Hockey players are off limits especially … if they’re on your brothers’ team. The last time Jordan did that, it ended in disaster.It was easy to promise her brothers she’d never date another one of their teammates again.Until she meets Jake. The spark she feels when she spends time with him makes her promise harder and harder to keep.Surely her brothers would understand breaking this promise if … understand breaking this promise if it means following her heart.
Wouldn’t they?
Never sleep with a teammate’s sister.
This is the universal rule of athletes everywhere.
Until he meets Jordan. As soon as Jake sets eyes on her, he wants her.
The goalie’s job is to see missed shots and failed opportunities on the ice.
This is one shot he’s not going to miss, no matter what obstacles get in his way.
POWER PLAY is a flirty, swoon worthy sexy rom-com and the first book in the BTU Alumni series. It can be read as a stand alone. If you like hockey boys, sarcastic friends, matchmaking K9’s, too-cute-to-handle kindergarteners, fierce heroines and swoony hot as puck Alpha heroes, then you want to get to know these cast of characters. One puck head and a HEA guaranteed.
more
First let me answer this: is worth the time to read this? More than worth. Why? Power play is Alley’s debut. And what a great debut. I like to call Power play -JJ story( Jake & Jordan). Do you wanna know more about this? The title gives u a hint. Power & play, like fire & ice. Play or be played by your fate or your past? But if don’t try you’ll never know what you could have. Power play is going to give u more than a classic sport romance, where the hero is basically hot as hell and have all the girls he wants at his feet. That’s not the case, because this story is focused, yes on the romantic, sweet & tender story between Jake& Jordan, but it’s also mix real & original themes, such as family bond and more. I don’t want to give away too much, just know this: expect the unexpected from this story. Because sometimes, the angst in it is literally breathtaking.
The characters? There are a few. The main ones, Jake & Jordan and some other great secondary characters which will intrigate you from the very beginning. Now, back to Jake & Jordan. What is to like at those 2? Jordan. She’s a really great heroine. Strong, spice, sexy as hell, but she’s also vulnerable. I won’t say from where is coming that vulnerability, but it’s there, always in the shadows, following her.
Jake? Lol. He’s oltrageously sweet. I swear I can’t stand his sweetness and tenderness sometimes. He’s the perfect guy, the boy next door, loyal friend, hockey champ. What I liked the most? His determination to get what or whom he wants. There’s no but or ifs to stand. He knows damn well what he wants. From the moment he lay his eyes on JD. And he goes for it. Call it patience, gentleman’s strategy, pure attraction, or just perfect match, no matter what it is. Is there authentic, real, deep, uncontrollable.
Get them together? Well they have so much in common but they also complete one other. Overall JJ in 2 words: sweet chemistry.
I mentioned the secondary characters. There’s a few. Unique and so intriguing. I’m particularly interested in one of those guys, but I won’t reveal his name yet.
Another reason to want to read Power play? You will fall in love even with that matchmaker of a dog;)
Lawd!! Jordan and Jake are HOTTTT!!! I love strong women and Jordan is exactly that. She exudes confidence but not in a way that makes others around her feel small. I love strong family dynamics, Jordan and Jake both have that. They both care so much for their family and friends. I loved reading about it. The focus was not JUST Jordan and Jake. The author made every character important. It was a great debut book for Alley. I cannot believe this is her first! So well written. Everything meshes. All the characters flow together. Nothing out of place or confusing. I really fell in love with not just Jake and Jordan but ALL the supporting characters. This is so much more than worth the read. I am obsessed with all of them, and cannot wait for the next book.
This is such a good book and such fun characters! So much book, it’s worth the value!! This group of friends and family have so much fun when they get together. Right down to the youngest kiddos. You’ll have a lot of laughs and some good ol’ lovin. Can’t wait to read book 2!!
4.5 Stars
Power Play is not only the first novel in the BTU Alumni series, but Alley Ciz’s debut novel. I love a sports romance, especially those written around college age, and I was drawn to the synopsis of Power Play and it didn’t disappoint.
Power Play is an emotional and sweet story, with equal parts heat, heart and humor, with a touch of drama and suspense that keeps you completely captivated from start to finish.
I love a title with strong themes of family and friendship and that’s what Alley delivers with Power Play. Jordan and Jake both have enviable relationships with their siblings. The banter Jordan shares with her brothers is witty, sassy and fun, with humor that will have you laughing out loud.
Jake is such a swoony hero. He a team mate and close friend of Jordan’s brother’s and is considered off limits as the team goalie, but this pair are inexplicably drawn to each other. He’s such a down to earth, kind, caring guy you can’t help but love this character.
Jordan is my kind of heroine, strong, sassy, fierce and not afraid to stand up for herself. She’s intelligent, and doesn’t back down from a challenge.
This title is told in a dual point of view, and at points the story overlaps, often I can find this to be quite frustrating and it can feel repetitive. Alley has succeeded in crafting the story from different perspectives so that the information feels completely different and unique and it really works.
I adored the secondary characters, that were introduced in Power Play, who are not only endearing but captivating and fun and their banter throughout is witty and fun, and I will be looking forward to the next addition to BTU Alumni!
First I want to say that I was given an ARC of this book to read but my review is an honest one. I love sports romance so I was excited to read this one.
Things I liked about the book:
How you got both POVs throughout the book.
The secret romance aspect.
I like how she laid out the underlying story about Jordan’s past (I don’t want to give away any spoilers).
Their romance overall was super sweet. (Low on the steam level if that’s a factor for you)
The only thing I didn’t really care for was:
During the POV switch, sometimes it seemed repetitive with using the exact same conversation that you had already read.
Overall, it was a good book especially for being the author’s debut novel. My hats off to her because I know I couldn’t write anything close to this.
Also it ended in a HEA and not a cliffhanger which is something I like to know ahead of time.
Can’t wait to read the stories of the other friends and brothers.
A great start to this new series by Alley Ciz. The storyline introduces a stream of new characters, but never seems cluttered or disorganised. Everything reads well and sets the foundation for s great series to come.
This book focuses on Jordan, sister to two of the hockey players, and Jake, their teammate. Mutual attraction is tempered by Jordan’s past history and not wanting to upset her brothers.
The jeopardy that Jordan finds herself in is a great twist and builds interest in the story. It elevates it beyond the normal ‘brothers best friend’ trope and is much better for it.
An impressive start and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
MY GAWD WHAT A DEBT
Wow this book was amazing in every way. Jake and Jordan were the picture of fairytales.
Every chapter had me hooked and I couldnt wait to see what happened. The twists made it angsty, the storyline was powerful and every character had me hooked. I can’t wait for the rest of the books.
This was an epic romance filled with passion, angst, drama and hotness. Jake was a sweetheart and had you falling in love with him right away. Jordan was fiery and tough and I loved the close bond she had not only with her brothers but her friends as well.
Alley’s way with words kept the story interesting and captivating and the storyline was perfection.
Way to go girl you nailed this!
This was a great debut novel that touched on difficult topics with grace. A definite book to read!
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you want me to kiss you.”
“Maybe I do.”
This was probably my favorite part in the book. Everything that had led up to this moment and everything that happens afterwards made this scene so beautiful!
Power Play was a great debut book for Alley Ciz!
What would you do if you found “the one” but couldn’t do anything about it? That’s the case with Jordan and Jake.
I loved Jordan! She’s a girl’s girl as well as a guy’s girl. She just fits in wherever without trying to impress anyone. But, she’s been put through hell before and her brothers are super protective of her because of that.
Jake is laid back. He’s not a man whore (that title is reserved for someone else in the story) and he is really a great guy to his friends.
Both Jake and Jordan are family-oriented and they have their friends’ backs at all times. Their personalities had me rooting for them because they are both so likeable.
There was a unique way this was written. The story was told in dual POVs and the POVs would overlap certain scenes so that the reader could see the scene through both characters’ eyes. Usually just a line or two overlap in the stories I’ve read. In Power Play, the were bigger portions that overlapped.
I enjoyed this story as well as peeking into the other characters and seeing the possibilities for the next story which I’m looking forward to.
This young adult romance has the forbidden romance trope as well as a touch of suspense. I would highly recommend reading this.
LOVE!!
I am not normally a fan of books written in third person, usually I put the book down. I can’t seem to get into books in third person. Oh man am I so happy I continued reading this book. The fact that it was third person was lost on me almost immediately. I was hooked from the start.
Jake and Jordan, are amazing together. Jake was surprisingly sweet. Jordan is literally the girl next door. I loved how they were drawn to each other, the connection they had. The only problem Jake is a hockey player.
Can we just talk about Sean and Carlee for a moment? Seriously loved those two.
I could not put Power Play down. I was so hooked on what was going to happen next, and when it would happen, and how it would happen. Alley was putting the pieces together and I found myself turning page after page until it happened.
I loved that Jake was the sweet boy next door, but was still bad enough to do what needed to be done.
The issues that they faced are real life issues that hit home for a lot of people, from older brothers, to ex-boyfriends. Power Play made me laugh out loud, but also had some series moments to it.
I absolutely recommend Power Play to. It was a fantastic first book for Alley, and I can’t wait to see what else she has for us!
Power Play is the debut novel for Alley Ciz, so I will admit I was a little worried about what I would be reading, but I quickly learned there was no need.
This sports romance is written with strong words as well as humor and wit. Jake is a devastatingly perfect hero with a big, kind heart. I was happy to see that even though he’s not virgin, he wasn’t the normal over the top man whore we get a lot from sports romance. Jordan is a strong and fiery heroine who is still taking her life back after a past abusive relationship. Oh, and did I mention she’s Jake’s best friends sister?
You will love the slow burn you get steaming from the pages and swoon over the Jake and Jordan’s connection. Anyone who reads sports romance is going to love Power Play and what an excellent debut from Alley!
Wow! Just WOW! What a great debut for Alley! This book was amazing!! I absolutely love sports romances! This was my first one with the sport being hockey!! We will start with Jordan/JD. She is a strong in your face sassy heroine and her love and knowledge of sports make her one of those girls that can truly hang with the guys. Jake is so swoon worthy! He is so sweet and caring and he makes me want to jump in the book and steal him for myself!
I loved the unique way Alley wrote overlapped scenes with both Jordan and Jake’s POV. I love knowing what both characters are thinking about certain situations!
This book has the sweetness, the love, the drama, hot guys and strong women! Get your dose of Power Play now! You won’t be disappointed!!
In her debut novel, Power Play, Author Alley Ciz writes a sports romance with a rom-com vibe, infused with the perfect amount of suspense sure to keep you engaged. This read is delightfully sweet, romantic, witty, & charming. Expect enjoyable characters, fierce friendships, and strong family ties. Power Play will have you laughing, cheering, and on the edge of your seat.
Jordan is the female character you can’t help but love. She’s smart, she’s spunky, sure of herself, and the friend you’d gladly call your own. Jake is your quintessential all-American athlete. He’s the kind of boy you can bring home to your momma, has a set of green eyes you can get lost in, and fills out a t-shirt so well it has to be wrong. When Jordan and Jake meet it’s nothing but feels and all the sparks. There’s only one problem. After a bad break-up Jordan promised her over protective brothers no more hockey players. Jake just so happens to be both the star goalie, and their team mate. Serious buzz kill. How long can these two fight the connection they undeniably feel? Read Power Play and find out!
I loved every aspect of this book. It’s the light read you want with the love you crave. I enjoyed the strength and purity of the connection between the main characters and the slow burn that followed. Jake was sexy and swoon-worthy, while Jordan felt like my best friend. You can’t help but fall deeply in love with this story, this world, and this author’s voice! If you’re looking for an enjoyable and light-hearted sports romance with mystery and a little heat, one-click Power Play! Enjoy xo
OMG! What a freakin awesome debut novel by Alley Ciz! This book had it all. It was funny and sexy and serious and emotional. Like it had everything! Her character development and descriptions were so on point! I could totally see in my head who was who, and let me tell you HOLY HOT BISCUITS Y’ALL!! Seriously I loved the dialogue between the main characters, Jake and Jordan. It wasn’t a “hello your hot” and then immediate bedroom scene. She took her time building up to that. The attraction was there the whole time, so that was fabulous, but she kept you waiting for it! It was like a gift you knew was on the way , you just didn’t quite know when it would arrive. I.Loved.That!! The secondary characters were all so lovable. I want to be BFF’s with everyone in that book! Too bad I’m semi-old( compared to a bunch of college kids )because I could totally see myself hanging out with all of of them. I thought the author did a great job at touching on a serious subject that happens more than we probably know or even want to think about and she handled it in the best way. It was great in the story. It added some drama, a little suspense, but also bringing always needed awareness to the subject(don’t want to give spoilers). I can’t wait to read her next book in the BTU series. This is book one, but is a stand-alone with an awesome HEA! This author is definitely one to read!! She is starting off amazing out of the gate!
HOLY CRAP ON A CRACKER!! You would NEVER know that this is Alley’s debut book!!! I love her writing style so much! The dual POV was so great, I also loved how we got to relive some moments from the opposites characters eyes. Apart from her writing I love every bit of this plot. We had sports and the brother’s best friend, those two are my absolute favorite! I liked it so much I’m having trouble putting this into words!!
I loved Jake and Jordan sooo much! The moment these two met I saw the sparks, so I knew their relationship would be special. There were so many layers to them and their relationship, it made it so interesting. There were a million twists, turns, emotions, it was the best kind of roller coaster. These two also had a lot in common; They both had AMAZING families and both had a much younger sibling. Seeing them with Carlee and Sean was the best!! I loved the Alley had added in these two, they were so adorable and really special! As individuals Jake and Jordan were so great. I loved how strong Jordan was, especially after all that she went though. It was SO entertaining to see how she intimidated the guys too!! Seeing big, bad hockey players scared of a short blonde was HYSTERICAL!! And Jake, he was so swoony!! You really couldn’t have asked for better leads.
Now, my favorite is always the secondary characters. I ADORED That Jordan was a twin. Jase and Ryan made the relationship between Jake and Jordan so much more interesting!! Between them, Tucker, Maddy, and the rest of the bunch, there was constantly something keeping me laughing. I especially loved how they were such developed characters!
I can’t wait for more from Alley and super excited to see where she takes this series
Power Play
By Alley Ciz
4
Release Date June 4
Alley Ciz, debut author brings us Power Play. A new adult sports romance.
Jordan and Jake have such great chemistry. Their character development was exceptional. It was refreshing to see the hero as an all around good guy and not a man whore — don’t get me wrong, those guys are loveable too. Lol But, it was nice to see Mr. Popular Jock not abuse his status and sleep around. I loved everything about Jordan. She never tried too hard and was loved by everyone around her.
There were some serious moments but all in all it was fun and will definitely have you hooked. Alley is definitely an author to watch out for. She shows so much promise and i definitely will be looking forward to reading more from her.
I’ve read a couple of this authors later work so to go all the way back to her debut was a joy. Because that’s what reading this authors work is honestly; a joy. Banter, a fantastic found and natural family dynamic, #SquadGoals. Add in the smokin’ chemistry between Jake and Jordan and just enough to keep the hockey fan in me happy, I couldn’t have asked for more.
Loved Jordan and Jake’s story. There were many obstacles for them to overcome and secrets that needed to be revealed. I’m excited to read more of this series.
I was hoping for more from this book — I liked the character, I just felt the story spun it’s wheels and never got anywhere.
This story of Jordan, a girl fiercely protected by two older brothers and Jake, a friend and teammate of these brothers is very entertaining.
I loved the story and how they overcame the obstacles of her promising never to date a teammate of them and her grueling past with a psycho ex.