A sexy, brother’s best friend hockey romance from New York Times bestseller Kendall Ryan, kicks off a series you’ll devour! “PLAYING FOR KEEPS IS PERFECT!” -Modern Belle “A TOTAL, UTTER MUST READ.” -Book FanaticI’ve never been so stupid in my entire life.My teammate’s incredibly sweet and gorgeous younger sister should have been off-limits, but my hockey stick didn’t get that memo.After our team … off-limits, but my hockey stick didn’t get that memo.
After our team won the championship, and plenty of alcohol, our flirting turned physical and I took her to bed.
Shame sent her running the next morning from our catastrophic mistake. She thinks I don’t remember that night—but every detail is burned into my brain so deeply, I’ll never forget. The feel of her in my arms, the soft whimpers of pleasure I coaxed from her perfect lips…
And now I’ve spent three months trying to get her out of my head. Which has been futile, because I’m starting to understand she’s the only girl I’ll ever want.
I have one shot to show her I can be exactly what she needs, but Elise won’t be easily convinced.
That’s okay, because I’m good under pressure, and this time, I’m playing for keeps.
Free Bonus With Purchase
✔ A bonus scene in his POV that you DO NOT want to miss!
✔ A sneak preview of the next book in the series
Get ready to meet your new favorite hot jocks in this series of stand-alone novels. If you like sexy, confident men who know how to handle a stick (on and off the ice), and smart women who are strong enough to keep all those big egos in check, this series of athlete romances is perfect for you!
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This is the first book in the Hot Jock series. It’s an ok brother’s best friend story. It’s a typical hot jock and a virgin story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Funny, sexy, and sweet!
This is the first book in the Hot Jocks series, and the story of Justin, and Elise. Justin is a pro hockey player, and best friends with Elise’s brother. Elise is a school teacher, and has always had a crush on Justin, but when they both have a little too much to drink one night, they end up in bed together. The next morning, when everyone has sobered up, Elise doesn’t think Justin remembers, but Justin can’t forget. He can’t get her out of his head. This was an entertaining read, humorous, steamy, emotional, and a must read. 4.5 Stars
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is was a best friends brothers little sister. So we meet Justin who is guess what, you know that requirement of romance main characters, Did you guess? No, well you should know a manwhore..anyhoo he has been keeping to himself because he has been getting tired of slutting around, and he has been having some feelings for Elise, his bestfriends little sister. They have a night together and he acts like he does not remember since he does not know what else to do, she is broken hearted, trying to move on. 3 months later after she breaks up with her boyfriend they decide that they will have a friends with benefits arrangement to keep feelings out of it, but we know that that does not stay that way..
This was a good read. Both Justin and Elise frustrates me and I so wanted to smack them but I’m glad they got over their issues.
I love a good sports romance, and throw in a great trope of bestfriends-little sister romance and I’m all in!
Kendall Ryan is one of my favorite authors and I love her fun and romantic writing. PLAYING FOR KEEPS was everything I expected. So good. Secret crushes on each other for a while now, but never making a move because he was her brothers teammate and best friend, but when one drunken night brings them both past the line they have both internally fought to never cross, they act like it never happened because they think the other doesn’t remember.
When they both discover the other definitely remembers, its even harder to deny their attraction and feelings for each other. But they have one rule- her brother can’t know. He just needs to prove to her she means more to him than she will ever know and he wants so much more with her than just a fling.
This book will make you swoon over some fabulous hockey players and laugh at all the flirty banter going on.
SPORTS ROMANCE, FRIENDS TO LOVERS, BEST FRIEND’S SISTER, SECRET ROMANCE. This books hits all the popular tropes with a characters that make you pull for the win. Justin is a professional hockey player. He has enjoyed the fruits of his labor but now is tired of the puck bunnies and jersey chasers. He wants something real. It can’t be Elise. she is his childhood friend, his best friend’s sister and definitely off limits. One night proved him right or maybe wrong Elise has had feelings for Justin since forever. After their night together, things did not turn out like she had hoped. Can these two work it out to get a HEA?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I recieved this book for Free to Give My True & Honest Review.
Kendall Ryan NEVER disappoints. Another start of a new series. This time it’s Ice Hockey players who are the hot, sexy studs.
The first Player who’s story we get into is Justin & Owen’s younger Sister Alise, who’s a NO GO for All the Players (his BFF since they were kids)
She’s had feelings for him for years whilst Justin realises unexpectedly & which he tries to denies & things changes between them.
But Justin’s family life is different to the siblings & the only time he feels easy going is really on the Ice & Hates when its down time.
Come & see if old friends & best friends can come together if things change in the direction of relationships?.?.?
Looking Forward to Owen’s Story
I’m a big fan of Kendall Ryan’s books, and this one was no exception. It is a best friend’s little sister romance and a hockey story as well. These stories do follow a formula with some predictable elements, however this book is well-written with three-dimensional characters who experience believable emotion and show growth from the beginning of the book to the end. I’m a big fan of stories with happy endings that also show us a preview into the lives of characters who will have their own love stories in the near future. I find most of Ms. Ryan’s work to be lots of fun to read and this one is no exception. After reading this, I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I think this was my first Kendall Ryan read, and I really enjoyed it. It was two friends giving into mutual crushes, which started with a drunken one-night stand. Considering Justin was casual with his previous relationships and more experienced, he really treated Elise well and was sweetly romantic at times. That’s not saying that there was no passion. It was more so because it was kind of a forbidden affair. Fun read!
This is the first book in a new series. It’s a great start with likeable characters that you want to see get their HEA. Elise and Justin have known each other for years, and she’s been in love with him forever. Justin is living large as a pro hockey player with women at his beck and call. But Justin is starting feel like the same old is getting stale. Maybe he’s ready for a relationship—but he’s got a lot of baggage that makes it unlikely.
Too many drinks and a hot night change their path. They have obstacles to overcome and both need to accept the possibility of a future.
The characters interactions are entertaining and, with a long history together, they know each other. Attraction is hot and they really bring out the best in each other. Fun read. I’m looking forward to more bad boys in this series. (I voluntarily reviewed an ARC).
I’m not surprised that this was a good read. Kendall Ryan and hockey are a great combination. Elise and Justin have known each other for a long time. Justin is her brothers best friend. Even though he was told not to date her he ends up doing just that. Of course there is some drama but like always they get their happy ending.
Another amazing book from Kendall Ryan! I am so excited for this new series! Sports romance? YES PLEASE!!! LOVED everything about this book and can’t wait for more!
Justin and Elise have been friends since childhood. He is her brother’s best friend. They both play on the major hockey team in town and share an apartment. During the celebration of winning the championship he ends up in bed with Elise. She wakes in the morning and acts like nothing happens so he goes along with it even though he cannot get it out of his mind. After months of them acting almost like strangers, except when around her brother, they decide on friends with benefits, but to keep it secret from everyone. Things heat up from there. A very well-written story and I cannot wait for more of this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kendall Ryan is a Texas girl, so that already makes her great in my book. You know that Texas connection and all. Now add that bit of information to the fact she writes great stories and I am one happy woman when I delve in.
Justin is an athlete, a hockey player and what is better than a gorgeous man with a “stick” in his hand!? Elise is a girl that crushed on a boy that grew into a man. Except the man happens to be her brother’s best friend.
Mix together a hot guy, a beautiful woman, a tad bit of alcohol and a whole lot of desire. And that my friends is a match made in . . . heaven or would that be hell? Who knows until you read the book, but the ride to either of those places is filled with humor, disbelief, angst and a whole lotta passion.
Totally a 5-star read and totally a lot of fun!
Elise & Justin I loved their story. These two were so amazing together. Great banter between the two and their chemistry off the charts. I have always been a fan of the author and I really like how she makes you fall in love with the characters. This is a great start to another amazing series
Is he man enough to play for keeps?
Justin Brady grew up with Owen his teammate and his sister, Elise. She’s younger than Justin’s 28, but after they hook up after the playoffs, he blows it the morning after and instead of reassuring her like a man or a grownup, he says nothing and acts like he doesn’t remember.
Three months later, he still hasn’t owned up to the hook up (even though he’s already had a pregnancy scare with a hook up).
Elise is trying to move on with a nice man and Justin is still debating what he should do.
Justin’s baggage is raining on Elise’s happiness. Will he ever man up?
Cuz he’s got a lot to make up for.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sooo good!
Justin and Elise are perfect! She’s his best friends sister. They can’t help the chemistry and the want that has come for each other. Now they just need to get beyond his slutty past and Elise’s brother, Owen, not beating Justin to a pulp. Somewhere in there they find exactly what they need with each other. Such a great story. Highly recommend.
Let’s see, hot hockey player, best friend’s sister, longtime unrequited love…Kendall Ryan has managed to cover a multitude of delicious bases with PLAYING FOR KEEPS, the first book in her new Hot Jocks series, and, y’all, she hit a home run with this one.
I have to tell you, as much as I love Kendall’s books, I wasn’t sure that I was going to love Justin Brady as much as I did. I mean, he’s the typical sports god player, playing as hard as he works, and getting all the ladies. But Justin is harboring a secret, that soft spot that he has for Elise Parrish, lifetime friend and younger sister of his teammate and bestie. To make matters even stickier, Justin is not alone in his feelings, because sweet Elise feels just the same. Ruh-roh, romance lovers, talk about a fly in the ointment. Because we all know that the best friend’s sis is waaay off limits.
I really did enjoy this book, and I especially loved that Justin redeemed himself so easily for me. He and Elise work so well because of the friendship that existed before all of the romantic stuff, and it makes for a more solid and realistic relationship, which I personally really like.
Kendall is building a group of characters that are fun to read, have some actual depth to their personalities, and storylines that are about more than just the steamy stuff. PLAYING FOR KEEPS is a solid 4 stars for me, and a great set-up for ALL THE WAY, the next book in the series. This is definitely one for all of the sports romance fans, and, if you’re already a fan of Kendall’s books, this is one to grab right the heck now. You can thank me later… 🙂
If you like hockey romances, you will enjoy this book. The characters are interesting, well-developed with chemistry. The story is interesting, well-written with a happily ever ater. In addition to receiving an arc, I purchased the book for my collection.
I’m so happy I stumbled onto this series. This book was so good. Elise and Justin are both fantastic characters, you get invested in their story and their happiness. Also, don’t skip the Justin bonus scene at the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.