In the Game

Lakes Hockey Series, Book 3

By: Sloane St. James

Narrated by: Kasha Kensington, Aiden Snow

Raleigh

Growing up, the ice was my safe space. I excelled at playing hockey. However, these days, it's hockey players who provide sanctuary—one bed at a time. We have an arrangement. I offer them a night of pleasure, and in return, they grant me all the temporary, artificial love I can get my hands on—a chance to feel whole. Happily ever after doesn't exist where I come from, but I crave it just the same. It was a foolproof system.

Until Barrett. One night with him was all it took to tear down walls and crack the facade I worked so hard to build. The connection we had felt real, which made it all the more heartbreaking when it was time to leave. To him, I was simply another puck bunny. I never planned on seeing him again, until I discovered our one night changed my life forever. When I tried to reach out, he turned callous and cruel. That was the day I swore I'd never allow Barrett back into my life.

Barrett

It's been over five years since our one-night stand and I still can't get her out of my head. No woman has ever come close to making me feel the things she did that night. But when I woke up the next morning, I was alone, without any way to contact her. Trust me, I tried. Over the years, searching for her has become an obsession, and I've faced endless ridicule from my teammates, but I'll never give up. She's out there, and I'm gonna find her.

That day finally comes after a spontaneous meet and greet with a new Minnesota Lakes sponsor. Suddenly, there she is, more beautiful than ever. If looks could kill, I'd be six feet deep. Raleigh's convinced we are done for good, but now that I've found her, I'll stop at nothing to make her mine. Because this time she has a four-year-old son—and he looks just like me.

This spicy hockey romance features a giant hockey player MMC, a curvy single-mother FMC, a secret baby (child), angst, an age gap, dirty talk, praise, primal play, and of course, a happily ever after. For mature listeners.

©2023 Sloane St. James (P)2024 Podium Audio

I enjoyed it.

This is my first time listing to a Sloane St. James audiobook. It was spicy goodness mixed in with some drama. Over all I like it.

Love this book

This was the book that got me to read the whole Lakes Hockey series. This can be read as a standalone book but I wanted the full experience so I started from the beginning. You don't have to read the first two books to fall in love with this book though. Each of them are perfect in their own way. I loved them so much, I bought the audio versions on Audible. The audio version for book 4, Stand and Defend, isn't out yet but you'd better believe it'll be in my library the day it is!

I'm not usually an accidental pregnancy trope fan by Sloane delivered a phenomenal storyline here. And everyone needs a Heather (the L&D nurse) in their life. I'm a nurse and love that she was there for her patient when she (Raleigh) was all alone.

++++Below may be considered a spoiler so please be aware++++

Raleigh and Barrett meet one night at an event. After an eventful evening, including burnt pizza, rideshare driver running out of gas and a forgotten wallet and phone, they finally get their opportunity to be alone in his place together. She leaves before he wakes up and doesn't leave her number.

I won't go into what transpired between that night and when they reconnect over 4 years later but I will say I felt so bad for both of them. Missing out on the beginning of your child's life because of someone else's horrible ugliness is the worst kind of hurt. Thinking your child's father wants nothing to do with him is just as painful. Hearing the loneliness Raleigh went through as a single mom, then hearing the anguish Barrett feels for not being there for her, or Arthur, is gut wrenching. I had to step away from the book to remind myself they are fictional characters and that they were on their journey to their happily ever after.

People are always mentioning the spice in this book and that's why you should read it. While the spice is off the hook, the emotions you'll feel with their story are beyond words. Don't put this on your TBR or wait to read it for any reason. Dive in now and have your tissues handy.

Spicyyyyy!!!!

Some of the best and explicit spicy scenes I have ever read. Rewound so many times. Narrators did a great job, too.

I liked it more than I thought I would

I love a pregnancy trope. And well I only listen to this one because Aiden Snow was the narrator.

bear & deer

this is the sweetest accidental pregnancy, the one that got away, second chance hockey romance

Barrett ❤️

This is a new to me author. I know it’s book 3. This story is about Raleigh and Barrett. Raleigh is a puck bunny, she goes after hockey player. She has one night with Barrett and he tears down her walls. Raleigh thought there connection was real. After the one night changed her life forever. When she tried to reach out for her and he is cruel. She said she never allow Barrett back into her life. But 5 years later things change.
My thought:
Raleigh is a strong woman/ mom, she protects Arther with everything and I love her for that. Barrett is definitely a book husband. The way he is throughout the whole situation is amazing. The spicy in this really surprised me. It’s off the charts hot. This story is everything I wanted it to be there then a twist at the end that is shocking. I would highly recommend this story. It has hockey, endless love and it is just so special. It can be read as a standalone, I did.

Love Love Love

Finally! I was waiting on Barrett’s story and he did not disappoint! This is a secret child/ second chance romance. You meet Barrett in books one and two and you’re really rooting for him. Well he finally gets his HEA and it’s everything I wanted and needed.

Surprise pregnancy + second chance romance

I loved this book! It was a great surprise pregnancy with a little misunderstanding that leads to this couple being apart for years. Then they get their second chance and it is *chefs kiss* so good. Also, as a mother to young children I thought this author’s description of the FMC’s birth story and other little parenting moments were so accurate. I can only assume this author is a mother herself. That relatability made me love the story that much more. I also thought she accurately portrayed a 4 year old. I have read other books where kid characters speak in a manner that is far older than the age they are supposed to be but that’s not the case here.

Lastly, I thought it was so cool that the FMC was a “reformed” puck bunny. Usually the puck bunny’s role in a hockey romance is to be the mean home wrecker type so it was cool to see a different version of a puck bunny.

Oh yeah and the spice was great!

Barrett is my dream

This was done so well! I and in love with Sloan’s characters and the audio was the cherry on top of a fantastic story.

Barrett and Raleigh were absolutely everything, and the narrators brought them to life so well. You could hear the emotion so clearly and they just made me fall even deeper in love with this story.

I loved this story.

I loved this story. I normally hate a miscommunication troupe, but this book did it well and had it cleared very quickly. Barrett then went above and beyond to make sure that Raleigh knew what he was feeling throughout the rest of the book. I liked watching Raliegh open up and learn to let him in.