I DNF’d this book at 50%. The story had great potential and the plot was an amazing idea. I just want a big fan of the writing style and the language used. The book felt a bit too casual for my liking and the language was below average. I just wasn’t a big fan of all the casual talk at the beginning of the novel. It felt more like a text message to a friend than a book. The storyline could have been great, but the language and writing wasn’t for me.

I adore Naima Simone's writing and her romances are so underrated so I was excited to see a new Montlake standalone from her! This one was as wonderful as her others and perfect for hockey romance lovers. The characters were real and relatable even if the plot was a bit contrived. Really enjoyed this new book and recommend for fans of Elle Kennedy and Hannah Grace.

I really, really wanted to love this one. The set-up sounds promising, but there were just some misses in the overall execution. I appreciated some of trope flips that the author introduced -- both have lost someone they loved; she's a female, black firefighter; he's a black hockey player. They hate the sight of each other, but can't keep their hands off each other and find love and healing along the way. Overall, I enjoyed the book, I just had to ignore some of the rough edge. For instance, their meet-cute isn't very cute. She reads his very personal journal that she found at the sight of a fire of the ice rink where he's a hockey player. It just set a bad tone for me right off the bat. I'd be pissed too.

My thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for access to an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really wish this book was a bit longer to really flesh out some things, but overall, I thought this book was really good!

Adina is a female firefighter working to move on from the loss of her fiance in a fire. It is not going all that well for her even after a year. Responding to a fire with her team she is also there going through with clean up when she comes across a dairy that turns out to be one of the hockey players. The fire was at the ice rink, she finds herself later that night reading some of the passages that were written and finds herself relating to them herself The book belongs to Solomon the player that everyone knows in town because his wife died and he is raising their child by himself. Once she tracks him down to give him back the book he figures out she read it and goes off on her and later she tells him of her loss. Throughout the book, they are dealing with loss and working at moving on. I did have some issues with the way he spoke to her being a father of four daughters we did not raise them to accept language towards them like that but this is just a book. Overall a good book.

I started this story with a lot of enthusiasm because I felt that the story of both characters was interesting and that they would be an interesting combination. But as I read I felt like I couldn't connect with the characters.

Especially when all they could think about was sexual things. Let's see, I'm not saying it's bad, but clarifying it once or twice is fine. And also, I felt that when something actually HAPPENED... it fell short. That is to say, if you are presenting me with a story where the characters EVERY TWO BY THREE are thinking about something indecent, when SOMETHING happens it should match it or at least surpass it. And not. Bland.

Beyond this, which personally ruined the story for me, I liked the development of the characters and how they open up little by little and express how they feel and what their life is like after a great loss.

I didn't like it at all, I feel that many times they want to add spice to stories that would be very well developed without it.

Thanks Montlake for the ARC I read on NetGalley.

In the current trend of college hockey romance books that I’ve been hooked on, this was not what I expected. The author takes two tragic stories and weaves them together to create a romance with a life of its own. The prevalence of therapy and mental health while dealing head on with characters with deep trauma was fabulous and at times heart wrenching.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read Played by Naima Simone!

Unfortunately, i could not finish this book, which is rare for me.

I found myself really struggling to connect or even like the characters that much. I could see the attempt made with both, but they fell flat for me. The MMC was a bit of a jerk, and had an ego. The FMC just seemed all over the place and didn't have the confidence to stand up for things that i thought she should.

Also the revenge porn thing came out of left field and then just disappeared? While it isnt a trigger for me, its something i think should be a warning in the beginning, as it could trigger others.

Adina, a firefighter, and Solomon, a professional hockey player, are smacked with a million reasons they shouldn't be together shortly after their unusual meeting. She finds his diary at a fire scene, reads it, and returns it with details on her online journal. Their instant attraction smolders as they battle too many real-world obstacles — their grief (both had long-term partners die suddenly and unexpectedly), disapproval from extended family, sexual harassment on the job, setting important boundaries, and trust.

Both the banter and love scenes are red-hot, but Naima Simone pushes her characters to explore the social influences behind their struggles and ultimately face them head-on. She doesn't pull any punches when it comes to the complexities of gender and race, but these heavy topics don't detract from her characters' strong narrative voices in Dual First-Person POV. There is a third-act breakup, but honestly, who can blame them? Their baggage doesn't get emptied overnight!

Overall rating: 4/5
Spice level: 3.5/5
Tropes: Sports romance, firefighter romance, fake relationship

Big thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC!

I had high expectations for this book, especially with its intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it fell short for me.

While the pace was brisk, it felt rushed, leaving many plot points unresolved and detracting from the overall immersion. Additionally, the presence of numerous errors and the gratuitous references to "Lord of the Rings" proved distracting.

The promise of a fake dating trope was intriguing, but its execution left much to be desired, lacking in depth and resolution.

Regarding the characters, while Khalil stood out as a likable character, the others failed to resonate with me. Adina was passable, but I struggled to connect with her, and Solomon's repeated missteps without meaningful redemption left me unsatisfied.

The relationship between Solomon and Adina felt shallow, primarily driven by physical attraction rather than genuine emotional connection. It left me questioning whether they truly liked each other beyond the surface level.

The subplots, while introduced for dramatic effect, felt underdeveloped and served more as distractions than meaningful contributions to the story. Only one subplot reaches a resolution, and even then, it feels rushed, while the others follow predictable paths.

In conclusion, while this book had potential, it ultimately did not meet my expectations. However, I can understand why others might find enjoyment in it.

Well some romance books start with a meet cute but this one had more of a meet-hate - these two MCs did not make a good first impression on each other. But thankfully things got better between them...eventually. And overall this was a cute read. I liked Adina and Solomon as a couple and she had the sweetest relationship with his little boy. My favorite moment was when Solomon realized what a dum-dum he'd been towards Adina; people truly are fools sometimes.

When I read the blurb and first few pages I thought this one would be a tearjerker but the story went in very different ways and I didn't shed a tear. Both Adina and Solomon were interesting but they didn't warm my heart. What I loved in the story was how they stood up to the problems in their lives.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgalley

Tropes: Hockey Romance, Firefighter Romance, Widows, Meet Cute, Single Dad, Third Act Separation

This is a spicy romance that focus more on the relationship between two widows rather than the sports or firefighter trope. Plus, who does not love a single dad trope????!!! The last few chapters had SO much going on. I flew through them!

I will warn the language is not for the faint of heart! Although, there is only a couple scenes of spice, I would not recommend for those who like low spice because the spice is SPICY!!!! I thought this quite the enjoyable read.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

In "Played," Naima Simone crafts a story that pulses with raw emotion, sizzling chemistry, and heart-wrenching grief. This compelling romance centers on the life of a resilient Black woman firefighter and a brooding hockey player, creating a narrative that is as fiery as it is tender.

The protagonist's journey begins in the depths of unimaginable loss. The death of a colleague in the line of duty has plunged her into a dark abyss, and Simone captures this pain with poignant authenticity. The depiction of her struggle is not just a backdrop but a vivid part of the story that brings depth to her character. I can feel the weight of her sorrow, making her eventual path to healing all the more powerful.

A year after the tragic incident, our heroine finds herself at the Pirates' hockey training facility, where an unexpected discovery sets the stage for a transformative connection. The charred journal she stumbles upon, filled with thoughts that eerily mirror her own, introduces us to Solomon Young. Solomon, a left-winger for the Pirates, is similarly haunted by his past—a father and widower coping with his loss. When she returns the journal to him, the encounter is fraught with guilt and tension. Solomon's icy demeanour contrasts sharply with his undeniable physical allure, setting off sparks that Simone deftly fans into a roaring blaze.

The chemistry between the protagonist and Solomon is electric, palpable from their first frosty exchange. Simone excels at building tension, layering their interactions with a mix of vulnerability and fiery attraction. As they navigate their shared pain and burgeoning feelings, the story becomes a heartfelt exploration of love's ability to heal even the deepest wounds.

What makes "Played" stand out is Simone's ability to balance the heavy themes of grief and loss with moments of lightness and hope. The protagonist's strength and determination shine through, and her journey with Solomon is one of mutual redemption and unexpected joy. The supporting characters, including the protagonist's firefighting family, add richness to the narrative, providing warmth and solidarity.

Simone's writing is evocative, drawing readers into the emotional landscapes of her characters. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, the romantic tension is exquisitely handled, and the eventual resolution is both satisfying and profoundly moving.

"Played" is a powerful story of love, loss, and the courage to move forward. It's a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the unexpected places where we can find solace and love. Naima Simone has delivered a deeply affecting romance that will stay with readers long after the final page is turned. Whether you're a fan of romance, sports, or stories about overcoming adversity, "Played" is a must-read that promises to captivate and inspire.

I loved how the emotions were portrayed in this book, particularly the angst, grief, and guilt. There definitely should be a ton of trigger warning for harassment in the workplace that happens on page, and deaths of partners off page. Personally, I liked how raw and honest the narration was in showing glimpses of the ups-and-downs, especially Solomon's internal battle of caring for his son's interests as well as his personal desires.

The cover here isn't very apt, coz it barely shows the MMC playing his sport, nor is there really that much romance. I'd say most of the book just revolves around the MCs self-discovery and I actually enjoyed their character arcs and seeing them grow over the course of the story. Not on my list of top favorite books, but it's still better than a ton of novels that I've read. If the themes of the story aren't triggering for you and you aren't seeking a straightforward, feisty sports romance, I think this book could be something you like.

This was an enjoyable firefighter/hockey romance that tackles complex situations and had a lot of depth within. I really enjoyed our main characters, they had great chemistry and banter that will never die. The side characters, minus two, were also a delight to get to know and the healing journeys were beautiful to watch develop.

I wanted to love this book, since I’ve read a couple of Naima Simone’s other works. But this one just fell flat for me for a few reasons:
I was expecting a romantic, sporty book with chemistry between Solomon and Adina. However, there was next to zero involvement with hockey and there was no romance until around the 90% mark. I didn’t love how Solomon talked to her and I know everyone works through grief differently- but there was such whiplash when it came to the characters internal monologues that it was confusing to keep track of. I also didn’t love how the author included language in the characters’ voices. While I appreciate when there is an occasional reference or dialogue native to the character’s language, it was so strangely written and saying things like “lil mama” or then talking like a biker/bad boy or then mentioning lord of the rings? It was so bizzare and didn’t fit together in my opinion-this contributed to feeling like one character was three different people (Solomon). I’m grateful for this ARC and for the opportunity from the author to review it!

This book genuinely helped with my grief. I recently lost a close friend of mine and this helped me work through the grief and understand that they won't be mad if you are happy or move on from them.

I really enjoyed Adina and Solomon's story. What surprised me is that I don't normally like when there are deceased partners. I feel like it's pretty hard to show the new relationship standing up to a past love especially when one of the characters is mourning a dead spouse through most of the book. In this case, both main characters were mourning a deceased partner. It leveled things up a bit even though you felt that mourning more from Solomon. Despite this being something I usually can't get into, I think the author did a great job of showing the growth of both characters. I truly believed by the end of the book that Adina and Solomon loved each other. I can even admit that I liked the struggle they went through to get to where they were at the end. I think that is a testament to the great writing from this author.

Naima stepping into the hockey realm was well played (see that pun there - lol)! Such a fast paced easy read about a pro hockey player and a woman fighter fighter that is sure to catch anyones interest. I love how the dynamic is different and engaging.