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The Game Changer
A hockey player and a baker shoot their shot in this steamy new romance.
When a very public breakup becomes a PR nightmare for Ian Chase's team, he hopes to focus on his game, but that suddenly seem less likely than a hat trick. With his career and the team’s image in jeopardy, Ian is surprised to find a solution through none other than Delilah Baker, his best friend and teammate's little sister…who isn’t so little anymore.
Delilah Baker is known as “the darling of baking� on her local cable show, and being in the public eye is her bread and butter. But with her numbers dwindling and her producers turning up the heat, Delilah offers up the half-baked idea to collaborate with her brother’s team to entice the hockey fans of Boston to tune in to her show. Delilah thinks it will be a piece of cake—until the team sends Ian Chase, her brother’s best friend and the object of a decade-long crush that she’s never quite gotten over.
Delilah's and Ian’s teams think it’s a true win-win situation—gaining higher numbers for Delilah’s show and casting Ian in a more positive light. And viewers are eating them up like a cupcake, sparking the idea to play up their relationship for the goal of good press. With more than just their careers on thin ice, the line between what’s real and what’s for show begins to blur, but one thing’s for certain: This PR stunt will either be a total game changer—or leave them both totally pucked.
When a very public breakup becomes a PR nightmare for Ian Chase's team, he hopes to focus on his game, but that suddenly seem less likely than a hat trick. With his career and the team’s image in jeopardy, Ian is surprised to find a solution through none other than Delilah Baker, his best friend and teammate's little sister…who isn’t so little anymore.
Delilah Baker is known as “the darling of baking� on her local cable show, and being in the public eye is her bread and butter. But with her numbers dwindling and her producers turning up the heat, Delilah offers up the half-baked idea to collaborate with her brother’s team to entice the hockey fans of Boston to tune in to her show. Delilah thinks it will be a piece of cake—until the team sends Ian Chase, her brother’s best friend and the object of a decade-long crush that she’s never quite gotten over.
Delilah's and Ian’s teams think it’s a true win-win situation—gaining higher numbers for Delilah’s show and casting Ian in a more positive light. And viewers are eating them up like a cupcake, sparking the idea to play up their relationship for the goal of good press. With more than just their careers on thin ice, the line between what’s real and what’s for show begins to blur, but one thing’s for certain: This PR stunt will either be a total game changer—or leave them both totally pucked.
400 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2024
1,142 people are currently reading
63.2k people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,552 reviews
February 17, 2024
hi, lana's fanclub president here. I dunno about you but a ginger daddy in skates that knows when to call me brat and does [redacted] things to me just gets me going, so if it floats your boat too, this book is 100000% for ya. Also there's a locker room shower scene that's *incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally horny* and something you want in your kindle highlights (we all have them, there's no shame in that besties)
PS: Jack is mine woof woof
PS: Jack is mine woof woof
November 24, 2024
4.5⭐️ oh this was wonderful
March 15, 2024
i’m happy to say that The Game Changer was such an enjoyable read for me and had everything I’ve come to expect from Lana Ferguson: lovable characters, great banter, plenty of chemistry and just enough spice. you can expect: brother’s best friend trope, fake dating, age gap, friends to lovers and no third act break up as well !! 💖
“It’s like I spent most of my life blind until you walked back into my life, and i finally saw you.�
we follow Delilah and Ian who’ve known eachother for years through Jack� (Delilah’s brother and Ian’s best friend/teammate). i can’t emphasize enough how much i appreciated that Jack wasn’t the obnoxious jerk type with the BBF trope and he was actually one of my favorite characters since he’s hilarious. Ian has that rugged exterior but is actually a teddy bear inside and i adored him. Delilah is easy to root for cause she’s sweet and supportive, while also being so witty. the connection between Ian and Delilah felt authentic and believable considering she’s been pining after him since she was a teen and he finally opened his eyes to her years later.
“I feel like I can just be. Like everything I am is enough, because Lila deemed it so.�
as much as i loved Delilah and Ian together, i have to admit that the pet names were not doing it for me. i also didn’t like how much focus was put on Delilah being “so grown up now� from the last time Ian saw her. i get that he’s older than she is but she’s almost thirty and still got coddled too much at the start for my liking. but other than that this was a really fun read and there’s a ton of great side characters as well in Delilah’s crew on her baking show and Ian’s hockey teammates. i took my time reading this one and i’m kind of sad it’s over cause i’ve grown so attached to everyone in this book by this point. 🥹
� thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the arc, all opinions are my own.
“It’s like I spent most of my life blind until you walked back into my life, and i finally saw you.�
we follow Delilah and Ian who’ve known eachother for years through Jack� (Delilah’s brother and Ian’s best friend/teammate). i can’t emphasize enough how much i appreciated that Jack wasn’t the obnoxious jerk type with the BBF trope and he was actually one of my favorite characters since he’s hilarious. Ian has that rugged exterior but is actually a teddy bear inside and i adored him. Delilah is easy to root for cause she’s sweet and supportive, while also being so witty. the connection between Ian and Delilah felt authentic and believable considering she’s been pining after him since she was a teen and he finally opened his eyes to her years later.
“I feel like I can just be. Like everything I am is enough, because Lila deemed it so.�
as much as i loved Delilah and Ian together, i have to admit that the pet names were not doing it for me. i also didn’t like how much focus was put on Delilah being “so grown up now� from the last time Ian saw her. i get that he’s older than she is but she’s almost thirty and still got coddled too much at the start for my liking. but other than that this was a really fun read and there’s a ton of great side characters as well in Delilah’s crew on her baking show and Ian’s hockey teammates. i took my time reading this one and i’m kind of sad it’s over cause i’ve grown so attached to everyone in this book by this point. 🥹
� thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the arc, all opinions are my own.
April 14, 2024
3 stars�
“I don’t know when you went from the girl I adored to the woman I can’t stop thinking about, but you did . You’ve always been in my heart, but now you’re in my head too."
This story is all about Ian Chase, hockey player🏒, and Delilah Baker, the adorable baker🧁. Ian needs good press, and Delilah's baking show needs more views. So, they team up in the kitchen and things get steamy. But when the internet thinks they're a couple, they decide to fake a relationship for positive PR. The twist? Delilah has had a crush on Ian since she was twelve, but he's always seen her as a little sister. Will they be able to keep their feelings in check or will it all come crashing down?
This was my first Lana Ferguson book. I really expected to love it but I didn't feel anything for the main characters.I wanted to see more reasons why the main couple wanted to be together. They talked a lot about their past connection, but since they hadn't been in touch for so long, I needed to know what they loved about each other now. At first, the pet names might have been okay, but seeing them repeatedly got on my nerves. And it was kinda weird how she kept referring to her teenage obsession and living out her fantasy. I just needed a little more tension and spark to really feel the romance, you know? Her brother was such a pleasant surprise, and I couldn't help but like him. He had this great sense of humor that had me laughing throughout the book..
This hockey romance is perfect for those who can't stand miscommunication. Once the main characters finally get together, it's smooth sailing from there on out. This book just wasn’t for me sadly.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
┶┶┶┶┶┶┶┶
pre-review: time to enjoy this sweet collision of baking and ice hockey!🏒🧁
“I don’t know when you went from the girl I adored to the woman I can’t stop thinking about, but you did . You’ve always been in my heart, but now you’re in my head too."
This story is all about Ian Chase, hockey player🏒, and Delilah Baker, the adorable baker🧁. Ian needs good press, and Delilah's baking show needs more views. So, they team up in the kitchen and things get steamy. But when the internet thinks they're a couple, they decide to fake a relationship for positive PR. The twist? Delilah has had a crush on Ian since she was twelve, but he's always seen her as a little sister. Will they be able to keep their feelings in check or will it all come crashing down?
This was my first Lana Ferguson book. I really expected to love it but I didn't feel anything for the main characters.I wanted to see more reasons why the main couple wanted to be together. They talked a lot about their past connection, but since they hadn't been in touch for so long, I needed to know what they loved about each other now. At first, the pet names might have been okay, but seeing them repeatedly got on my nerves. And it was kinda weird how she kept referring to her teenage obsession and living out her fantasy. I just needed a little more tension and spark to really feel the romance, you know? Her brother was such a pleasant surprise, and I couldn't help but like him. He had this great sense of humor that had me laughing throughout the book..
This hockey romance is perfect for those who can't stand miscommunication. Once the main characters finally get together, it's smooth sailing from there on out. This book just wasn’t for me sadly.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
┶┶┶┶┶┶┶┶
pre-review: time to enjoy this sweet collision of baking and ice hockey!🏒🧁
April 4, 2025
"Now, go on. You have a game to win."
"Sweetheart," he says, smiling against my mouth. "I already won."
This was a solid sports romance. I've really been enjoying Lana's books lately and this is another one I can add to my library 🩷
Both characters were great and I loved seeing both POVs, though I'm cooling a little bit on insta lust storylines, which this basically was. Not to mention there were several mentions to Lila's "obsession" with Ian as a kid, which was a little awkward imo.
There were parts of one of the main storylines that I didn't enjoy, and I really didn't enjoy how it all came to a head at the end, but this didn't have a a third act break-up which was AMAZING. Just another great example of a third act complication where the MC's stick together and communicate. Love to see it.
Would absolutely recommend for romance readers 💕
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
"Sweetheart," he says, smiling against my mouth. "I already won."
This was a solid sports romance. I've really been enjoying Lana's books lately and this is another one I can add to my library 🩷
Both characters were great and I loved seeing both POVs, though I'm cooling a little bit on insta lust storylines, which this basically was. Not to mention there were several mentions to Lila's "obsession" with Ian as a kid, which was a little awkward imo.
There were parts of one of the main storylines that I didn't enjoy, and I really didn't enjoy how it all came to a head at the end, but this didn't have a a third act break-up which was AMAZING. Just another great example of a third act complication where the MC's stick together and communicate. Love to see it.
Would absolutely recommend for romance readers 💕
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
January 10, 2025
� 3 stars �
“Maybe love can only truly be held by two people, because it’s too big for just one.�
What to Expect:
� Brother’s Best Friend
� Childhood Crush
� Fake Dating/PR Stunt
� Hockey Player x TV Baker
� Family Drama
� Forced Proximity
� Nicknames I cant decide if I like
� Small Age Gap
� Friends-to-Lovers
� Dual POV
I’m having an existential crisis after finishing this book because I think this relationship was too healthy for me? 😅 I hate a 3rd act break up as much as the next gal but I would have almost welcomed one just to add a little drama. I was expecting more fake dating, but after hanging out like one time in person, they immediately got together. In reality this was more like fake dating in reverse because they were ACTUALLY dating but pretending that they were only pretending to he together. 😵�
I questioned some of the author’s choices throughout because I felt like many of the details about the FMC and the way the intimate scenes were written felt like they were intended for men rather than women. Like the whole “she used to be innocent but now she’s a dirty girl� vibe felt pretty male coded to me. Since they got together so early on in the book, the plot was pretty smut heavy and since I wasn’t a huge fan of how it was written, it did impact my overall enjoyment. A lot of this comes down to my own personal opinion so I can see why a lot of people loved this one. Ian & Delilah were a VERY solid couple, they were just so solid that I was kind of bored. 🤷🏼♀� �.which brings me back to the existential crisis because yes, what is wrong with me? 🤣 JK it’s only fiction.
This book also lead me to google “does Lana Ferguson have siblings?� There were subtle details and uncomfy lines throughout that make me think that she doesn’t - or at the very least that she doesn’t have brothers. Like even down to something small like Ian calling his sister “sweetheart.� It just isn’t done�
Weird vibes aside, I adored Jack’s character and the banter between him and Delilah was so fun! I would love to read Jack’s story and wonder if LF has any intention of writing it. So far she has only written standalone books and I have loved how freely she has jumped around between different romance genres and that she hasn’t allowed herself to be pigeon holed, but it would be a shame not to give Jack his happy ending - especially after setting things up so well at the end of this book. 🤞🏻🤞🏻
What do you guys think of “cupcake� and “brat� as nicknames? I can’t decide if I love or hate them. 🤔🧁
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ �
Pre-read: Can’t go wrong with a fake dating trope� right?? 🙃
“Maybe love can only truly be held by two people, because it’s too big for just one.�
What to Expect:
� Brother’s Best Friend
� Childhood Crush
� Fake Dating/PR Stunt
� Hockey Player x TV Baker
� Family Drama
� Forced Proximity
� Nicknames I cant decide if I like
� Small Age Gap
� Friends-to-Lovers
� Dual POV
I’m having an existential crisis after finishing this book because I think this relationship was too healthy for me? 😅 I hate a 3rd act break up as much as the next gal but I would have almost welcomed one just to add a little drama. I was expecting more fake dating, but after hanging out like one time in person, they immediately got together. In reality this was more like fake dating in reverse because they were ACTUALLY dating but pretending that they were only pretending to he together. 😵�
I questioned some of the author’s choices throughout because I felt like many of the details about the FMC and the way the intimate scenes were written felt like they were intended for men rather than women. Like the whole “she used to be innocent but now she’s a dirty girl� vibe felt pretty male coded to me. Since they got together so early on in the book, the plot was pretty smut heavy and since I wasn’t a huge fan of how it was written, it did impact my overall enjoyment. A lot of this comes down to my own personal opinion so I can see why a lot of people loved this one. Ian & Delilah were a VERY solid couple, they were just so solid that I was kind of bored. 🤷🏼♀� �.which brings me back to the existential crisis because yes, what is wrong with me? 🤣 JK it’s only fiction.
This book also lead me to google “does Lana Ferguson have siblings?� There were subtle details and uncomfy lines throughout that make me think that she doesn’t - or at the very least that she doesn’t have brothers. Like even down to something small like Ian calling his sister “sweetheart.� It just isn’t done�
Weird vibes aside, I adored Jack’s character and the banter between him and Delilah was so fun! I would love to read Jack’s story and wonder if LF has any intention of writing it. So far she has only written standalone books and I have loved how freely she has jumped around between different romance genres and that she hasn’t allowed herself to be pigeon holed, but it would be a shame not to give Jack his happy ending - especially after setting things up so well at the end of this book. 🤞🏻🤞🏻
What do you guys think of “cupcake� and “brat� as nicknames? I can’t decide if I love or hate them. 🤔🧁
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ �
Pre-read: Can’t go wrong with a fake dating trope� right?? 🙃
July 20, 2024
'*�.¸� 1.5 �'s ♡�.�*'
lana, why was this published? why was this written? please tell me.
so first, i would like to apologize because i feel bad when i write bad reviews because writing a book is very brave and vulnerable so go you 🙏🏻
let's start out with my first issue with the book. at the start of the book the mmc (ian) starts calling the fmc (delilah/dee) A KID. his nickname for her WAS KID. he viewed her as a sister, right? they meet up again a few years later and she's developed more and isn't a scrawny teenager. she makes a comment about how her nickname can't be kid because like i said, she's developed.
the entire storyline of the book is that he used to see her as a sister but once she got tits he's in love. his body has reactions to her. I'M SORRY?? he used to see her as a sister, a kid, and now your talking about readjusting your pants 😭
second issue, where was the best friend brother's trope? there was NO sense of forbidden. they just said “screw it� ?? and then they got all nervous about telling him. they acted like they would stop dating if he got mad. girl no you wouldn't??
third issue, there was no fake dating in this book. i'm disappointed. the only thing they did was hang out twice and look close. because her TV agent or whatever couldn't tell them to actually fake date and just “encourage the rumors� ? was literally the most downplayed fake dating thing i've ever read
i've read one of lana's books, and i really enjoyed it. so i went into this thinking, brother's best friend trope? fake dating? sign me up!! no. just no.
the only interesting thing about this book was the ending ish with his dad and abby. but it's not to die for.
and why did lana think i would want to read them getting it on in a shower stall where all his teammates are 😭 i know it's a book but they would 100% know what's going on.
my fourth and final biggest issue. WHERE WAS THE HOCKEY??? NONEXISTENT. the only things from hockey we heard was the coach calling jack or ian about a scandal/PR, or them being sore from practice, and an occasional scene or two of them at the rink. oh and the charity thing of teaching kids. so that was more than i thought but it's definitely not a major part of the book. most hockey romance books it's a thing and she shows up to her games and we always get scenes with the entire hockey team, but we didn't. i was so disappointed at that.
don't read this 😭🙏🏻 unless you want a non-existent hockey romance book that has no tropes besides stupidity
"Strength isn't measured by how quickly we pick ourselves up after we've fallen . . . A person's strength is determined by their willingness to keep going once they're back on two feet."
lana, why was this published? why was this written? please tell me.
so first, i would like to apologize because i feel bad when i write bad reviews because writing a book is very brave and vulnerable so go you 🙏🏻
let's start out with my first issue with the book. at the start of the book the mmc (ian) starts calling the fmc (delilah/dee) A KID. his nickname for her WAS KID. he viewed her as a sister, right? they meet up again a few years later and she's developed more and isn't a scrawny teenager. she makes a comment about how her nickname can't be kid because like i said, she's developed.
the entire storyline of the book is that he used to see her as a sister but once she got tits he's in love. his body has reactions to her. I'M SORRY?? he used to see her as a sister, a kid, and now your talking about readjusting your pants 😭
second issue, where was the best friend brother's trope? there was NO sense of forbidden. they just said “screw it� ?? and then they got all nervous about telling him. they acted like they would stop dating if he got mad. girl no you wouldn't??
third issue, there was no fake dating in this book. i'm disappointed. the only thing they did was hang out twice and look close. because her TV agent or whatever couldn't tell them to actually fake date and just “encourage the rumors� ? was literally the most downplayed fake dating thing i've ever read
i've read one of lana's books, and i really enjoyed it. so i went into this thinking, brother's best friend trope? fake dating? sign me up!! no. just no.
the only interesting thing about this book was the ending ish with his dad and abby. but it's not to die for.
and why did lana think i would want to read them getting it on in a shower stall where all his teammates are 😭 i know it's a book but they would 100% know what's going on.
my fourth and final biggest issue. WHERE WAS THE HOCKEY??? NONEXISTENT. the only things from hockey we heard was the coach calling jack or ian about a scandal/PR, or them being sore from practice, and an occasional scene or two of them at the rink. oh and the charity thing of teaching kids. so that was more than i thought but it's definitely not a major part of the book. most hockey romance books it's a thing and she shows up to her games and we always get scenes with the entire hockey team, but we didn't. i was so disappointed at that.
"Sometimes hurt is inevitable, sweetheart. Heart pain is a wound just like any other, but lies are an infection. Sometimes they're deep enough that you don't feel that pain, not for a while, but they keep the wound healing right, they bury deep and make the wound bigger and bigger until it's not a little cut anymore but a gaping, bleeding thing. Until it's so big you have to amputate."
don't read this 😭🙏🏻 unless you want a non-existent hockey romance book that has no tropes besides stupidity
October 11, 2024
Sometimes you just need a book with an easy plot, easy characters, and some spice. This book was exactly that!
Delilah is a baker who had a childhood crush on her brother's best friend meanwhile Ian is a total hockey player hunk! Fast forward to the present.. Ian's fresh off a divorce and dealing with some bad PR, so he needs to fix his image, especially after transferring to his home team. The solution? FAKE DATE!!
I love fake dating, and it was so fun watching Delilah try to play it cool like, "of course it's all for the image." You can totally see she's living her younger self’s dream. And Ian? Oh, he's slowly realizing, "wait a minute... I kind of like her." (screams)
This book had me screaming "JUST CONFESS ALREADY" because, as the reader, you see everything coming from a mile away, and I ate it up. SUPER CUTE. Highly recommend as a perfect palette cleanser, especially on audio! 💞💞
Tropes
🏒hockey romance
🏒fake dating
🏒childhood crush
🏒brother's best friend
🏒friends to lovers
🏒age gap
�. ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁�.�. ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁�.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱���ꪆ� ˚� i have to drive 3.3 hours so.. *inserts audiobook to rotation*
Delilah is a baker who had a childhood crush on her brother's best friend meanwhile Ian is a total hockey player hunk! Fast forward to the present.. Ian's fresh off a divorce and dealing with some bad PR, so he needs to fix his image, especially after transferring to his home team. The solution? FAKE DATE!!
I love fake dating, and it was so fun watching Delilah try to play it cool like, "of course it's all for the image." You can totally see she's living her younger self’s dream. And Ian? Oh, he's slowly realizing, "wait a minute... I kind of like her." (screams)
This book had me screaming "JUST CONFESS ALREADY" because, as the reader, you see everything coming from a mile away, and I ate it up. SUPER CUTE. Highly recommend as a perfect palette cleanser, especially on audio! 💞💞
Tropes
🏒hockey romance
🏒fake dating
🏒childhood crush
🏒brother's best friend
🏒friends to lovers
🏒age gap
�. ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁�.�. ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁�.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱���ꪆ� ˚� i have to drive 3.3 hours so.. *inserts audiobook to rotation*
July 9, 2024
happy release day!!!!! begging on my hands and knees for everyone to read this book 🩰
LIVE LAUGH LOVE LANA FERGUSON!!!!!
ahhhh this was so stinking cute! this was the friendiest friends to lovers to EVER and i actually ate it up. the angst will never not get me, sorry not sorry 🤭 lana knows how to bring the heat and oh my lord both delilah AND ian brought the heat iykykkkkk. also him being a hockey player 🧎🏻♀️🧎🏻♀️are you shitting me
i am knawing on the bars of my enclosure for her next book actually! i fear a monster romance is exactly what i need from her
LIVE LAUGH LOVE LANA FERGUSON!!!!!
ahhhh this was so stinking cute! this was the friendiest friends to lovers to EVER and i actually ate it up. the angst will never not get me, sorry not sorry 🤭 lana knows how to bring the heat and oh my lord both delilah AND ian brought the heat iykykkkkk. also him being a hockey player 🧎🏻♀️🧎🏻♀️are you shitting me
i am knawing on the bars of my enclosure for her next book actually! i fear a monster romance is exactly what i need from her
January 9, 2025
Step into the enchanting world of sports romance, where heartwarming moments and thrilling excitement await in the masterful storytelling of Lana Ferguson, the brilliant mind behind Nanny.
This captivating tale promises to whisk you away with its blend of sweet romance, palpable chemistry, and irresistible tropes like friends-to-lovers and fake dating. Ferguson's skillful storytelling is sure to hook you from the first page, making it impossible not to fall under its spell.
Curl up on your couch, grab your favorite beverage, and prepare to lose yourself in the pages of this fast-paced, engaging read. It's the perfect escape for those seeking a delightful journey filled with laughter, swoons, and heartwarming moments.
Now, let's dive into the plot: The story unfolds through the perspectives of two protagonists. First, we meet Delilah Baker, a talented cable channel baking show host in her late twenties, who spent years honing her craft in Paris. When her show faces the threat of cancellation due to declining ratings, Delilah's brother Jack comes up with a brilliant idea—to invite hockey players as guests on her show to boost its popularity.
Enter Ian Chase, recently returned to Boston following a scandalous divorce and in need of a positive image makeover. When his agent suggests appearing on a cooking show hosted by none other than Delilah Baker—the same girl he remembers from their childhood—Ian sees it as a chance for a nostalgic reunion.
However, upon meeting Delilah again, Ian is taken aback by her transformation into a stunning and witty woman, reigniting feelings he thought were long forgotten. Meanwhile, Delilah finds herself grappling with complex emotions, as her childhood crush on Ian resurfaces with renewed intensity. Their undeniable chemistry sizzles both on-screen and off, captivating audiences and sparking rumors.
When Ian's agent proposes a fake dating scenario to improve his public image, Ian hesitates, mindful of the boundaries with his best friend's sister—though his private desires suggest otherwise. Meanwhile, Delilah, always up for a challenge, sees the fake dating charade as a strategic move to save her show's future.
But as their pretend relationship deepens amidst mounting tension, Ian's secrets from a mysterious past threaten to unravel everything. Will they take a chance on love, defying the odds stacked against them?
In summary, this is a spellbinding sports romance that offers an irresistible blend of passion, humor, and heartfelt moments. Highly recommended for anyone in search of a delightful escape into the world of romance.
A special thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing this enchanting romance's digital review copy. Your generosity is truly appreciated.
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This captivating tale promises to whisk you away with its blend of sweet romance, palpable chemistry, and irresistible tropes like friends-to-lovers and fake dating. Ferguson's skillful storytelling is sure to hook you from the first page, making it impossible not to fall under its spell.
Curl up on your couch, grab your favorite beverage, and prepare to lose yourself in the pages of this fast-paced, engaging read. It's the perfect escape for those seeking a delightful journey filled with laughter, swoons, and heartwarming moments.
Now, let's dive into the plot: The story unfolds through the perspectives of two protagonists. First, we meet Delilah Baker, a talented cable channel baking show host in her late twenties, who spent years honing her craft in Paris. When her show faces the threat of cancellation due to declining ratings, Delilah's brother Jack comes up with a brilliant idea—to invite hockey players as guests on her show to boost its popularity.
Enter Ian Chase, recently returned to Boston following a scandalous divorce and in need of a positive image makeover. When his agent suggests appearing on a cooking show hosted by none other than Delilah Baker—the same girl he remembers from their childhood—Ian sees it as a chance for a nostalgic reunion.
However, upon meeting Delilah again, Ian is taken aback by her transformation into a stunning and witty woman, reigniting feelings he thought were long forgotten. Meanwhile, Delilah finds herself grappling with complex emotions, as her childhood crush on Ian resurfaces with renewed intensity. Their undeniable chemistry sizzles both on-screen and off, captivating audiences and sparking rumors.
When Ian's agent proposes a fake dating scenario to improve his public image, Ian hesitates, mindful of the boundaries with his best friend's sister—though his private desires suggest otherwise. Meanwhile, Delilah, always up for a challenge, sees the fake dating charade as a strategic move to save her show's future.
But as their pretend relationship deepens amidst mounting tension, Ian's secrets from a mysterious past threaten to unravel everything. Will they take a chance on love, defying the odds stacked against them?
In summary, this is a spellbinding sports romance that offers an irresistible blend of passion, humor, and heartfelt moments. Highly recommended for anyone in search of a delightful escape into the world of romance.
A special thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing this enchanting romance's digital review copy. Your generosity is truly appreciated.
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November 15, 2024
2 / 5 ⭐⭐
3 / 5 🌶️🌶️🌶�
Spicy chapters: 13, 15, 18, 20
Ian (MMC) & Delilah aka 'D' (FMC).
Sorry in advance for the rant, but here it goes:
Full disclosure I'm a huge LF fan, I've read everything she's published until now, and "The Nanny" is one of my favorite books ever. So I was very excited to get my hands on 'The Game Changer' asap. However...
However, this book is, imo, not good... I'm sorry to say it. Or at least, it is not for me. 😭
I've said this before, but I much prefer in a romance novel when the MMC falls first, which is not the case in this story. Delilah has had a huuuuge crush on Ian since she was a kid, and it simmered on the back of her mind until the present, where all of those feelings from her youth rekindled and grow even stronger when she sees him again 🔥.
Meanwhile, Ian vaguely remembers D as more than his friend's little sis, and they haven't been in touch for YEARS 😩🤦🏼♀�. It might just be me, but I prefer when the MMC falls first and is obsessed with the FMC and not the other way around.
Throughout the first 50% of the book, Delilah was sending loads of sexual innuendo towards Ian... D came across to me as somewhat desperate for Ian's attention and affection. I was like: C'mon Ian, wake up and make a move, what are you waiting for?? ⌛🥱�
What's baffling to me is the way Ian seemed incapable of identifying his feelings towards Delilah at the beginning of the book, being like: oh, why can't I stop thinking about her? I can not comprehend what's happening. Why does her touch feel like electricity? I mean, the guy's been married before, so I can deduce that he's been attracted to a woman before, right? I mean, c'mon Ian, let's be grown-ups here. You're in your thirties now. Can't you recognize lust, attraction, and chemistry? 🤨😩
And ok, she has dimples. We get it. 🙄👌🏻
I didn't like that Ian was so secretive around Delilah about why he had to leave, and about his circumstances... And it became annoying that D repeatedly said that she "trusts him because she knows his real character" even though she really wanted to know (and I, as a reader, wanted to know too).
Did I love that Ian's ex-wife is his BFF? Not really, not realistic and somewhat cringy 🙃 😬
Even by the end of the book, D was in awe and could barely fathom that Ian was interested in her... hello? You're a hot, successful, cheerful, kind, boss babe... have a bit more faith in yourself, girl! 🤨
In the "not third act breakup" scene, when the internet thinks that Ian cheated on D, he suggests to her to "jump ship" (???) I mean... really? giving up on her already?
Also, why doesn't Ian keep his friendship with May (his ex) a bit more discreetly when he knows that all eyes are on him and that the internet is just waiting for a scandal? 🙄 Seems like he learned NOTHING from his previous experience 🤦🏼♀�.
Ian seems to have pessimistic tendencies and has a "wounded worrior" complex (i.e., when he says: "it feels like everything I touch ends up tainted somehow. I can't seem to turn my f*cking head without disappointing someone"). He's just defeated and tense all the time... Take a chill pill, dude. The world doesn't revolve around you 😩. Also, the phrase "she's too good for me" was repeated over and over again throughout the book. Ian, you are a hot, wealthy athlete, have some confidence, and stop behaving like an insecure teenager. Get a grip! 😩😤
Also, the dishonesty with D'd brother Jack until almost the very end of the book seemed to me waaaay too late, especially when they were having PDA openly at that point 🙈🙉🙊
Once the MC's got together, I lost interest... because not much happens in the story. Some Internet controversy, but not much else.
The "bad guy" in the book is Ian's dad Bradley, who is so cartoonishly mean all the time, that it comes across as two dimensional and unbelievable. I understand that LF wanted to add an antagonist to the story to enhance the drama in the plot (as not much happens besides the relationship between the MC's), but in this case, something more subtle would've worked better I think: perhaps a manipulative puppeteer behind the curtain who seems amiable face to face, or something like that.
It's just not realistic that Ian would have a relationship with that kind of awful dad, especially when his wife seemed to love (or accept) him and acted all sunshine and rainbows all the time ☀� 🌈
I don't want to only say negative things about this book, so here are some pros:
- D has a female best friend called Ava
- The spice 🌶� and Ian's dirty mouth was 👩🏼🍳� (except for the repeated use of the word "gland"... NOT sexy imo)
- Not my jam, but there are loooots of times where MMC calls the FMC "brat". If you have a "brat" kink, this book might be for you.
- My favorite character was Jack, who added some lightness and comedy to the plot.
Bottom line, to me, Ian is a dull and vanilla MMC, and D is a sunshine type FMC a bit too desperate for his attention.
Hope you'll enjoy this book more than I did.
Happy reading! 📚
3 / 5 🌶️🌶️🌶�
Spicy chapters: 13, 15, 18, 20
Ian (MMC) & Delilah aka 'D' (FMC).
Sorry in advance for the rant, but here it goes:
Full disclosure I'm a huge LF fan, I've read everything she's published until now, and "The Nanny" is one of my favorite books ever. So I was very excited to get my hands on 'The Game Changer' asap. However...
However, this book is, imo, not good... I'm sorry to say it. Or at least, it is not for me. 😭
I've said this before, but I much prefer in a romance novel when the MMC falls first, which is not the case in this story. Delilah has had a huuuuge crush on Ian since she was a kid, and it simmered on the back of her mind until the present, where all of those feelings from her youth rekindled and grow even stronger when she sees him again 🔥.
Meanwhile, Ian vaguely remembers D as more than his friend's little sis, and they haven't been in touch for YEARS 😩🤦🏼♀�. It might just be me, but I prefer when the MMC falls first and is obsessed with the FMC and not the other way around.
Throughout the first 50% of the book, Delilah was sending loads of sexual innuendo towards Ian... D came across to me as somewhat desperate for Ian's attention and affection. I was like: C'mon Ian, wake up and make a move, what are you waiting for?? ⌛🥱�
What's baffling to me is the way Ian seemed incapable of identifying his feelings towards Delilah at the beginning of the book, being like: oh, why can't I stop thinking about her? I can not comprehend what's happening. Why does her touch feel like electricity? I mean, the guy's been married before, so I can deduce that he's been attracted to a woman before, right? I mean, c'mon Ian, let's be grown-ups here. You're in your thirties now. Can't you recognize lust, attraction, and chemistry? 🤨😩
And ok, she has dimples. We get it. 🙄👌🏻
I didn't like that Ian was so secretive around Delilah about why he had to leave, and about his circumstances... And it became annoying that D repeatedly said that she "trusts him because she knows his real character" even though she really wanted to know (and I, as a reader, wanted to know too).
Did I love that Ian's ex-wife is his BFF? Not really, not realistic and somewhat cringy 🙃 😬
Even by the end of the book, D was in awe and could barely fathom that Ian was interested in her... hello? You're a hot, successful, cheerful, kind, boss babe... have a bit more faith in yourself, girl! 🤨
In the "not third act breakup" scene, when the internet thinks that Ian cheated on D, he suggests to her to "jump ship" (???) I mean... really? giving up on her already?
Also, why doesn't Ian keep his friendship with May (his ex) a bit more discreetly when he knows that all eyes are on him and that the internet is just waiting for a scandal? 🙄 Seems like he learned NOTHING from his previous experience 🤦🏼♀�.
Ian seems to have pessimistic tendencies and has a "wounded worrior" complex (i.e., when he says: "it feels like everything I touch ends up tainted somehow. I can't seem to turn my f*cking head without disappointing someone"). He's just defeated and tense all the time... Take a chill pill, dude. The world doesn't revolve around you 😩. Also, the phrase "she's too good for me" was repeated over and over again throughout the book. Ian, you are a hot, wealthy athlete, have some confidence, and stop behaving like an insecure teenager. Get a grip! 😩😤
Also, the dishonesty with D'd brother Jack until almost the very end of the book seemed to me waaaay too late, especially when they were having PDA openly at that point 🙈🙉🙊
Once the MC's got together, I lost interest... because not much happens in the story. Some Internet controversy, but not much else.
The "bad guy" in the book is Ian's dad Bradley, who is so cartoonishly mean all the time, that it comes across as two dimensional and unbelievable. I understand that LF wanted to add an antagonist to the story to enhance the drama in the plot (as not much happens besides the relationship between the MC's), but in this case, something more subtle would've worked better I think: perhaps a manipulative puppeteer behind the curtain who seems amiable face to face, or something like that.
It's just not realistic that Ian would have a relationship with that kind of awful dad, especially when his wife seemed to love (or accept) him and acted all sunshine and rainbows all the time ☀� 🌈
I don't want to only say negative things about this book, so here are some pros:
- D has a female best friend called Ava
- The spice 🌶� and Ian's dirty mouth was 👩🏼🍳� (except for the repeated use of the word "gland"... NOT sexy imo)
- Not my jam, but there are loooots of times where MMC calls the FMC "brat". If you have a "brat" kink, this book might be for you.
- My favorite character was Jack, who added some lightness and comedy to the plot.
Bottom line, to me, Ian is a dull and vanilla MMC, and D is a sunshine type FMC a bit too desperate for his attention.
Hope you'll enjoy this book more than I did.
Happy reading! 📚
July 9, 2024
The Game Changer is a lighthearted romcom following Delilah, a sunshiny baker, and Ian, a pro hockey player returning to his home team. With Delilah’s baking show struggling and Ian’s constant negative press, the two childhood friends team up to put on a show for the public and lean into their supposed romance. However, as they start to spend more time together, the lines begin to blur and they quickly find themselves unable to pretend and keep their feelings at bay.
This romance was so fun and flirty! Every page and interaction was so sweet and kept me engaged to the very end. Ian and Delilah were absolutely adorable together, I loved that they didn’t hold back from each other and yet took the time to find their footing before putting a label on their relationship. The plot was super playful and I ate up every morsel of family drama, I loved that there was something more substantial to offset the unserious nature of the romance. I completely recommend this sweet and steamy romcom, full of chemistry, quirky banter, and so much charm.
~Many thanks to Berkley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This romance was so fun and flirty! Every page and interaction was so sweet and kept me engaged to the very end. Ian and Delilah were absolutely adorable together, I loved that they didn’t hold back from each other and yet took the time to find their footing before putting a label on their relationship. The plot was super playful and I ate up every morsel of family drama, I loved that there was something more substantial to offset the unserious nature of the romance. I completely recommend this sweet and steamy romcom, full of chemistry, quirky banter, and so much charm.
~Many thanks to Berkley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 7, 2024
I listened to this entire audiobook in one day and literally loved every second of this.
This is a brother's best friend romance, but he was always just too old for her when they were younger, so he never saw her that way. Now, she has her own baking segment that is at risk of being canceled on tv, so she says she knows hockey players they could bring on as guests since her brother plays hockey. His best friend recently transferred to their home town team for personal reasons, and PR thinks he'd be great to go on the show to help his image. He does and has AMAZING chemistry with the heroine, so the network says they should pretend to be a couple. They obviously catch real feelings and I loooooved every second of it. The hero had so much he was personally going through and I loved how the heroine was just there as support every step of the way. The chemistry was everything and I just could not get enough of this book! Obsessed!!!!
This is a brother's best friend romance, but he was always just too old for her when they were younger, so he never saw her that way. Now, she has her own baking segment that is at risk of being canceled on tv, so she says she knows hockey players they could bring on as guests since her brother plays hockey. His best friend recently transferred to their home town team for personal reasons, and PR thinks he'd be great to go on the show to help his image. He does and has AMAZING chemistry with the heroine, so the network says they should pretend to be a couple. They obviously catch real feelings and I loooooved every second of it. The hero had so much he was personally going through and I loved how the heroine was just there as support every step of the way. The chemistry was everything and I just could not get enough of this book! Obsessed!!!!
September 23, 2024
Fluffy, somewhat fun, but otherwise completely forgettable.
(good spice though, if you're into smutty romcoms)
I liked this book, and it WAS what I was in the mood for, but honestly there just wasn't enough here. Both of the main characters were into each other from the start. There was no tension or slow-burn. There wasn't really anything keeping them from being together. The fake dating plot-line seemed forced because they were already into each other. It felt like the author was using the fake dating trope as a plot device, but it didn't really make sense with the characters in the way that it was supposed to. They started actually dating and hooking up fairly quickly, which made sense because they had no reason not to be together, but it was just a bit boring.
I liked her brother, Jack, even though he seemed pretty unrealistic and silly, but he was entertaining. Abigail was annoying - why the fuck would she do that at the ending? She's 25 but acted like a 15 year old - I think the author should have made her younger. Ian's father was so villainous that he felt almost exaggerated. Delilah's friends/coworkers all kinda blended together (Theo/Ava/Gia/Ben may as well have been the same characters to me, tbh).
This could have been about 100 pages shorter, although, there were many lengthy spicy scenes which were actually pretty entertaining and not repetitive. Lana Ferguson does know how to write some contemporary romance smut, for sure. That said, this really could've been a novella. The whole plot was such a back-story and it felt like everything was just a lie/misunderstanding at the end. There was no reason for the main characters not to be together and there was so much insta-love in this. Also, what media world is this where every person in the city of Boston apparently cares THIS much about one random hockey player's love life (and what he allegedly did 6 years ago).
Anyways, it was what I was in the mood for, but I wasn't blown away. I had higher expectations because I loooooved The Fake Mate, but unfortunately, this was not quite as good as I wanted it to be.
Also, was I the only person who low-key wanted an epilogue where Ian and Lila adopted that little kid Kyle? It seemed like the author was setting that up early in the book with Ian, but then the idea got scrapped.
(good spice though, if you're into smutty romcoms)
I liked this book, and it WAS what I was in the mood for, but honestly there just wasn't enough here. Both of the main characters were into each other from the start. There was no tension or slow-burn. There wasn't really anything keeping them from being together. The fake dating plot-line seemed forced because they were already into each other. It felt like the author was using the fake dating trope as a plot device, but it didn't really make sense with the characters in the way that it was supposed to. They started actually dating and hooking up fairly quickly, which made sense because they had no reason not to be together, but it was just a bit boring.
I liked her brother, Jack, even though he seemed pretty unrealistic and silly, but he was entertaining. Abigail was annoying - why the fuck would she do that at the ending? She's 25 but acted like a 15 year old - I think the author should have made her younger. Ian's father was so villainous that he felt almost exaggerated. Delilah's friends/coworkers all kinda blended together (Theo/Ava/Gia/Ben may as well have been the same characters to me, tbh).
This could have been about 100 pages shorter, although, there were many lengthy spicy scenes which were actually pretty entertaining and not repetitive. Lana Ferguson does know how to write some contemporary romance smut, for sure. That said, this really could've been a novella. The whole plot was such a back-story and it felt like everything was just a lie/misunderstanding at the end. There was no reason for the main characters not to be together and there was so much insta-love in this. Also, what media world is this where every person in the city of Boston apparently cares THIS much about one random hockey player's love life (and what he allegedly did 6 years ago).
Anyways, it was what I was in the mood for, but I wasn't blown away. I had higher expectations because I loooooved The Fake Mate, but unfortunately, this was not quite as good as I wanted it to be.
Also, was I the only person who low-key wanted an epilogue where Ian and Lila adopted that little kid Kyle? It seemed like the author was setting that up early in the book with Ian, but then the idea got scrapped.
March 2, 2024
Star rating: ★★★★�
Spice rating: 3.5🔥🥵
State condition: cute & satisfied
Thank you to Berkley and Lana for an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
When I got notified I got approved to read an arc of this book, I screamed and immediately jumped to start it. I have been looking forward to this book ever since it came out that Lana was releasing a hockey romance (one of my favorite genres personally)🥹 and after reading the fake mate (on of my fav books from last year) you can say I was excited.
And this book did not disappoint!! It kept me intrigued with the overall plot (fake dating?! UM YES PLEASE) and had so many cute moments that made me SWOON🫠� and don’t get me started with the spice, because let’s be honest, if you’re familiar with Lana and her writing, you KNOW her spice scenes never disappoint and they are always hot as fuckkkk (don’t even get me started on a certain shower scene 🫢😉)
Also the excerpt for her NEXT book release.., I AM SO EXCITED GIVE IT TO ME NOW PLEASE😩😫
Spice rating: 3.5🔥🥵
State condition: cute & satisfied
Thank you to Berkley and Lana for an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
When I got notified I got approved to read an arc of this book, I screamed and immediately jumped to start it. I have been looking forward to this book ever since it came out that Lana was releasing a hockey romance (one of my favorite genres personally)🥹 and after reading the fake mate (on of my fav books from last year) you can say I was excited.
And this book did not disappoint!! It kept me intrigued with the overall plot (fake dating?! UM YES PLEASE) and had so many cute moments that made me SWOON🫠� and don’t get me started with the spice, because let’s be honest, if you’re familiar with Lana and her writing, you KNOW her spice scenes never disappoint and they are always hot as fuckkkk (don’t even get me started on a certain shower scene 🫢😉)
Also the excerpt for her NEXT book release.., I AM SO EXCITED GIVE IT TO ME NOW PLEASE😩😫
October 17, 2024
And with this read... I'm not buying any more Lana Ferguson. All of her books have fallen a little flat for me. It's not bad.. and the characters seem like they'd be nice vanilla humans IRL.. but I just feel a little meh about every book of hers I've read (with the exception of The Fake Mate.)
The problem with this read (for me):
- It's brain candy and that's great if that's all you're looking for..
- I've read over 500 romance novels in the last 4 years or so from a wide variety of genres so I MAY be jaded to contemporary romance
- I wanted to really get through this so I started listening to the Spotify audio.. I knew exactly what the problem was before the big reveal, and I found myself even skipping over chapters and into the end just to get it done.
I think I'm pretty much over Ali Hazelwood etc too. Not really feeling like jumping on any of those band wagons any time soon!! It will have to come highly recommended by someone who I 1000% trust judgment, and there are only a few of those anymore.
I was influenced by an early reader to buy this and I'm also starting to be really picky about which books I buy early etc. because most of the time they're just not worth it.
The problem with this read (for me):
- It's brain candy and that's great if that's all you're looking for..
- I've read over 500 romance novels in the last 4 years or so from a wide variety of genres so I MAY be jaded to contemporary romance
- I wanted to really get through this so I started listening to the Spotify audio.. I knew exactly what the problem was before the big reveal, and I found myself even skipping over chapters and into the end just to get it done.
I think I'm pretty much over Ali Hazelwood etc too. Not really feeling like jumping on any of those band wagons any time soon!! It will have to come highly recommended by someone who I 1000% trust judgment, and there are only a few of those anymore.
I was influenced by an early reader to buy this and I'm also starting to be really picky about which books I buy early etc. because most of the time they're just not worth it.
February 22, 2024
okay this was simultaneously the cutest and hottest book ever. go forth and add to your tbrs!!
Read
August 23, 2024DNF @65%
Read
March 7, 2024DNF 67% in. Not for me
December 27, 2024
Sports rom com? Sign me up.
I just thought this book was a cheesy feel good time.
“Baking is whisky business�
“Talk French to me�
I just thought this book was a cheesy feel good time.
“Baking is whisky business�
“Talk French to me�
Shelved as 'dnf'
November 21, 2024dnf at 43%
✨aٰdzdzܲ�
✨aٰdzdzܲ�
April 18, 2025
A good time. This one did childhood friends to lovers/brothers best friend with an age gap very well!
(i.e. everyone was well above legal and the older person did not see the younger person in a sexual light in the slightest as a minor)
(i.e. everyone was well above legal and the older person did not see the younger person in a sexual light in the slightest as a minor)
November 1, 2023
I am going to eat this up like it’s my last dessert.
Update: and I did.
Update: and I did.
August 25, 2024
im so sick of hockey books but this one surprised me. wayyyy better than icebreaker and all those other copies of that mess!! it was pretty boring and none of the characters i really liked so that was disappointing too. WHY CANT SOMEONE WRITE ABOUT FOOTBALL OR BASEBALL OR SOCCER THIS IS SO STUPID UGH
January 12, 2025
це було і мило, і гаряче! прекрасно співпало з моїм настроєм. я коли бралася читати, то чогось подібного і хотілося.
друзі дитинства. кращий друг брата. хокеїст та пекарка. вона закохана в нього вже давно, але лише в зрілому віці випадає шанс перевірити чи приведе ця хімія і потяг одне до одного кудись далі. я думаю, якби Єну не довелося на тривалий час поїхати, то у них все зав'язалося б значно раніше, але працюємо вже з тим, що є. спочатку для підняття рейтингів і покращення репутації, а потім гра стає реальністю.
мені сподобалися обоє ГГ, Делайла трохи зухвала, а Єн сором'язливий (ЛИШЕ НА ПЕРШИЙ ПОГЛЯД), добрий і взагалі бусінка. не буду заперечувати, що сподобався мені найбільше. його найбільшим бажанням завжди було зробити близьких людей щасливими і далі все що він робив � було лише для їхнього блага (те саме «так буде краще»), десь він навіть жертвував собою заради сім'ї, що було вже лишнім. ще величезний плюс � не було ніяких страждань (за винятком кількох моїх скупих сльозинок в кінці). вони майже від початку чітко знали, куди все йде і розуміли свої почуття, готові були діяти і відповідати за зроблене. легко, невимушено, з фліртом і сміхом � мені все це зайшло. перше знайомство з авторкою і надалі хочеться ще щось спробувати, бо тут були попадання в мої вподобання. за сцени 18+ окрема подяка :)
хотілося б ще книжку про Джека та Еббі, я схрещую пальчики 🤞🏻.
4/5 ⭐️
друзі дитинства. кращий друг брата. хокеїст та пекарка. вона закохана в нього вже давно, але лише в зрілому віці випадає шанс перевірити чи приведе ця хімія і потяг одне до одного кудись далі. я думаю, якби Єну не довелося на тривалий час поїхати, то у них все зав'язалося б значно раніше, але працюємо вже з тим, що є. спочатку для підняття рейтингів і покращення репутації, а потім гра стає реальністю.
мені сподобалися обоє ГГ, Делайла трохи зухвала, а Єн сором'язливий (ЛИШЕ НА ПЕРШИЙ ПОГЛЯД), добрий і взагалі бусінка. не буду заперечувати, що сподобався мені найбільше. його найбільшим бажанням завжди було зробити близьких людей щасливими і далі все що він робив � було лише для їхнього блага (те саме «так буде краще»), десь він навіть жертвував собою заради сім'ї, що було вже лишнім. ще величезний плюс � не було ніяких страждань (за винятком кількох моїх скупих сльозинок в кінці). вони майже від початку чітко знали, куди все йде і розуміли свої почуття, готові були діяти і відповідати за зроблене. легко, невимушено, з фліртом і сміхом � мені все це зайшло. перше знайомство з авторкою і надалі хочеться ще щось спробувати, бо тут були попадання в мої вподобання. за сцени 18+ окрема подяка :)
хотілося б ще книжку про Джека та Еббі, я схрещую пальчики 🤞🏻.
4/5 ⭐️
January 4, 2025
4.25
Absolutely Yes.
This is the fake dating I needed.
Absolutely Yes.
This is the fake dating I needed.
February 29, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to read this title early! This is Lana Ferguson’s third romance book that I have read in the past year and I can now absolutely call myself a super-fan of hers. And not just because this was a hockey romance, (which happens to be a favorite trope of mine) or the fact that there was no dreaded third act breakup, (Again, Thank you, Lana!!!!) but the vibrant characters, a story that keeps you rooting for them, and a sickly sweet romance plot that doesn’t quit made this an absolutely desirable read. I cannot wait to see what Lana cooks up next for us!
September 23, 2024
If Lana Ferguson writes it, I’m all in—and this book didn’t disappoint! It’s super cute and has just the right amount of spice. I’m a big fan of the brother’s best friend trope, and this one nailed it.
I loved the little trips down memory lane between Lila and Ian, showing how close they were as kids. And who doesn’t love a fake relationship with some good ol� pining. Ian finally noticing her after all those years? Chef’s kiss!
Plus, I loved Ian’s friendship with his ex and her wife. They just clicked. Oh, and Ian’s dad was a total villain. I was just waiting for karma to kick in, and when it did? So satisfying! And the ending was perfection!
Bonus points for NO third-act breakup! Overall, way better than I expected.
Read this if you like:
🏒 Brother's best friend
🏒 Fake dating
🏒 Childhood friends to lovers
🏒 No third act breakup
🚨🚨 TW: Emotional abuse, panic attack, death of a parent, gaslighting
I loved the little trips down memory lane between Lila and Ian, showing how close they were as kids. And who doesn’t love a fake relationship with some good ol� pining. Ian finally noticing her after all those years? Chef’s kiss!
Plus, I loved Ian’s friendship with his ex and her wife. They just clicked. Oh, and Ian’s dad was a total villain. I was just waiting for karma to kick in, and when it did? So satisfying! And the ending was perfection!
Bonus points for NO third-act breakup! Overall, way better than I expected.
Read this if you like:
🏒 Brother's best friend
🏒 Fake dating
🏒 Childhood friends to lovers
🏒 No third act breakup
🚨🚨 TW: Emotional abuse, panic attack, death of a parent, gaslighting
September 5, 2024
Thank you so much to Berkley Romance, Netgalley, and PRH Audio for providing advanced copies of this! All thoughts and opinions are still my own.
I've enjoyed Lana Ferguson's romances up until this point despite them often being a little over the top and silly. But I was nervous going into this one knowing that she used real athletes stretching for "sexy" advertising for this romance. But I was willing to go in with an open mind.
Unfortunately I liked pretty much nothing about this romance...
I will say, Lana Ferguson, can write a great steamy, tension filled scene. It's definitely one of her strong suits as an author. Her characters have great chemistry.
But everything else left so much to be desired. The plot was silly and contrived, the characters (and their relationship) was entirely one dimensional, and the exposition was obnoxiously repetitive.
There was no reason for their "forbidden" romance. The heroine talked about her teenage crush on the hero so often it was annoying. There was no depth to why they liked each other. But the biggest factor was the hero's "dark past". I don't think I could come up with a more contrived, ridiculous reason for him to have a "bad reputation".
It made absolutely no sense.
While I've enjoyed 2 of this author's books in the past, I think this is where we part ways. I don't feel like there is enough development or depth tp any of her characters or their romances to keep me coming back to her books.
I've enjoyed Lana Ferguson's romances up until this point despite them often being a little over the top and silly. But I was nervous going into this one knowing that she used real athletes stretching for "sexy" advertising for this romance. But I was willing to go in with an open mind.
Unfortunately I liked pretty much nothing about this romance...
I will say, Lana Ferguson, can write a great steamy, tension filled scene. It's definitely one of her strong suits as an author. Her characters have great chemistry.
But everything else left so much to be desired. The plot was silly and contrived, the characters (and their relationship) was entirely one dimensional, and the exposition was obnoxiously repetitive.
There was no reason for their "forbidden" romance. The heroine talked about her teenage crush on the hero so often it was annoying. There was no depth to why they liked each other. But the biggest factor was the hero's "dark past". I don't think I could come up with a more contrived, ridiculous reason for him to have a "bad reputation".
It made absolutely no sense.
While I've enjoyed 2 of this author's books in the past, I think this is where we part ways. I don't feel like there is enough development or depth tp any of her characters or their romances to keep me coming back to her books.
July 12, 2024
She’s a baker and he’s a pro hockey player. Her baking show numbers are struggling and she comes up with an idea to pair with a hockey player to get the watches boosted for her show. The hockey team sends over their new player, Ian, who happens to be someone from her past!
Ian played hockey with Delilah’s brother and has been her brother’s best friend for years. Now Ian is back playing for their home team again and Delilah has always crushed on him. When watchers assume there is something brewing between Delilah and Ian, their PR people all think they should lean into it and hint at a possible relationship to help them both out. So they play along, but of course we get some real feelings happening as well!
I had high hopes for this one after loving and obsessing over both previous books by this author (The Nanny and The Fake Mate). I love that this author writes so many different subgenres in romance and this one I was highly anticipating as hockey romance is one of my favs. I did have a good time with this one overall, it just didn’t hit on quite the same level as the 2 previous from this author for me. Ian has a lot going on with his past, he is BFFs with his ex-wife and has a horrible father. Delilah has crushed on him for years and so seeing her finally get the guy was cute, even if I kinda wish he was the one into her first. Also lots of “brat� talk which just isn’t my jam. Fun overall, I just expected a bit more from this one and it didn’t live up to that.
Ian played hockey with Delilah’s brother and has been her brother’s best friend for years. Now Ian is back playing for their home team again and Delilah has always crushed on him. When watchers assume there is something brewing between Delilah and Ian, their PR people all think they should lean into it and hint at a possible relationship to help them both out. So they play along, but of course we get some real feelings happening as well!
I had high hopes for this one after loving and obsessing over both previous books by this author (The Nanny and The Fake Mate). I love that this author writes so many different subgenres in romance and this one I was highly anticipating as hockey romance is one of my favs. I did have a good time with this one overall, it just didn’t hit on quite the same level as the 2 previous from this author for me. Ian has a lot going on with his past, he is BFFs with his ex-wife and has a horrible father. Delilah has crushed on him for years and so seeing her finally get the guy was cute, even if I kinda wish he was the one into her first. Also lots of “brat� talk which just isn’t my jam. Fun overall, I just expected a bit more from this one and it didn’t live up to that.
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