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Playing To Win Box Set
1048 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 12, 2026
So happy to have found Bella with this series ! I love it so much ! (The Wildcat being my favourite in the series). Love all the tropes, found family being the main one
June 28, 2026
The Keeper
Lindy has been in love with the boy who saved her since they were teenagers, but never had any indication he felt the same way. Until she and her girlfriends go to Las Vegas for her birthday, and she wakes up in his bed, with his ring on her finger, and no memories from the night before. While she has dreamed of becoming his wife for as long as she can remember, this was not what she had envisioned, and she is devastated when she requests an annulment and he refuses.
Easton has always wanted Lindy, but for years she was far too young for him, so he forced himself to spend the past decade playing for Vegas’ NHL team, not wanting to be tempted by her if he stayed closer to home. Now that she’s finally his, although she can’t remember how, he accepts a trade to her family’s team, determined to make her remember exactly why they ended up getting married in the first place.
This story had my heart almost from the first page, even without considering the trauma bond between Lindy and Easton. I loved how strong their connection was, with them having been each other’s person for so many years, and while my heart was breaking for Easton when Lindy first rejected the wedding, once I understood their why, on both sides, it made more sense. Watching them discover a different relationship together made this story even more magical, and seeing Easton stand by Lindy’s side, and be willing to fight for his place there, was everything.
The Wildcat
Everly is known as “evil twin” in her family and friend group, never taking life too seriously and always down for a good time. While she’s promised to behave this summer, the handsome stranger she meets in the bar one night makes her throw her good intentions out the window. What she wasn’t expecting after their night of passion is to watch him walk into her mother’s ballet studio with his daughter, and insist on taking her out on a date. He makes it clear he’s serious about her, but serious is the last thing she wants, especially not with a professional hockey player, but as she falls more in love with his kids, she has to wonder if she’s falling in love with him at the same time.
Cross spent years with the wrong woman, who made it clear she cared more about being a hockey wife than being a mother or partner, so when she finally left and signed away her rights to their kids, he wasn’t planning on starting anything with anyone else. From the first moment he met Everly, he knew she wasn’t looking for anything serious, but with two kids at home, he can’t bring someone into their lives only to have them leave.
Cross and Everly were probably the most unlikely pairing in this series, and yet they worked together so perfectly. While Everly had a horrible experience with a professional hockey player before, making her swear off athletes and serious relationships, Cross was in a completely different category, both experience and maturity wise, which made him the only person who could make her change her mind on both fronts. I loved that although he was all in pretty much from the beginning, he also respected the fact that she wasn’t ready, and never pressured her in any way. As he showed her how she deserved to be treated, she got to see the real side of love, opening her eyes to the perfect family she’d already found.
The Knockout
Grace is the “good twin” in the family, always doing exactly what is expected of her, so when she’s offered a position as principal dancer in London’s Royal Ballet, she accepts, because it’s what she’s supposed to do. The only person who realizes she isn’t happy is her new BIL’s younger brother, who she spent a night up talking with before she left. When she’s forced to take time off due to an injury, they pick up where they left off so many months ago, and before she knows it, she’s falling hard and fast.
Ares has a reputation of not taking life too seriously, but in reality he just never bothers to correct people’s assumptions about him. From the moment he met Grace, he knew she would be the woman he’d spend the rest of his life with, but when he found the night of his brother’s wedding that she was moving to London, he didn’t want to start something until he knew he could finish it. Months later, with her finally in his arms, he’s all in and ready to give her everything, but her insistence on keeping them a secret from their friends and family could ruin everything.
I absolutely LOVED Grace and Ares story. Grace was so used to carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, that when Ares finally came around and offered to shoulder some of the burden, she didn’t know what to do. I loved that while they shared a strong attraction in the beginning, he wanted her to take him seriously, spending months building a connection before anything got physical. While it broke my heart that she wasn’t ready to make their relationship public, I also respected that she needed to find her own strength first, and figure out what she wanted out of life before she was willing to announce him as part of it. Their journey was definitely not an easy one, but it was a beautiful one nonetheless.
The Sweet Spot
Teenage Brynlee loved spending summers at the beach, because it meant she’d get to see the boy she’d had a crush on forever. Now a decade later, she runs into him at the local bar, and they spend a night talking under the stars. As they get to know each other again, she feels such a strong connection, but knows there’s something she should have told him before she offered to marry him to help him keep his daughter.
Deacon accepted the job as the head coach of the Philadelphia Revolution to be closer to his daughter, so when he finds out his ex wife is moving to Japan and wants their daughter to stay with him, he doesn’t know how he’s going to juggle his new job and his responsibilities as a father. While he and Brynlee have just started their relationship, he never expected her to offer to marry him to help him give his daughter stability, but he can’t deny that she’s the only woman he could ever imagine saying “I do” to.
This was such a sweet story, and I loved how it showed that some bonds are simply stronger than blood. As someone who was adopted by the woman she calls mom, after her father married her when she was a child, Bryn truly understands what it means to love a child unconditionally, even if they’re not your own, and the way she loves Kennedy is obvious from their first meeting. I loved how Deacon and Brynlee were aware of each other when they were younger, but age (and her dad) kept them apart until the timing was right. Brynlee offered Deacon stability in his new life, and he gave her someone to count on when everything felt like it was falling apart. Their love was unexpected, but it was exactly what they both needed.
Lindy has been in love with the boy who saved her since they were teenagers, but never had any indication he felt the same way. Until she and her girlfriends go to Las Vegas for her birthday, and she wakes up in his bed, with his ring on her finger, and no memories from the night before. While she has dreamed of becoming his wife for as long as she can remember, this was not what she had envisioned, and she is devastated when she requests an annulment and he refuses.
Easton has always wanted Lindy, but for years she was far too young for him, so he forced himself to spend the past decade playing for Vegas’ NHL team, not wanting to be tempted by her if he stayed closer to home. Now that she’s finally his, although she can’t remember how, he accepts a trade to her family’s team, determined to make her remember exactly why they ended up getting married in the first place.
This story had my heart almost from the first page, even without considering the trauma bond between Lindy and Easton. I loved how strong their connection was, with them having been each other’s person for so many years, and while my heart was breaking for Easton when Lindy first rejected the wedding, once I understood their why, on both sides, it made more sense. Watching them discover a different relationship together made this story even more magical, and seeing Easton stand by Lindy’s side, and be willing to fight for his place there, was everything.
The Wildcat
Everly is known as “evil twin” in her family and friend group, never taking life too seriously and always down for a good time. While she’s promised to behave this summer, the handsome stranger she meets in the bar one night makes her throw her good intentions out the window. What she wasn’t expecting after their night of passion is to watch him walk into her mother’s ballet studio with his daughter, and insist on taking her out on a date. He makes it clear he’s serious about her, but serious is the last thing she wants, especially not with a professional hockey player, but as she falls more in love with his kids, she has to wonder if she’s falling in love with him at the same time.
Cross spent years with the wrong woman, who made it clear she cared more about being a hockey wife than being a mother or partner, so when she finally left and signed away her rights to their kids, he wasn’t planning on starting anything with anyone else. From the first moment he met Everly, he knew she wasn’t looking for anything serious, but with two kids at home, he can’t bring someone into their lives only to have them leave.
Cross and Everly were probably the most unlikely pairing in this series, and yet they worked together so perfectly. While Everly had a horrible experience with a professional hockey player before, making her swear off athletes and serious relationships, Cross was in a completely different category, both experience and maturity wise, which made him the only person who could make her change her mind on both fronts. I loved that although he was all in pretty much from the beginning, he also respected the fact that she wasn’t ready, and never pressured her in any way. As he showed her how she deserved to be treated, she got to see the real side of love, opening her eyes to the perfect family she’d already found.
The Knockout
Grace is the “good twin” in the family, always doing exactly what is expected of her, so when she’s offered a position as principal dancer in London’s Royal Ballet, she accepts, because it’s what she’s supposed to do. The only person who realizes she isn’t happy is her new BIL’s younger brother, who she spent a night up talking with before she left. When she’s forced to take time off due to an injury, they pick up where they left off so many months ago, and before she knows it, she’s falling hard and fast.
Ares has a reputation of not taking life too seriously, but in reality he just never bothers to correct people’s assumptions about him. From the moment he met Grace, he knew she would be the woman he’d spend the rest of his life with, but when he found the night of his brother’s wedding that she was moving to London, he didn’t want to start something until he knew he could finish it. Months later, with her finally in his arms, he’s all in and ready to give her everything, but her insistence on keeping them a secret from their friends and family could ruin everything.
I absolutely LOVED Grace and Ares story. Grace was so used to carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, that when Ares finally came around and offered to shoulder some of the burden, she didn’t know what to do. I loved that while they shared a strong attraction in the beginning, he wanted her to take him seriously, spending months building a connection before anything got physical. While it broke my heart that she wasn’t ready to make their relationship public, I also respected that she needed to find her own strength first, and figure out what she wanted out of life before she was willing to announce him as part of it. Their journey was definitely not an easy one, but it was a beautiful one nonetheless.
The Sweet Spot
Teenage Brynlee loved spending summers at the beach, because it meant she’d get to see the boy she’d had a crush on forever. Now a decade later, she runs into him at the local bar, and they spend a night talking under the stars. As they get to know each other again, she feels such a strong connection, but knows there’s something she should have told him before she offered to marry him to help him keep his daughter.
Deacon accepted the job as the head coach of the Philadelphia Revolution to be closer to his daughter, so when he finds out his ex wife is moving to Japan and wants their daughter to stay with him, he doesn’t know how he’s going to juggle his new job and his responsibilities as a father. While he and Brynlee have just started their relationship, he never expected her to offer to marry him to help him give his daughter stability, but he can’t deny that she’s the only woman he could ever imagine saying “I do” to.
This was such a sweet story, and I loved how it showed that some bonds are simply stronger than blood. As someone who was adopted by the woman she calls mom, after her father married her when she was a child, Bryn truly understands what it means to love a child unconditionally, even if they’re not your own, and the way she loves Kennedy is obvious from their first meeting. I loved how Deacon and Brynlee were aware of each other when they were younger, but age (and her dad) kept them apart until the timing was right. Brynlee offered Deacon stability in his new life, and he gave her someone to count on when everything felt like it was falling apart. Their love was unexpected, but it was exactly what they both needed.
June 12, 2026
This was the first series I read of Bella Matthews and it got me. Hook. Line. And sinker! I’ve loved Bella ever since and now have read every single one of her books!
The Keeper: Easton & Lindy have known each other most of their lives. They’ve faced some scary challenges together and he’s always there for her whenever she needs him. They’re friends, until she wakes with him and his wedding ring on her finger. She’s always been secretly in love with Easton and now his plan is to show that he has always been in love with her too!
The Wildcat: Cross & Everly are absolutely 🔥! They have a one night stand with no names and no strings. Everly then finds out he’s a hockey player for the Philadelphia Revolution. They are reintroduced through friends and she finds out he is a single dad to two adorable kids. She wasn’t looking for a happily ever after but she may have ran into it by accident.
The Knockout: Ares & Grace are everything! Ares is the brother of Cross (The Wildcat) and Grace is the twin sister of Everly (The Wildcat). They are forbidden from the beginning but their chemistry is unreal! Ares sees Grace in a different light. She’s a broken ballerina trying to put on a facade that she’s great, he’s the bad boy of hockey who saves her. I LOVED that Ares fought for Grace and was everything she didn’t know she needed.
The Sweet Spot: Deacon & Brynlee started off as an arrangement but ended up being so much more! Deacon is the hot new hockey coach and also a single dad to an adorable little girl. Turns out he’s also the hockey player Brynlee couldn’t wait to see each summer, and that started 10 years ago. He’s no longer the teenager she once knew and is all man now.
If you’re looking for a new series, this is the one!! 👏🏼👏🏼
The Keeper: Easton & Lindy have known each other most of their lives. They’ve faced some scary challenges together and he’s always there for her whenever she needs him. They’re friends, until she wakes with him and his wedding ring on her finger. She’s always been secretly in love with Easton and now his plan is to show that he has always been in love with her too!
The Wildcat: Cross & Everly are absolutely 🔥! They have a one night stand with no names and no strings. Everly then finds out he’s a hockey player for the Philadelphia Revolution. They are reintroduced through friends and she finds out he is a single dad to two adorable kids. She wasn’t looking for a happily ever after but she may have ran into it by accident.
The Knockout: Ares & Grace are everything! Ares is the brother of Cross (The Wildcat) and Grace is the twin sister of Everly (The Wildcat). They are forbidden from the beginning but their chemistry is unreal! Ares sees Grace in a different light. She’s a broken ballerina trying to put on a facade that she’s great, he’s the bad boy of hockey who saves her. I LOVED that Ares fought for Grace and was everything she didn’t know she needed.
The Sweet Spot: Deacon & Brynlee started off as an arrangement but ended up being so much more! Deacon is the hot new hockey coach and also a single dad to an adorable little girl. Turns out he’s also the hockey player Brynlee couldn’t wait to see each summer, and that started 10 years ago. He’s no longer the teenager she once knew and is all man now.
If you’re looking for a new series, this is the one!! 👏🏼👏🏼
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June 12, 2026The Playing to Win Box Set includes the stories of four bad boy hockey players, and every one of them will have you riveted from beginning to end!
The Keeper is Easton's story - he's the grumpy goalie who drunkenly got married in Vegas, then refused an annulment.
The Wildcat is Cross Wilder's story - he's a single dad with two kids, and doesn't date casually, but then he meets a cheerleader who refuses a serious relationship, because she has sworn off men.
The Knockout is Ares' story - he's the real bad boy of the bunch - the player who is always in a scrap. He's also forbidden, but when did that stop a good romance?
The Sweet Spot is Deacon's story. A fake marriage to help keep his daughter leads to the real thing.
You can't go wrong with this box set! It has all the tropes: sports romance, marriage of convenience, found family, friends to lovers, accidental marriage, forced proximity, single dad, forbidden romance - it really has everything!
The Keeper is Easton's story - he's the grumpy goalie who drunkenly got married in Vegas, then refused an annulment.
The Wildcat is Cross Wilder's story - he's a single dad with two kids, and doesn't date casually, but then he meets a cheerleader who refuses a serious relationship, because she has sworn off men.
The Knockout is Ares' story - he's the real bad boy of the bunch - the player who is always in a scrap. He's also forbidden, but when did that stop a good romance?
The Sweet Spot is Deacon's story. A fake marriage to help keep his daughter leads to the real thing.
You can't go wrong with this box set! It has all the tropes: sports romance, marriage of convenience, found family, friends to lovers, accidental marriage, forced proximity, single dad, forbidden romance - it really has everything!
June 12, 2026
If you love hockey romance, grab this set. The men are swoony and the girl squad is epic. You feel like you are part of this friends and family group. In this you get all the bonus epilogues as well.
Grab it now.
Grab it now.
June 13, 2026
Perfect box set to start off the 2nd Gen of Kroydon Hills
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews