The Game

"The Game by Nikki Jewell is a funny and sweet-hearted hockey romance. There is fake romance trope and obsessive exes. There is a bachelor auction and two people who only want their life goals to come to fruition while including each other. He falls first and hard while she tries to deny her feelings. <br/> Cole moved to Lakeview after having his whole life up-ended back in Tampa, Florida. His girlfriend was cheating on him with his best friend who was also his teammate on the hockey team down there. Now Cole is trying to prove himself on his new team and start over. However, the cheating ex-girlfriend has now followed him to Lakeview intent on continuing their relationship Jazz spent the whole summer dreading coming back to school since she broke up with her abusive and manipulative boyfriend right before summer break. After a few white knight moments by Cole, Jazz and Cole decide they are going to pretend to be dating to have their ex’s leave them alone. Jazz worries that Cole is like her ex Darryl and refuses to let him in too much or to be claimed. Cole realizes that he’s falling quickly for Jazz as she is sunshine, trustworthy and everything he’s been looking for. After some back and forth of secrets, drama, and lust Cole and Jazz realize what they mean to each other and make it official. It ends in a wonderfully hockey inspired coffee shop. <br/> My favorite thing about this story is the fact that Jazz didn’t let her body decide her actions. She found Cole attractive but she didn’t give in and lose herself in her feelings for him like a lot of female characters do. The entire story she kept saying she didn’t want to be claimed as she was not property and didn’t want to be a possession. She stuck to that and made Cole recognize it. I love that Cole respected that and treated her as she wished. He gave her the time that she needed especially when she requested it and he didn’t want to. <br/> My least favorite thing about this some editorial issues. There was some words that I think were forgotten to be omitted. There was also some conversations that had some quotation marks missing. The plot of the story was great, just some editorial things.<br/> I gave this story a 4 out of 5. I liked the plot and I thought the story flowed well. It sucked me in and kept me interested the whole time. Jazz was my favorite and one of my favorite female characters right now."

"Amazing insight to the world of hockey in the 60s-70s. "

"DNF---I can't finish. The drama is just...so much...and the angst....I'm sure 18yo me would've LOVED this, but I just can't. <br/>The author worked hard and I'm not trying to say they're a bad writer, it's just not for me<br/><br/>And the butterflies....and the step bro.....I just can't"

"Just the general insights from the rivalries were awesome to hear about. Hearing about those legendary teams."