PLAYED

A Naima Simone Hockey Romance

Today on the blog, we have a book review for Played by Naima Simone. This is a hot and steamy, slow burn hockey romance where the protagonist is a grieving Black female firefighter who stumbles upon the charred journey of pro hockey player and grieving single dad, Solomon Young. Her unexpected discovery puts her on the path toward healing, but it isn’t until she meets snappy Solomon Young face to face that her journey truly begins.

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Naima Simone in Kansas City, Missouri last month on Indie Bookstore Romance Day (August 17, 2024). I am positively delighted to report that Naima is just as lovely, funny, and generous in person as she is online. While chatting with her, I mentioned how much I loved Church Girl (out in November) and that I was still waiting on approval for an ARC of Played. Needless to say, she made sure I got an ARC to read and review, and for that I extend my thanks because I had the best time reading Adina and Solomon’s story! Here’s the proof that we finally met in person:

 

BOOK REVIEW

In her latest release, Played, romance author Naima Simone tackles grief and the fear of moving on after losing someone. She offers readers an engrossing story filled with authentic emotion, an innate, burning chemistry between characters, and a heart-wrenching look into the raw vulnerability that accompanies a person’s deep, prevalent sorrow.

Written in first person dual POV, Played is the story of Adina and Solomon, a Black female firefighter doing her best to stand—and hold—her own and a gruff hockey player and single father who still can’t verbally address the fact that his wife is no longer living. Nor can he seem to separate his current life from that of his past.

Adina first meets Solomon after finding his charred journal when her company responds to a fire at the hockey training facility. She only learns it belongs to him after reading it and once she returns it to him, he is anything but happy about her having invaded his privacy. Yet the two find a common connection through grief and no matter how hard they fight to stay away from each other, they similarly find themselves drawn to one another.

Simone expertly handles the push-pull tension between the characters, giving them time to get to know one another while also allowing their irritation and growing attraction with each other to mount. It is not easy to move on after loss and the author skillfully weaves that struggle in with the chemistry and daring of the characters.

Adina and Solomon are both strong, vibrant characters who challenge each other to do and be better. Their rising attraction evolves with their increasing need to heal, and it makes for an exciting story that most readers will be hard pressed to put down.

Though the relationship does take time to build, readers still get glimpses of the heat and passion that exists between them throughout the book. This slow burn build only adds to the depth and range of the story, and of the characters.

Naima Simone has created a beautiful and skillfully crafted romance, layered with rich characterization, sharp dialogue, and real, honest love between two people who most deserve to find it again. Written with emotional depth and heart-lacing hope, Played is a must-read love story that manages to capture both the pain of grief and the courage it takes to heal and move on from loss. Highly recommend checking it out.

RATING: 

 

 

BOOK INFORMATION

 

Played by Naima Simone
Published by Montlake Romance on September 3, 2024
Genres: Black & African American Romance, Contemporary Romance, Hockey Romance, Sports Romance
Pages: 295
Buy: Amazon | Goodreads
Rating:

Being a firefighter isn’t easy. Especially for a Black woman. Working with family helps a little. But when somebody from your company doesn’t come back from a call, it’s brutal—as in, “How’m I supposed to go on?” brutal.

And one death took me to a really dark place.

A year later, I’m at the Pirates’ hockey training facility. Just another day on the job. Until I find a charred journal. I look inside for the owner’s name, but the words on the page punch me in the gut. It’s like reading my own thoughts. Reliving my own pain.

The journal belongs to Solomon Young, left-winger for the Pirates—a father and widower. When I return it, I’m racked with guilt for the invasion of privacy. The look Solomon gives me is cold as ice.

But damn if that man isn’t hot as hell.

Now he’s stuck in my brain. And fate seems intent on making us face off.

Read this book if you like:

• hockey romance
• firefighter romance
• widowed single dad
• fake relationship
• enemies to lovers

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BOOK RATING

 

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