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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
The Sweet Spot is the fourth book in the Playing to Win series, but it can be read as a standalone.
Brynlee and Deacon knew each other when they were younger. She’d had a crush on him, but he never really noticed her because she was too young. Now, they’re older, and when they meet again, the sparks are instantaneous.
Deacon was a single dad, and I loved how much he cared about his daughter. Kennedy. He did his best to make sure she was happy, especially with huge life changes for her. And he also co-parented with his ex in a healthy way, which was great. I thought there would be OW drama, but his ex was happy for him when she saw he had Brynlee.
Brynlee was so fun and kind. I loved seeing her bond with Kennedy. And she also started standing up for herself to her parents, mostly her mother.
Brynlee and Deacon may have had a marriage of convenience, but their feelings were obvious. And they were so loving and supportive of each other through everything.
This was a great ending to the series, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Brynlee and Deacon knew each other when they were younger. She’d had a crush on him, but he never really noticed her because she was too young. Now, they’re older, and when they meet again, the sparks are instantaneous.
Deacon was a single dad, and I loved how much he cared about his daughter. Kennedy. He did his best to make sure she was happy, especially with huge life changes for her. And he also co-parented with his ex in a healthy way, which was great. I thought there would be OW drama, but his ex was happy for him when she saw he had Brynlee.
Brynlee was so fun and kind. I loved seeing her bond with Kennedy. And she also started standing up for herself to her parents, mostly her mother.
Brynlee and Deacon may have had a marriage of convenience, but their feelings were obvious. And they were so loving and supportive of each other through everything.
This was a great ending to the series, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Bella Matthews does it again with the Sweet Spot - she makes us fall in love with these characters and my only gripe is that we don't get enough. But if you are someone who is dipping their toes back into reading and want a quick, spicy, and captivating sports romance - this series is perfect to start with.
Qᴜɪᴄᴋ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴠɪᴇᴡ: ᴅᴇᴀᴄᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʙʀʏɴʟᴇᴇ ᴍᴇᴛ ᴛᴇɴ ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ ᴀɢᴏ ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴇʀ ʀᴜɴ-ɪɴꜱ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʟᴀꜱᴛᴇᴅ. ꜰᴀꜱᴛ ꜰᴏʀᴡᴀʀᴅ, ᴅᴇᴀᴄᴏɴ ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇᴡ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴄᴏᴀᴄʜ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏᴄᴋᴇʏ ᴛᴇᴀᴍ ʙʀʏɴʟᴇᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴋꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀɴᴅ ɪꜱ ᴀ ꜱɪɴɢʟᴇ ᴅᴀᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀɴ ᴀɴxɪᴏᴜꜱ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ. ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴍᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴘᴀʀᴋꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪɴ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʜᴏᴏᴅ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴜᴘ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴍᴀꜱ ᴛʀᴇᴇ - ʙʀʏɴʟᴇᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴀᴄᴏɴ ꜰᴀʟʟ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ'ꜱ ᴀʀᴍꜱ, ʙᴇᴅꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ Qᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ'ꜱ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛꜱ....
This short novel packs a punch - Brynlee has been a strong, magnanimous character in the other books but here she shines just as bright. I loved her confidence and assurance, even with the health secret she was keeping. Deacon is strong, sexy, and vulnerable, especially when he's in dad mode. He falls hard and fast for Brynlee and she returns those feelings just as quickly.
The spice is perfection and every time he calls her "my wife" I melted. This is a rollercoaster of a story with a lot of emotions but I think what Bella perfects is found family and here is no difference. We get to live in the world of the Sinclair, Kingstons, etc and all of Brynlee's family, cousins and friends play such an important role. They create comfort, fun antics, and even more hilarious banter. Text conversations should be required in all novels.
I'm sad this is the last story in this series but I think it was one of the best. Can't wait to see what Bella creates next!
Tropes & Elements:
Qᴜɪᴄᴋ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴠɪᴇᴡ: ᴅᴇᴀᴄᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʙʀʏɴʟᴇᴇ ᴍᴇᴛ ᴛᴇɴ ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ ᴀɢᴏ ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴇʀ ʀᴜɴ-ɪɴꜱ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʟᴀꜱᴛᴇᴅ. ꜰᴀꜱᴛ ꜰᴏʀᴡᴀʀᴅ, ᴅᴇᴀᴄᴏɴ ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇᴡ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴄᴏᴀᴄʜ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏᴄᴋᴇʏ ᴛᴇᴀᴍ ʙʀʏɴʟᴇᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴋꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀɴᴅ ɪꜱ ᴀ ꜱɪɴɢʟᴇ ᴅᴀᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀɴ ᴀɴxɪᴏᴜꜱ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ. ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴍᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴘᴀʀᴋꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪɴ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʜᴏᴏᴅ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴜᴘ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴍᴀꜱ ᴛʀᴇᴇ - ʙʀʏɴʟᴇᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴀᴄᴏɴ ꜰᴀʟʟ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ'ꜱ ᴀʀᴍꜱ, ʙᴇᴅꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ Qᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ'ꜱ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛꜱ....
This short novel packs a punch - Brynlee has been a strong, magnanimous character in the other books but here she shines just as bright. I loved her confidence and assurance, even with the health secret she was keeping. Deacon is strong, sexy, and vulnerable, especially when he's in dad mode. He falls hard and fast for Brynlee and she returns those feelings just as quickly.
The spice is perfection and every time he calls her "my wife" I melted. This is a rollercoaster of a story with a lot of emotions but I think what Bella perfects is found family and here is no difference. We get to live in the world of the Sinclair, Kingstons, etc and all of Brynlee's family, cousins and friends play such an important role. They create comfort, fun antics, and even more hilarious banter. Text conversations should be required in all novels.
I'm sad this is the last story in this series but I think it was one of the best. Can't wait to see what Bella creates next!
Tropes & Elements:
Brynlee has been one of those characters that appears as a side character but made me intrigued and wanted to know more about them. And finally, it's her time to shine in The Sweet Spot. My heart hurt for her and the situation she was going through. I was honestly proud of her and what she has accomplished and when she stood up to her mother. When the new hockey coach, Deacon, comes to town he may be new to everyone else, but Brynlee. She had a crush on him when they were kids but nothing else. Now they are grown adults, he's a single dad and they just entered a marriage of convenience. What may seem fast to some, seemed perfect to me. The bond these two formed was solid. It was like building a puzzle of their life and every step along the way created a beautiful picture in the end. I not only loved the bond that Brynlee formed with Deacon, but the one she formed with his daughter, Kennedy, captivated me. I love how she built their relationship on Kennedy's terms and related with her. Deacon is everything and more though. He brought out that protective "my wife" vibe that just has me swooning.
Overall, this Kroyden Hill family has been stealing my heart right from the first book in the first series. Bella has created an entire world that has yet to disappoint me, only made me wish it was real. Between the love, drama, emotions and spice this book has it all. The spice especially! I can't wait to see who's next in the Playing to Win series. I really hope it's Kenzie since we are going through the girls' club here, but Maddox is another character that has been growing on me the more I read, and I can't wait to see who's the lucky lady that gets to win his heart.
Overall, this Kroyden Hill family has been stealing my heart right from the first book in the first series. Bella has created an entire world that has yet to disappoint me, only made me wish it was real. Between the love, drama, emotions and spice this book has it all. The spice especially! I can't wait to see who's next in the Playing to Win series. I really hope it's Kenzie since we are going through the girls' club here, but Maddox is another character that has been growing on me the more I read, and I can't wait to see who's the lucky lady that gets to win his heart.
please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: yes
POV: dual 1st person POV
spice: several open-door spicy scenes
TWs: adoption, anxiety, career ending injury, death from Huntington’s disease, divorce, panic attacks, parental abandonment
Kinky Content: anal play, dirty talk, “one more”, oral, praise, phone sex, public sex, spanking
standalone: book 4 of Playing to Win series
final thoughts: Brynlee’s Secret Thoughts at the beginning of her chapters were SO GOOD
This book took me a minute to get into and wrap my head around since I read it as a standalone and needed to keep reminding myself of the family tree (located at the beginning of the book). There are a LOT of characters but they each add such a unique element to the story.
I love a strong FMC who can hold her own, and Brynlee was definitely that girl. As a daughter of a MMA champion and owner of several MMA degrees/belts/whatever, there was no question that she was a badass.
Deacon was a sweet, protective MMC who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to fight for it.
The banter had me laughing out loud and the family dynamics were so fun to read about. I’ll definitely be reading more from Bella Matthews!
read this book if you love
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: yes
POV: dual 1st person POV
spice: several open-door spicy scenes
TWs: adoption, anxiety, career ending injury, death from Huntington’s disease, divorce, panic attacks, parental abandonment
Kinky Content: anal play, dirty talk, “one more”, oral, praise, phone sex, public sex, spanking
standalone: book 4 of Playing to Win series
final thoughts: Brynlee’s Secret Thoughts at the beginning of her chapters were SO GOOD
This book took me a minute to get into and wrap my head around since I read it as a standalone and needed to keep reminding myself of the family tree (located at the beginning of the book). There are a LOT of characters but they each add such a unique element to the story.
I love a strong FMC who can hold her own, and Brynlee was definitely that girl. As a daughter of a MMA champion and owner of several MMA degrees/belts/whatever, there was no question that she was a badass.
Deacon was a sweet, protective MMC who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to fight for it.
The banter had me laughing out loud and the family dynamics were so fun to read about. I’ll definitely be reading more from Bella Matthews!
read this book if you love
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tropes:
Last in Series
My Wife
Coach x Physical Therapist
Sassy FMC
Found Family
Single Dad
Marriage of Convenience
Second Chance-ish
This was honestly a very bittersweet read. Reading the story of my favorite couple's daughter had me so happy, but so emotional that the series was coming to an end. Be prepared with tissues!
Bella did an amazing job at putting parallels between the first & second gen books, while giving each couple a completely unique story. It was such a wholesome full circle coming together!
She’s the kind of queen that knows her crown isn’t on her head but in her soul.— ADRIAN MICHAEL
Brynlee is definitely Scarlet's daughter! Both incredibly strong and maybe a bit too independent. Seeing their strength grow around their family is so sweet, but the strength they have with their men on their side is unmatched! They both really are the heart of the family!
Some girls grew up wanting to be the princess saved from the dragon by the handsome prince. I wanted to be the dragon slayer. Now . . . I want to be the dragon rider. I guess I can thank romance books for that evolution. —Brynlee’s Secret Thoughts
The second chance vibes in this book melted my heart! (Just like Scarlet & Cade) Seeing Deacon go from a Cade fearing boy to a fearless man that would stop at nothing for his girl was completely swoony! Even if he was mad, he didn't leave her side and admitted that it was fear more than anger was
Tropes:
Last in Series
My Wife
Coach x Physical Therapist
Sassy FMC
Found Family
Single Dad
Marriage of Convenience
Second Chance-ish
This was honestly a very bittersweet read. Reading the story of my favorite couple's daughter had me so happy, but so emotional that the series was coming to an end. Be prepared with tissues!
Bella did an amazing job at putting parallels between the first & second gen books, while giving each couple a completely unique story. It was such a wholesome full circle coming together!
She’s the kind of queen that knows her crown isn’t on her head but in her soul.— ADRIAN MICHAEL
Brynlee is definitely Scarlet's daughter! Both incredibly strong and maybe a bit too independent. Seeing their strength grow around their family is so sweet, but the strength they have with their men on their side is unmatched! They both really are the heart of the family!
Some girls grew up wanting to be the princess saved from the dragon by the handsome prince. I wanted to be the dragon slayer. Now . . . I want to be the dragon rider. I guess I can thank romance books for that evolution. —Brynlee’s Secret Thoughts
The second chance vibes in this book melted my heart! (Just like Scarlet & Cade) Seeing Deacon go from a Cade fearing boy to a fearless man that would stop at nothing for his girl was completely swoony! Even if he was mad, he didn't leave her side and admitted that it was fear more than anger was
I loved this story so much! I loved that they had known each other as kids and met again as adults. I loved watching them work through struggles and hard times together. Seeing her family and how they all reacted to her big news was amazing!
"Where the hell have you been all my life?"
"Right here, waiting for you to notice me."
*4.5 stars*
Awww, this really hit right in the sweet spot!
Deacon + Brynlee was just great (together and individually) and Kennedy was the most amazing girl.
Genre: Contemporary romcom-esque
Tropes: Marriage of convenience, opposites attract, single dad, secret romance, found family, he falls first, childhood crush, hockey coach x physiotherapist.
Content warnings: Anxiety rep and health issues.
"I guess it's a good thing the length of the story isn't what makes it good. It's how you fill those pages that matters."
ARC review:
I was entertained from the first page, and really pulled into the story. All the characters and the setting of the story was so great, very vivid and loving and I really wanted to be a part of the supporting, caring and craziness that the Kingstons are. This was such a comfort read, while also battling some more serious struggles, which I found added depth to the story and was handled in a very good way.
Deacon Kane is the new NHL coach for the team Brynlee's mother owns. He is a single dad co-parenting with his ex-wife and her husband, but he now has to be her sole guardian. I just loved how he always put his daughter's well-being first, while also going after his own dreams. His daughter is just so precious and seeing them together (and with Brynlee) was wonderful.
Brynlee St. James is a physio therapist, the daughter of a NHL/NFL team owner and a former MMA champion. This is used to the spotlight, people using her and having opinions. After some recent troubling news, she sort of has her head in the sand, but she was also very feisty, sassy and loyal - and not afraid to take a stand. And I just looooved how she went for it with Deacon. Seriously, I really want to be her (and be her friend!).
Deacon and Brynlee had a bit of a history, but timing wasn't right before. They both thought it was mostly physical between them, but it was clear for the both of them very early on, that their connection went so much deeper. The marriage of convenience came a bit out of left field, but it was very in touch with them as people - chasing dreams, determination and living for a bit of an adventure. When they went all in, nothing and no one could stand in their way, and I just love that - they actually worked for it together.
The dirty talk and spice was seriously on point and they really burned up the sheets (and every other surface) together, while also having a very mature and great relationship and they really knew each other.
All the family meddling, the amazing girl group and just the abundance of support and love all around was amazing, and I just had a smile on my face almost all the way through. Still, this book also dealt with some emotional issues and a great anxiety rep, and it was all so relatable. It might frustrate me a bit, but I so understood the reasonings, and I loved how it was a thing, but they dealt with it all together.
I will now go binge the entire back-list and start with the beginning of this whole universe the author has created.
"Right here, waiting for you to notice me."
*4.5 stars*
Awww, this really hit right in the sweet spot!
Deacon + Brynlee was just great (together and individually) and Kennedy was the most amazing girl.
Genre: Contemporary romcom-esque
Tropes: Marriage of convenience, opposites attract, single dad, secret romance, found family, he falls first, childhood crush, hockey coach x physiotherapist.
Content warnings: Anxiety rep and health issues.
"I guess it's a good thing the length of the story isn't what makes it good. It's how you fill those pages that matters."
ARC review:
I was entertained from the first page, and really pulled into the story. All the characters and the setting of the story was so great, very vivid and loving and I really wanted to be a part of the supporting, caring and craziness that the Kingstons are. This was such a comfort read, while also battling some more serious struggles, which I found added depth to the story and was handled in a very good way.
Deacon Kane is the new NHL coach for the team Brynlee's mother owns. He is a single dad co-parenting with his ex-wife and her husband, but he now has to be her sole guardian. I just loved how he always put his daughter's well-being first, while also going after his own dreams. His daughter is just so precious and seeing them together (and with Brynlee) was wonderful.
Brynlee St. James is a physio therapist, the daughter of a NHL/NFL team owner and a former MMA champion. This is used to the spotlight, people using her and having opinions. After some recent troubling news, she sort of has her head in the sand, but she was also very feisty, sassy and loyal - and not afraid to take a stand. And I just looooved how she went for it with Deacon. Seriously, I really want to be her (and be her friend!).
Deacon and Brynlee had a bit of a history, but timing wasn't right before. They both thought it was mostly physical between them, but it was clear for the both of them very early on, that their connection went so much deeper. The marriage of convenience came a bit out of left field, but it was very in touch with them as people - chasing dreams, determination and living for a bit of an adventure. When they went all in, nothing and no one could stand in their way, and I just love that - they actually worked for it together.
The dirty talk and spice was seriously on point and they really burned up the sheets (and every other surface) together, while also having a very mature and great relationship and they really knew each other.
All the family meddling, the amazing girl group and just the abundance of support and love all around was amazing, and I just had a smile on my face almost all the way through. Still, this book also dealt with some emotional issues and a great anxiety rep, and it was all so relatable. It might frustrate me a bit, but I so understood the reasonings, and I loved how it was a thing, but they dealt with it all together.
I will now go binge the entire back-list and start with the beginning of this whole universe the author has created.
I'm sorry but the line "She's going to love this nickname, and some guy is gonna want to eat her CANDY one day, and I'm going to have to kill him." It is disgusting considering it is a thought from the MMC who is a father talking about his nine-year-old daughter. Like ew? There are 100 different ways that line could have been said and the author thought THIS was the most appropriate one?!
P.s: shit writing too
P.s: shit writing too