Playing Hurt: An Aces Hockey Novel

Chase has had a crush on pop singer Jordyn for a while and when they start flirting via tweets, he finagles a date with her. Jordyn loves hockey and since Chase started following her via social media and she has been watching him play when his games are telecast, she’s more than okay about meeting him up for a date. What follows is a relationship that would normally not come to fruition had Jordyn not had some issues that forced her out of the spotlight for a while. And yet, everything these two do seems very fortuitous indeed. I loved watching Chase and Jordyn together. Their banter was always light hearted and fun, the chemistry between them smoking, and the dynamics of their relationship felt very organic. While I was aggravated a time or two at Chase’s touchiness regarding his own issue, I understood why he reacted the way he did. But he gave good grovel when he messed up and I’m a huge fan of the grovel. This was a very enjoyable read that really doesn’t have a lot of drama or angst. What it does have is just enough to drive the story forward and make the reader question how these two will eventually make a life together. It’s got a great pace to it, fun secondary characters, enough pain in the past to make your heart hurt, and a satisfying conclusion. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and Random House - Loveswept. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5 of 5 stars Kelly Jamieson scores with PLAYING HURT the sixth book in the Aces Hockey series. Left winger Chase Hartman and pop star Jordyn Banks strike up a friendship on Twitter. After losing a bet on a hockey game, Jordyn agrees to go on a date with Chase. The two have different medical issues that threaten their careers, thus relating to one another. This contemporary sports romance in suitable for adult audiences. The story primarily takes place in Chicago. I really enjoyed this story. I love how Chase and Jordyn meet. They have a lot in common and help each other cope with their similar situations. They are a fun couple. I appreciated that they were both so down to earth and that they can act like themselves around one another. I was impressed by Chases date choices. They both had potentially career-ending medical conditions to deal with. It was interesting reading how they handled their situations. They have several obstacles to overcome throughout the story, like Jordyn living in L.A. and Chase in Chicago. Not to mention crazy work schedules. They both grow throughout the novel. Kelly Jamieson does a wonderful job with this novel. It is an excellent addition to the Aces Hockey series. Her writing is skillfully executed, and her plot is fun and heartfelt. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title compliments of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review** I've enjoyed every single book in Kelly Jamieson's Aces Hockey series and this one was no exception. Playing Hurt was a solid addition. Chase Hartman is a standout on the Chicago Aces hockey team and he happens to have a crush on Jordyn Banks, an ultra popular pop star who lives in LA. When Chase discovers that Jordyn is also a hockey fan, he ends up sending her a tweet on Twitter which starts a very public and flirty conversation between the two. Not even thinking, Chase throws out a bet in their conversation and if he wins, he wants a date with the songstress. He never thinks she'll agree, but she does. In the end, he wins the bet and a date. Once they figure out how to make a date fit into their very busy schedules, the two hit it off immediately. While neither of them are looking for anything serious, they find in one another something they haven't been able to find elsewhere and that is the ability to just be themselves. When Jordyn is forced into a hiatus from singing, she ends up spending her time in Chicago (which happens to be her hometown), which enables she and Chase to spend more and more time together. Chase is struggling on the ice and so having Jordyn around is also a benefit to him as well. While Chase is supporting her through her difficulties, Jordyn wants to do the same for him as they attempt to figure out what is going on with him and causing him not to play up to his potential. The question is, will he allow her to or will demons from his past end up rearing their ugly head? I enjoyed this book and I feel like it definitely fits with the times with so many people connecting over social media. It was a solid addition to the Aces series and I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment of this series!