Playmaker

Breakaway #3

by L.P. Dover

He knows every play in the book. But she’s calling the shots.

“An epic story of the one that got away—Maddox will totally surprise readers in a lovely, lovely way.”—Sawyer Bennett

I’m Maddox Ledger, all-star winger and the reason the Charlotte Strikers killed it in the playoffs. Yeah, the tabloids like to call me arrogant. A real hothead. All I see is a guy who plays to win. Wreaking havoc on the ice, breaking a few hearts—that’s all just part of the game. And I’m sure as hell not sitting on the bench.

When my teammate asks me to be in his wedding party, I can’t refuse. Lucky for me, the bridesmaid I’m paired with is the definition of eye candy, but she’s so much more than that. Lacey Easton is totally irresistible and she makes me want to be a better man. A glimpse of bare shoulder takes me back to a steamy, two-week Vegas tryst I can’t forget. One I’m eager to repeat.

Suddenly our one-night stand is turning into the sequel. Still, Lacey’s keeping secrets. She doesn’t trust me. And maybe I deserve it. But I know more than she thinks I do and there’s no chance I’m letting her get away—or letting another guy take what is mine. This time, I’m playing for keeps.

Praise for Playmaker

“This is a second-chance romance mixed with sexiness and sweetness. The characters are genuine and the story endearing.” —Cocktails and Books

“ Playmaker is entertaining, sexy, and fun. L.P. Dover brought together a really good plot, strong characters, heat, humor, conflict, family, and friendships. Ms. Dover continues to build on a great cast of characters in the players, their families, and their friends.” —Harlequin Junkie

“I love when I get completely lost in a book, and I definitely got lost in Maddox and Lacey’s story.” —Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews (five stars)

“Nonstop action, plenty of romance, lots of drama, and a hint of intrigue to sweep you off your feet.” —Kristen’s Book Jungle

“[ Playmaker ] fit well into the Breakaway series, but can be read as a standalone.” —OMG Reads

Genres: Sports Romance, Romance, Sports, Second Chance, Hockey, Second Chance Romance, Contemporary Romance

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 27, 2018

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she began her literary journey she worked in periodontics, enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.

She loves to write, but she also loves to play golf, go on mountain hikes and white-water rafting, and has a passion for singing. Her two youngest fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime, usually Christmas carols.

Dover has written countless novels in several different genres, but her favorite to write is romantic suspense. However, she has found a new passion in romantic comedy, especially involving sexy golfers. Who knew the sport could be so dirty and fun to write about.

Reviews

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

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With the way the last Breakway book ended I was about ready to beg for Maddox's book. I needed to find out what happened between him and Lacey, and I just knew it was going to be a brilliant tale. And I wasn't wrong!

I fell in love with Maddox so fast in this book. I loved his personality and that he didn't give up on Lacey when she was pushing him away. I actually thought it was really interesting that it was the hero in this story that wanted something more from the relationship; it's not often you see that so I thought it was a great little twist. It also broke my heart a little when Lacey kept pushing him away and wouldn't give him a chance to prove himself, but it always kept me captivated to see how they would turn out.

Overall this is a book I would recommend for any Hockey lovers or just anyone looking for a Hero with a sensitive side. It was intriguing, sexy, and very sweet at time. I would say it could possibly be read as a standalone but a lot of past characters are featured so i would personally recommend reading the previous books first.

ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Carvanz · Rating 3 out of 5]

During a trip to Vegas, Maddox and Lacey meet, fall in love, and get married. The next morning Lacey leaves without explanation. Two years later they see each other again but both act as though they don’t recognize the other. When Maddox has finally had enough and the circumstance arrives for the perfect opportunity, he confronts her. What follows is a bit confusing as to motivation on both their parts, some push and pull and a lot of introspection to explain both their reasons for their actions.

Maddox spent two years being photographed with other women in order to make Lacey jealous so she would come back to him and confront him. She knew how hockey players were basically man whores and knew he would eventually cheat on her so she left him first in Vegas. It all felt a bit disjointed and unrealistic.

However, the second part of the book picked up as they struggle to make things work. They refuse to tell her brother although just about everyone around them except him knows they are married. There’s some drama with another woman that wouldn’t take no for an answer and additional drama with Lacey’s best friend who is a man and Maddox’s teammate.

This book just didn’t work for me. I had a hard time accepting the periods of separation between them. It just felt like a lot of immature game playing in the relationship and they were too old to be acting like that. The secondary characters were nice but not enough to carry the story.
However, I’m a believer that even if something doesn’t work for me, it might be the perfect read for someone else.

If you like hockey and second chance romance, this definitely has that.

This is an honest review of an advanced copy provided by NetGalley and Loveswept

Dual POV
Safe – neither H/h sleep with anyone after they’re with each other; ow/om drama
No apparent triggers

[JewelsyGoolsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.85 stars

[Nadine Bookaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been an enjoyable series but I will admit Playmaker has been my favorite so far, I really love a good second-chance story and that is what we have here and we also have a love triangle which makes things very interesting.

You can see my full review along with an excerpt here: https://nadineisobsessedwithbooks.blo...

[~Mandi~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playmaker
Breakaway #3
L.P. Dover
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finally I was able to find out about Maddox and Lacey aka Paige that was introduced in the previous book in this series. Dover really knows how to create awesome stories that keeps her readers interest throughout the whole book.
Maddox gets a second chance with Lacey. But is he gonna be able to get her to trust him since he’s been a player for so long. It’s so hard to put your heart out there and make yourself vulnerable. But if Lacey doesn’t then she could miss out on the best thing that may ever happen to her.
I am really loving the Breakaway series and can’t wait to find out who is gonna be in the next one. I hope it will be Justin.
Thanks NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Jae Mod · Rating 5 out of 5]

***ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review***

Playmaker is a standalone romance by L.P. Dover that will have you wanting to slap Maddox and Lacey upside the head a few times but all in all you will love the book.

Maddox recognizes Lacey when they cross paths at a friend's wedding. After months of pretending he doesn't know her Maddox has enough. He confronts Lacey and begins wooing her determined to make her his.

But Lacey has a hidden connection to Maddox and he is considered a player by all who know him. Can she trust him to be faithful? What happens when the truth comes out?

I am not usually into the whole ‘player’ type of character, however, Maddox is really different. I am a fan of the ‘married in Vegas’ trope however so it claimed my attention pretty fast. L.P.’s writing is absolutely great and I will definitely be reading more of her books.

4.5 stars.

[Rohina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first book from this series albeit it is the third book but yes, it can be read a standalone.

Honestly, it was an okay read for me. I wasn't particularly wowed by this book that I would go around thrusting it in people's faces to read it.

A quick summary of the book is: Lacey and Maddox married each other 2 years ago in Vegas and after a night full of passion Lacey left Maddox. But Maddox being Maddox hired a PI and found out that Lacey hadn't been exactly forthcoming with her name. To make her jealous, Maddox decided to get photographed with other women — in my opinion, not the brightest idea buddy!

Lacey, on the other hand, stays away from Maddox because one, the photographs and two, she didn't trust the guy and mind you this was before Maddox was photographed with the other women. Then she ignores him at her brother's wedding and was pissed when Maddox acted like he didn't know her.

To add insult to the injury, Maddox and Lacey talked, again, in my opinion, didn't help at all, where Lacey promised to trust Maddox and give him a chance. Fast forward a few days later her brother send a picture of him and his wife and Maddox could be seen with a girl, that is it. Lacey in a minute decided that he was cheating on her. Now, before you go, nothing on that photograph indicated as such, maybe the woman's hand on Maddox's thigh but that's about it.

I've never felt the urge to sucker punch a female protagonist they way I wanted to sucker punch, Lacey. With the way she was throwing her insecurities on Maddox, more times than not it felt like she was looking for ways to get out the relationship even when she said she wanted to give it a try. Oh and her absolute pig-headedness that refused to look at the complete picture and just take everything out of context.

Personally, I feel there was so much that could have been done in terms of the building of the storyline and the character. Other than a pesky best friend who didn't know how and when to let go and a woman who refused to take a no for an answer (which was a little repetitive) everything was tied up quickly. Yes, there are instances in the story that will have you swooning over Maddox. The book also lacks a proper or plausible relationship growth and more or less jumping the gun for a lot of things. In the end, everything was tied up with a pretty little bow and I was left feeling dissatisfied.


NOTE: As always, these are my thoughts, please do not let my not-so-positive review be the sole judge of this book. There are already quite a few people who love this so to each his/her own.



2.5 Stars!

★ Buy Playmaker (Kindle)
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*ARC gifted by author in exchange for an honest review*

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playmaker has us on the edge of our seat, waiting to see if Lacey and Maddox will be able to get it together. Secretly married in Vegas, the two have avoided each other for so long, they finally get their second chance.

I loved Maddox. Some of his antics had me rolling my eyes. He seemed to not understand women very well. Once he finally gets his agenda in order, he goes after his wife. His wife just isn't so sure if she wants to be caught. Lacey was very hot and cold with Maddox. I had trouble connecting with her. Although, I loved watching her trust grow throughout the book.

Overall, Playmaker was a decent read. It fit well into the Breakaway series, but can be read as a standalone. I found the plot to be engaging, but the pacing a bit slow. The end felt rushed, but I did enjoy the story overall. Recommended to the reader who is looking for a swoony Hockey playing hero.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Playmaker is book 3 in L.P. Dover's Breakaway Series and can be read as a stand alone, which I did.
Lacey and Maddox met in Vegas 2 years ago over spring break where they did a lot of drinking and , on a whim, got married one night.
While Lacey knew exactly who Maddox was, a cocky hockey player who women flocked to, he had no idea she was the sister of a teammate who didn't like him too well. He didn't even know her real name.
The morning after they were married, Maddox woke and found his room completely empty. No ring, no wedding certificate, no wife. Lacey ran because she didn't think she could trust Maddox because of who he was. She thought instead of waiting to get hurt she should bail to avoid the inevitable.
Flash forward to them both being in her brothers wedding and walking down the isle together. Again.
Maddox disappeared after a loss during the finals and, of course, after 2 years, Lacey was the only one who could get through to him. She sought him out, convinced him to not give up hockey and had unprotected sex with him. More than once.
I struggled with this one, especially Lacey. She was infuriating. She was constantly on and on about not trusting Maddox. But ALL the sex you have with him is unprotected? If I didn't trust a man, 1. I wouldn't be having sex with him. Period. 2. It would definitely be protected if I were idiot enough to get involved with him.
Yes, Maddox made some immature decisions to try to garner her attention prior to their reconnect. He was intentionally photographed with different women regularly in an attempt to make her jealous and come back to confront him.
She has NO valid argument to blame his 'untrustworthiness' on this. Lacey LEFT him. Without a trace and without even giving him her true identity.
In my opinion, if ANYONE is untrustworthy it's Lacey.
She ran, avoided all communication and shut Maddox out at any hit of confrontation.
She was the queen of hypocrisy. She wouldn't let Maddox have any opportunity to explain when witnessed in the company of another female but fought to keep her relationship with a man, who wanted to be more than friends and disliked Maddox, because this other man was her 'best friend'.
I truly felt sorry for Maddox, and he's the ONLY reason I finished this book.
He's got a terrible father who tries to live vicariously through him, ragging over every perceived mistake or shortcoming. A crazy wife with immature commitment issues who he has to walk eggshells to appease. And some pretty crappy friends who intentionally place him in compromising positions and LEAVE him there when they know he's committed to someone else.
He deserved so much better than the cards he was dealt. He truly had psychological trauma to not see his worth, and to think himself unworthy of Lacey.

I was provided a copy of this ARC by Loveswept and Netgalley for an honest review.

[Siobhan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Playmaker is the third book in L.P. Dover’s Breakaway series, but it works perfectly fine as a standalone. As a standalone is how I read it, but a part of me does feel as though it may have been a more powerful read if I had a bit of background into the characters – not just the main characters, but the side characters and the drama too.

Despite my interest in Playmaker, despite how I wanted to know more, I found myself having a lot of trouble with this one. It seemed I just could not get into it. At first, I thought it could have been because I have not read Hard Stick and Blocked, but I quickly realised such was not the case. My issues were with the characters and their love story.

With this one, we’re thrown straight into a story that seems to have a lot of background to it. This is why I thought I needed the prior books. The more I read, however, the more evident it became that such was not the case. I’m sure there are hints towards this book in the prior books, but that was not enough to explain my inability to get into the romance. My issue is that a lot of the things in this one, a lot of the romance build up that makes a good romance read, seemed to happen behind closed doors. Instead of being sucked into the relationship, into all of the gushy feelings, we’re simply told of these things. There’s plenty of drama, but without the emotions I found I didn’t really care.

It's unfortunate, as I wanted to enjoy this one, but it is safe to say this just wasn’t for me.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in this amazing series, but can be read as a standalone. Maddox and Lacey meet in Vegas, and end up getting married, however, the following morning Lacey just disappears. Now 2 years later, these two meet again at a teammates wedding, and they both avoid the subject of Vegas. This is all very well, until Maddox has had enough and confronts Lacey. Maddox is determined not to let Lacey get away from him, but she does not make things easy with her perception that all hockey players are playboys and womanizers. No spoilers though; this is a definite must read for all hockey lovers out there, you will not be disappointed! This is a well written story, which flows seamlessly, and is filled with drama, and is a hot and sweet read. I look forward to reading more of this talented authors’ work.

[Pennie Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this one! Maddox is a force on the ice and off the ice he has a reputation as a ladies man but that is all show since he has not been with anyone since he was married in Vegas a couple years ago and then his wife left him the morning after. He has not set eyes on her until she shows up and he discovers she is the sister of one of his teammates and his cousin's friend and her boyfriend's sister. He plays like he doesn't recognize her until they are ready to accompany each other down the aisle at her brother's wedding. Surprise, he wants his wife back and he is not taking prisoners. Lacey has finally finished her medical school training and is in residency in New York City and doesn't have time for all this but when Maddox disappears she is the one to go find him and rescue him she does and herself too when they discover the chemistry between them is still so strong. Will they be able to make the long distance work or will it get even better and easier once Lacey moves to North Carolina? These two strong willed people are determined to get their happy one way or another.

**Received this ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

[Marybeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars!!
Another great read in the Breakaway series by LP Dover! I have been looking forward to Maddox and Lacey’s story and it definitely did not disappoint! I love hockey and I love second chance romances so this is a win-win for me! This is a sweet story with a likable hero and heroine and great supporting characters too!
Although not without struggles to get to their eventual HEA, they clearly loved each other when they married in Vegas two years prior and seeing each other and spending time with each other again and learning to trust, proves to them that their love has not gone anywhere.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Bookgasms Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really excited to start Playmaker by L.P. Dover as this author has a history of delivering hot romance regardless of the type of romance. I really liked her A Circle of Justice series and loved Blocked. In Playmaker, Maddox and Lacey were fantastic. They had great chemistry, banter and a complicated history. This was such a great second chance romance! I could not get enough!

While Playmaker is the third novel in the Breakaway series, this book is a complete standalone but follows Dallas and Callie's storyline in book two. Maddox Ledger and Lacey Easton have a complex history. What happens when the hockey's number one badboy decides he won't ever let the woman who left him once before leave him again! Pure fireworks, folks!!

Gahh! This novel was great and I loved how determined Maddox was in getting Lacey back. Their chemistry was fiery and their connection fierce. I love how deep and emotional this book got delving into their feelings. All in all this was a great book and I look forward to more from this author in the future! Bravo! 4 stars! ~Ratula

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Crazy whirlwind romance that ended in a marriage in Vegas. She disappears come morning. He is actually her brother's hockey teammate, but he didn't know it at the time. They are reunited at her brother's wedding.

This review is based on the ARC provided by the author and/or the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Cheryl O'Harney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Playmaker (Breakaway, #3)
Author: L.P Dover
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 3/5

This isn’t the first book I’ve read by Dover in-fact I’m a huge fan of her work but I’m sorry to say this one just didn’t do it for me.

I love a good second chance romance itself and when you add hockey into the mix well you can consider it sold but this storyline almost had me heading towards a refund it just seemed patchy and unrealistic. The main protagonists Maddox and Lacey came across as very immature for their age, I felt that throughout the story they were riding on the backs of the secondary characters who although were nice they weren’t enough to substantiate the story.

There’s really not much more I can say apart from repeating that this book just wasn’t one of my favourites however that’s not to say others won’t like it after all it’s a popular genre.

*This book was reviewed for Summer's Eve Reads*

[Misty (Reds Romance Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maddox Ledger met the girl all men dream of finding, had an amazing time with her in Vegas, and then Poof! she was gone and it hurt a little more than he cared to admit. When she left she took a little part of him and he has yet been able to fully move on, she just completely vanished from his life without so much as a goodbye and he just doesn't understand why... he thought he had finally found something good in his life. But he's about to have the opportunity to ask her that question, because they just so happen to be attending the same wedding and he isn't about to let her getaway this time without a goodbye... and maybe a little more!

The moment Lacey met Maddox she knew he was trouble, but she just couldn't help herself and she had to know more about hockey's biggest badboy. One look at him and she is completely weak in the knees, and doing things completely out of character, and it scared the crap out of her, especially for someone to have that much power over her... so she runs. She knows leaving him in their shared hotel room without so much as a goodbye is wrong on so many levels, but she isn't about to be the on the receiving end of a hurtful goodbye, so she will just be the one to end things first. But unfortunately for her it hurts just as much, and the months following don't seem to ease the ache in her heart, if only she had a chance to make it right...

Between the pages of this wonderfully crafted tale you will find two people who are scared to admit to themselves that they belong with one another, their chance meeting in Las Vegas brings about a sneaky little affair that gives them both far more than they bargained for... and it leaves them both a little unsettled. Neither of them were looking for love, more so just a fun night or two between the sheets, but they found it in that hotel room, and then in a blink of an eye it was gone, lucky for them fate is willing to give them a second shot at capturing it all over again. Playmaker was such a enjoyable read, it had a sexy hockey star willing to lay his heart on the line to swoon over, a ballsy heroine who pushes his buttons and puts him through the ringer a time or two to root for, and a steamy little love affair that spawned some seriously hot scenes that had my tablet overheating!! I have to say this one is definitely one of my favorites from this author, it was a well rounded emotionally rich read that left my heart overflowing, and put a unshakable smile on my face!! Highly recommend this one!!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed.

[Jill M (Embrace the Romance) · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest this was just an okay read for me. I loved the concept of the story but at times I was frustrated with the characters. Lacey had a lot of insecurities and Maddox could be an idiot at times. When Maddox wasn’t being dumb he had sweet moments. And they were definitely sexy together. It was enjoyable but just fell a little flat for me.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Netgalley

Lots of lovely characters and a different story. Married in Las Vegas but hiding from her new husband...for two years.

I forgave that immature move on her part be cause of medical school but honestly, a hot hockey player you don't want to see??!!

[Michele A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

We knew in the last book in this series that Maddox and Lacey had a history. What we didn't know was how in depth that history was. Maddox and Lacey connected during spring break 2 years prior and got married. The next morning, Maddox wakes up alone with no wedding ring and the marriage certificate is also missing. Fast forward 2 years later and he finds out that his wife is really his teammate's sister, who even lied about her name. It was kind of unbelievable. I felt bad for Maddox because Lacey acted like she was the one who was scorned.
Maddox decides that he is tired of waiting for Lacey to come to her senses so he lets her know he knows exactly who she is. Lacey doesn't handle it well at all and kind of reverted to toddler status for me. She left him, vented that she hated him and then told him he was untrustworthy? She is best friends with Braeden and has no issues being seen or photographed with him, and yet she told Maddox that he was hurtful because of all of the pictures with various women she had to see over their 2 year period of being apart. Aside from the fact she gave a false name, vanished into the night and gave not one hint to him as to who she really was, she had the nerve to tell him she couldn't put her heart on the line for him.
Maddox was willing to go through a ton of hoops for Lacey. He even allowed her to decide when they could see each other. It got old for me after a while at how Lacey took advantage of him. She would get angry and then storm off, which was ridiculous. She was supposedly going to be a doctor and yet couldn't control her emotions??? Was not a fan of that at all. She wanted Maddox to trust her and allow her to continue to keep their relationship a secret (which was ridiculous) but couldn't stand to see him with another women, even when it was innocent.
I did like how Maddox showed his true feelings over and over again. He was sweet and pretty much willing to do whatever it took to make Lacey happy. I liked how he came to realize that he was worth more than his father thought. I also liked how he didn't go off the deep end very often. He took life altering news in stride. He more than made the book worth reading.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

[April Symes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book three in the Breakaway series and can be read as a standalone. You do see Maddox in each book and with each book you get to see how he changed thru the series to date- if you read them in order. Maddox went from being hated by his team to being their brother. With the way the last Breakway book ended, I was hoping we would get his book soon and yes, here it is. I was dying to know what happened between him and Lacey, and I knew it had to be a killer story and I was so right, it is!! During a trip to Vegas, Maddox and Lacey meet, fall in love, and get married. The next morning Lacey up and leaves without any explanation. Two years later they run into other again but both act as though they don’t recognize the other. Maddox has finally had enough and the circumstance arrives for the perfect opportunity, he confronts her to find out why the charade about the past. What happens is a bit of a twist and a lovely romance that follows regarding two people who really wanted to be together but were afraid of circumstances and other people to leap on a fantastic romance. Lacey didn’t at first know if she wanted Maddox in her life and found reasons to push him away but Maddox was awesome with sticking around and showing how much he wanted her in his life and how he loved her. Do they get their HEA finally or does Lacey really push him away for good? This is a lovely sports romance that shows what the love of a good woman will do and a Hero with a sensitive side. You get sexy, steamy, action packed romance which is always good when looking for a good read. If you like hockey and 2nd romance stories, this definitely is one book you want to read.


My Rating: 4.5 stars *****
“I received an advanced copy of this book from the author at no cost to me."

[Strider28 · Rating 4 out of 5]

L.P. Dover delivers once again with her latest book in the Breakaway Hockey Series. Maddox Ledger is one of the best hockey players in the league and of course he plays for the Charollette Striker’s. Lacey Easton is finishing medical school in New York City when she meets Maddox in Las Vegas. Lacey knows who Maddox is but doesn’t let on. She also lies about her name for reasons you’ll understand later in the book. After two of the best weeks in both their lives Lacey sneaks away leaving Maddox heartbroken and with no way to find her. Meanwhile Lacey wonders if she made a mistake leaving Maddox the way she did. But life goes on...until two years later when Lacey can’t avoid Maddox anymore.
Both Maddox and Lacey are in the bridal party of mutual friends. Maddox is still angry that Lacey lied to him and left him. Lacey wants to avoid talking about the whole incident. That’s not going to happen. Throughout the wedding weekend the sparks are still there between Maddox and Lacey and even though Lacey knows she still loves Maddox she thinks things could never work between them. Maddox isn’t ready to give up. Ms. Dover creates wonderful characters and each new book brings back all of the same characters the series started with. (Each book can be read as a stand-alone but I recommend reading the series in order.). Among the main plot are side plots that take you deeper into the lives of the main characters other than their love story giving them more depth. I highly recommend this book. This series.

[Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this second chance, sports romance with mixed feelings. On the surface, the story is a bit different than most of the genre in that Maddox and Lacey are married when they get their second chance, and there are some interesting characters throughout the book. So, while the bones of the story are good, what started as a promising story line came up a bit lacking. I loved Maddox. He's a little broken but knows what he wants and is willing to do the work to get there. However, Lacey is an irksome combination of hot and cold. Throughout most of the book, she bounces back and forth between wanting to make the relationship work and having no faith in Maddox whatsoever. Several times, she would say that it wasn't going to work while her actions would completely negate those words. While Maddox has some self-worth issues, most of the angst for this pair comes from Lacey's continuous back and forth along with a couple of outside sources that were more distraction than anything else. About fifty percent of this romance is Lacey pulling away while Maddox chases and jumps through hoops to show her how he feels. We do eventually see some character growth with Lacey and things start coming together, but in the end, it just didn't have that stand out something to make me want to root for this couple, making it just an okay read for me.

[Theresa Alberts]

Playmaker by L.P. Dover is the third book in the Breakaway Series. A favorite hockey series of mine, especially after reading Callie and Dallas's book, I could not wait to get my hands on Maddox's story.

Maddox and Lacey are married in Las Vegas, they have an amazing vacation together until she leaves in the middle of the night without a word...or her real name. After employing a PI to find his wife, Maddox finds out that she is none other than the sister of one of his teammates, Dallas Easton. Maddox bids his time until Dallas's wedding before he confronts his wife in an effort to win her back.

Lacey is doing her residency in New York and while she knows it was best to walk away, she still loves Maddox. Seeing him at her brother's wedding was bad enough without having to walk down the aisle with him. Lacey tries everything in her power to push him away, but Maddox is determined to make thing work with her, they have a connection he has never been able to experience with anyone else.

The ups and downs of this story keeps you enthralled, especially with all of the testosterone flying around from a bunch of hockey players. You will absolutely enjoy reading what happens with Maddox and Lacey. I couldn't wait to see if they made it or if they hit the boards.

I want Brendon's story next!! Hint hint

3.5 stars

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying the Breakaway series by L.P. Dover. Who does not love a good sport romance? In Playmaker, the third book in the series, we get Maddox Ledger’s story. He is not ready to settle down my any means, or so we believe, but when the right woman enters his life, will he finally play for keeps?

Maddox is an all-star player for the Charlotte Strikers and is very good at what he does. He may be called arrogant and a hothead, but all he knows is he is a winner. He enjoys the perks of being who he is, including the women who fall at his feet. But nothing serious for him. He is enjoying life too much.

Lacey Easton did not want to be played, so she walked away from Maddox when she could. Now he can’t get away from him. She continues to push him away, but how long can she deny the strong attraction she has to him.

When Maddox finds herself a part of his friend’s wedding party, he finds himself drawn to the bridesmaid he is paired with. You see they have somewhat of a past and now must deal with it. The reason between their separation may be frustrating but seeing them together was so worth it. Lacey continuously pushes Maddox away, but he is determined to win her back.

Though I found Lacey a bit frustrating at times, she was trying to protect her heart. But I loved how determined Maddox was in winning her back, even when he made some dumb decisions. It was also fun seeing old friends again! The story was a bit angsty, sweet and maddening at times, but it kept me drawn in.

Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.

Happy reading!

[Tanja OMGReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving this book a 3,5* rating due to the fact that first 50% of the book I was tempted to DNF it about three times. First I wanted to punch Maddox living lights out with his way off trying to get Lacey to come back to him. Then I wanted to hit Lacey for not trusting Maddox when other women were concerned, but she did expect him to trust her with her friendship with Braeden. Quite frankly I didn't like that guy, but that's beside the point since Maddox and Lacey do end up very happy together.

The other part of the book was great. Once Lacey came around and started to open up more to Maddox this book took me to a whole new level. I absolutely loved Maddox. He was such a sweetheart.

»I don't know what I would’ve done if I never found you,« he whispered. »It’s like a whole part of me was missing.«

I don't think I would have the willpower to keep up the pursuit like he did. But I’m more than happy they managed to put aside all their problems and find their HEA.

***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

***ARC Provided by the Author/Publisher via NetGalley***

3.5 Stars

I enjoyed this title. I liked, a lot, that Maddox and Lacey, the main characters were married throughout the book (really not a spoiler, you find this out immediately) and that the book is about them figuring out that they actually do want to stay married and that what they have when they met, and married, in Vegas was actually real and was the kind of thing you build from.

It's hard, especially in romance, to write something that feels different as we all know that this is going to end up with them in a happily ever after. And, it does. This book, though, is less about the journey of them falling in love and more about the journey of figuring out how to put the past, and their preconceived notions, aside in order to be able to make the relationship work.

The writing was strong and the characters felt authentic. I believed both of them as people. Some of the side characters felt like they possibly got too much time in the story, but not enough that I was not able to connect with Maddox and Lacey.

I enjoyed this overall and I recommend this title.

[Renee Entress · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 star

I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, secrets, and heartbreak.

Before reading this story please read the below books first
Hard Stick (Breakaway #1)
Blocked (Breakaway #2)

This is Lacey and Maddox’s story. Maddox is a player on and off the ice. When his friend asks for a favor he knows he can’t refuse. He is going to be involved in a wedding, but he knows that commitment is not for him. When he sees who he is along side of in the wedding party he is happy. It’s someone he knows. Someone he wants one more night with. Problem is does she want another night with him? He knows he wants her but can he convince her to take a chance? What happens when he starts feeling things he never wanted? Will he pull her closer or push her away and go back to his playboy ways? She has secrets but are they secrets that will destroy them or bring them closer?

I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.

I highly recommend this book.

[Mari's Struggle is Real · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lacey and Maddow got married on a drunk weekend in Vegas. The next morning Lacey left him behind without even saying goodbye. Fast-forward a couple of months, Lacey and Maddox are both guest in the same wedding. I’m sorry but I got bored with both characters within 4 chapters.

Maddox had hired a private investigator to find Lacey after she left him in Vegas. Also, the reason the Lacey left is because Maddox and her brother were not getting along at the time. Maddox is Callie’s cousin, who married Dallas, who is Lacey’s brother. So, a few weeks after the Vegas wedding and after Lacey had left Maddox she saw pictures of him with other women, but he swears that he didn’t sleep with them, but she doesn’t believe that. Well, if Lacey didn’t want Maddox to be with other women, she should not have left him in the first place.

*ARC graciously provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[MJ's Book Blog and Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review by: Jennifer
(4 stars)

This is the third book in the Breakers series, and just for the sake of returning characters and mentions of previous happenings, I would say to read the previous books before diving into this one. When Lacey and Maddox ran into each other at the party in Dallas and Callie's book, we knew they had known each other before that, we just didn't know how well. Now, we finally get their story. Maddox let Lacey walk away before, he won't make that mistake again.

So, the blurb is a bit ambiguous, meaning you will not get much from me. I will say that I did really enjoy the story of Maddox and Lacey. Drama, a few funny bits, really good naughty moments, and a cast of characters that bring the story together. There were a few plot issues, but nothing major. I give this 4 stars.