She’s got game everywhere but the bedroom. Enter the player who knows exactly how to grade her curves . . .After a very public breakup and a viral post that declares him the villain, power forward Cal Foreman is taking a timeout from women and relationships to focus on hockey. When Chicago Rebels captain and old friend, Vadim Petrov, “volunteers” him to help train Vadim’s sister Mia, Cal figures … sister Mia, Cal figures he can do a favor for a pal and get ready for the season with his new team. But the imperious Russian would slice a skate blade through Cal’s internal organs if he knew what lessons Mia really wants.
Yeah, not that kind of stickhandling.
Hockey phenom and Olympics hopeful Mia Wallace needs help seducing the man of her dreams. That man is most definitely not Cal Foreman: notorious playboy, thorn in her side, and her brother’s bestie. But surely a guy with his reputed skill set has a few tips on how she can nail her target—which makes him the perfect foreplayer.
Cal knows Mia sees him as merely the warm-up act in her grand plan to win another man, but as they spend more time together, he wonders if that’s enough.
If they could be more.
And if he could convince her he’s worthy of the starting line-up . . . in her heart?
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*I received an arc from the author for an honest review.* Another amazing book by Kate Meader!! This is Rebel player, Cal Foreman & Mia Wallace’s (Vadim’s younger sister) book. Love these two & also the supporting characters!! Mia is training for the Olympics & Vadim suggests Cal training with Mia. Mia then asks Cal for advice on how to attract her crush & he agrees to help her. During this time they become friends (both sharing painful past experiences) & end up attracted to each other. Their friends to lovers story is funny, emotional & grabs your attention from the first page! They deserve their HEA & you will enjoy their journey. I highly recommend this book & series!!
I love this the Rookie Rebel series and this book is a great addition to the series. Cal Foreman is a serial monogamist. Since his broken engagement, he ends his relationships before they get too serious. He is now playing for the Chicago Rebels Hockey team with his friend Vadim Petrov. Vadim suggests that Cal work with his younger sister, Mia Wallace, to get her in shape for the Women’s Hockey Olympic tryouts. Mia has the hots for her brother’s agent, but feels too awkward and inexperienced to attract him. So she asks Cal to not just help with her Hockey game, but also hone her seduction skills. Mia and Cal are great characters who have to get beyond past romantic betrayals to get to their happily ever after. While this can be read as a stand-alone, reading about Mia’s background in Vadim’s book’s, does help with understanding her and her brother’s dynamic. I received an ARC of this book from the author for my honest opinion.
Sweet, deep and completely swoon worthy.
As I’ve come to expect from Kate writing over the years, Foreplayer is a great book. It’s captivating, entertaining and easy-to-read, dealing with complex emotions with a masters’ touch, while keeping the romance alive with a swoony leading man and the steam steamy with a sassy vixen of a leading lady, peppered, of course with a heaping spoonful of fun and hilarity and spunky, snarky rapport.
If you love sport romances, or just great books then Kate’s Rebels are the team for you!
5 stars and a sandwich
Best friend’s little sister + it was only supposed to be instructional = absolute deliciousness!
Cal Foreman was hurt in love and is now the good time guy who always ends things as friends. Mia Wallace wants back on the ice and some help landing the man of her dreams…except he’s not who she thought he is.
I absolutely loved how Cal was gone for Mia almost immediately and that Mia gave him exactly what he needed without even knowing it. I mean the Marty McFly moment and the surprise in Boston, SWOON!
This series and the whole Chicago Rebels world just gets better and better and keeps me salivating for more hot hockey players and the women who are better than winning the cup.
I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.
Loved Cal and Mia! Every time I read another Rookie Rebels story I love it more than the last and this was no exception!
Cal is the new rebel on the block but he is teaming up again with friend and old team mate Vadium.
Mia is the younger sister to Vadium, a promising Hockey player herself but after an incident in college took a step back from playing hockey competitively until now!
With Vadium out injured, and Mia needing some pointers as she tries to get on team usa who better to help her than her brothers best mate Cal.
The sparkes fly for these two pretty much straight away, not the either of them realise that. They have such easy banter.
Mia has no time for hockey players and certainly doesn’t want to date one again! Mia’s off limits for Cal, she’s his best mates younger sister and you don’t go there but then Mia turns to Cal for advice, he’s a guy and she wants to know how to seduce a guy she has her eye on! Which leads some rather amusing text message exchanges!
Can’t wait to read the next one in the series!
I always enjoy Kate Meader books and this was no exception. I’ve loved her Rebels (original series and Rookies). Cal was one of my favourites. He was sexy and oh so nice. Mia was one of my favourites as well she was strong and talented. I couldn’t put this book down but at the same time I didn’t want it to end.
I cannot wait until the next book in this series!!!
3.5 stars. This was a pretty good book. Foreplayer is Cal and Mia’s book. Cal is a pro hockey player and best friend’s with Mia’s older brother, Vadim. He is recovering from an injury and working to get himself back in shape for the season. Mia is also a hockey player. She had some trouble in college that left her blackballed from pro women’s hockey. Now she is working towards trying out for the Olympics. Vadim suggests that Cal and Mia train together. Mia has had it with hockey player men and she has her eye on a more sophisticated man, a slick sports agent. But she feels inexperienced and not worthy of her crush. So Mia asks Cal to give her tips on what men like, as they train together. The two soon find they have an attraction and find themselves falling for each other, despite their initial intentions.
This book was fun and interesting. I liked Cal and Mia. I did think too much emphasis was put on Cal’s past manwhoreness and how he thought he must be desperate for a woman when even Mia started looking attractive to him. I also found Mia a little immature at times. Also, I grew frustrated with Cal and Mia at points. There was a bit too much back and forth for me. I didn’t understand why they didn’t take each other more seriously earlier on. They didn’t realize their feelings until the last minute. I wanted them to communicate better sooner. I did like the couple together by the end. I think the book started off good, but fizzled a little in the end with fighting and miscommunication. Stil, I enjoyed the story, though. It was witty and cute at times. I found it an easy, entertaining read.
Overall, I enjoyed Foreplayer, even if it was not my favorite book of the series. I was happy Mia and Cal got their act together and got their HEA. I do enjoy this series and look forward to more from Ms. Meader in the future!
I loved Cal & Mia’s story. Mia is a female hockey player and was bound for great things in hockey until something threw her off course. Cal is a friend and teammate of Mia’s brother, Vadim. Cal is a great guy but never seems to be able to stay in a relationship and yet stays friends with all of his exes. So Mia feels he would be perfect to help her land the guy that she has a crush on. This works perfectly..at first… Cal and Mia start to train with each other on the ice, him for preseason and her for the Olympic team. Mia and Cal start to become friends and talk about almost everything and feelings start to happen for both of them. I loved the friendship that occurred between these two and the attraction they tried to fight(but not too hard). And when they finally got together, Wow! These two were smokin’!
Loved all the scenes with the other Rebel teammates- Vadim, Theo, and newcomer Reid. This is a fantastic series and I can’t wait for Reid’s book.
Meader has penned the perfect best friend’s little sister, friends to lovers, romance that will tide you over until hockey starts again. Mia and Cal were French kiss perfect for each other. Meader does not disappoint.
Love is truly an act of courage!
Mia Wallace wants to make the US Olympic Hockey Team, but she knows she has to train hard since she hadn’t played competitively in two years after being blacklisted. Vadim Petrov volunteered/told his best friend and new teammate Cal Foreman to help Mia with training leading her to ask for help trying to attract a guy. And that leads to all sort of complications because Cal is older than Mia with much more experience and Mia still dealing with the reasons she is blacklisted from professional women’s hockey.
Foreplayer is so real with the issues that women face in professional sports and changing the attitudes that guys can have. But Mia deals with the truth because love is an act of courage.
This was one of the cutest meet cutes I have read in a while! Mia is Vadim’s younger sister and totally off limits to Cal, but when he is tasked with helping her on the ice to get her hockey career back, they become really close. Especially when she asks him to help her learn what men want so she can win the man of her dreams.
Cal can give Mia some tips on what men like, but mostly it’s what HE likes and he’s realizing that she might just be perfect for him. Too bad she’s only interested in winning another man, or is she? She’s starting to think that these little lessons are really only for Cal and doesn’t even remember the other guys name most of the time.
This book was cute and was low angst and I liked the twists. I love a good hockey romance, and this one delivered.
It is a little odd at first glance that Mia would choose Cal to help her figure out what men like. Just prior to this they have some, um, interesting exchanges, in which they don’t exactly come across as each other’s biggest fan. Mia especially does not seem all that impressed with Cal, for… reasons.
It does help that this is a dual point-of-view book, so we are privy to the inner dialogue of both main characters. While neither appears all that interested in the other, or even wants to admit it to themselves for quite some time, the fact is that they are quite attracted to each other from pretty much the beginning of their interactions.
Both Mia and Cal have quite a bit of emotional baggage that they bring to the table, not to mention outside influences affecting their perceptions of and reactions to things. But luckily they are at least able to set aside those things and work together. Their training sessions really help each other to perfect their game in preparation for the competitive events they both face. Not to mention that they soon become fast friends. Things just seem to progress naturally as they come to realize that the other person just gets them in ways that no one ever really has before. Their evolving relationship is a joy to watch.
As an added bonus, as with all the books in this standalone series, we are treated to glimpses of other Rebels members, past and present. And there are some new people who’ve been added into the mix as well. I was entirely suspicious of Tara’s motivations throughout the entire book, but she did appear to end up being a legitimate friend to Mia. And Reid Durand comes across as a jerk, but he’s always been nice to Mia, and actually ends up being quite supportive of Cal. Additionally, there are several canine characters throughout the book who I just adored.
Overall, a very fun and entertaining romantic comedy read with a well-deserved happily-ever-after. I hope the author continues to share with us stories of the other team members for quite awhile to come.
I do love this series and this book was a great addition. Cal and Mia had me hooked. This book has a lot of heart. The characters pull you right in. You will recognize Mia’s brother from the original Rebels series. That’s a reason I love reading books in a series because you get to see previous characters in their HEAs. Mia’s past is going to hit you right in the heart and to be angry on her behalf. It also shows the gumption she has to get back to where she should. Plus the drive she has. That’s where Cal comes in. He’s going to help her train while he gets back into game shape himself. Cal gives off a persona that gives people preconceived notions of him. The more time Mia spends with Cal she sees the true guy and starts to question her ultimate goal of who she should be with. There are a few characters in this one I hope to see get a visit from karma. The biggest one did and it was beautiful justice. Getting teasers of Reid I’m looking forward to his book. I can’t wait tot get into his head. I would recommend this one. It gives you a well rounded book with characters that just draw you right into the story.
When the foreplay is only the beginning
I am such a fan of Kate Meader and this is fantastic addition to the series, quite possibly my favorite to date. This book’s storyline focuses on Callum ‘Cal’ Foreman, a member of the Chicago Rebels who is recruited by his team captain, Vadim Petrov, to train his sister Mia Wallace for her Olympic hockey try-outs. However, due to Cal’s reputation as a player, on and off the ice. Mia has some other plans for him – to help her seduce the man of her dreams, and this is where things get a little complicated and a whole lot steamier!
I really enjoyed the characters in this book – they were engaging and pulled you into their story with their appeal and chemistry – Cal and Mia just sizzle, and it is great to see all the different twists and turns in their relationship. And trust me, there are some great twist and turns. When you add some of your favourite Rebels characters, everything just clicks! This is an absolute page turner, and I can’t wait for the next book in this series!!
Another great book in this series. While Mia was introduced as Vadim’s little sister in a previous book by Ms. Meader, she’s all grown up and is figuring out her way in the world of professional hockey. Cal has been traded to a new team and is happy to be playing with his best friend again. These two are thrown together a few times and develop a friendship that grows.
Love how this series continues to develop bonds with family whether you’re born into it or you choose. I also love the strength of many of the lead characters. You see them fight through situations to get what they want (or what they believe they want).
The only downside to finishing these books is that I always have to wait for the next one.
Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
OMG, this series! Just when I think it can’t possibly get any better, Kate Meader proves me wrong…
I *loved* Cal and Mia’s story! It made me laugh (out loud. More than once. In public.), it made me swoon–it even made me cry (just a little, at the end <3). They are so good together--whether they're training on the ice, sharing a sandwich, exchanging text messages, or...doing something more ;)--they're just magic together.
It's not all fun and games, though--both Mia and Cal have endured a major hurt in the past which continues to affect their lives several years later, the complete details of which they haven't shared with anyone. Sure, Mia thinks she's in love with another guy (as if! I mean, Cal...) and Cal believes his best friend's little sister should be off limits, but those aren't what is *really* keeping these two apart--it's their own individual mountains of baggage instead. Will these two crazy kids ever get together for real?
Of course they will--it's a Rookie Rebels romance! 😉
Fans of the series (as well as its OG predecessor, Chicago Rebels) will be happy to see so many series favorites here (the action begins at Levi and Jordan's wedding--squee!) but of course if you haven't read any of them yet, that's fine too.
Though it's possible I *might* say this every time--read them! Read them ALL now! 😉 Meanwhile, I'll just be sitting here, patiently waiting for Reid's story... (Gah! The teensy glimpse we get here! It's gonna be hard to wait...)
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
So much yumminess! Kate Meader showers exciting hockey players on us on the regular, but she might have just outdone herself with Callum in book four of the Rookie Rebels series FOREPLAYER! I loved his honesty, his humor and most of all the stunted man inside who didn’t know how to recover from heartbreak until he met Mia. I’m looking forward to more in the series for sure … and here’s hoping there might be a Chicago Athenas spinoff in our future!
Mia hasn’t had it easy in life, so watching her go for a dream is heartwarming. She’s got her eyes set on a man … but she needs to up her game before she can turn his head. Who better to help her than the player himself?
Cal is a doll. He might have a revolving door installed on his bedroom, but he’s always upfront about what he has to offer and treats the women he dates with respect during and after they go their separate ways. He doesn’t plan to ever trust deeply again … until Mia comes into his world.
I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a good sports romance with a close knit hockey family taking center stage as one of the players finds his true love.
“ . . .”
Let’s talk about “Foreplayer by Kate Meader”, this book is part of A Rookie Rebels series.
This book surprised me so much and even with a 3rd POV writing style (which is not my ultimate favorite one) it was a delicious read! Cal Foreman is an amazing hockey player, but in his personal life he avoids conflicts like the plague. So much so that he is friends with all of his exes, even his former fiancé who he caught cheating on him on their wedding day.
Mia Wallace is finally ready to move on with her plans: 1st join the USA women’s hockey team, after some awful plot against her push her away from her dream of playing in professional hockey, and 2nd seduce her “dream” man, her brother’s sports agent. When her brother suggests that Cal help Mia training and become her mentor, Cal finds out that she is the conflict in persona, because now she also wants classes and tips on how to seduce a man.
Loved how they both grow together and supported each other dreams. He would do anything for her, as their friendship grown their attraction and explosive chemistry too. Surprisingly, Cal was so much more open about his feelings toward her, while she treated him as a step to her true end. And that bother me a little when she demanded he was truthful to her and she didn’t inch one bit.
The twist towards the end was something I expected and their past secrets were finally exposed. Only thing that bother me a little was that both of them did something wrong and only one of them truly apologized. And I was really? You’re going to stay there without saying you’re sorry too? You were in the wrong, if not the most wrong out of the two of them. Anyway everything about the final chapters were exciting and romantic, especially the epilogue, swoon. Can’t wait to read about the controversial Reid!
Misunderstood Cal and Spitfire Mia – what a match!
This was a cute book with an experienced hockey player (in more ways than one 😉 ) and an up and coming hockey player who has a complicated past and is looking for some specific tutoring from Cal.
These two had their moments of witty banter, chemistry, and stubbornness that made you want to knock their heads together.
These two have complications of brother’s best friend, age gap, in “lust” with someone else, and commitment issues. Lots to overcome, but it is worth the way through.
If you are a fan of the series – you’ll love reading about the other characters, but this does stand alone quite well.
I voluntarily requested and read an advance reader copy.
Mia and Cal have the most epic romance story in the series.
I love them , together and as individuals. Kate Meader has always managed to make my heart beating fast with these sports romances.
Never a dull moment, from laugh out loud moments to serios topics that couldn’t be missed, from heartbreaking scenes to a well deserved happily ever after, this story and better said this whole series it’s a must read for any romance lovers.