Getting drafted to a losing team was bad enough. Falling for her could end me …
I’m supposed to be the NHL’s next poster boy.
Not the guy the draft screws over. Or the headline waiting to happen. And definitely not the new face of the Seattle Rogues—the league’s latest expansion team, who loses on repeat.
But here I am.
Just like my Hall of Famer dad, I’ve got the talent, looks, and dedication to be the next big thing in pro hockey … but keeping my mouth shut is proving to be a problem.
Even worse, my new team has assigned a high-flying publicist to keep watch over me since I’m a loose cannon on social media and unable to hold my tongue.
Fine, babysit me. Whatever.
Then I discover the woman assigned to represent me is Drew Callaghan—aka my coach’s daughter.
I guess if they’re making me have a publicist, it makes sense for it to be her—we’ve been family friends for years, and even if my cocky attitude drives her crazy, I know our friendship will translate well to the workplace.
But my overconfidence has never been the issue. It’s the way Drew disarms me whenever I see her in a suit while she lays out a bunch of rules for me to curate the perfect public profile.
There can be zero distractions. No scandals. And absolutely no temptations.
While she may be meticulous in her job, Drew misses one important rule: don’t fall for your coach’s daughter.
The world knows I’m a playboy, and I’m about to break every rule in the book … along with the fraternization clause in our contracts.
Ruth Stilling is a lover of all things escapism and can be mostly found with her head buried in a spicy book, writing her latest romance novel or out in the open air and nature, away from the bustle of life. As clumsy as she is crazy, Ruth enjoys creating relatable, loveable, swoon-worthy and strong willed main characters who find their happy ending. That said, she prides herself on taking her readers on emotional rollercoasters and always recommends reading her books with tissues on hand to wipe away the tears of joy, laughter and sometimes heartache.
Ruth lives in Derbyshire, England with her own personal book boyfriend (lucky girl), her six year old son and her two feisty chihuahuas.
Keep up to date with Ruth's latest content and exciting projects by following her on social media: @authorruthstilling
I have read every single one of Ruth's books in her connected universe. And the one book that continues to be a top read for me is Dead Ringer and that has everything to Jensen Jones (JJ). I love that man so much, so can you imagine my excitement when Ruth announced that we were getting a second gen and she was giving me JENSEN JONES'S SON?!?!?!?! And let me tell you something, LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON!
The reason that I loved JJ so much was for his obsession with Kate. The fact that he was such a rottweiler. Like that man was so fiercely protective of her. He allowed her to be the strong independent woman that she was while also creating a safe space to allow herself to put down her walls and take on some of her burdens. And Will Jones, is his father. But he is also his mother's son as well. He's stubborn and driven. He's all Jones baby and what a perfect combination of his parents he is! So yeah not only did I love his daddy with my whole heart but I love William too boo boo! In fact, I also really loved Drew. She is another second gen kid and it was so nice to see two characters have the best qualities from their parents.
Now let's talk about this book as a whole.... I freaking loved it! As someone who reads a lot of hockey romance, sometimes the stories can blend together with the same tropes and plot lines. And the one thing I love about Ruth, it's how she takes a plot and trope that it done frequently and puts a new spin to it. For example, this is coach's daughter, which is a slightly forbidden trope but you add that she's his publicist because he has playboy image that needs to be cleaned up, it adds another layer to it which is always fun.
I don't know you guys, I just really loved this one. I devoured it. It was such a quick read. I was really invested in Drew and Will's relationship. It was equal parts plot, spice and swoon worthy moments! Ruth! I'm so excited for this new group of boys and see where you take this series!
You should read this book if you like: - Hockey Romance - Secret Hook Ups - Forbidden - She's His Publicist - Workplace Romance - Coach's Daughter - Close Proximity - Reformed Playboy
* I would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Ruth Stilling for allowing me the absolute pleasure to read Fair Game as an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts, opinions and review.
My heart is so full after jumping back into this world with the next generation of Scorpions.
Seeing Will Jones finally get his story felt like such a treat as a longtime fan. He has all of his dad’s fiercely protective rottweiler energy, balanced by the same fiery spark that made his mom unforgettable. There is a wonderful sense of nostalgia here, but the story still feels fresh and exciting.
The chemistry between Will and Drew is instant and impossible to ignore. Their history as family friends adds so much depth, making their shift from playful bickering to something more feel natural and believable. Will starts out as a cocky playboy in need of an image makeover, but watching him become completely devoted to Drew was incredibly satisfying. Their relationship strikes the perfect balance of sweet moments and sizzling tension.
I honestly flew through this book in one sitting because I just could not put it down. Ruth delivers everything I love about hockey romance while giving it plenty of heart and emotion. It was so much fun watching these two figure out their feelings while navigating the pressures of the sport.
This was the perfect start to a new era and I am completely obsessed.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Ruth Stilling & Hambright PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
Thank you to the author and Hambright PR for the ARC.
I’m a sucker for a sports romance, and this one definitely had me intrigued from the start. The beginning was strong, and I really enjoyed the dynamic between Drew and Will. Will’s cocky, carefree attitude paired well against Drew’s rule following personality.
That said, I do think I was hoping for a bit more depth from both characters. While they grew up together, I didn’t fully feel the emotional connection I was expecting as their relationship developed. Things between them also started moving pretty quickly, and I would have loved more time spent on their transition from friends to lovers.
With that, I did enjoy the read overall. I also think it does a nice job setting things up for what comes next. I’m definitely curious to see how everything continues to unfold in the next book.
Fair Game - Ruth Stilling ARC Review 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 ⭐
Drew and Will are everything I want in the main characters of a love story. I had so much fun reading this one and absolutely loved their banter and Will’s cocky, overly confident attitude.
I will say the first half felt a bit slower compared to her other books, and the transition from friends to lovers happened a little too randomly for me. One minute he doesn’t really seem into her, and the next he’s fully in love. I didn’t totally buy into the romance at first because of that.
BUT after the halfway point? Solid 5 star territory. I fully believed in their relationship after that, and I became completely obsessed with them together. So if insta-love or fast feelings aren’t usually your thing, keep reading because it genuinely gets so much better. The part that felt rushed was small in the grand scheme of the story.
Even before I believed them as a couple, I already loved both characters individually. Their chemistry (as friends at first), their interactions, and especially Will’s ridiculous confidence had me laughing out loud constantly. The text threads were one of my favorite parts too.
And SILAS 👀 I am beyond excited for his story next. Him and Vesper had me so intrigued, and after the teasing in this book I’m officially praying for some top tier hate sex energy in their book 😂
Thank you to the author for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review 🩷
The way I devoured this book! I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did! Hockey romance is starting to become a favorite right up there with my cowboys! This was my first Ruth Stilling book and it did not disappoint.
I loved this story so much! I loved how she put a fun twist on the forbidden trope. It’s a coach’s daughter, but she’s also his publicist trying to clean up his playboy image so that was just so much fun! Her writing was super fast paced I flew through it. It was the perfect amount of plot, swoon, and spice. I loved Drew and Will’s relationship I was so invested. I just loved them so much! The banter was really good too. And I’m always a sucker for group chats!
I’m a Ruth Stilling fan and now need to read the other series and the rest of her books! This releases on 5/8 add it to your tbr immediately! Soooo good! Thank you to hambright pr for this advanced copy!
Ruth, Ruth, Ruth. You naughty girl you. You're trying to replace JJ with another Jones. Tsk tsk. Like... in what world could JJ be de-throned? ... Well, I guess in this world you could argue that he could.
Let me back up.
For those who aren't in the know, who don't have the slightest clue what I'm actually talking about - you see, Ruth's first series had a MC by the name of JJ and he was - is - .... everything. That man made me swoon like no man has before. Ruth is aware of this, she's aware of the impact of that book - may I add, one of her first books. Alright, so with that said, Ruth has since that book finished that first series and has also written a second series. And the little minx she is, with every book she's tried to best JJ - no small feat, mind you. And I'll admit, in some ways she has accomplished this - but like in a parallel way.
Alright, so I say all that so I can say this: "Fair Game" is not only the first book in Ruth's third series BUT the MC is also JJ's son!!! So to say he's got some of his dad's tendencies... ehem... just give me a minute to collect myself while my mind and body flash back to the book.... oh-hum. What a ride.
So this book is all about Will Jones... like, words can't even begin to describe this man. This cocky and infuraring man... like, for the first - idk - maybe almost 20% of this book he's so cocky. Infuriatingly so. I even DM'd Ruth and told her that I didn't know if I truly liked him (because I personally can't stand people who are just so arrogant and beyond cocky - it gets to be beyond annoying. This is totally a me thing and just preferences for people's personalities. Full disclosure here). She told me to wait, to just give him a chance - that he was his father's son. Ohhhhh that he is! Because DAYUM!!!
HOT DAYUM!!!!
And you know what? I'm just going to leave this review like that: by saying DAYUM. Because Will Jones is HOT DAYUM. When Ruth flips the script ... you better have your 5 point seatbelt on because you'll need it.
And can I just say one more thing about this? The way Will orders Drew wine... just flip me over and call me done. Is it not every woman's dream come true to have her man order her wine like Will does? I didn't even realize that I was missing this from my life!!!!! And did I not talk with Ruth about this, asking her to send my husband notes on how to do this like Will? I may just have asked her to do that. ... OMG you guys! Gah!!! Will, you are something else. Just... hot dayum.
Can I also add that the way Ruth has teased at least TWO if not three upcoming books in this series has me losing my mind right now! She needs to just put her whole life on hold to write the next few books because the wait might undo me.
Lemme also say it one more time: Will - HOT DAYUM!
Second Gen!!! What do I love more? A hockey romance or the start of a second generation series? Why not have both?!
Seattle has a new team. One thats part of an expansion and one that... lets just say they aren't great right now. And guess who's been signed on? Our MMC, Will Jensen. Son of a legend NHL player, constantly online, and a playboy. One who hasn't kept it a secret about how he feels about being on this team.
Our FMC? Drew Callaghan. Coach's daughter and a hot shot at the PR firm she works at. Who's now in charge of rehabbing Will's image. Will, who she grew up with. Who gets on her nerves but now...
Now nothing can happen between the two of them. Will is Drew's biggest client to date. She already has a coworker out to get her. And her dad? He's got Will pegged.
Its always just a little bit better when its forbidden. Will might have known Drew for years but he didnt see himself falling for her. I love a good sneak up. And sneaking around...
How long could any of this last anyway? And is it real?
Ruth Stilling does it again!! What an amazing read !! One thing about Ruth Stilling is that she delivers books that bring plot, characters with deep relatable personalities, delicious spice , found family, and real life relatable events!!
With that being said let’s get into this book. You have Drew , the work hard , go getter , gorgeous FMC who is longtime childhood frenemies with Will. Will is the dashing, cocky as hell , Mr. Know it all, and shoot first ask questions later hockey player.
Drew works at a PR company and her first huge client is , you guessed it, childhood frenemy Will. Her job is now to tone down Mr. Know it alls social media outbursts & real life social events.
But with Will not being happy with the team he landed & his quick realization that he is extremely attracted to Drew… Will she be able to successfully do her job without everything blowing up in their face when Will won’t give up on her or give in to the new team he is on?
Ahhhhh this book was absolutely delicious !! 10/10 will be reading again!!
♾️⭐️ Will MF Jones!!! This man is by far his father’s son.. He’s cocky and self assured and a playboy in his own right but by god why is this man so endearing??? He likes breaking the rules and doesn’t think about the consequences until Drew Callaghan, his life long friend is brought in to work with him to give him a better appearance to the outside world now that he’s joined the Seattle Rogues as their new rookie forward. Drew’s worked hard to achieve her goal of working in PR and couldn’t be more opposite to Will in the sense that she is cautious and likes to think things through. Now, up until a certain point these two start a completely platonic working relationship- until there’s a catalyst that literally flips the switch for Will! And this is when we see him go full blown ‘I’ll follow in my father’s Jone’s footsteps’ and turns into the biggest swoon dog around! Don’t be fooled- his cockiness is still there but underneath?? There’s a man who’s fallen hard and fast with the one person he least expects, never mind expects that he’s going to have to chase her too! And when Will calls Drew ‘baby’ very early on into their working relationship?? It just falls from his mouth so naturally and just fits them perfectly! Drew really tries hard to keep boundaries in place, but let’s be honest. She can’t deny she’s always found him objectively attractive, but now they’re working closely she’s really begun to see the man underneath and that he really does care for her. She’s so professional but deep down begins to love that he brings out a little bit of reckless in her. And boy does he lay it out straight for her and basically tells her he’ll go to any lengths to prove they’re meant to be! I’ll say this. I swooned from beginning to end reading this book- the nostalgia for this 2nd Gen book is REAL because we all know how much Kate and JJ - Wills parents and their book Dead Rinker means to me, and in my eyes it couldn’t of been more perfect. You’ll be pleased to know Drew and Wills banter is 5 star banging and that there is as always a new team chat that will use you laughing too! There are some spectacular parallels that will have your heart soaring, whilst also being a completely new individual story that’s just for them. And now it looks like I have another Jones man to swoon over- because I couldn’t possibly choose between father and son, so I’m claiming them both as mine! As I’ve told Ruth- JJ hasn’t been dethroned, he’s just been moved sideways to allow Will a seat at the table!!!🤣🤣 And don’t get me started on the little Easter eggs of whose HEA’s are coming our way, because as always I have some wild theories about the beautiful four family that’s being built. As always Ruth has this way of having you dribbling over her characters right from the beginning, and now I’ll be thinking about them for weeks to come.
This was my first book by Ruth Stilling, and I was absolutely loving it. There was hockey action and tonsil hockey action in equal measure, and I hooked on the Seattle Rogues and their antics.
First up in the series was Will Jones. He's the son of a famous hockey player, and his coach is also a former hockey player and friend of the family. He's known his eldest daughter, Drew, for years, and they enjoy healthy banter. When we first meet them, Will has just been drafted. He didn't want to go to the Rogues; they are a new team and performing terribly, and he's set to join them after college. He's arrogant, a playboy, and so cocky that he immediately causes waves and is assigned a publicist to try to do some damage limitation on his image. His publicist is Drew, and his attraction to her is stronger than he's ever known.
I loved the whole forbidden relationship between Drew and Will. The more they tried to stay away from each other or remain professional, the more they were drawn towards each other. Drew had slightly more restraint than Will. I think that's because she had more to lose than he did. But eventually, even she couldn't deny their chemistry.
I loved Silas and Mason, Will's teammates. I can't wait for their stories. Silas' has already been teased at in this one, and I hope Mason gets his second chance at happiness; he deserves it for being such a good mate to Will. I'm not sure about Tristan, though; he was a real jacka** in this one, and I'm not sure if I can root for him in the future. He either needs a complete redemption arc or he needs his just desserts.
Fair Game is a second-gen hockey romance, and honestly I was really excited going in because I loved JJ in Dead Rinker and had high hopes for his son. It definitely delivered for me.
Ruth managed to pack some fab tropes into this book. You have childhood friends, hockey star, coach’s daughter, and that forced proximity where Drew is basically stuck dealing with Will and keeping him in line. Will is this cocky pro hockey player who is so clearly his father’s son (very much a Jones man 😉 ), and Drew is way more grounded and just trying to keep Will on track. Their dynamic really worked for me. I also loved that there wasn’t a big dramatic third-act breakup.
Will is kind of a lot—super confident, a little too cocky—but it fits his character and where he comes from. And I’m always a sucker for that “like father, like son” vibe, so that was a win.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. It’s a fun, easy hockey romance with characters I actually cared about and a storyline that didn’t feel overdone. Definitely worth it if you like sports romance. It’s a banger. Ruth, you’ve absolutely smashed it again.
I don’t care if it’s cliche and overused, I love the publicist x celebrity trope, it’s forbidden, and there’s always so much delicious tension. However, will completely devour it if the celebrity is a hot bad boy hockey player with a good playboy persona who gets whipped into shape by his kick ass publicist, it is literally my weak spot. The mmc Will is literally the definition of whipped and the he falls first and harder trope. In the span of a month, this guy went from well known playboy to ridiculously chasing after his publicist and making puppy eyes at her from across the room. But Drew is a professional (at least she tries to be) baddie and does not want to compromise her job, I loved her sense of humor and quick witty comments. The banter between them went from friendly to flirty real fast, despite the fact that their relationship is the level 1000 of bad ideas. She’s not only his publicist, but also his coach’s daughter…which adds so much tension about being caught by the coach. The plot in this was fun, but it was pretty standard for a book centred around the publicist x hockey player trope. What I did love though, was how he confessed to her, and how he was determined to make up for his mistakes at the cost of his own carter, truly I cried during his big emotional speech. If obsessed was a person, he would be Will because this man kept pursuing her snd would not give up on a chance of being together no matter the obstacles. Ladies, get yourself a man like that and DO NOT SETTLE. It’s safe to say this book has further upgraded my standards of men, and I give this a 5/5
Omg was it a dream to be back with our OGs and their second generation!!! William Jones is a carbon copy of his Daddy, and I loved every second of it!! We get to see him go from a badddddd boy with a new girl on his arm every weekend, to falling first and harder for Jesse Callaghans daughter Drew whom he’s grown up with. She brings this man to his knees and I was hereeee for it!!
Drew and Will have such good chemistry, and banter! I was seriously LOLing at their text conversations, and every time Drew had to add another rule to their client/player rule list, that Will would continually break weekly 😂😂
It was also so fun for all the cameos with JJ, Kate, Jesse, and Mia because I will forever love the OG Scorpion crew so much! This second gen spin off was so much fun, and I am so excited to see what’s to come in the series!! (I’m looking at you Silas & Vesper!!!
Read if you enjoy: 🏒Hockey Romance 🤍Bad boy x Good girl 🥅Family friends who grew up together 🤍Forced proximity 🩷Forbidden Relationship
My first Ruth Stilling book and apparently I’ve found a new author to obsess over.
Will is the kind of chaotic playboy MMC who thinks he can charm his way through anything… until he really ‘sees’ his long term family friend Drew and suddenly this man is down catastrophically. And honestly? Watching him realise he’s obsessed with her was incredibly entertaining.
Drew doesn’t make it easy for him either, which made the chase even better. She keeps him on his toes the entire time while he’s out here fighting for his life over one woman who refuses to fold immediately. As he should.
Their chemistry was so fun, the friends-to-lovers tension hit perfectly, and the fact there was NO third act breakup? Ruth Stilling, thank you for your service. Sometimes I just want to watch two people fall in love without unnecessary emotional warfare.
Cute, funny, spicy, and dangerously easy to binge. Add this to your TBR immediately (it’s out now). Thank you Ruth and @hambright_pr for the ARC!
I don’t even know where to start because WOW… Fair Game completely pulled me in from the first page and did not let go 😩✨ Will MF Jones… yeah, I get it now. This man is literally his father’s son: cocky, confident, a little reckless, but somehow SO endearing??? Like why am I rooting for him this hard when I know he’s trouble 😭 He gives major “I’ll mess everything up but still make you fall for me” energy and honestly… it works. And then there’s Drew. I loved her SO much. She’s strong, профессиональная, put-together, and the way she tries to keep everything under control while working with Will??? Girl had way more patience than I ever could 😅 But what I loved most is that she’s not just “the responsible one” she has depth, ambition, and this quiet strength that makes her stand out. Their dynamic??? ELITE. The banter, the tension, the slow shift from “we’re just working together” to “oh… this is definitely not just work anymore” it was done so well. You can literally feel that moment when everything changes for Will, and from that point on he is GONE for her 😭 Also can we talk about the chemistry?? Because it was THERE from the beginning, but the way it builds?? Yeah… I was giggling, kicking my feet, fully invested. I also loved the whole second-gen vibe. If you’ve read about JJ and Kate, this hits even harder, the nostalgia is REAL. But at the same time, Will and Drew completely have their own story, their own struggles, and it never feels like a repetition. What really stood out to me is how the story balances fun and эмоции. You get the humor, the flirting, the chaotic Will moments… but also real growth, real feelings, and that moment when both characters actually see each other. And honestly? That’s what made it for me. Not just the romance, but how they bring out different sides in each other. Overall, this book was SUCH a fun read. Easy, addictive, emotional in the right moments, and with characters you actually care about. Will Jones… yeah, you got me. I’m officially obsessed 🫠 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Dead Rinker and Ruled Out are my favorite Ruth books so a second-generation story featuring their children is everything I didn’t know I needed! JJ’s son and Jessie’s daughter are absolute perfection. I completely devoured this.
There’s just something about a playboy falling hard that gets me every time and Will falls hard. Like father, like son, right? 🤪 And can we talk about those breadcrumbs? Vesper + Silas? 👀 I honestly cannot wait for what’s next!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 ➡️ ↳ Sports Romance - Hockey ↳ Forbidden ↳ Frenemies to Lovers ↳ Second Gen (Seattle Scorpions) ↳ Publicist FMC x Pro Hockey MMC ↳ Coach's Daughter ↳ Reformed Playboy ↳ Boy Obsessed ↳ Touch Her and 💀 ↳ He Falls First and Hard ↳ Dual POV
Huge shoutout to HambrightPR and Ruth for the ARC! 🫶
William 'Will' Jones has made a couple of bad decisions in selecting his words in some of his social posts. That affected his image pretty badly, so the hockey team he started playing for, Seattle Rogues, has decided that he needed someone to clean up his image. That's how Drew Callaghan ended up being his publicist. She was also one of his friends, considering that their parents were also in good relations, after their dads used to be part of the same hockey team when they were younger, and that played a huge role in landing Drew that job. What Will didn't expect was to feel attracted to that new side of Drew, professional and determined to keep up with his bubbly personality. Nothing can happen between them while they were working together, but can that be possible when the attraction between them becomes almost unbearable?
OMG, Will was suuuuch a player!!! I didn't expect for him to be this way, to be so darn cocky. He totally took advantage of his looks and fame to gain the attention of girls🤭. This is why I found it so much more interesting when he started to realize that he liked Drew, because Will wasn't accustomed to be a "one girl" type of men or to be in a stable relationship. That's why I was even more captivated by those new things he started to feel for Drew. It was soooo darn nice to see him become completely lost for Drew, becoming a little bit obsessed with her, just like his dad did with his mom🤭. Their connection was sooo intense and that slow burn was so excruciating, not knowing when everything would eventually start to change between them. And when it happened, GOD!❤️🔥 It was explosive and I liked that forbidden feeling when it came to their relationship. I was for sure captivated and mesmerized by that unique kind of relationship Will and Drew had! Also, how could you resist Will, when he was soooo swoony?! He definitely won my heart!🤭
I can't seem to get enough of Ruth's books, being totally addicted to them!🩵 I already love this new series and all the characters I've met. I'm so excited about the next book, already knowing who is going to be in center stage🤭.
✨Tropes ▫️Frenemies To Lovers ▫️Reformed Playboy ▫️Secret Romance ▫️Forbidden Romance ▫️Coach's Daughter ▫️He Falls First And Hard ▫️Sports Romance ▫️Hockey Player ▫️No 3rd Act Break Up ▫️Touch Her And Die
What’s your favorite trope? Until now, I had no idea mine was a boy obsessed MMC- DOWN BAD for his girl. Idk what Ruth puts in these books but I devoured it. A second gen series (but I have not read gen 1 yet) and I loved and adored every character. It was so fun seeing the evolution of the new found family evolve of this series and try to guess who’s story will unfold next and with what tropes.
This book has it all. He falls first, and hard. Childhood family friends to lovers. I haven’t read anything else where this was done so well - the main characters can’t be together because of their working relationship, but their outside relationship involves a lifelong connection between both families. His parents lover her and vice versa, a nice switch up with a different kind of storyline. I loved everything about this book. A FMC working her butt off to prove herself in a difficult industry without riding her family’s name to do so. She was phenomenal at her job & I forever have a sweet spot for a bad a** FMC who just get things done. Though she has some minor insecurities being new in her field, Will, as her client first, childhood family friend second and secret hookup lastly shows up constantly to be her biggest cheerleader. The dynamic and banter between these two was 10/10. Their history created such a strong emotional connection to these characters and it was just such an easy read.
Hockey romance wouldn’t be what it is without the best found family trope, and this was no different. I’m excited to get. Lee from the other characters of the series and to see what Ruth does next with some gooooood tropes hinted throughout the book. Available 5/7 on KU- grab your copy and dive in to book 1!
The way I absolutely inhaled Fair Game by Ruth Stilling! One sitting, zero regrets, no thoughts, except Will MF Jones. 🫠
This is book one in Ruth’s new next gen hockey series and somehow she’s done it again. Cocky hockey player who lives to cause chaos paired with the one woman whose literal job is to keep him under control. Drew is not only his publicist but also the coach’s daughter, so this romance is double forbidden and twice as delicious. Because apparently the best way to stop your client getting into trouble is to keep him busy between your legs. 👀
Will is arrogant, reckless, charming as hell and underneath all that swagger is a man down catastrophically bad. Meanwhile Drew is trying so hard to stay professional while slowly realising the idiot hockey menace she grew up around might actually be the love of her life (Nawww 😍).
What I love about Ruth’s next gen books is that these characters already have history. Their dads played hockey back in her original hockey series so Will and Drew have known each other forever, which makes the chemistry hit even harder when things finally shift. But let’s be real, even if Ruth’s plots were terrible I’d still come for the spice.
Thankfully the plots are great. The tension, the banter, the pacing, the emotional pull, the filthy scenes. Girlllll. Ruth knows exactly what she’s doing. 👌
At this point Ruth Stilling is my ultimate comfort read author. She has this way of writing that just scratches my itch perfectly. Her books are addictive, comforting, spicy and impossible to put down once you start.
I absolutely loved this book. It was super cute, fun to read, and honestly such a comforting hockey romance. The chemistry between the characters was amazing from the beginning, and I found myself smiling through so many of their interactions. The banter felt playful and natural, and the relationship development kept me completely invested the whole time. One of my favorite things about this story was how easy it was to connect with the characters. They both had great personalities, and together they created so many sweet moments that made the story feel warm and addictive. I especially loved the balance between the emotional scenes and the lighter romantic moments because it made the relationship feel genuine and heartfelt. The hockey setting added so much charm to the story and made everything even more entertaining. Even when parts of the plot felt a little predictable, I honestly did not mind because the writing and character chemistry carried the story so well. It was the kind of book that made me want to stay up late reading because I was so invested in what would happen next. Overall, this was such a cute and enjoyable read, and I had a great time with it. If you love sports romances with sweet chemistry, lovable characters, and lots of fun moments, I definitely recommend picking this one up. I am really excited to continue the series.
Thank you to Hambright PR and Ruth Stilling for this ARC. This is my honest review!
This was my first book by Ruth and it won’t be my last. I really enjoy her writing style!
The plot was great! I’m a sucker for: he’s a playboy professional athlete in desperate need of PR help and she gets assigned to work with him. He becomes enamored with her and doesn’t know what to do about the feelings that are so new to him.
The twist with this one is that they grew up together, their parents are best friends, and her dad is his coach. Yikes! Lots of forbidden factors here. It just makes the payoff even better though.
I loved Drew and Will’s dynamic. They were the yin to each other’s yang. You can tell that they have a strong connection. There were times where I felt they were moving pretty quickly and feelings came out of the blue. I wish we got a chance to sit in their feelings a little longer to build the tension.
I’m very excited about the build up for the next books in the series. I’m excited to read about Silas next, but I hope we get Tristan after that!
Thank you the author for the opportunity given to me. I have the opportunity to read an advance copy, because it will be released on the 7th may. I suggest you to put it on your tbr, because if you love hockey romance this is your chance to read it. Fair game is the new series of Ruth and il will be about the second generation's. In this boom we can see all characters that were part of the Scorpions series and new that will be my next obsession. In thi noon we will see the story of Will Jones and Drew Callaghan. Guys you are not ready for the yearning and the cuteness of this book. I was so captured by this book that I finished it as soon as possible. It is entertaining, amazing, lovely all the adjectives that can explain my love for this book and these characters. You have to read absolutely!
P.s Can I say how beautiful Will Jones was? Like he is cocky, a playboy but the yearning he has for Drew is AMAZING. Also I have to re-read soon the Ruth previous works, because I have to put here my own thoughts and also I want so badly to return with my Scorpions boys
I will always show up for a friends-to-lovers sports romance—and this one absolutely delivered!
This was my first time reading this author, and I’m already sold. You don’t need to know a single thing about hockey to get pulled in here—it’s all about the characters, and this MMC? A menace in the best way. Total playboy energy on and off the ice, but underneath all that ego is someone who really sneaks up on you.
And then there’s Drew—cool, composed, and trying so hard to keep everything strictly professional… which obviously goes exactly as planned. The history between them adds that extra layer of tension, and watching that shift from familiarity to something more was so satisfying.
It’s equal parts sweet and spicy, with just enough emotional weight to ground it. There are mentions of domestic abuse, so just be aware going in—but it’s handled in a way that adds depth without overtaking the story.
Between the chemistry, the banter, and the “we definitely shouldn’t do this but we’re going to anyway” energy… yeah, I’m in. I’ll absolutely be picking up more from this author!
i will ALWAYS eat up a second gen book! it’s so fun seeing old characters again. fair game was no different! will and drew were so fun, the banter, the chemistry, and of course the communication!!! so so good i love them so bad and the way will just would do absolutely anything for drew. so swoony!!!
will is without a doubt a jones and ugh i love that about him. such the perfect mix of jensen and kate and i loved seeing them as parents! again just the way he fell hard for drew, the man had zero chill when it came to his girl hehe! one thing about ruth stilling, her FMC’s are all bad asses and drew is no different! her list of rules for will always had me laughing and just the way she cared for her people! absolutely gave jessie and mia vibes with her own little personality in there too!
big thank you to ruth and her team for the early copy! fair game is actually available now!! come have some fun with will and drew!!! 🫶🏼
thank you ruth for giving us another boy obsessed reformed playboy who falls hard!!! and when ruth said “like father like son” she TRULY meant it and i was here for it 👏🏽
drew was such a queen and was so good at her job even though will made it extra hard for her. but once he got his act together and realized his feelings for her…all bets were off, this man was ALLLL INNN!!! it took drew a little longer to give in all the way (and for good reasons) but that didn’t deter will from pursuing her. OH and the heat between these two was sooo gooddd 😮💨
so excited for what’s to come of this series and i am readyyy for the next book!!!
٠࣪⭑ what to expect ٠࣪⭑ 🧑🧑🧒second gen 🏒 hockey romance 💻 workplace romance 😤 frienemies to lovers 💋 reformed playboy 🤫 secret hookups 🩷 boy obsessed
My first Ruth Stilling book and it did not disappoint!!
The banter is this book had me giggling and kicking my feet. I absolutely love how only Drew could tame the wild playboy that is Will. They were so cute together and she made him work hard for it. He had it BAD for her! Him chasing her was so endearing and I absolutely loved that there was no third act breakup!
The friendships were so heartwarming and I loved how everyone was truly kind and understanding. I especially loved that there was open communication between those who mattered. (except for two unmentionables, iykyk).
Thank you Hampbright PR and Ruth Stilling for the arc of Fair Game, I can’t wait to get my hands on Silas’s story 💕
This book is the second generation of the Seattle Scorpions series, and I’ll be honest I was a little nervous going into it. Reading about your favorite characters’ kids all grown up can go either way but I’m so happy to say there were no weird vibes.
I really loved getting to see how strong and grounded Drew is, while Will is completely down bad for her just made their dynamic even better.
I do wish the ending had been a bit longer and expanded on the conflict that happened towards the end. Nonetheless I’m excited to continue with the next book in the series.
Thank you, Ruth, for letting me continue ARC reading for you!
I had a great time reading this book! This was friends to lovers done well. Will Jones was so swoonworthy 😍. Loved how honest and forthright he was with his feelings for Drew. He was so charming and a man of action and it was everything. Loved Drew and her drive. They both read more mature than 21/22yo. But in some instances we got reminders that they were just fresh out of college. The tension between them was delicious. Spice was 🥵. Third act breakup was predictable. Will’s “fix it” gesture was 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻. I definitely need to go back and read the first gen series. Definitely looking forward to Silas and Vesper’s book next.
Love all of Ruth Stilling’s books so I knew this was going to be a good one. And it being Jensen Jones son I knew it would exceed all expectations.
Ruth knows how to write a down bad mmc and Will was just that!! From the cocky playboy to chasing after a girl who is off limits. Loved the FMC, Drew who is a strait laced publicist that is hired to sort out wills reputation. She is also his coaches daughter and long term family friend so totally off limits but that doesn’t stop Will. Loved their banter and relationship.
Really looking forward to this series after meeting the corner characters in this book.