He’s playing hurt. She’s laying low. And they’re both flirting with disaster. “Kelly Jamieson is my go-to author for hockey romance.”—Jami Davenport Chase: The last thing I’d ever want to do is let my team down. After overcoming my bad-boy reputation, I was dominating on the ice. But things aren’t going so well this season, and even my parents think I’m partying again. Now I’m really worried … I’m partying again. Now I’m really worried about my career. The only bright spot in my life is the Twitter flirtation I’ve struck up with pop princess Jordyn Banks. Turns out she’s a huge hockey fan—and she’s willing to wager a date on her favorite team. . . .
Jordyn: Even though I’m an L.A. fan now, I’ve always had a soft spot for the Aces, since I grew up in Chicago. Then I lose a bet to Chase Hartman, and suddenly I’m up close and personal with a pro athlete who’s anything but soft. Not only is Chase the hottest guy I’ve ever met, he’s secretly super sweet. As if I had time for a relationship . . . yeah, right. But when I suddenly have nothing but time on my hands, he’s the only one who understands. Now, with both of our careers at stake, Chase is tempting me to put my heart on the line too.
Kelly Jamieson’s USA Today bestselling Aces Hockey series can be read together or separately:
MAJOR MISCONDUCT
OFF LIMITS
ICING
TOP SHELF
BACK CHECK
SLAP SHOT
PLAYING HURT
BIG STICK
“Playing Hurt is charming, adorable, funny, and sexy—I couldn’t put it down!”—USA Today bestselling author Serena Bell
“I found myself really enjoying this story. It was light and sweet and easy-to-read. I liked Chase and Jordyn together.”—Red Hot + Blue Reads
“Playing Hurt was such a sweet and sexy story. I loved the characters and honestly did not want to let go of them at the end of this book. I found it to be a perfect fit for the series and a great hockey-based romance.”—Kitty’s Book Spot!
“Sassy, sweet and oh so sexy! With the next book in the Aces Hockey series, we delve into Chase’s life and watch him fall hard and fast for the girl he’s been crushing on.”—Thoughts of a Blonde
Don’t miss any of Kelly’s alluring reads:
The Bayard Hockey series: SHUT OUT | CROSS CHECK
The Last Shot series: BODY SHOT | HOT SHOT | LONG SHOT
The standalone novel: DANCING IN THE RAIN
This ebook includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
more
Playing Hurt, the sixth book of the Aces series, can be read as a standalone. It was my introduction to the series and I had no issues diving right into this world.
A sweet crush and an innocent flirtation morphs into more in Playing Hurt. A pop princess and a hockey star take their turns working out their demons while their spark grows. Jordyn is a singer, and also a hockey fan. She and a player, Chase, banter a bit online before a bet finally brings them face to face.
Chase is living a dream in the NHL. He’s had some issues this season, and his stubbornness keeps getting in his way. He and Jordyn easily fall into a relationship, but he’s still protecting himself from his past.
Overall, I really enjoyed Playing Hurt. Jordyn and Chase are magnetic, and their story was low on the drama, and had just enough angst to keep you hooked. They are an easy couple to root for. The story felt a little slow at times, but it didn’t drag out. I would recommend to the reader looking for a flirty romance with a sweet singer and a sexy hockey player.
*4.5 Star review*
Playing Hurt by Kelly Jamieson is the sixth book in her Aces Hockey series, but the first I have read. This can be read as a standalone, however, I am excited to go back and learn more about the Aces Hockey men. What really called to me about this story was the blurb and though this was the sixth book in a series, I knew I wanted to read it.
Chase Hartman is finally turning things around. You see he was once the bad-boy of the team and partying too much. Now his game is struggling and those around him are questioning if he is turning to his old ways. But he is not. The one good thing for him? This Twitter thing he has going with Jordyn Banks the current pop sensation. Though Jordan grew up in Chicago, she is now in LA and tries to support the local team, but there will always be room in her heart for the Aces. So, when they start this flirting thing on Twitter, she goes with it.
I loved Chase. He was a bad-boy, but deep down he was just an overall great guy with a sweet side. Right from the start, Chase and Jordyn had this great banter going back and forth on Twitter that I loved. Jordyn, though a celebrity, is really just an easy-going person who happens to love hockey. They were great from the start, though each did carry a bit of baggage from their past. Even so, this story was low on angst and drama and high on sweet and charming.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
Inspiration can come from the most unlikely of places. He has something to prove. She has the faith in him he lacks in himself. He’s the hockey player who has lost his way. She’s the pop star that helps him find his way back. Chase and Jordyn are used to life in the spotlight. However, they are about to find out it’s the quiet moments that really matter when it comes to love. Jamieson carves out a larger than life tale that is really quite simple. Playing Hurt makes heart the star of the show.
Playing Hurt is a sweet hockey romance. Nothing says cute like Twitter flirting with your pop star crush- just don’t tell Chase it’s “cute”. He would appreciate manly, awesome, or a world of other adjectives but hockey players aren’t “cute”.
This former bad boy of hockey is reformed. He doesn’t party, drink too much, or misbehave. But being on the straight and narrow doesn’t absolve him of the ridiculous rumors surrounding his playing. Add a Twitter bet on a hockey game and you have the talk of the Twitterverse.
A hockey player and a pop princess make a bet. A hockey player and a pop princess go on a date. But everything that happens seems to make it so much “harder”! (Snicker. If tournament a fan of innuendo, you might not be as entertained. The Hockey innuendo tweeted are a clincher for the book.)
This sweet story with some delicious sexy times is just what the doctor ordered.
Sweet and sexy addition to the Ace Hockey series. Loved Jordyn and Chase’s twitter interactions. Looking forward to more books in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
4.5 of 5 Stars
Kelly Jamieson scores with PLAYING HURT the sixth book in the Aces Hockey series. Left winger Chase Hartman and pop star Jordyn Banks strike up a friendship on Twitter. After losing a bet on a hockey game, Jordyn agrees to go on a date with Chase. The two have different medical issues that threaten their careers, thus relating to one another. This contemporary sports romance in suitable for adult audiences. The story primarily takes place in Chicago.
I really enjoyed this story. I love how Chase and Jordyn meet. They have a lot in common and help each other cope with their similar situations. They are a fun couple. I appreciated that they were both so down to earth and that they can act like themselves around one another. I was impressed by Chases date choices.
They both had potentially career-ending medical conditions to deal with. It was interesting reading how they handled their situations. They have several obstacles to overcome throughout the story, like Jordyn living in L.A. and Chase in Chicago. Not to mention crazy work schedules. They both grow throughout the novel.
Kelly Jamieson does a wonderful job with this novel. It is an excellent addition to the Aces Hockey series. Her writing is skillfully executed, and her plot is fun and heartfelt. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
Playing Hurt (Aces Hockey, #6) by Kelly Jamieson Chase is a member of the Aces Hockey team…was a wild child in the early days of his career but has settled down and is now having problems scoring and with his wrist. Jordyn is a pop star finally making it big ..she is a hockey fan.. also have some throat problems.. They meet over twitter and have their first date after a hockey bet. Thanks to #NetGalley for letting me preview this book. I give it 4 1/2 stars.. it is a fun..sexy read with a few rough spots getting to their HEA.
Nice fun, flirty, sexy romantic story. A pop star, Jordyn Banks, & a hockey star, Chase Hartman, start a romance over Twitter. It starts out with some shared tweets & grew after a date won on a wager. Both had some issues to overcome & the relationship takes some hits. Can they find a way to stay together?
I really enjoyed the way these characters were portrayed. They both were common, down to earth people regardless of their fame. The fame did cause its own problems as they attempted to develop & maintain a relationship in the glare of gossips & fans. Chase had issues from his youth that caused difficulties in the relationship. The chemistry between them is hot & intense. The interactions between Chase & his team mates shows how the team has become his family. This was a great addition to the series but can easily be read as a stand alone.
4 Stars
Review by Lisa
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
The next player to fall on the Aces Hockey team is, Chase!!! Book six of the Aces Hockey series is Playing Hurt by Kelly Jamieson. You can read this one as a standalone, but it is more enjoyable if you read them in order. Sometimes you get a little worried when reading a series about all the different characters you encounter, Worried about repetitiveness and so forth. But I have NOT found this at all, they just keep getting better and more unique.
Chase is a man of honor, who during his rookie year lived the playboy/bad boy life. Now all he wants is not to let his team down, be the player everyone looks up to. But things are not going as he planned this season. And when family doesn’t believe you, things can get a shaky. But when a Twitter flirtation starts up with the one and only super star singer Jordyn, can she be his bright spot in his world that is tumbling all around him?
Jordyn having grown up in Chicago, the home of the Aces, but now living in LA, starts a Twitter craze with her love of hockey. But when she loses a bet with Chase, she gets more than she has bargained for. Life isn’t perfect and things happen and Jordyn finds herself staying in Chicago and looking forward to hanging with Chase.
But with both their careers at a crossroads, its make it or break it.
This story was easy to read and flowed smoothly over a long stretch of time. I didn’t feel any angst, just a sweet love story in the making. That slow burn, one that you don’t realize until it has snuck up on you and is gone.
Oh, and we get a sneak peek at all the other Aces Hockey men that we love so much.
Who doesn’t love a sexy hockey novel? Loved Chase and Jordyn. Celebrities who meet through a bet on Twitter. Both have challenges in their careers. Chase was a bit stubborn at times and you wanted to beat him with a hockey stick. Jordyn was loving and caring and just what he needed to get back on track.
Kelly Jamieson is back with the hockey series Ace’s. This book has Chase dealing with an injury and also with love from a singer. Jordan Banks a pop princess has responded to one of the tweets that Chase sent out. After going back and forth a few nights on twitter Chase has made a bet with Jordan and if he wins he will take her on a date. When he does win thinking that it is just a joke she actually says she would like to go out with him and will be in Chicago the following week. He makes plans and have a wonderful time, he finds out that she is originally from Chicago and that made the date even better. What has not gotten any better is his play on the ice. People are beginning to think that he has fallen back into his partying ways before he was traded to the Aces. When he sees Jordan take a risk with her career having to have surgery, will he take the same risk to have surgery as well? Or will he end up losing the girl and the game? Read this very good book about hockey and what happens off the ice, or off the stage when you have to have surgery but of course you don’t know what is going to happen afterward. A very good book to go along with the other ones in the series. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at http://www.1rad-readerreviews.com (
This was a good story. I liked the banter, the chemistry.
(4.5 stars)
PLAYING HURT has become one of my favorites of the Aces series. When hockey player Chase finally gets up the nerve to tweet his crush, pop star Jordyn Banks, rumors spark. Determined to get to know her, he gets her to place a bet on a game. The prize…a date. I think these two came into each other’s lives at just the right time. Chase has been playing hurt and is starting to psych himself out. Jordyn is recovering from vocal cord surgery. Both need to be reminded that there is hope and that their careers are far from over. I loved these two together. My only complaint is that I was left wanting more of Chase and Jordyn. I feel there is much more story left to tell.
Playing Hurt is charming, adorable, funny, and sexy—I couldn’t put it down!
4 out of 5 stars
I am not a sports fan. Nothing about men getting paid exorbitant amounts of money and playing a game really excites me…BUT I absolutely love hockey. Maybe it’s that my boys play. Maybe it’s that we can go to local semi-pro games frequently. Whatever it is, hockey is my sport.
Reading a romance novel about a hockey player?! SCORE!! This book was a fun read and the author told a great story about two famous people who were both going through a rough time and just looking for a connection with someone else. I enjoyed getting to know this group having never read any of the other books by this author. I think she knows her sport and I think she knows how to write about it!
The pacing of the story was well done and the characters were really great. Chase and Jordyn both captured me from the beginning and I really was cheering for them throughout! I loved their early (and later) Twitter exchanges. I loved how cute Chase was about his crush. I think the story was well planned and everyone will enjoy it!
*** I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Mary Jo –
I love hockey romance and I love the Aces Hockey series. Reading about Chase and Jordyn and the way they got together was great. I read it one sitting – staying up until 2 a.m. reading on a work night.
Both Chase and Jordyn fear not being at the top of their game. Chase is terrified that if he admits to being hurt, his team will cut him. Jordyn’s on-air vocal mishap could cost her her career.
Their fledgling friendship gets stronger when Jordyn comes home to Chicago to recoup after her vocal surgery. Chase knows that being with Jordyn makes him strong. He likes being with her and wants to see where this goes.
Their relationship starts out as friends and grows into something more. I like the fact that the relationship takes place over months, giving both Chase and Jordyn time to really get to know each other.
Avid Reader –
M/F Romance
Chase is an amazing hockey player. However, lately he has been struggling to put the puck in the net and the fans are making it known that they are unhappy. Chase has always been at the top and when he realizes that he might not be right now, it’s a hard pill for him to swallow.
Jordyn is an amazing singer. She loves what she does. But she has also never lost who she was and forgotten where she came from. A lover of hockey, she likes sitting and cheering for her teams. What starts as a twitter account ends up a date.
Chase has always had a crush on Jordyn and when the opportunity arises to meet her, he doesn’t hesitate. They meet and have an amazing date. But knowing that their lives are very busy, that’s all it was… a friendly date.
When Chase is watching Jordyn live and she runs off stage in tears, he can’t help but want to be there, to protect her, and to comfort her. While Jordyn is recovering, she does so in Chicago – closer to her family and to Chase. Their friendship grows to more and over the months, they realize that they could truly make a relationship work.
I really enjoyed this story – it’s about overcoming obstacles and believing in yourself. It was nice that the love story took place over several months as well, instead of an insta-love story.
Ruthie –
3.5 stars
This is the sixth book in the series, and faithful fans will remember Chase from previous installments. Especially a part of his anatomy shared on Twitter that caused a PR furor and serious rules on the use of social media!
Here he is back on Twitter chatting hockey with his singer crush Jordyn. A fun bet for a date results in them meeting and having a fun time, but Jordyn refuses a repeat as she can’t see any future in a relationship with him. However, fate has other plans, and soon they are spending a lot of time together, and maybe secretly even thinking of a future.
Chase has some ongoing issues with an injury, and a need to maintain a perfect exterior, thanks to some pretty cruel parents. Sadly, this carries over into his interactions with Jordyn and threatens to ruin a good thing. For me this was the weakness of this story. We know from previous books what a tight knit group this Aces team is, and he really gets very little support and understanding from the members of the team who know the issues of injury all too well. He doesn’t come off as being a loner, so why is there no help from them? He needs building up mentally as well as curing physically.
It was fun seeing the two of them experience a bit of normality on the streets of Chicago and the privacy of Aruba, as well as some of the glamour of their respective worlds.
Lee’Anne –
This is a super cute story! Chase has a reputation in the hockey industry for being a party bad boy and a man who always brings it on the ice. This season has been different for Chase though, he’s trying to lose the image he’s gained and is struggling on the ice from an injury he thought he’d healed from. The only thing that brings him any joy is tweeting his crush, Jordyn Banks, a famous singer. Jordyn is a huge hockey fan and when Chase makes a bet with her, the two wind up on a date together that sparks a relationship neither have time for. When Jordyn winds up having to take an unexpected break from singing, she decides to spend that time off in Chicago and she and Chase are finally able to spend time together getting to know one another, it’s a perfect storm.
I really love that though the big-picture storyline is much the same as any other sports romance, the author does a fantastic job making this a unique and original story with the details. Chase and Jordyn’s banter back and forth on Twitter and in person is hilarious and they so easily switched to being hot and steamy. As has been the case with the other books in this series, I loved it and I can’t wait for more from the Aces!
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Playing Hurt (Aces Hockey #6) by Kelly Jamieson to read and review.
I love this series! In this installment, we have Chase Hartman, of the Aces Hockey team, who is having problems with his wrist. His playing has suffered and he hasn’t been able to make goals so far in the season. This has affected his self-assurance, his relation with his fanatical parents, and his fans. He doesn’t want to let down his team, so he forges on, playing even though his wrist sometimes fails him.
Enter Jordyn Banks, famous singer, who started as a child actor in a series. She’s also a hockey fan, but she follows the LA team, Condors. Chase and Jordyn start to flirt through Tweeter during a hockey game, each rooting for their teams. Eventually they make a bet on who wins one game, the prize is a date, and their story begins. They got along like a house on fire, they could be themselves with each other and achieved a level of trust they didn’t find with others.
I loved their story. They both had very involved parents in their careers. They had to declare their independence from their parents in order to conduct their careers as adults. And Jordyn was having throat problems that were affecting her singing. So they were both “playing hurt”, their careers affected by Chase’s wrist and Jordyn’s vocal cords. Their mutual feelings and their support for each other during their career problems brought them together. Together they dealt with fear, fans, charity work and parents. There were some obstacles like distance, career goals, feelings of inadequacy, so they had some compromises to do. This was such a sweet and sexy story, it flowed and read sublimely. It was a feel-good story and I loved it.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
NHL Aces Hockey player Chase Hartman has had a crush on singer Jordyn Banks, so is delighted when he finds she is following him on his Twitter. She is a big hockey fan and they start exchanging tweets during games, which leads to a bet and a date when she is in Chicago. Chase makes great date. However, since she lives in LA and he in Chicago, she says she isn’t interested in a second. But things change. She has an issue with her throat requiring surgery and returns to Chicago, where she is from and her parents still live. Chase meanwhile is having undiagnosed issues with his wrist. They reconnect in Chicago to help each other out. And find that they have a lot in common.
This is a beautifully written story, with expertly developed characters. Chase doesn’t trust love, because his parents withheld love from him when he didn’t want to play as a child and later when he didn’t do well. So he doesn’t understand or know how to act when Jordyn is so concerned about his health, and like a guy makes mistakes. But Jordyn also shows her love by pushing- sometimes too much. The conflict is engaging in both their personal struggles with their injuries and their relationship with each other. While it is the 6th in the series, there is not a lot of interaction with the other players, so could be read as a stand alone.
3.5 Stars
Playing hurt is the 6th book in the Aces Hockey series, this time around it was Chase and Jordyn’s story. For the most part, I enjoyed the book. Loved the chemistry between the two, the way they bantered back and forth, the similarities they shared with their jobs and fear of failure and letting their fans down, and the way they could be themselves with each other. I think the hospital was my favorite scene. The problem I had with the story was the continual doubting and complaining that went on with their prospective issues. I mean, I get it, professional athletes and celebrities are very intune with what their success is all about and what got them there, but I think there could have been a bit less whining and more depth to the story. I felt that the issue Chase had with his parents was a bit weak, I can’t see any athlete letting that get into their psyche and causing them not to perform at their best, just didn’t jive with me. I loved Jordyn’s parents and the Ace team and spouses, could really feel the way they all cared about each other when they were together. I enjoyed going through some of the song writing process with Jordyn, and how she overcame her challenge, Chicago was a great setting for this book. Was a little disappointed with the ending, thought the author could have put more into it, but the story worked overall.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.
When Chase Hartman clicks follow on a pop stars page he has no idea that that one little click is about to change the course of his life… he has harbored a secret crush on pop star Jordyn Banks for some time now, so when she starts to flirt with him over social media he is left a little starstruck. He quickly learns that he is also on her radar, since she is a fan of his work on the ice. But this new little online distraction of his starts to effect his focus on the ice and his coaches are quick to assume he is up to no good again off the ice, since he has had a little trouble with that in the past. But he doesn’t look at his time with Jordyn as a distraction, if anything she is just what he needs…
When hockey star Chase Hartman issues Jordyn a bet and she loses, she finds herself getting a more intimate view of the hockey god on ice… and she really likes what she sees, but her heart starts to revolt. A relationship with someone that is just as busy as she is, is certain to have it’s downfalls, and is certain to leave someone with a broken heart. But the more time she spends with him the more she wants to risk everything to see where it goes, not accounting for the fact that doing so could put everything else that she loves in jeopardy… and she suddenly finds herself stuck between a rock and a hard place. And said hard place has never felt so good…
Playing Hurt is a hockey themed tale riddled with the feels to warm your heart, witty banter to put a smile on your face, and lots of steam to have you blushing throughout! This newest addition to the Aces Hockey series is sure to score some serious points with romance readers, it comes baring many wonderful gifts… especially it’s hero Chase Hartman, the man will make you swoon for days!! I am a sucker for a well written hockey tale and I have to say this one definitely hit the mark, and held it’s own with other installments to the series, and came out shining brightly! I highly recommend this one, it’s a well crafted read that should not be missed!!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.