't regret picking it up. It just wasn't one of those books that will stick with me after finishing it.
📢 Disclosure: Thank you so much to Boldwood Books, NetGalley, and Laura Carter for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts & opinions are always my own.
✨ The Vibe
A fun, easy-to-read ice hockey romance with fake dating, marriage of convenience, workplace tension, opposites attracting, and a lively found-family cast. Expect banter, sports romance energy, a reformed playboy, and two people figuring out when a fake relationship stops feeling so fake.
🫶 Who Will Love This?
If you enjoy hockey romance, marriage of convenience, and a little grumpy/sunshine energy, this could be a fun one to pick up!
🔥 Tropes & Elements
- Ice hockey romance
- Marriage of convenience
- Workplace romance
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Opposites attract
- Haters to friends to lovers
- Found family
💭 My Thoughts
Okay, first of all: this book is fun. It's easy to read, funny, and has great pacing, so I flew through it. I really enjoyed Jax and Sienna's chemistry, and their dynamic definitely had its moments.
Jax had some great character development. He starts off as a total manchild who lives for hockey and hookups, but we really see him grow up throughout the story. I especially liked how protective he became of Sienna and how much he wanted to become a man worthy of her.
Sienna was more complicated for me. I LOVE that she's a boss babe; smart, funny, strong, and capable, but I struggled with how rude she was to Jax at times. Yes, he absolutely needed to be called out for his teenage-boy-in-a-dorm lifestyle 😂, but sometimes she went a little too far for me.
I also felt like we missed some of the development of her feelings for him. We go from her being pretty rude to him to suddenly not being rude anymore, and I wanted more of the actual transition. I liked their chemistry, but I kept wishing we'd gotten more of it.
The supporting cast was great, though! Jax's teammates and siblings were so much fun, and I especially loved their brotherly dynamic. The found-family aspect was definitely a highlight.
I also wanted a little more revenge for Sienna's cheating ex because, honestly, he got off WAY too easily. 😂 And the ending felt a little abrupt to me. There isn't a real cliffhanger, but I still had questions about some of the storylines and wanted more resolution.
Overall, I enjoyed this! It was fun, funny, easy to read, and I definitely don't regret picking it up. It just wasn't one of those books that will stick with me after finishing it.
📢 Disclosure: Thank you so much to Boldwood Books, NetGalley, and Laura Carter for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts & opinions are always my own.
September 28, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley💫
I started this book without having read any of the previous installments in the series. It was a very fast read, and the author kept me completely hooked throughout with the fake dating trope.
Overall, I enjoyed the characters' individual journeys. I liked how Sierra was portrayed as a strong FMC and how she became lighter, younger, and happier around Jax. As for Jax, I really appreciated peeling back his playboy persona. I particularly loved the fundraising scenes and how he stood up for Sierra only when she sought his support, otherwise letting her handle things herself.
However, I felt their relationship could have been explored more deeply. The narrative felt a bit rushed, and their connection needed to be made clearer on the page. On top of that, they only acknowledge their feelings in the very last chapter.
Finally, the ending felt abrupt, with no glimpse into the characters' future - which, for me, is a must-have. While I liked seeing the flashback to their Las Vegas night in the epilogue (a night mentioned throughout the book), even that felt rushed and left room for further development.
This book is a very slow burn with a low spice level (only one scene in the whole book). If those are your reading preferences, I definitely recommend giving it a try! As for me, neither slow burns nor low spice are quite my style.
I started this book without having read any of the previous installments in the series. It was a very fast read, and the author kept me completely hooked throughout with the fake dating trope.
Overall, I enjoyed the characters' individual journeys. I liked how Sierra was portrayed as a strong FMC and how she became lighter, younger, and happier around Jax. As for Jax, I really appreciated peeling back his playboy persona. I particularly loved the fundraising scenes and how he stood up for Sierra only when she sought his support, otherwise letting her handle things herself.
However, I felt their relationship could have been explored more deeply. The narrative felt a bit rushed, and their connection needed to be made clearer on the page. On top of that, they only acknowledge their feelings in the very last chapter.
Finally, the ending felt abrupt, with no glimpse into the characters' future - which, for me, is a must-have. While I liked seeing the flashback to their Las Vegas night in the epilogue (a night mentioned throughout the book), even that felt rushed and left room for further development.
This book is a very slow burn with a low spice level (only one scene in the whole book). If those are your reading preferences, I definitely recommend giving it a try! As for me, neither slow burns nor low spice are quite my style.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After Sienna catches her fiancé in bed with their secretary, she heads to Vegas to celebrate the wedding of the Dragons hockey team captain and his wife. The morning after one very wild night, she wakes up to find out she married Jax, one of the players, most specifically, the one who claims he doesn't date. And to make matters worse, the wedding was caught on video and is now all over the internet, while she also has to figure out how to deal with her visa situation if she wants to stay in the US.
Sienna and Jax were so much fun from the very beginning! I loved watching their relationship develop, and their constant banter was everything. The chemistry between them was off the charts, and I especially loved that their enemies to lovers arc actually took its time. Their relationship developed at a really natural pace, with no unnecessary rushing.
Jax’s teammates and siblings were also such a fun part of the story. They’re all so supportive of each other, and I really loved the brotherly dynamic between them. Also, this book definitely left me curious about TJ!
And that epilogue was so cute and honestly the perfect way to wrap up the book.
Overall, this was such a sweet, fun read. I had a really good time with this one!
Sienna and Jax were so much fun from the very beginning! I loved watching their relationship develop, and their constant banter was everything. The chemistry between them was off the charts, and I especially loved that their enemies to lovers arc actually took its time. Their relationship developed at a really natural pace, with no unnecessary rushing.
Jax’s teammates and siblings were also such a fun part of the story. They’re all so supportive of each other, and I really loved the brotherly dynamic between them. Also, this book definitely left me curious about TJ!
And that epilogue was so cute and honestly the perfect way to wrap up the book.
Overall, this was such a sweet, fun read. I had a really good time with this one!
September 19, 2026
Thank you to the publisher/author for the ARC, unfortunately not for me.
The goods:
1. I liked the inclusion of Vegas in the epilogue
2. The pacing of the relationship.
3. Spice scene was decent
The not so goods:
1. too many mentions of "booktalk" (2 too many)
2. the phrase "pass-agg"
3. the word chortle
4. When the FMC called the MMC a "jock slut" and "man whore." Was it true? Maybe Was it needed to be said like that? No
5. Why is there a side character called Gronkowski?
6. when the MMC referred to himself as "true gen-z"
7. Every time there was a group of girls referred to they were "girlies"
8. The FMC gave the hockey players "how to date" booklets...
9. when the FMC referred to herself as "mommy." This was not the story for that.
10. "sarcasm sarcasming hard"
11. "stop thinking with your man-stick"
Overall felt like it was trying to hard to fit the "gen-z" tiktok slang lottery. I also felt like the sports aspect of it was not described well the little that is was incorporated. I have read many many hockey romances and I have never seen "kit" used to describe their gear. As a mid twenties individual you would never hear me talking like either of these main characters.
The goods:
1. I liked the inclusion of Vegas in the epilogue
2. The pacing of the relationship.
3. Spice scene was decent
The not so goods:
1. too many mentions of "booktalk" (2 too many)
2. the phrase "pass-agg"
3. the word chortle
4. When the FMC called the MMC a "jock slut" and "man whore." Was it true? Maybe Was it needed to be said like that? No
5. Why is there a side character called Gronkowski?
6. when the MMC referred to himself as "true gen-z"
7. Every time there was a group of girls referred to they were "girlies"
8. The FMC gave the hockey players "how to date" booklets...
9. when the FMC referred to herself as "mommy." This was not the story for that.
10. "sarcasm sarcasming hard"
11. "stop thinking with your man-stick"
Overall felt like it was trying to hard to fit the "gen-z" tiktok slang lottery. I also felt like the sports aspect of it was not described well the little that is was incorporated. I have read many many hockey romances and I have never seen "kit" used to describe their gear. As a mid twenties individual you would never hear me talking like either of these main characters.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Now, this is what a slow burn romance is like. The first kiss is not until 73% in!
Sienna and Jax already know each other, end up getting married in Vegas and decide to stay married. The marriage has an expiration date. The forced proximity of living together and rooming together on the road leaves them with little choice but to be in each other’s orbit. They start to get along and hang out and it’s not long before both of them realise they are happy and want to make a go of things. They have really good banter with each other. The tension kept building and building between them. They have to navigate through being professional in the workplace but also figure out where things start to become genuine and real with them.
There was a lot of growth from Jax, he didn’t want to have relationships and was only interested in hookups, but we see him start to grow up and mature, to be a man worthy of being Sienna’s husband. He becomes protective as hell over Sienna, especially about the situation with immigration. He knew he’d found his person, and wanted to be worthy of her.
The group going to Vegas for a vow renewal and doing it ten times and dressing up in all sorts of costumes was a cool scene. It was different. The whole visa situation kinda annoyed me like Sienna’s plan just didn’t make sense, how did she expect to set up a business making her way through temporary work visas. Her POS cheating ex needed to be put more into his place. I would’ve liked if it included a scene showing the consequences of his actions catching up with him. Something like his business not going well because of what he did. He definitely completely shafted himself in a way that is the ONE thing that you do not do in PR. I don’t see how clients would have even a morsel of trust in him.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Laura Carter for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest voluntary review.
Sienna and Jax already know each other, end up getting married in Vegas and decide to stay married. The marriage has an expiration date. The forced proximity of living together and rooming together on the road leaves them with little choice but to be in each other’s orbit. They start to get along and hang out and it’s not long before both of them realise they are happy and want to make a go of things. They have really good banter with each other. The tension kept building and building between them. They have to navigate through being professional in the workplace but also figure out where things start to become genuine and real with them.
There was a lot of growth from Jax, he didn’t want to have relationships and was only interested in hookups, but we see him start to grow up and mature, to be a man worthy of being Sienna’s husband. He becomes protective as hell over Sienna, especially about the situation with immigration. He knew he’d found his person, and wanted to be worthy of her.
The group going to Vegas for a vow renewal and doing it ten times and dressing up in all sorts of costumes was a cool scene. It was different. The whole visa situation kinda annoyed me like Sienna’s plan just didn’t make sense, how did she expect to set up a business making her way through temporary work visas. Her POS cheating ex needed to be put more into his place. I would’ve liked if it included a scene showing the consequences of his actions catching up with him. Something like his business not going well because of what he did. He definitely completely shafted himself in a way that is the ONE thing that you do not do in PR. I don’t see how clients would have even a morsel of trust in him.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Laura Carter for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hockey romances. Are all the rage now and the bar is high there have been some great ones and this one falls somewhere in the middle -(thr book is 3rd in a series, which i did not know, however i didnt feel like i was missing anything definitely can be a stand alone as well) it is an OK book, a multiple trope book - girl (Sienna) gets cheated on by fiance (who holds her job also,- they "own" a PR firm, although due to her immigrant status -Canada to US- she can not technically own so you know what that means) she then goes to Vegas to celebrate other friends 10 year anniversary, they are getting married 10 times by doing a wedding chapel crawl - 10 different chapels, 10 different themes, once thereshe lets loose and by loose she accidently marries Jax a single younger playboy hockey player in a drunken blackout (who she knew from the PR business) due to some other unforseen circumstances (no spoilers) she ends up working for Jax's hockey team in the communications dept. - somehow a video of their wedding (in theme ) gets uploaded onto the internet so now everyone knows about the marriage - they need to stay fake married while Si tries to figure out what to do with her immigration status , they need to live and work together for 12 weeks, can they both handle it- neither one remembers much about their wedding night although they both have flashbacks of bits and pieces amd they know it was hot, - the book had a fun cast of characters and some great family dynamics on both Si and Jax's side which i wished were more played out, - the book is told in the POV of both Sienna and Jax- and again its a predictable fake dating/marriage trope, its light and breezy a quick read. I wish they would have flashed out the family dynamics a little bit more. It felt very rushed when it came to that I won't go back to me. The first two, just because i'm curious to see who the leads were-
Thank you to Netgalley for the arc, in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley for the arc, in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Honestly, this was such a fun book to read, and it was genuinely funny. There were a few moments where the story started to ramble, but it never became a major issue for me.
Sienna is a workaholic Canadian living on U.S. soil. After discovering her fiancé in bed with a much younger woman, she walks away from the relationship. Unfortunately, that leaves her in an even bigger mess: she co-owned their business, but because of her citizenship status, her ownership was never officially put on paper. So now she has no job, no partner, and no visa.
A trip to Vegas with her friends takes an unexpected turn when Sienna wakes up married to Jax Harris, a hockey player with a history of getting into trouble. Jax has always found Sienna beautiful, but he knew she was off-limits. He's also a notorious playboy with anger issues—basically a giant man-child.
The story follows their unexpected marriage and, of course, what actually happened in Vegas. Neither of them remembers getting married, but their friends do, and they're more than happy to fill in the blanks. The book also spends a lot of time exploring Sienna's internal turmoil. She wants Jax, but she's constantly haunted by his history with other women and struggles to get past his reputation.
Overall, this was an amazing read. It's funny and emotional, with plenty of complicated life problems thrown into the mix. I also really enjoyed the camaraderie between Jax's teammates—it was genuinely cute.
My only complaint? I wish Jax didn't mention his playboy history quite so often. I get it. He's been with a lot of women. We know. Please stop reminding me.
I received an advance review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Sienna is a workaholic Canadian living on U.S. soil. After discovering her fiancé in bed with a much younger woman, she walks away from the relationship. Unfortunately, that leaves her in an even bigger mess: she co-owned their business, but because of her citizenship status, her ownership was never officially put on paper. So now she has no job, no partner, and no visa.
A trip to Vegas with her friends takes an unexpected turn when Sienna wakes up married to Jax Harris, a hockey player with a history of getting into trouble. Jax has always found Sienna beautiful, but he knew she was off-limits. He's also a notorious playboy with anger issues—basically a giant man-child.
The story follows their unexpected marriage and, of course, what actually happened in Vegas. Neither of them remembers getting married, but their friends do, and they're more than happy to fill in the blanks. The book also spends a lot of time exploring Sienna's internal turmoil. She wants Jax, but she's constantly haunted by his history with other women and struggles to get past his reputation.
Overall, this was an amazing read. It's funny and emotional, with plenty of complicated life problems thrown into the mix. I also really enjoyed the camaraderie between Jax's teammates—it was genuinely cute.
My only complaint? I wish Jax didn't mention his playboy history quite so often. I get it. He's been with a lot of women. We know. Please stop reminding me.
I received an advance review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review.
Laura Carter has completely outdone herself with The Game Plan! As the third installment in The Wild Card Series, this book delivers everything an ice hockey romance enthusiast could ever ask for it is high stakes, incredibly spicy, and packed with an undeniable emotional depth that left me breathless.
Sienna and Jax have an explosive, dynamic energy from the very first page. Sienna is a fierce, brilliant PR agent who is completely up against the wall with her visa issues. Jax is the ultimate "manchild" superstar, a total playboy on the surface, but deeply loyal and protective underneath. When an accidental Vegas wedding turns into a strategic marriage of convenience, the tension skyrockets to an absolute fever pitch.What makes this book a standout is how masterfully Carter handles the tropes:
1. The Forced Proximity: The workplace boundaries completely melt away, and watching them navigate the blur between professional duty and genuine, agonizing attraction is pure perfection.
2. The Spice: The chemistry is absolutely electric. The banter is sharp, the tension is agonizing, and the payoff is incredibly satisfying.
3. The Growth: Jax’s evolution from a reckless athlete to a man entirely devoted to keeping his wife safe from deportation is beautifully written..
If you love the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, fake dating, and a protective hero who will do anything to keep his woman by his side, put this on your TBR immediately. Laura Carter has officially solidified her spot on my auto-buy author list!
Laura Carter has completely outdone herself with The Game Plan! As the third installment in The Wild Card Series, this book delivers everything an ice hockey romance enthusiast could ever ask for it is high stakes, incredibly spicy, and packed with an undeniable emotional depth that left me breathless.
Sienna and Jax have an explosive, dynamic energy from the very first page. Sienna is a fierce, brilliant PR agent who is completely up against the wall with her visa issues. Jax is the ultimate "manchild" superstar, a total playboy on the surface, but deeply loyal and protective underneath. When an accidental Vegas wedding turns into a strategic marriage of convenience, the tension skyrockets to an absolute fever pitch.What makes this book a standout is how masterfully Carter handles the tropes:
1. The Forced Proximity: The workplace boundaries completely melt away, and watching them navigate the blur between professional duty and genuine, agonizing attraction is pure perfection.
2. The Spice: The chemistry is absolutely electric. The banter is sharp, the tension is agonizing, and the payoff is incredibly satisfying.
3. The Growth: Jax’s evolution from a reckless athlete to a man entirely devoted to keeping his wife safe from deportation is beautifully written..
If you love the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, fake dating, and a protective hero who will do anything to keep his woman by his side, put this on your TBR immediately. Laura Carter has officially solidified her spot on my auto-buy author list!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC review
5⭐|2🌶️|3%🌶️frequency
Another perfect book by Laura. I'm definitely obsessed with this series 😍
It's so super funny. The banter between Sienna and Jax is hilarious 🤣 It's not that they hate each other; it's more that Sienna is annoyed to be married to Jax 🙈
I have a question. They say, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Right? But did that ever really happen? Did it really stay in Vegas? Or is that a romance book thing? 🤣 Btw, I love that it never stays in Vegas in romance books; otherwise it would be boring 😎
This book definitely is NOT boring. I couldn't put it down. I read it in one go, and yes, even though it took me 6.5h (no, I'm definitely not a 100+p/hour reader).
Even with all the bickering, Sienna and Jax are so cute 🥰 Yeah, it's for sure not easy to live with a playboy. But there are things Sienna just doesn't know. Jax is actually super cute and mega 🔥 🥵
I'm not sure what side character I loved the most. Jax's teammates are all funny, too 😁 I also loved to see Sas again (Jax's sister, book 1).
My favorite "scene" was the fact as what they got married 🤣 Because they had to try on costumes for another wedding and yeah... The wedding isn't an actual scene, but there is enough talk about it, so... 😎
I'm happy this isn't the last book in the series, because I can't get enough 😁 Even though the books are interconnected, this one can be read without the first two, even though I still recommend reading the other two books, because they are great and funny reads, too 🤩
Thanks to the author, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC 🩷
Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...
5⭐|2🌶️|3%🌶️frequency
Another perfect book by Laura. I'm definitely obsessed with this series 😍
It's so super funny. The banter between Sienna and Jax is hilarious 🤣 It's not that they hate each other; it's more that Sienna is annoyed to be married to Jax 🙈
I have a question. They say, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Right? But did that ever really happen? Did it really stay in Vegas? Or is that a romance book thing? 🤣 Btw, I love that it never stays in Vegas in romance books; otherwise it would be boring 😎
This book definitely is NOT boring. I couldn't put it down. I read it in one go, and yes, even though it took me 6.5h (no, I'm definitely not a 100+p/hour reader).
Even with all the bickering, Sienna and Jax are so cute 🥰 Yeah, it's for sure not easy to live with a playboy. But there are things Sienna just doesn't know. Jax is actually super cute and mega 🔥 🥵
I'm not sure what side character I loved the most. Jax's teammates are all funny, too 😁 I also loved to see Sas again (Jax's sister, book 1).
My favorite "scene" was the fact as what they got married 🤣 Because they had to try on costumes for another wedding and yeah... The wedding isn't an actual scene, but there is enough talk about it, so... 😎
I'm happy this isn't the last book in the series, because I can't get enough 😁 Even though the books are interconnected, this one can be read without the first two, even though I still recommend reading the other two books, because they are great and funny reads, too 🤩
Thanks to the author, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC 🩷
Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this fun hockey romance, which combines a drunken Vegas wedding, marriage of convenience, opposites attract, and a slow-burn relationship with plenty of banter.
I enjoyed the dynamic between Sienna and Jax. Their opposite personalities made for some great banter, and I liked watching their relationship develop gradually rather than having their feelings happen overnight. Their character development throughout the story was also well done, particularly as they learned more about each other and navigated their unexpected marriage.
There was drama from the very first chapter, and just when things seemed to settle down, another complication appeared. I especially liked the twist surrounding who actually leaked the video and why.
The Long Island setting was enjoyable, as were the Canadian references throughout the story. I also appreciated the storyline surrounding Sienna’s immigration situation. The stress of trying to continue working while dealing with the implications of the marriage added an interesting layer to the story.
One of my favourite aspects was not knowing exactly what happened in Vegas until the epilogue. Keeping that part of their story a mystery made me feel like I was discovering it alongside Sienna and Jax, and I thought the reveal was a great way to wrap things up.
Overall, this was a quick, easy read with a good mix of romance, hockey, banter, drama, and mystery. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy marriage of convenience, opposites attract, slow-burn romance, and Vegas wedding tropes.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the dynamic between Sienna and Jax. Their opposite personalities made for some great banter, and I liked watching their relationship develop gradually rather than having their feelings happen overnight. Their character development throughout the story was also well done, particularly as they learned more about each other and navigated their unexpected marriage.
There was drama from the very first chapter, and just when things seemed to settle down, another complication appeared. I especially liked the twist surrounding who actually leaked the video and why.
The Long Island setting was enjoyable, as were the Canadian references throughout the story. I also appreciated the storyline surrounding Sienna’s immigration situation. The stress of trying to continue working while dealing with the implications of the marriage added an interesting layer to the story.
One of my favourite aspects was not knowing exactly what happened in Vegas until the epilogue. Keeping that part of their story a mystery made me feel like I was discovering it alongside Sienna and Jax, and I thought the reveal was a great way to wrap things up.
Overall, this was a quick, easy read with a good mix of romance, hockey, banter, drama, and mystery. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy marriage of convenience, opposites attract, slow-burn romance, and Vegas wedding tropes.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2026
📖 The Game Plan by Laura Carter
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3,25 stars
I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book because I’m always up for a good hockey romance. The premise of The Game Plan immediately caught my attention, especially with Jax and Sienna finding themselves in a marriage of convenience while trying to navigate their very different circumstances.
I really enjoyed the chemistry between Jax and Sienna. Their dynamic definitely had its moments, and I liked seeing their relationship develop throughout the story. That being said, I unfortunately didn’t connect with either of them as much as I would have liked. I felt like both characters were missing a little bit of depth, which made it harder for me to become fully invested in their story.
I also realized that I’m probably not the biggest fan of the marriage-of-convenience trope. Surprisingly, though, that wasn’t really what bothered me about this book, and I could easily get past it while reading.
As much as I enjoyed Jax and Sienna’s chemistry, I kept wishing there had been more of it. I think the book could have benefited from giving their relationship more room to develop, because story-wise it felt a little flat to me. There was just something missing that I can’t quite put my finger on.
Overall, I did enjoy reading this and definitely don’t regret picking it up. It just wasn’t one of those books that stayed with me after finishing it. I think I was hoping to feel a little more connected to the characters and their story, and unfortunately that part was missing for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3,25 stars
I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book because I’m always up for a good hockey romance. The premise of The Game Plan immediately caught my attention, especially with Jax and Sienna finding themselves in a marriage of convenience while trying to navigate their very different circumstances.
I really enjoyed the chemistry between Jax and Sienna. Their dynamic definitely had its moments, and I liked seeing their relationship develop throughout the story. That being said, I unfortunately didn’t connect with either of them as much as I would have liked. I felt like both characters were missing a little bit of depth, which made it harder for me to become fully invested in their story.
I also realized that I’m probably not the biggest fan of the marriage-of-convenience trope. Surprisingly, though, that wasn’t really what bothered me about this book, and I could easily get past it while reading.
As much as I enjoyed Jax and Sienna’s chemistry, I kept wishing there had been more of it. I think the book could have benefited from giving their relationship more room to develop, because story-wise it felt a little flat to me. There was just something missing that I can’t quite put my finger on.
Overall, I did enjoy reading this and definitely don’t regret picking it up. It just wasn’t one of those books that stayed with me after finishing it. I think I was hoping to feel a little more connected to the characters and their story, and unfortunately that part was missing for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Set in Long Island, a publicist and a star hockey player navigate a marriage of convenience all while falling for each other. When Sienna Anderson catches her fiancé and business partner cheating, she takes a last minute trip to Las Vegas with friends. At the end of the trip, she wakes up married to New York Dragon hockey player Jax Harris. Her immigration needs and his reputation have them deciding to stay married for the short term. As they get to know each other though, will real feelings get in the way of the game plan?
I loved the slow burn of this romance! And not knowing what happened in Vegas (until the epilogue) was great. I also enjoyed the hockey workplace setting as well as Jax's teammates.
While it was nice to see what happened in Vegas at the end, I felt like the true ending was a bit abrupt. I would have liked more time with the couple. Maybe the next book in the series will feature more of them?
Also, there were a few moments where the gen Z slang took me out (as well as a movie misspelled).
This romance features:
🏒 American Hockey MMC x Canadian Publicist FMC
🏒 Accidental marriage
🏒 Workplace
🏒 Opposites attract
🏒 Friends to lovers
🏒 An ex who is the worst
Open door / spicy
3.5 / 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC!
I loved the slow burn of this romance! And not knowing what happened in Vegas (until the epilogue) was great. I also enjoyed the hockey workplace setting as well as Jax's teammates.
While it was nice to see what happened in Vegas at the end, I felt like the true ending was a bit abrupt. I would have liked more time with the couple. Maybe the next book in the series will feature more of them?
Also, there were a few moments where the gen Z slang took me out (as well as a movie misspelled).
This romance features:
🏒 American Hockey MMC x Canadian Publicist FMC
🏒 Accidental marriage
🏒 Workplace
🏒 Opposites attract
🏒 Friends to lovers
🏒 An ex who is the worst
Open door / spicy
3.5 / 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Laura Carter, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As a huge fan of hockey romances, fake relationships, and marriage of convenience, you have no idea how excited I was to get the chance to read this ARC. And from the very beginning, this story had me completely hooked.
This is definitely a slow burn, and I mean a very, very slow burn. So if slow burns aren’t your thing or you’re looking for a lot of spice, this probably won’t be the book for you. But I was living for the tension between Sienna and Jax and loved watching their feelings slowly develop. I devoured page after page, and I also loved the side characters, especially TJ.
This was my first book by this author, and up until around the 80% mark, it was easily a five-star read for me. My only issue was that the ending felt a little too rushed. After all that build-up, I really wanted a few more chapters once Sienna and Jax finally admitted their feelings. I think seeing more of them actually together would have given their relationship the extra depth I was missing at the end.
I also loved the epilogue and finally finding out what really happened that night in Las Vegas after getting little hints throughout the book. Overall, I had such a good time reading this and definitely want to read more from this author!
As a huge fan of hockey romances, fake relationships, and marriage of convenience, you have no idea how excited I was to get the chance to read this ARC. And from the very beginning, this story had me completely hooked.
This is definitely a slow burn, and I mean a very, very slow burn. So if slow burns aren’t your thing or you’re looking for a lot of spice, this probably won’t be the book for you. But I was living for the tension between Sienna and Jax and loved watching their feelings slowly develop. I devoured page after page, and I also loved the side characters, especially TJ.
This was my first book by this author, and up until around the 80% mark, it was easily a five-star read for me. My only issue was that the ending felt a little too rushed. After all that build-up, I really wanted a few more chapters once Sienna and Jax finally admitted their feelings. I think seeing more of them actually together would have given their relationship the extra depth I was missing at the end.
I also loved the epilogue and finally finding out what really happened that night in Las Vegas after getting little hints throughout the book. Overall, I had such a good time reading this and definitely want to read more from this author!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Overall, I enjoyed this book.
Marriage of convenience/fake dating
The guy falls first
Hockey
All things I love reading in a romance!
I think Jax and Sienna had great chemistry, and I loved the premise of the story. I wish we could've gotten a little more story so their relationship really had time to grow, though.
I saw a little of myself in Sienna - the pressure she puts on herself to be the absolute best? My girl, live for yourself, but I get it.
I get that Jax was immature (I agree), but Sienna could've been nicer to the guy. All that said, the girl fell hard.
Jax was annoying, lol, but he was down bad for Sienna. I didnt love that he called her perfectionist qualities "neuroticism," but it tracks for his character, and i can see how those qualities were derived from anxiety or a fear of failure, so fine.
Sienna ended up letting loose and Jax matured, so i appreciated that from both of them.
The epilogue was one of my favorite parts of the book! Please dont skip it!
Read this book if you want a quick, easy read.
Don't read this book if you dont like the term "pass-agg"
Marriage of convenience/fake dating
The guy falls first
Hockey
All things I love reading in a romance!
I think Jax and Sienna had great chemistry, and I loved the premise of the story. I wish we could've gotten a little more story so their relationship really had time to grow, though.
I saw a little of myself in Sienna - the pressure she puts on herself to be the absolute best? My girl, live for yourself, but I get it.
I get that Jax was immature (I agree), but Sienna could've been nicer to the guy. All that said, the girl fell hard.
Jax was annoying, lol, but he was down bad for Sienna. I didnt love that he called her perfectionist qualities "neuroticism," but it tracks for his character, and i can see how those qualities were derived from anxiety or a fear of failure, so fine.
Sienna ended up letting loose and Jax matured, so i appreciated that from both of them.
The epilogue was one of my favorite parts of the book! Please dont skip it!
Read this book if you want a quick, easy read.
Don't read this book if you dont like the term "pass-agg"
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sienna Jamieson’s life is turned upside down when she discovers her fiancé cheating on her. During a trip to Las Vegas, a drunken night with hockey player Jax Harris leads to an unexpected marriage. What begins as a wild mistake could actually help Sienna stay in New York, but spending more time with Jax makes it harder to pretend there are no real feelings involved.
I liked the chemistry between Sienna and Jax, especially how Jax gradually becomes more serious about her. Their banter and the hockey team added some fun moments as well. I did feel that the story repeated the same conflicts a bit too often, particularly the visa and marriage situation. Still, it was a fun, easy romance that I think fans of fake marriage, hockey romance, and opposites-attract stories will enjoy.
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the chemistry between Sienna and Jax, especially how Jax gradually becomes more serious about her. Their banter and the hockey team added some fun moments as well. I did feel that the story repeated the same conflicts a bit too often, particularly the visa and marriage situation. Still, it was a fun, easy romance that I think fans of fake marriage, hockey romance, and opposites-attract stories will enjoy.
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher of and arc of The Game Plan in exchange for an honest review.
Jax and Sienna get drunkenly married in Vegas and due to immigration and to avoid a PR nightmare, they stay married until Sienna can stay in the US legally. This is a very slow burn, where it is almost an enemies to lovers trope as Sienna is not a fan of literally anything Jax does or says. Jax was the typical hockey playboy and even though he doesn't stray from his marriage, his old ways keep being an issue. Sienna's ex also keeps stirring up drama. It takes Sienna and Jax a long time to confess their feelings and act on them, and even with a third act conflict, the ending was sweet.
This was a quick and easy read which is great for those who love marriage of convenience. The side characters are amazing and I can see a lot of future books for them.
Jax and Sienna get drunkenly married in Vegas and due to immigration and to avoid a PR nightmare, they stay married until Sienna can stay in the US legally. This is a very slow burn, where it is almost an enemies to lovers trope as Sienna is not a fan of literally anything Jax does or says. Jax was the typical hockey playboy and even though he doesn't stray from his marriage, his old ways keep being an issue. Sienna's ex also keeps stirring up drama. It takes Sienna and Jax a long time to confess their feelings and act on them, and even with a third act conflict, the ending was sweet.
This was a quick and easy read which is great for those who love marriage of convenience. The side characters are amazing and I can see a lot of future books for them.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A marriage of convenience/ fake romance hockey story. This book features Sas’s (from Rookie Mistake) brother Jax as he marries PR Sienna in Vegas. Sienna is fresh off an engagement after finding her fiance and business partner having relations with their secretary. She is also in need of a visa as she’s Canadian. In a drunken moment, they decide to get married as Jax has a crush and wants to help her out. The story follows them working together and figuring out their relationship. My problem is that I feel like I missed the part where she falls for him because any scenes between them she was kinda rude. I would say this is a library rental.
Thank you, Boldwood Books, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Thank you, Boldwood Books, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
September 27, 2026
Unfortunately, The Game Plan was a struggle for me from beginning to end.
I usually love a marriage of convenience, but I never felt the chemistry between these two or understood why they belonged together. The plot felt underdeveloped, with conflicts that were introduced and then never really resolved.
I was also repeatedly pulled out of the story by British words and turns of phrase being used by American characters in an American setting. It happened often enough that I really wished this had received a stronger American localization edit.
Sadly, this was a miss for me.
Thank you to Laura Carter and Boldwood Books for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I usually love a marriage of convenience, but I never felt the chemistry between these two or understood why they belonged together. The plot felt underdeveloped, with conflicts that were introduced and then never really resolved.
I was also repeatedly pulled out of the story by British words and turns of phrase being used by American characters in an American setting. It happened often enough that I really wished this had received a stronger American localization edit.
Sadly, this was a miss for me.
Thank you to Laura Carter and Boldwood Books for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a fun and easy five-star read. This is number three in the Wildcard series, and I have loved them all, but if you haven’t read the others, you wouldn’t be too lost just reading this one, but you will want to go back, as the characters will intrigue you. I must admit I love the 10 Vegas wedding idea but do admit that 10 Vegas weddings with a drink in each, may lead to drunken mishaps. I must admit I loved the twist with the video. I really liked how Sienna was stubborn in wanting to do it herself but had the flex to do it. There are moments that do curl your toes a little, and not in the good way, but overall, it’s a lovely slow burn story that makes you smile.
September 17, 2026
This book😍♥️ this book had me in a chokehold for days after! I adored it! Loved everything about it and want to reread it just to relive it again. I thoroughly enjoyed every single word and devoured it! I actually cried at the beginning of the book when I read what Sienna found (don’t want to give it away) felt so bad for her! But as the book went on I was like 😍😍😍 this is why it happened at the beginning to make way for this😍. Absolute beauty that is Jax! The chemistry, the spice! Hmmmmmmmmm, icing on the cake for me! Perfecto through and through. Delicious book♥️ is it book 3 of the wild card series, absolutely is. Could I follow it, yes, did I need to read the others to read it, no but will I? Absolutely 😍 if you like or should I say LOvE and Ice hockey romance with a lot of spice, make sure your eyes read this beauty💕♥️ this would be more than 5 stars if that was an option haha!
September 25, 2026
3 stars
I’ll be honest, I didn’t love the banter in this one. The FMC was just going off mean girl vibes and it wasn’t fun bickering it was just cuts to the MMC. She even said that she knew she was being really mean but was going to stick with it. Like girl pls
I did like the premise of this book and the found family aspect. I love a fake marriage that’s from a night in Vegas where they have to keep up the ruse.
Thank you net galley and the publishers for an arc to review!
I’ll be honest, I didn’t love the banter in this one. The FMC was just going off mean girl vibes and it wasn’t fun bickering it was just cuts to the MMC. She even said that she knew she was being really mean but was going to stick with it. Like girl pls
I did like the premise of this book and the found family aspect. I love a fake marriage that’s from a night in Vegas where they have to keep up the ruse.
Thank you net galley and the publishers for an arc to review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sienna is a PR for many athletes, she and her fiance Carl started their own firm. One day early home from work, Sienna caught Carl cheating. She attends a Vegas wedding of one of her close friends but its nit just one wedding its 10. While at one of them she married Jax. Jax is a playboy hockey player. But the keep up the ruse so she can stay in the states and work. Will their Vegas marriage last or will it depart like her working visa?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fun fake dating, Hockey romance read! I enjoyed it not having read any of the series tho, it was however a very slow burn and the ending felt a little rushed. Wasn’t my favourite but not the worst ya know? I still enjoyed it!
- Marriage of convenience
- Hokey romance
- Slow burn
- Opposites attract
2.5/5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review 🖤📖
- Marriage of convenience
- Hokey romance
- Slow burn
- Opposites attract
2.5/5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review 🖤📖
September 22, 2026
Thank you to Boldwood Books via Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review 💗
jax’s whole personality was grown man child and not in an endearing way.
sienna fell for a man who doesn’t deserve her, just bc he was hot????
Jax doesn’t deserve sienna, and that’s saying a lot because sienna was insufferable.
i’m really sorry to this author but this was just not for me.
jax’s whole personality was grown man child and not in an endearing way.
sienna fell for a man who doesn’t deserve her, just bc he was hot????
Jax doesn’t deserve sienna, and that’s saying a lot because sienna was insufferable.
i’m really sorry to this author but this was just not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Betrayed and hurt leads to a mad weekend in Vegas. Attending vow renewal leads pr professional hooking up with her hockey player client.
Is Jax the big immature playboy or does he shield his gentler side?
Can Sienna and Jax work and live together? Battling attraction, Ice intervention and family interference can it still be HEA?
Enjoy I did
Is Jax the big immature playboy or does he shield his gentler side?
Can Sienna and Jax work and live together? Battling attraction, Ice intervention and family interference can it still be HEA?
Enjoy I did
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
sympa sans plus très prévisible
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher/author for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Book one of this series was a 5 star read for me, then I soft DNFd the second book. But the tropes in book 3 gave me high hopes.
I love a good marriage of convenience, but I just don't think this one was executed that well. We had a full chapter talking about how worried Sienna was about the whole no fraternising policy, and then it was just casually mentioned it was all fine. Jax's age was constantly mentioned, but it didn't affect the plot in any way.
It also got slightly repetitive, as we'd read something from one POV and then the next chapter would start and we'd read the same thing again from the other POV. But 9 times out of 10, they said the exact same thing.
At the end of the day, it was a nice easy read, not my favourite, but not the worst. I'll probably continue the series if there is more.
Book one of this series was a 5 star read for me, then I soft DNFd the second book. But the tropes in book 3 gave me high hopes.
I love a good marriage of convenience, but I just don't think this one was executed that well. We had a full chapter talking about how worried Sienna was about the whole no fraternising policy, and then it was just casually mentioned it was all fine. Jax's age was constantly mentioned, but it didn't affect the plot in any way.
It also got slightly repetitive, as we'd read something from one POV and then the next chapter would start and we'd read the same thing again from the other POV. But 9 times out of 10, they said the exact same thing.
At the end of the day, it was a nice easy read, not my favourite, but not the worst. I'll probably continue the series if there is more.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews