I look forward to every book in this series, and Game Changer was no exception. It’s a sweet and sexy friends to lovers romance that’s as subtle as it is heartwarming. Jamieson does a great job building intimacy, writing those small moments that move a relationship forward through dialogue and steamy scenes where you can feel the characters connect. Though part of a series, this just might be the easiest to read as a standalone because it leaves the world of hockey behind and focuses on the connection. It’s probably my favorite in the series.
The story follows Molly, a teacher who finds out that her fiancé has been cheating on her the night before the wedding. Rather than be humiliated herself, she shows up to the wedding and reads off some incriminating texts before fleeing the scene. Molly leans on Jax, her former fiancé’s teammate and a man she’s become friends with during the course of her relationship. Since it’s the off-season, Jax takes Molly with him as he visits with his family, and what starts as a way to escape turns into so much more. While Jax and Molly have been friendly in the past, it’s not until they spend more time together that they truly connect.
I’ll be honest: I was skeptical about this storyline. Using your friend as a rebound sounds ill-advised, and I’ve never been a huge fan of friends with benefits storylines. So I was very happy to discover that this plays out much more naturally than that – while mostly light, there’s a seriousness to the story as Molly and Jax both heal from past wounds, connecting as they go. There’s a definite emotional build before things turn physical, and I really appreciated that. The only thing that would hold this back from being a 5-star read is the fumble towards the end, but I’ve sort of accepted that it needed to happen for the progression of the story. Still not my favorite, but I understood it. As a fan of the series, I enjoyed the family moments that tie this in to the other books, but it was also nice that this stands on its own. It’s sweet, serious, and just the right amount of sexy. I received an ARC via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review of this friends to lovers romance.
Release Date: June 9th
Kindle Edition: https://amzn.to/3cC76Uz
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2A8gxOv
Audiobook: https://amzn.to/2AbQ5DJ
BLURB:
I don’t want anything to do with my crazy family’s drama, which I’ve been watching unfold from a distance over the last year, but now my grandfather has Alzheimer’s and I feel I need to at least make a quick visit to see him. My hockey season’s over, all I have to do is get through my teammate Steve’s wedding, and then I’m on a plane to Los Angeles to do my family duty. After that, I’ll head home to Manitoba for some summer R&R at the family lake cottage.
Molly Flynn
Nobody’s expecting what happens at my wedding, which becomes pandemonium. I need to get out of there. Fast. Who do I turn to? Jackson Wynn, one my fiancé’s teammates. He’s been a friend to me since I met Steve. For one night, we hide out in his condo, but he’s leaving in the morning for California. I want to go with him.
Jackson
I can’t take Steve’s fiancée with me to California. He’s going to flip shit over this. But the lying cheating bastard kind of deserves it, and I’ve always had a soft spot for Molly. Or maybe not so soft…because she’s not only sweet and kind, she’s hot as hell. This is a bad idea for so many reasons, and I sure as hell don’t need more drama in my life, but I can’t say no to her.
On this nutso trip, neither of us expect Molly to bond with my bonkers family…especially my poor, confused grandpa. And neither of us expect to bond with each other…
Haven’t started the series?
Game Changer will read just fine as a standalone, but some of the other books are very tied up in the family dynamics. I’ve read and enjoyed them all, but my favorites are Play to Win and Game Changer. Game Changer is the least sports-focused because it takes place during the off-season, but many of the other books revolve more around hockey.
Grab the Kindle editions here!
Playing to Win: https://amzn.to/2UhsAzW
In It to Win It: https://amzn.to/2MCtUt4
Win Big: https://amzn.to/2XDyugV
For the Win: https://amzn.to/378pwvc
Game Changer: https://amzn.to/3cC76Uz
Jeeves Reads Romance 