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4.33 AVERAGE
4.33 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am going to say it now, but I have a feeling this is going to be my favorite of the whole series( unless Hutchy's story tops this)
To say I was excited to get my hands on these two would be an understatement. I fell in love with them in Seal the Deal (Book 1 in the Colorado Storm series), and I knew that their stor was going to be full of all the good stuff.
Let's start with Chase. This man has been down bad since day one. If you looked up the definition of Golden Retriever in Human for, his picture would definitely appear. This man is walking perfection. But here is the thing about Chase, while he appears happy go lucky on the outside and the one to who seems to be there for a good time, the takes everything in stride guy. He is so much more than that. The depth of his character was not what I was expecting, in the best of ways. While yes, he is obsessed with Zoe, he is also her fiercest protector.
Zoe, this FMC is all sass and confidence and a " I will chew you up and spit you out" vibe that remains with her throughout the whole novel. While she is the definition of " classy and bad-assy". Zoe, like chase, has this whole other side to her that she lefts very few people see. And this right here is something that I was able to connect with on a personal level. The need to constantly put on a mask is exhausting.
Chase and Zoe were perfect. Their banter it top tier. So much so that has me literally crying from laughing so hard. But ther banter wasn't just between Zoe and Chase. No, the friend group chats and discussions were everything! and can we please recognize the amazing found family within this series. The depth is adds to not only Zoe and Chase but the continued story for Charlie and Jake. I love when authors intergrate characters from previous books and Hailey does that flawlessly.
and can we please talk about the spice, because the sexual tension between these two literally bleeds off the page. The push and pull literally ignited all my brain cells and when the last thread of tension finally snapped, Gah!( it's the only word that comes to mind)
To say that I am excited for book three is an understatement!
Thank. You Hailey Rodger and Luna Literary for the ARC in return for an honest review.
To say I was excited to get my hands on these two would be an understatement. I fell in love with them in Seal the Deal (Book 1 in the Colorado Storm series), and I knew that their stor was going to be full of all the good stuff.
Let's start with Chase. This man has been down bad since day one. If you looked up the definition of Golden Retriever in Human for, his picture would definitely appear. This man is walking perfection. But here is the thing about Chase, while he appears happy go lucky on the outside and the one to who seems to be there for a good time, the takes everything in stride guy. He is so much more than that. The depth of his character was not what I was expecting, in the best of ways. While yes, he is obsessed with Zoe, he is also her fiercest protector.
Zoe, this FMC is all sass and confidence and a " I will chew you up and spit you out" vibe that remains with her throughout the whole novel. While she is the definition of " classy and bad-assy". Zoe, like chase, has this whole other side to her that she lefts very few people see. And this right here is something that I was able to connect with on a personal level. The need to constantly put on a mask is exhausting.
Chase and Zoe were perfect. Their banter it top tier. So much so that has me literally crying from laughing so hard. But ther banter wasn't just between Zoe and Chase. No, the friend group chats and discussions were everything! and can we please recognize the amazing found family within this series. The depth is adds to not only Zoe and Chase but the continued story for Charlie and Jake. I love when authors intergrate characters from previous books and Hailey does that flawlessly.
and can we please talk about the spice, because the sexual tension between these two literally bleeds off the page. The push and pull literally ignited all my brain cells and when the last thread of tension finally snapped, Gah!( it's the only word that comes to mind)
To say that I am excited for book three is an understatement!
Thank. You Hailey Rodger and Luna Literary for the ARC in return for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Stalking
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What can I say? Chaz is my new all time celebrity couple! Make the Play is so much more than your average hockey rom-com! It’s more than just they meet at work, the sexual tension is so thick with their jabs, they start fake dating and ultimately they fall in love! I mean, that was of course all there but Hailey does a great job of really exploring her characters and their relationships and lives.
Chase, the trouble playboy of the Colorado Storm loves to get under Zoe’s skin! Zoe runs PR for the Colorado Storm and is best friends with Charlie (Seal the Deal)! When management decides that fake dating to improve Chase’s image is the way to go, Chase suggests Zoe! Along the way through their fake dating, you learn the trauma the two of them have faced in their lives and how connected they really are, even when Zoe doesn’t want to admit or to herself!
If you haven’t picked up the Colorado Storm series, you are doing yourself a disservice!
Tropes:
Fake dating
Hockey romance
Sports romance
Friends to Lovers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chase, the trouble playboy of the Colorado Storm loves to get under Zoe’s skin! Zoe runs PR for the Colorado Storm and is best friends with Charlie (Seal the Deal)! When management decides that fake dating to improve Chase’s image is the way to go, Chase suggests Zoe! Along the way through their fake dating, you learn the trauma the two of them have faced in their lives and how connected they really are, even when Zoe doesn’t want to admit or to herself!
If you haven’t picked up the Colorado Storm series, you are doing yourself a disservice!
Tropes:
Fake dating
Hockey romance
Sports romance
Friends to Lovers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
lighthearted
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
I have really come to love Hailey's writing, I was so excited to continue the series! The tropes are on point (fake dating, frenemies to lovers, grumpy x sunshine) and the banter is *chefs kiss*. Highly recommend this along with Seal the Deal!
I received an advance copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I received an advance copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
✨ New Review ✨
Title: Make the Play
Author: Hailey Roger
Genre/s: Sports romance
My format: eBook 📱 #ARC
Spice level: 4.5
Feels: 🥹😂😭🫣🫠🤭
Tropes:
✨ Pro hockey x PR exec
✨ Fake dating with real feelings
✨ One night stand (that's not very one nighty)
✨ Frenemies to lovers where she's in denial and he's feral
✨ When Ms "I got this" meets Mr. "And I got you"
✨ Manicures to match moods
✨ He comes in his pants
✨ Celly song just to peeeeeuss her off
✨ A lot of banter that one Beta reader described as "edging"
I adored Jake and Charlie, but they are all-but-forgotten now that I have read Chase and Zoe and their absolute chaotic perfection.
I think at this point, no review I type is going to be better than just showing you all the commentary I spammed Hailey with as I read the book 🤣 Minor spoilers possible, but I’ve redacted anything truly spoiler-y.
Ma'am you made me cry within 3 pages. That should be illegal 😅🫣🥺
Ahhh Chase is just 😘👌🤌 Ain't no misogyny here!!
A joke so good I paused my husband's music to tell it to him through my cackles 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I f-cking love Gary 🤣🤣 and I adore that you wrote him in so well
I cannot just continue to highlight whole pages.....
I... I can't be this errrr ✨ affected ✨ while eating scones and drinking tea. That should be illegal… You really looked at the brownie scene from book one and said "hold my beer" huh? 🤣
Laughed so hard I woke my husband up 🤣
I thought he wouldn't be able to top Jake … But woman. What did you PUT IN THIS MAN?!
JAKE HAS THE DISCRETION OF A DRUNK PARROT 🤣🤣🤣
Omg I love these men. All of them 🤣
I have a theory that's been percolating for a few chapters... (REDACTED) 👀
Also, thank you for writing a 3AB that actually makes SENSE 🙌
You totally have me crying over Chase's mum 😭 cause, what must that even be like? Having a mum so supportive and in tune? 😭
(RE MY THEORY)
Hehhhh called ittttttt
I knewwwww (REDACTED) 🤣
(REDACTED) kicked ass tho
And Chase (REDACTED) is iconic
This whole trauma response and healing section is 😘👌
Emotional AF and absolutely profound. Got me crying and smiling.
Idk if you're pulling from personal experience or have a great sensitivity reader, or just pulled this out of a hat. But it's beautiful, truly.
Loved the reference to that recent fight where that player acted like a shield.
You nailed it imho. It was a good balance between realism, emotion, but not making it tooooo dark and heavy for the genre
Th@nks to: @lunaliterary.management for providing this copy.
✨️eARC Review✨️
5/5 ⭐️
3.5/5 🌶
*Make The Play is book 2 in the Colorado Storm series and is an interconnected standalone*
Chase has been in love with Zoe since the moment he met her, but she's only ever seen him as the irresponsible and cocky hockey player she's stuck fixing his image for. When Chase gets to have a night with her, it'll never be enough, but she's back to pretending to hate him to save her job. When he lands in more trouble that leads to her fake dating him to save his image, he's not letting her go this time, especially when she's in danger.
I am so glad my book bestie @nessa861 recommended this book to me! We have very similar tastes, so I knew it was going to be good, but it was so much more than I expected! This book was 500 pages packed full of banter, spice, plot, sports, found family, and boy obsessed. Chase had so much history buried under his smirks and jokes, but he never let it stop him from being his true self with Zoe. He knew she was it for him and was fine with patiently waiting until she saw it. He stuck up for her when needed and always came to her rescue. I love suspense over 3rd act breakup, and this had suspense that kept me guessing and left me surprised at how it played out. Not only did the guys have hilarious group text threads, but the girls had such strong friendships that overall left a great found family, which I love in sports romance.
This was my first Hailey Rodger book and won't be my last! I'm definitely looking forward to the brother's best friend coming next!
Tropes:
✔️ Pro Hockey Romance X PR Exec
✔️ Frienemies to Lovers
✔️ Fake Dating
✔️ Golden Retriever Hero
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Grumpy Only To Him
✔️ Found Family
5/5 ⭐️
3.5/5 🌶
*Make The Play is book 2 in the Colorado Storm series and is an interconnected standalone*
Chase has been in love with Zoe since the moment he met her, but she's only ever seen him as the irresponsible and cocky hockey player she's stuck fixing his image for. When Chase gets to have a night with her, it'll never be enough, but she's back to pretending to hate him to save her job. When he lands in more trouble that leads to her fake dating him to save his image, he's not letting her go this time, especially when she's in danger.
I am so glad my book bestie @nessa861 recommended this book to me! We have very similar tastes, so I knew it was going to be good, but it was so much more than I expected! This book was 500 pages packed full of banter, spice, plot, sports, found family, and boy obsessed. Chase had so much history buried under his smirks and jokes, but he never let it stop him from being his true self with Zoe. He knew she was it for him and was fine with patiently waiting until she saw it. He stuck up for her when needed and always came to her rescue. I love suspense over 3rd act breakup, and this had suspense that kept me guessing and left me surprised at how it played out. Not only did the guys have hilarious group text threads, but the girls had such strong friendships that overall left a great found family, which I love in sports romance.
This was my first Hailey Rodger book and won't be my last! I'm definitely looking forward to the brother's best friend coming next!
Tropes:
✔️ Pro Hockey Romance X PR Exec
✔️ Frienemies to Lovers
✔️ Fake Dating
✔️ Golden Retriever Hero
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Grumpy Only To Him
✔️ Found Family
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
5⭐️’s Jesus I fell in love with chase so fast🤣 Hailey you really know how to write a damn good book. I have a huge thing for hockey romances and this is for sure in my top 5 favorites!😍 The banter??! OBSESSED. 😂 The spice?!🥵 ABSOLUTELY TOP NOTCH. I am in love with Chaz.😂😍 BUT I was not expecting that! Girl you made me cry😭 My heart hurt. Hands down a 10/10 read. ❤️
medium-paced
So many things and thoughts and I don’t know if I’ll be able to articulate all of them.
This book was amazing. Absolutely everything. The fighting. The banter. The spice. The love. The reflections. The trauma. I felt all of it.
Hailey wrote this book in such a way that I saw myself as both of the main characters and that doesn’t happen often. I was cheering them on. I was crying when they cried and laughing when they laughed. I’m so so happy I was able to read this book.
This book has it ALL.
Found Family
Reverse Age Gap - Those 4.5 years were VERY important 😂
Fake Dating
Frenemies to Lovers
He Falls First
Hockey Romance
Slightly Feral Golden Retriever x Black Cat
Thank you to Hailey and Luna Literary for this ARC.
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Zoe and Chase’s chemistry could be felt in Seal the Deal and I was so excited to get to read their story! While this book had fun banter and romance, it also showed the characters trauma and how it’s changed them. They’ve created masks they use around others and push people away when things get too serious, but this book showed that even though it can be messy, there is a way to work through it and accept the love you might feel you don’t deserve. Thank you so much to Luna Literary for the chance to read this ARC and giving me grace on finishing it a bit later than expected. If you love a hockey romance and realistic characters, I would definitely recommend this book.