The Play by Elle Kennedy Series: Briar U #2
on October 7, 2019
Pages: 422
Format: ARC
Genres: New Adult, Romance
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A brand-new standalone novel in the New York Times bestselling Briar U series!
What I learned after last year’s distractions cost my hockey team our entire season? No more screwing up. No more screwing, period. As the new team captain, I need a new philosophy: hockey and school now, women later. Which means that I, Hunter Davenport, am officially going celibate…no matter how hard that makes things.
But there’s nothing in the rulebook that says I can’t be friends with a woman. And I won’t lie—my new classmate Demi Davis is one cool chick. Her smart mouth is hot as hell, and so is the rest of her, but the fact that she’s got a boyfriend eliminates the temptation to touch her.
Except three months into our friendship, Demi is single and looking for a rebound.
And she’s making a play for me.
Avoiding her is impossible. We’re paired up on a yearlong school project, but I’m confident I can resist her. We’d never work, anyway. Our backgrounds are too different, our goals aren’t aligned, and her parents hate my guts.
Hooking up is a very bad idea. Now I just have to convince my body—and my heart.
Elle Kennedy has a knack for writing college sports romances that are witty and warm. The Play is the third book in the Briar U series, and once again I find myself delighted. This is a standalone so it is not necessary to have read the previous books. However, those familiar with the series may remember Hunter as the hockey player who had a painful crush on Summer. Now it’s time for him to find his dream gal.
Following a series of questionable choices, Hunter has been named captain of Briar’s hockey team and is determined to have a winning season. That means staying focused on hockey and avoiding women at all costs. Easier said than done when temptation is literally around every corner.
Hunter is a genuinely decent guy and probably my favorite Briar U hero to date. He has confidence in spades but lacks obnoxious cockiness. His vow of celibacy is a bit of a silly superstition, but you’ve got to admire his determination. Demi has a sharp mind and a kind heart. She looks for the good in people and perhaps tries too hard to please everyone at all times.
Demi and Hunter are so much fun together. Their romantic relationship is built on a firm foundation of friendship, and I liked how the story takes the time to develop layers of mutual trust, respect, and support. It makes the undercurrents of sexual tension and innuendo sprinkled throughout all the more enjoyable. And when the two of them finally get together… holy smokes is it hot!
There are a variety of comic personalities to be found among the hockey players, and they have a fantastic rapport. Their efforts to get a pig as a team mascot (don’t ask) are simultaneously ridiculous and entertaining. I wonder who will be the next person to get bitten by the love bug.
Recommended for fans of:
College romance
Hockey
Group projects
Eggs
* I received a complimentary copy to voluntarily read. *
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About Elle Kennedy
A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.
Elle writes romantic suspense and erotic contemporary romance for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!
Great review!
I loved this book so much! I thought it was a great ending to this series. Hopefully she’ll consider writing more books, though!